Join us at Island Books for the second of our quarterly Book Club Gatherings. Our book club is a space for women to come together, discuss books, share our love of reading, meet new friends and re-connect with old friends.

All of our reading selections will be available for purchase at Island Books with a 10% discount if you mention that you are part of The Gathering’s Book Club.

For our Spring meeting, we will be discussing the book First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. This book is the ultimate cat-and-mouse caper, that will leave you guessing until the end. Here are some questions to consider when you read the book:

• Do you think your name is essential to your identity? Why or why not? Can someone change their identity and still find happiness?

• What are your thoughts on the author’s use of flashbacks? How do past experiences shape who we are and what we do?

• Are good and bad always clear-cut, even in difficult situations? Can someone do bad things but still have redeeming qualities? Can someone morally gray find redemption?

We encourage you to bring a copy of the book to the meeting, as well as any wine or snacks you would like to share with the group. We are so excited to have you join us!

This event is FULL. Please join us for our SUMMER book club coming soon!

Join us on Sunday, March 24th from 5:30-7:30pm for a beginner adult Hip Hop class with Kevin Caraco at Creation Dance Studio. Taking dance classes as an adult is an incredibly fun way to reduce stress and anxiety, improve flexibility and cardiovascular health, increase confidence, and improve cognitive abilities!

We’ll begin the evening with a little time to mingle and sip on refreshing margaritas (or mocktails) at Riviera Maya. Once we’ve finished our tasty beverages we’ll head upstairs to meet our fabulous MALE instructor, Kevin. Kevin currently teaches beginner adult Hip Hop classes at Westlake Dance Center and taught at Creation Dance Studio this past year.

Kevin will spend an hour teaching us the latest hip hop trends and styles in this incredibly fun and upbeat class! No experience necessary! Grab your friends and join us for an introduction to hip hop!

Dress Code Suggestion: Comfortable, baggy clothing that is easy to move in. Clean indoor tennis shoes.

Class size limited to 20 attendees. Ages 21 and over.

SOLD OUT - $45

Interested in learning to make delicious and nutritious sourdough at home? Here’s your chance! For this workshop we’ll be partnering with Sea Wolf bakery once again in their commercial production space at their sister bakery in Montlake: Oxbow. This sourdough workshop is introductory-level, but will go into details that will also help more advanced bread bakers.

This hands-on class teaches the key points of bread baking: hand mixing and folding, shaping, proofing and baking. Using the cast iron method, you'll bake bread in the Sea Wolf ovens, observing what a fully proofed loaf looks like before it goes into the oven. You'll also cover the basics of a liquid sourdough starter, including an appropriate feeding schedule.

Attendees will be treated to personal charcuterie boxes and a glass of wine to enjoy during the class. Workshop guests will go home with:

• a sourdough starter sample

• a recipe for Sea Wolf's white sourdough bread

• a wicker proofing basket

• a Sea Wolf tea towel

Class size limited to 12 participants. This workshop will take place off island at Oxbow in Montlake. Doors will open at 5:45 and the class will start promptly at 6:05pm. This class will be two hours of hands-on working time followed by time for mingling at the end.

SOLD OUT - $135

Gather with us on the evening of March 6th from 6:30-8:30 as we meet with Amelia Keely of House of Colour Kenmore-Seattle. We will begin the evening with nibbles, sips and a little mingling. Then Amelia will teach us the science behind the use of color and how it can effect everything from your wardrobe to your makeup choices.  Have you ever worn a lipstick that looks great on a friend, but not right on you? There’s a science behind that!

Then we’ll dive into the style portion of the workshop.  Did you know most women wear 15% of their wardrobe 85% of the time?  Amelia will help guests to create a lifestyle wheel to aid in creating a capsule wardrobe that fits their own life, rather than just a generic guide.

• Learn the science behind how color works and how it applies to people to enhance natural beauty. Why do certain colors make you look fresh and awake, while others might not be best for your skin tone? How can you use your own personal style to have a "put together" look in all realms of you life? 

Join us and gain confidence knowing your outfit reflects the incredible person you are!

