I’m sure it was purely coincidental, but it was illuminating to see two Moline theatrical productions about a strict father with a big brood of kids within about a month of each other. As soon as Joe Urbaitis (who played another proud, frustrated Papa in 2024’s “Fiddler on the Roof” at Music Guild) blew his […]
The Putnam Museum & Science Center is bringing back its beloved Polar Express Pajama Party, now celebrating its 19th year. The festive tradition will run Thursday, Dec. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 21. Since launching the event in 2007, the Putnam (1717 W. 12th St., Davenport) has welcomed thousands of families for a night of holiday […]
A three-year-old locally produced documentary will be shown Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, on WQPT PBS at 8 p.m. That’s when the public TV station will premiere “I AM disABLEd,” a heartwarming documentary that highlights the challenges and triumphs of students with disabilities, and their families, by following the journey of nine youths as they stage […]
The best performing arts not only offer us incandescent talent from those who share their dazzling gifts with us, but a welcome, necessary, tidy distraction from the chaos, craziness and cruelties of the real world. When you step into the magical fairy-tale world of the stunning new production of Spotlight Theatre’s “Cinderella,” the contrast could […]
The QC music nonprofit Common Chord has a lot going on this month. At Common Chord (2nd and Main streets, Davenport), a generous anonymous donor is offering to match all gifts to the Steve Trainor Fund until Dec. 31 up to $5,000. The fund is named in memory of Steve Trainor and his herculean contributions to the annual Bix Jazz Festival. “We […]
Less than a month after collecting over three million meals in the 39th-annual Student Hunger Drive, and thanks to emergency funding dollars, River Bend Food Bank and its hunger-relief partners are distributing six million meals to people experiencing hunger. President & CEO Chris Ford said the food bank is prioritizing speed and efficiency to turn the […]
Augustana College in Rock Island is writing the next movement of its sprawling symphony of success in choral music. The private liberal arts school recently named Eric Newell as director of choral activities beginning fall 2026, succeeding longtime conductor Dr. Jon Hurty, who is retiring in June 2026 after 30 years with Augie. “Eric Newell […]
Long before the acclaimed black comedy-drama “Succession” ruled prestige TV (on HBO 2018-23), two other intense royal power struggles ruled stages and screens – Shakespeare’s “King Lear” (1606) and James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” (1966). Logan Roy (the scarily intimidating Brian Cox) of “Succession” wasn’t an actual king, but a media king, utterly ruthless, […]
A special and urgently needed Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 26, from noon to 4 p.m., hosted by Spectrum Pub at 117 S. East St., Suite 1, Cambridge, Ill. Guests are welcome to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional fixings, including turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, corn casserole, and […]
After nearly 16 years and 402 episodes, the History reality series “American Pickers” will not film any more new shows, co-star Danielle Colby said recently. “We all have so many projects that we’re working on. I think it’s just the time for it,” she said Thursday, Nov. 20 from her new burlesque museum, Ecdysiast Arts […]
