The past 17 months certainly proved you can’t always get what you want, but this Saturday, for once, you can get what you need and a good dose of satisfaction at a special Riverfront Pops. On Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops returns to Davenport’s LeClaire Park with The Music of the Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards 1969. The Quad City Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n Roll Band with vocalist Mick Adams and a full rock band under the direction of guest conductor Martin Herman. Herman said Tuesday... Read More

Amy C. Novak has enjoyed a “straight A” year in 2021 – not only did the South Dakota native turn 50, the former president of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., recently started a new job as 14th president of St. Ambrose University, Davenport. Her top priorities, unsurprisingly, are also all As. Chief among them are affordability, accessibility and attainability, Novak said Tuesday in an interview at her office, to help the private Catholic school make progress on key issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). “When we look at the data at who is completing and attaining... Read More

Continuing a successful partnership it began last year with the old-world elegance of Davenport’s Outing Club, Ballet Quad Cities is kicking off the start of its 25th-anniversary season in the beautiful park-like setting Sunday, Aug. 22, with Ballet on the Lawn. Featuring a larger professional company, with many new dancers, the fun performances at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. will feature old and new favorites, including a new piece choreographed by Emily Kate Long with live music by violinists Amy Klutho and Victoria Rice. A charcuterie picnic box is available to order for $20 – but it must... Read More

Ruth Lee loves to visit “Cloud Wine,” and a special family connection helped her create a great, intoxicating fundraiser for another place close to heart – the Rotary Club of Rock Island. A former club president and head of the auction committee, she has helped organized “On Cloud Wine,” a big California wine auction that will begin online at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 and run through Sept. 2, with proceeds going to Rotary’s Frederick R. Houlton “Service Above Self” Scholarship Fund at Rock Island High School. “We never have done anything like this and it’s actually kind... Read More

Embezzlement, fraud investigation, and misuse of state research and development reimbursements wouldn’t seem at first glance to make fertile ground for comedy and romantic sparks. But they say write what you know, right? Jim Sederquist, a 39-year-old accountant who lives in Bettendorf and loves to write, adds up his years of number-crunching in supremely suspenseful, entertaining fashion in his first full-length play, “The Whistleblower’s Dilemma,” given a top-notch production at Playcrafters Barn Theatre as part of its original Barn Owl season. “New work is an incredibly important part... Read More

The 2021 Alternating Currents festival will showcase 120+ live performances, film screenings and art-related events from Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 19-22, at more than 30 venues across three downtown Quad Cities: Davenport, Rock Island and Moline. Designed to showcase the vibrant culture of our downtown areas, the annual event features a variety of indoor and outdoor events including musical acts, film screenings, a comedy lineup and many art-inspired activities. Alternating Currents is a festival featuring more than 60 national, regional and local acts over the four-day event at locations across... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! After a relentlessly punishing pandemic of 17 months (and counting) that’s attacked our bodies, souls and bank accounts, what could be better than four days and nights of free fun, on both sides of the mighty Mississippi? For the first time since it launched in August 2017, Alternating Currents is expanding in a big way beyond its downtown Davenport roots for 100-plus events... Read More

The Rock Island-based Midwest Writing Center is proud to announce receiving a $10,000 emergency operations grant from the national Poetry Foundation. These funds will be used to create and maintain accessible programming throughout the Covid pandemic. The Poetry Foundation opened an emergency grant program to support poetry and affiliated art organizations struggling during the pandemic, as an extension of its commitment to community in June 2020. The Foundation committed $1 million in emergency grants over two years at that time, and can now report this has doubled to $2 million in emergency funds... Read More

In order ensure the safety and well-being of all guests and artists, the new Mockingbird On Main theater at 320 Main St., Davenport, will require all guests, artists, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and media to show valid proof of full Covid vaccination in order to enter the downtown arts space, effective Sept. 1. Proof of vaccination may be digital or a physical card for the 40-seat venue. Children under 12 and unvaccinated patrons must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to attending an indoor performance, according to Mockingbird owner Tristan Tapscott. Additionally,... Read More

Reflecting urgent issues that dominated discussions nationwide in 2020-21, the Quad Cities Chamber this week honored a local Covid coalition and a St. Ambrose leader in diversity, equity and inclusion. The Chamber held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at Davenport’s Rhythm City Casino Resort. As part of annual awards, it recognized the Quad Cities Covid-19 Coalition as Business of the Year, and Ryan Saddler — St. Ambrose University’s first Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – as Volunteer of the Year. The coalition award honored contributions of the... Read More