This event will take place on Mercer Island at the Realogics Sotheby's International Realty - Mercer Island Office.

Workshop limited to 12 attendees.

SOLD OUT - $65

Gather with us on February 8th from 6:30-8:00pm for the first of our lecture series focused on women building businesses.

We are thrilled to welcome Lindsay Droz and Kristi Lord of locally based L’Avant Collective. L’Avant Collective is a sustainable, plant-based luxury cleaning supply company. Join Lindsay and Kristi for an intimate conversation about their incredible journey from a spark of inspiration to a flourishing enterprise. They'll offer their hard-won insights, candidly navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Come prepared with your questions - the Q&A promises to be as thought-provoking as the talk itself!

Whether you have a business idea that’s been simmering on the back burner, want to build your network, or are looking for a night out with friends old and new, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Your ticket includes one glass of wine or bubbly along with some savory and sweet bites made in-house at L’Experience Paris. Lindsay and Kristi will also have many of your favorite L’Avant products available on-site for purchase. ***L’Avant will have a fun GIVEAWAY at the end!!

This event will take place at L’Experience Paris on Mercer Island.

Due to overwhelming demand we are thrilled to be able to offer a second calligraphy class with Ellen Sontra. This class was originally scheduled for mid-December but needed to be re-schedule due to instructor illness.

Learn to create stunning gift tags, place setting cards, envelopes and more - that will impress your friends and family! Join us on Wednesday, January 31st while we learn the art of brush calligraphy! Our class will be taught by Ellen Sontra, who is the founder of Letters by Ellen Calligraphy. Ellen has taught over 3,000 students calligraphy and is passionate about the art. We will begin the evening with nibbles, sips and a little mingling. Then Ellen will teach attendees a proper pen hold, practice strokes, the alphabet, and many tips and tricks along the way.

Her goal is that you fall in love with calligraphy (like she did many years ago) and are excited to continue practicing and using this artform, especially while celebrating the many upcoming holidays. All of her favorite supplies are provided and are yours to take home. No experience is required, however, if you have practiced calligraphy before, this class will also build on those skills.

Each attendee will go home with the following supplies: Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Marker, Tombow Dual Point Marker, Practice Paper, Instructional Packet, Blank Paper Products (Tags, etc).

Class size limited to 12. The class will be held on Mercer Island at the Realogics Sotheby's International Realty Office.

SOLD OUT - $85

As we begin the new year, let's take a moment for inward reflection and gratitude. We’ll start the evening with a 45 minute candlelight stretch led by Cat DeHaven, owner of Core Havn. She’ll guide us through a challenging yet restorative series of stretches using the XFormers.

Following our time with Cat we will head to the back of the studio where Elizabeth Lopez of rue Sante will walk us through a one hour workshop that will cover Tea and Botanicals 101, steeping methods, and guided blending instructions. Elizabeth’s wellness-from-within botanical  beverages reduce stress, enhance mood, & boost immunities. We’ll sip on relaxing botanical brews and snack on some small bites while we learn about tea and botanical beverage basics. We’ll finish up class by creating our very own custom blend to take home and enjoy, or to gift to a loved one.

Each attendee with go home with:

• A bespoke take-home blend of tea (8 oz jar with custom label)

• A Bodhi Leaf Strainer (stainless-steel leaf strainers for loose leaf botanical beverages and other food & beverage preparations)

Stretch it out, drink and be well.

Class Size limited to 10. This workshop will be held at Core Havn on Mercer Island.

Join us at Island Books for the first of our quarterly Book Club Gatherings. Our book club is a space for women to come together, discuss books, share our love of reading, meet new friends and re-connect with old friends.

All of our reading selections will be available for purchase at Island Books with a 10% discount if you mention that you are part of The Gathering’s Book Club.

For our first meeting, we will be discussing the book Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. This book is a moving novel about love, family, and the passage of time. Here are some questions to consider when you read the book:

• What does it mean to be a family?

• How do we love and lose each other over the course of a lifetime?

• How do we cope with the passage of time and the inevitable changes that come with it?

