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! If you look around while you’re enjoying a great meal at Food Affair Bistro in Bettendorf (and you should do both), you should know most of the amazing artworks were created by cancer survivors in the region – paintings by Kent Broadbent, Annawan; Gina Kirschbaum, Bettendorf; Tara Moorman, Cedar Rapids, and several by Laura Goldman Weinberg, Fairfield, Iowa. It’s a new... Read More

Today, on the 90th anniversary of the passing of jazz legend and Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931), Josh Duffee of Davenport changed his Facebook profile picture to a black-and-white photo of a 24-year-old Bix, from 1927. A passionate jazz drummer, teacher and bandleader, Duffee and his Graystone Monarchs (10-piece all-star band) will be performing a “Tribute to Bix Beiderbecke” tonight at the Bix Jazz Festival at the Rhythm City Casino Events Center, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport, where the festival is currently taking place. This is the 50th anniversary for the jazz festival,... Read More

Despite the brutal Covid pandemic, film and TV production in Illinois last year spent nearly $362 million, down 35% from about $560 million spent in 2019. Doug Miller of Davenport – who heads the Quad Cities Production Coalition – wants to see some of that money come to the Illinois Q-C area. He is working with state and local officials on establishing a regional film office in Rock Island, and is bringing Illinois Film Office director Peter Hawley to the Rock Island Holiday Inn on Thursday, Aug. 19, to talk about state filming incentives and financing. It’s among first events in the Quad-Cities... Read More

Community Heart & Soul is pleased to announce the Village of Cambridge as one of the first recipients of their $10,000 Seed Grant. The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program funds resident-driven groups in small cities and towns working to revitalize their communities by undertaking the Community Heart & Soul process. This grant and program provide the potential to transform the community through Community Heart & Soul, a resident-driven community development process that leads to increased local pride, more viable economic development projects, and stronger community... Read More

An outdoor concert Saturday night at Rock Island’s Schwiebert Riverfront Park will be super special for Alan Sweet, and about 30 of his closest musical friends. Co-founder and leader of All Sweat Productions – which specializes in bringing a diverse group of performers together in tribute to specific artists and/or albums – Sweet is reprising his first concert, from May 2016 at the River Music Experience’s Redstone Room, where he organized a Beatles tribute, including playing the landmark 1969 “Abbey Road” in its entirety. This Saturday, starting at 7 p.m., a stellar lineup of musicians... Read More

Veterans who put their boots – and roots – in Scott County now may be eligible for up to $8,250 in relocation incentives after the county’s new designation as a Home Base Iowa (HBI) community. The designation involves area partners including Scott County, the City of Davenport and the Quad Cities Chamber. The chamber announced Thursday the following incentives: $1,500 closing costs reimbursement from Scott County. Scott County provides this incentive to qualifying veterans living outside of the county who purchase a home in Scott County. $1,500 closing costs reimbursement from the City... Read More

The new Raccoon Motel live-music venue is back in business, at 315 E. 2nd St., Davenport, had a very busy first week and is looking forward to hometown favorite Lissie to return in a show Monday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. “We’re thrilled to have her,” Raccoon Motel co-owner John McDermott said Thursday of Lissie Maurus, a popular Rock Island native, who lives in rural northeast Iowa. “She’s a fan favorite, a personal favorite of mine. She’s fantastic.” On Aug. 3, Lissie posted on Facebook: “VERY excited to be playing at the new Raccoon Motel in my nearly hometown next Monday!” Over the... Read More

BETTENDORF – Pat Bereskin, owner of Beréskin Gallery & Art Academy, knows that art has the ability to take us away to a different place and transform our mood. She has built the next exhibition at her gallery around the theme of “Golden Light: Summer of New Beginnings.” It’s on display now, through Aug. 26 at the gallery at 2967 State St., Bettendorf. The public is invited to an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bereskin said the pieces from the 10 artists in the exhibition reflect expressions of hope and light. Artists whose works will be featured, in addition... Read More

Two years after its Moline theatrical colleague staged it, “Matilda: The Musical” will take its first bow at Quad City Music Guild on Aug. 6-8 and 12-15, at Prospect Park Auditorium, 1584 34th Ave., Moline. Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl (who penned the 1988 children’s book), the Tony Award-winning “Matilda: The Musical” (which debuted on Broadway in 2013) is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly... Read More

Davenport-based Total Solutions announced today it has hired Kristin Glass as its new president. Glass will replace Melissa Pepper, who has held the position since 2019. Glass currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. She has worked at the Chamber since 2006, where she started as a marketing intern. Over the past 15 years, she has worked in various roles, including Vice President, Membership; Vice President, Investment Relations; and Interim CEO from 2017-2018. In her current role, she integrates the chamber’s strategic work plan into the organization,... Read More