Education

Ed Pepple Court Being Unveiled

Honoring the winningest high school basketball coach in Washington state. Article by Greg Asimakoupoulos | Photography by Gavin Cree A year of major sports celebrations in our area, including a Super Bowl Championship and hosting the World Cup, concludes with a community celebration recognizing a local legendary coach. The naming and unveiling of Ed Pepple Court at Mercer Island High School will take place on December 18th. This long-awaited celebration, that is open to the public, honors the...

Style + Beauty

Where Style Listens Back

Fashion inspired by the women who wear it every day. Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Various On an island known for its quiet confidence and refined taste, Hip Zephyr has become something more than a boutique—it’s a living conversation about style. Step inside and you feel it immediately: the rhythm of racks curated with intention, the ease of pieces that move from morning to evening, and the quiet assurance that what you’re seeing has been chosen not just for trend, but for truth. At...

Education

Crest Champions Mercer Island Youth

Every student deserves a place where they can learn, grow, and feel that they belong. Article by Jennifer Crespi & Marna Abrams | Photography by Beverly vanHartesvelt For more than 50 years, some Mercer Island students have found their place at Crest Learning Center. Crest has long served students whose educational journeys may look different from the traditional high school experience. Some students come to Crest seeking a smaller learning environment. Others benefit from additional...

Style + Beauty

Mercer Island Style

Style Isn’t What You Wear. It’s How You Live Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Various Every fall, magazines celebrate style. Fashion. Design. Trends. New ideas. In our own way, we all make choices about how we present ourselves—whether for comfort, purpose, celebration, or simply the rhythm of everyday life. But is style simply about what you wear? Or is it really about how you live? We believe it's reflected in the homes we create, the meals we share, the businesses we build, the...

Wellness

Family Transitions

Who’s Messing the Nest? A Trying Time Before Our Teens Leave Home Article by Paulette Denman, LMFTA | Photography by Stu Denman, MICL The first time I heard the phrase “messing the nest” it was a more colorful version. One of my closest friends has a daughter, a few years older than my son. As her high school graduation approached, she shared, “This is such a hard time. She’s picking fights with us, not listening, and is constantly annoyed!” My friend wanted loving, sentimental moments before...

Life + Culture

Budding Market Vendors

Mercer Island Farmers Market - A Personal Reflection on Growing Up at the Market Article by Ange Garrett | Photography by Mercer Island Farmers Market One of my favorite things about the Mercer Island Farmers Market is seeing it through the eyes of a child. Every Sunday, kids pull miniature shopping carts down the market aisles, munch on fresh berries, carry bouquets nearly as tall as they are, and eagerly search for Milo the Market Gnome. If you’ve never met Milo, he’s our resident market...

Arts + Culture

Classical Music In the Wild

In A Landscape brings a one night live music experience to Mercer Island Article by Sharon Perez | Photography by In A Landscape Music Meets Landscape:  This summer, one of the most distinctive live music experiences in the West arrives on Mercer Island for the very first time. On Tuesday, July 21, acclaimed pianist and naturalist Hunter Noack brings his celebrated outdoor concert series, IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™, to the shores of Luther Burbank Park. Forget velvet...

Life + Culture

MI on the Move

How the I-90 light rail is reshaping the way Mercer Island connects, explores, and experiences the region Article by Sharon Perez | Photography by Mercer Island City Lifestyle Mercer Island has always existed in an interesting tension between connection and separation. We are physically connected to the region through Interstate 90, yet emotionally and culturally we have long experienced ourselves as an island community — close to Seattle and Bellevue, but still distinctly our own. The...

Life + Culture

Rediscovering Mercer Island

The island changes depending on where you are in life Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Hillary Ethe On Mercer Island, it’s surprisingly easy to miss the island itself. Between school drop-offs, meetings, practices, workouts, and errands, many residents pass trails, shoreline paths, forests, and quiet outdoor spaces without fully stepping into them. Familiarity has a way of softening awareness. The places we see every day can slowly become invisible. But spend even one afternoon...

Home + Design

Designed for Connection

Exploring how intentional spaces foster warmth, rhythm, and multigenerational living Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Various In an era shaped by digital overload, fractured attention spans, and increasingly isolated daily routines, architect Mark Elster believes the home has become more important than ever — not simply as shelter, but as a place that helps families reconnect with one another in meaningful and lasting ways. “In a world grappling with the isolating effects of social...