We encourage you to bring a copy of the book to the meeting, as well as any wine or snacks you would like to share with the group. We are so excited to have you join us!

This event is FULL. Please join us for our Spring Book Club.

Interested in learning to make delicious and nutritious sourdough at home? Here’s your chance! For this workshop we’ll be partnering with Sea Wolf bakery in their commercial production space at their sister bakery in Montlake: Oxbow. This sourdough workshop is introductory-level, but will go into details that will also help more advanced bread bakers.

This hands-on class teaches the key points of bread baking: hand mixing and folding, shaping, proofing and baking. Using the cast iron method, you'll bake bread in the Sea Wolf ovens, observing what a fully proofed loaf looks like before it goes into the oven. You'll also cover the basics of a liquid sourdough starter, including an appropriate feeding schedule.

Attendees will be treated to personal charcuterie boxes and a glass of wine to enjoy during the class. Workshop guests will go home with:

• a sourdough starter sample

• a recipe for Sea Wolf's white sourdough bread

• a wicker proofing basket

• a Sea Wolf tea towel

Class size limited to 12 participants. This workshop will take place off island at Oxbow in Montlake. Doors will open at 5:45 and the class will start promptly at 6:05pm. This class will be two hours of hands-on working time followed by time for mingling at the end.

Join us for a fun and festive winter themed cookie decorating class with Tiffany Thompson, of Aunt Tiffy’s Baking Company. We’ll begin the evening with some sips and nibbles (as always), and then Tiffany will teach us the basics of cookie decorating, including how to make and use royal icing, instruction on various types of layering (wet on wet), how to pipe different designs, line work, and how to flood cookies. You’ll learn how to add a touch of winter magic to your cookies with festive decorating techniques.

In this workshop, you will decorate five cookies in different designs, including a tree with snow, a snow globe, snowflake, a snowman with a scarf, and a present. You’ll also receive two additional cookies to decorate at home. You will have access to a variety of different colored royal icings and decorations, so you can create your own unique and festive cookies.

At the end of the class, you will take home your beautifully decorated cookies in a bakery box, along with a scribe tool for decorating at home. You will also receive a copy of the recipes for the cookies and the royal icing.

This class is a great way to get into the holiday spirit, learn some new cookie decorating skills and meet friends along the way.

Class limited to 12 participants. This workshop will take place on Mercer Island.

$95 - SOLD OUT

Due to overwhelming demand we are thrilled to be able to offer a second Winter Cookie Decorating class with Tiffany Thompson before the holidays.

Join us for a fun and festive winter themed cookie decorating class with Tiffany Thompson, of Aunt Tiffy’s Baking Company. We’ll begin the evening with some sips and nibbles (as always), and then Tiffany will teach us the basics of cookie decorating, including how to make and use royal icing, instruction on various types of layering (wet on wet), how to pipe different designs, line work, and how to flood cookies. You’ll learn how to add a touch of winter magic to your cookies with festive decorating techniques.

In this workshop, you will decorate five cookies in different designs, including a tree with snow, a snow globe, snowflake, a snowman with a scarf, and a present. You’ll also receive two additional cookies to decorate at home. You will have access to a variety of different colored royal icings and decorations, so you can create your own unique and festive cookies.

At the end of the class, you will take home your beautifully decorated cookies in a bakery box, along with a scribe tool for decorating at home. You will also receive a copy of the recipes for the cookies and the royal icing.

This class is a great way to get into the holiday spirit, learn some new cookie decorating skills and meet friends along the way.

Class limited to 12 participants. This workshop will take place on Mercer Island.

$95 - SOLD OUT

Grab a friend and join us for what’s sure to be a delightful evening at the first ever Ladies Night at Island Books. Island Books is the only independent bookstore serving Mercer Island. This year they are celebrating 50 years of bookselling! Island Books owner Laurie Raisys will be opening up the store for our private gathering in the book shop. We’ll have tasty nibbles and sips while we mix and mingle with old friends and new.

Laurie will have a table display that will include favorite reads from her employees, along with picks from the ladies of The Gathering. All books on the table will be offered at 15% off for the evening, though the entire store will be shop-able. Get a jump on your holiday shopping, meet new ladies, pick out some new reads for yourself, and enjoy an evening out.

