Catch Youth Theatre Northwest’s latest production, “Really Rosie,” through Sunday, Dec. 16. The show will run on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10. Learn more at www.youththeatre.org.

Wednesday | 12

Au Courant Holiday Happenings: 4-8 p.m., Dec. 12 and 19, 7900 S.E. 28th Street. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Dec. 19: Espresso by Esther’s Espresso while shopping. Join Au Courant and The Den for two exclusive shopping events featuring wine and cheese. Shop holiday gift selection, enter drawing. www.aucourantsalon.com.

Saturday | 15

“Excerpts from the Nutcracker” Opening Matinee: 2 p.m., Dec. 15, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. Performances: 1 and 5 p.m., Dec. 16; 7 p.m., Dec. 19; 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 20. Performers are trained in the Royal Academy of Dance classical ballet curriculum. They are students of Island Youth Ballet and the Children’s Dance Conservatory.

The Cascade Lodge-Sons of Norway Annual Children’s Christmas Party: 2-4 p.m., Dec. 15, Mercer Island United Methodist Church, 7070 S.E. 24th Street. Music, dancing around the Christmas tree, goodies, crafts and a visit from Santa. Cost: $2 per person. Please bring a plate of finger-treats. RSVP with number of adults, children attending. Call: (425) 957-7692.

Hanukkah Under The Stars: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Dec. 15, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. SJCC community Hanukkah celebration. Buy dinner. Free admission with donation to Jewish Family Service. www.sjcc.org.

Lions’ Christmas Tree Lot: open through Dec. 15 in the Farmers New World Life Insurance lot, 3003 77th Ave. S.E., presented by Mercer Island Lions Club. Hours: 2-8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday/Sunday. Douglas fir, Noble, Sheared fir and Fraser. Wreaths, garlands also available. Christmas tree sales help to fund programs for various Mercer Island organizations.

Sunday | 16

Dessert Before Dinner Holiday Concert and Silent Auction: 4-5:30 p.m., Dec. 16, Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th St. Desserts, musical entertainment. Register. $12. www.myparksandrecreation.com.

“Really Rosie”: ongoing through Dec. 16, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. 7 p.m., Thursday-Friday; 2 p.m., Saturday-Sunday. YTN continues its 29th season with a tribute to children’s writer Maurice Sendak. Tickets: $10. www.youththeatre.org.

Thursday | 20

Mercer Island Radio Operators Meeting: 7 p.m., Dec. 20, Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Learn about amateur radio communications, emergency preparedness. www.mirohams.org.

Christmas Ship Festival: The Argosy Christmas ship visits Luther Burbank Park, at 2040 84th Ave. S.E., from 8:40 to 9 p.m., Dec. 20, with the Dickens Carolers after departing the Kirkland City Dock and stopping at Covenant Shores for a private party. The ship will also visit the Mercer Island Beach Club for a private party, 7:30-7:50 p.m., Dec. 12, with Jazz Etc choir. www.argosycruises.com/themecruises.

Events | Ongoing

MIVAL Holiday Show: ongoing through Dec. 14, Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Hours: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday. www.mival.org.

Toys for Tots Drive: Coldwell Banker Bain’s real estate offices are collecting donations for Toys for Tots, the annual toy drive hosted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The Mercer Island branch is an official collection center through Dec. 16 at 7808 S.E. 28th St., Suite 128. New, unwrapped toys accepted.

MIVAL December Gallery: “Family Gatherings” is showing through Dec. 27, Avellino Building, 2836 78th Ave. S.E. A unique cooperative gallery with 30 local artists representing artwork in various mediums. Features festivities and food with original painted notecards, handmade ornaments, scarfs, jewelry, hats, photography, paintings, home decor. A percentage of all sales is contributed to annual high school visual arts scholarships. www.mival.org.

Events | Upcoming

SJCC Jewish Touch Lecture Series: “Jewish Comedians in 1950s Hollywood,” 2 p.m., Jan. 6, 2013, Stroum JCC, 3801 East Mercer Way. Speaker: Foster Hirsch, professor of film at Brooklyn College, will explore some of the Jewish comedians in 1950s Hollywood including Danny Kaye, Judy Holliday, Jerry Lewis etc. Tickets: $8 (members), $12 (nonmembers). www.sjcc.org.

Library

4400 88th Ave. S.E.

(206) 236-3537

www.kcls.org/MercerIsland

Computer Classes: Email Level 2, 9:30 a.m., Dec. 21.

Art Preview: “A Century of Women Artists, presented by Susan Olds,” open through January 2013. The Seattle Art Museum presents “Elles: Women Artists” from the Centre Pompidou, Paris. SAM is the only U.S. venue in the exhibition’s world tour.

Children & Families

Little Ditties Music for 2 and 3-Year-Olds: 10:30 a.m., Dec. 12. Ages 2-3 with adult. Enjoy musical activities and fun. Registration required.

Teens

Study Zone: 4 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18. Grades K-12. Drop in for free homework help from trained volunteer tutors.

Teen Zone: Study and Games, 2 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays. Teen Zone is not open during the week of Christmas. Hang out, read, homework, games.