We’ll also be kicking off our quarterly book club for The Gathering (our first meeting will take place in January). Grab your book at a discounted price on the 28th, and then join us after hours in Island Books throughout the year for fun discussions, tasty snacks and a glass of wine (attending Ladies Night is a separate event from Book Club so there is zero pressure to join if Book Clubs are not your jam).

Gathering limited to 30 attendees. The event will be taking place at Island Books on Mercer Island.

$10 - SOLD OUT

Join us for a delightful evening out on Thursday, November 16th while we learn the art of the autumn board with Mia Pizzuto (aka The Charcuterista). We’ll begin the evening with some sips and sweet treats while The Charcuterista teaches us how to artfully arrange our very own charcuterie board featuring premium, seasonal ingredients.

Mia will walk us through the board-building process step-by-step, from ingredient selection to cheese slicing techniques all the way to balancing flavors. There are many ways to fold salami—like in a rose or a river—and together, we will learn both! Moving beyond the basics, she will also share her expert styling tips and techniques, as well as some of her favorite pairing suggestions (think local fig jam + French chèvre atop a baguette). Together, we will discuss how to customize for dietary needs, where to shop, and how to stay true to the theme of your party.

All attendees will create a true work of art—meant to be savored, and fit for any occasion! Everyone will leave feeling confident and inspired to build their next curated board, solo!

Each attendee will receive: a step-by-step outline of the board-building process & pairing suggestions, 10" bamboo platter, Bamboo utensils (spoon, honey dipper, etc.), a gift-worthy to-go box for your completed board, artisanal cheeses, meats and accompaniments, and a jar of local honey or jam.

Please let us know of any allergies or dietary restrictions upon booking your class. The class will take place on Mercer Island.

Class limited to 12 participants.

$105 - SOLD OUT

Learn to create stunning gift tags, place setting cards, envelopes and more - that will impress your friends and family! Join us on Thursday, November 9th while we learn the art of brush calligraphy! Our class will be taught by Ellen Sontra, who is the founder of Letters by Ellen Calligraphy. Ellen has taught over 3,000 students calligraphy and is passionate about the art. We will begin the evening with nibbles, sips and a little mingling. Then Ellen will teach attendees a proper pen hold, practice strokes, the alphabet, and many tips and tricks along the way.

Her goal is that you fall in love with calligraphy (like she did many years ago) and are excited to continue practicing and using this artform, especially while celebrating the many upcoming holidays. All of her favorite supplies are provided and are yours to take home. No experience is required, however, if you have practiced calligraphy before, this class will also build on those skills.

Each attendee will go home with the following supplies: Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Marker, Tombow Dual Point Marker, Practice Paper, Instructional Packet, Blank Paper Products (Tags, etc).

Class size limited to 12. The class will be held on Mercer Island.

$85 - SOLD OUT

Fall in love with watercolor during this beginner friendly pumpkin painting watercolor workshop with Kate Talcott of Splatter & Bloom. Kate is a watercolor artist, educator, and owner of Splatter & Bloom – a watercolor stationery shop where she creates bold, vivacious designs to help others live more colorfully.

We’ll begin the morning with nibbles and sips before Kate shares tips and techniques to get creativity flowing from your hand through your brush. All supplies will be provided as Kate walks you through taking a palette of color and turning it into your expression of pumpkins translated straight to paper.

Each attendee will go home with a paint brush, paints, and a few extra designs to practice your new favorite hobby at home. This workshop will be hosted at a private residence on Mercer Island.

This workshop will be held at a private residence on Mercer Island.

Class size limited to 12 guests.

Join us as we partner with Heather Hodge and Emily Kim of The Pastry Project. Founded in 2019 by two pastry-loving, justice-driven women, Heather and Emily started The Pastry Project to make pastry education and employment more equitable. Their focus is to have fun and do good, and for the community to join them in the work!

In this class you'll spend a half day at their Seattle location in Pioneer Square learning how to make, shape and bake beautiful laminated doughs. We'll make croissants, pain au chocolat, and filled danishes and they’ll show you their techniques for getting the flakiest, most buttery and delicious pastries. You'll be able to use the dough recipe for a variety of things in the future! You will go home with freshly baked pastries and croissant dough to practice at home!

There will be a 30 minute break during class to where we’ll enjoy a basket lunch that includes a sandwich, side, and drink. We hope you can gather with us for this delicious workshop!

This workshop will be held at The Pastry Project in Pioneer Square.

Class size limited to 10 guests.

School is back in session, and it's time to take a well-deserved break. Slow down and join us for an evening of creative expression in the art of floral arranging. This hands-on workshop will be led by Jenna Weischedel, of Mercer Island Florist. Jenna is a seasoned floral designer with a profound love for nature's vibrant palette. Jenna has over 17 years of experience in transforming blooms into captivating works of art. Under her guidance, you'll learn the fundamentals of floral design and create a beautiful low and lush arrangement that you can take home and enjoy.

We’ll begin the evening with nibbles and sips before Jenna guides us through the elements and principles of design. We'll cover everything from choosing the right flowers, how to cut and clean stems, to creating a balanced and eye-catching arrangement. So come relax, recharge, and learn something new.

All attendees will take home their own completed floral arrangement in a square 4” glass vase. Arrangements will be perfect for a coffee table or dining table centerpiece. Our color scheme for the evening will be calming whites, greens, blues and purples. Guest will also go home with their own roll of floral vase tape, and the confidence to create gorgeous floral compositions at home.

This workshop will be held at Mercer Island Florist.

Class size limited to 12 guests - $95

We’ll begin the morning with nibbles and sips before Melissa shares her expert tips and tricks for thread newbies. Each attendee will receive a full kit that includes a wooden embroidery hoop, floral transfer designs, embroidery needle, full skeins of embroidery thread, a yellow pattern fabric, backing materials, and printed instructions.

This workshop will be held at a private residence on Mercer Island.

Class size limited to 12 guests.

Cost: $95 - SOLD OUT

After a summer of relaxed schedules and meals on the go we’re looking forward to adding a little more structure and creativity to our fitness and meal planning routine. We are thrilled to be partnering with Core Havn, for this reformer class combined with a quinoa bowl prep workshop.

We’ll begin the afternoon with an Xformer class taught by Cat DeHaven, owner of Core Havn on Mercer Island. Her reformer classes are low impact, but offer incredible results. Reformer classes offer efficient training for muscular strength, endurance, and mobility. By focusing on the center of your body you’ll not only get all the ab work you could want, but you will also increase balance, stability, power, and stamina. Whether you are a regular at Core Havn or a newbie, we’re confident you’ll leave the class excited to book your next visit.

Following our sweat session we’ll head to the back room where we’ll have a post-workout refreshment. While we sip on our refresher Kelsey Johnsen, a registered Dietician Nutritionist (and instructor at Core Havn) will lead us through a quinoa bowl demonstration and prep. We’ll learn to make quinoa bowls two ways, one savory and one sweet. Attendees will leave with recipe cards and two to-go bowls in hand to eat that day or pop in the fridge for later.

This workshop will be held at Core Havn on Mercer Island.

Class limited to 10 participants.

Cost: $55 - SOLD OUT

Salmon, scallops and crab oh my! We are thrilled to be partnering with Ashley Besecker and Joci Besecker of Premier Catch for this seafood spectacular. Our chef for the evening will be Lisa Odegard, a cookbook author, teaching chef, and menu consultant.

We’ll have nibbles and sips while Lisa demonstrates how to saute scallops, grill salmon on a cedar plank, prepare an easy dessert using a cast iron pan and more. Throughout the evening Lisa will offer cooking tips and tricks while Joci and Ashley give us the low down on their women-owned company that sources premium, wild-caught seafood from Alaska and the Washington/ Oregon Coast. Ever wonder what the difference is between Sockeye and King Salmon? Want to know how to get that perfect sear on a scallop? You’ll have time to get answers to all of your fish questions from our experts. 

Our multi-course seafood extravaganza will include smoked salmon, salmon dip, crab, shrimp, seared scallops, cedar grilled salmon and a cast iron dessert. Think of this gathering as part dinner party, part cooking class and a whole lot of fun. We won’t be seated like a traditional dinner party gathering. Guests will mingle open kitchen style, check in on the chef, pop out to the grill, and meet new people as they work their way through the multi-course menu. 

Following the event guests will go home with the confidence to make delicious seafood at home, copies of recipes from the evening and some goodies from Premier Catch. This class will be hosted at a private residence on Mercer Island.

We hope you can gather with us!

Class size limited to 12 guests.

Cost: $135

It’s time to pick up the shaker and unleash your inner mixologist. Join us as local bartender and event planner Scarlett Fairman teaches us the art of the classic cocktail. This class is for hesitant hosts who want to learn how to stock their home bar and make cocktails like a pro.

We'll have light appetizers al fresco while Scarlett teaches mixing fundamentals, demonstrates garnishing techniques, and discusses ingredients for three distinct cocktails. She’ll share her favorite recipes, and provide beginner bartending tips to get you mixing drinks at home in no time. You'll get to taste along the way before heading home with recipe cards, expert tips, and a bottle of Scarlett’s go-to bitters. 

This class is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to make great drinks and impress their friends. This class will be hosted at a private residence on Mercer Island.

Class size limited to 12 guests.

Cost: $95

Come and learn container design with Juliana Bertucci, owner and designer of The Nonesuch, LLC a landscape and design company which specializes in low-maintenance and permaculture design for the Pacific Northwest residence. 

We’ll begin the morning with nibbles and sips before Juli guides us through designing and executing individual planters bespoke to where your container will live. She’ll provide tips and tricks for you to carry forward when purchasing plants and designing containers on your own.

After we get our hands dirty designing our own containers we’ll wrap up the event with some time for Q&A with our expert. All attendees will take home their own ceramic potted planter along with a handy reference list of fillers, spillers and thrillers for the seasons ahead. This workshop will be hosted at a private residence on Mercer Island.

Class size limited to 12 guests

Cost: $95 - SOLD OUT

Master the waves over the course of this hands-on boat driving workshop in partnership with Seattle Boat Co. We will meet at the Seattle Boat Co. showroom in Newport Shores before getting out on the water to earn our stripes.

Guests will choose between learning to navigate either a Malibu or a Cobalt. Rachel Lundberg and Elizabeth McPhail from Seattle Boat Co. will lead each group through proper startup procedure, docking techniques, how to tie up at a marina, maneuvering on the water and troubleshooting. After we dock we’ll have a rooftop happy hour with heavy apps from Bowriders Grill while our experts discuss what to do and where to go locally on the water.

This workshop is open to all, whether you own a boat and are apprehensive at the helm, or just want to get out on the water and learn a new skill.

Class size limited to 12 guests.

Cost: $105 - SOLD OUT

Malibu Surf : This boat is propelled by an inboard setup (under the boat there is a propeller and a separate rudder for steering). Malibu is very watersport focused. The boat has a deep-v hull in the front that flattens out toward the back. This feature creates a rougher ride in choppy water, but it’s the best design for tweaking and personalizing your surf wave.

Cobalt Surf: This boat is propelled by a sterndrive setup. This setup gives you more maneuvering control at slow speeds, and in reverse. This runabout style boat also has a deep-v hull from the front of the boat to the very back which gives the rider a really comfortable ride in choppy water.

Learn to grill with Lisa Odegard, a cookbook author, teaching chef, and menu consultant from Mercer Island.

It's time to pick up the tongs as Lisa provides an introduction to grilling. We’ll have nibbles and sips while she demonstrates grilling techniques, shares her favorite rubs and marinades, and provides beginner grill usage tips to get you firing up the grill at home in no time. You'll get to taste along the way before heading home with recipes, tips, and a container of Lisa’s go-to rub. This class will be hosted at a private residence on Mercer Island.

Class size limited to 12 guests

Cost: $85 - SOLD OUT