Despite the PGA Tour 2020 John Deere Classic being canceled this summer due to Covid concerns, it helped raise $12.22 million for 465 local and regional charities, through the annual Birdies for Charity program. Tournament officials Friday also announced that each participating charity will receive a 5-percent bonus in addition to the money raised through the Birdies for Charity program. This year, because of Covid-19 protocols, all checks will be mailed to participating charities. There will be no in-person check pickups. “Thanks to the incredible ongoing generosity of individuals, companies... Read More

The classic bromance of Faust bargaining with the devil, becomes a feminist, queer bond in a new Augustana College production opening tonight, Oct. 29, at the Brunner Theatre Center’s Blackbox Theatre. “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) stars students Lauren Larson as Faustus and Alyssa Frazier as Mephistopheles, directed by senior theater major SophiaRose Brown. Doctor Faustus has mastered every scholarly subject, so what is left to explore? Magic? Necromancy? When offered everything she desires for 24 years and a demon at her command, the temptation... Read More

Quad City Arts launched its new collection of online educational materials for the 47th-annual Visiting Artist Series on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The site, https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-educational-resources.html, offers exclusive content from a wide variety professional artists and ensembles, such as ballet fusion company Hiplet, pianist Barron Ryan, steel pan artist John Patti, Mexican folk/rock quartet Jarabe Mexicano, and National Players theatre company. Their contributions include brief demonstration videos, study guides, workshop-style videos, and more. This collection of resources replaces... Read More

Thirteen banks and credit unions serving the Quad-Cities have pooled their resources to give more than $130,000 to the United Way’s United for Equity Fund, created to address and solve inequities in education, income and health. Among the financial institutions are Ascentra Credit Union, Bank of America, BankORION, Blackhawk Bank & Trust, Blue Grass Savings Bank, Deere Employees Credit Union, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, Northwest Bank and Trust, Quad City Bank & Trust, R.I.A. Federal Credit Union, SENB Bank, TBK Bank and The Family Credit Union. “We are so grateful to the Quad-Cities... Read More

The inaugural Quad Cities Corporate Games (QCCG), a project of the Iowa Sports Foundation in partnership with Visit Quad Cities and the Davenport Parks and Recreation Department, will be held June 1 – July 31, 2021. Company pride, corporate wellness, employee engagement and team-building are all benefits for companies on both sides of the Mississippi River participating in the bi-state Corporate Games. “We are thrilled to launch the Quad Cities Corporate Games with our partners at the Iowa Sports Foundation,” said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “We have had a long-standing... Read More

Despite the Covid crisis, the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) — an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber – has been very busy for the past eight months. The result of all that work was presented Tuesday afternoon, as DDP executive director Kyle Carter unveiled a new strategic master plan to the Davenport City Council during a public work session. The 110-page plan (led by a New York-based consulting firm) will be added to upcoming city council agendas for further public input, and a vote to accept the final version is expected by December. Carter is most excited about providing hope... Read More

Despite an online petition protesting theater cuts, the private St. Ambrose University in Davenport has decided to eliminate its award-winning theater major, but maintain faculty and programs. It’s also cut two theater staff positions. “It’s a disappointing decision, and a short-sighted one,” River Music Experience executive director Tyson Danner (a 2007 SAU alum) said Monday by e-mail. “I don’t believe the university’s leadership has an understanding of the value of the arts, or the important role SAU has (had?) as an anchor of our arts and culture community.” Steph DeLacy, an... Read More

The 70-minute teen comedy/drama “Yes, God, Yes” is a sweet, slight and mostly satisfying film that deftly, gently tackles enormous, weighty subjects – sexuality, morality, religion, personal autonomy and responsibility, and the vast, disgusting hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. The 2019 film was written and directed by Karen Maine (who co-wrote the 2014 abortion-themed “Obvious Child”) and stars Natalia Dyer (of “Stranger Things” fame), based on Maine’s 2017 short film of the same name also starring Dyer as a shy, sympathetic, and secret rebel. The awkward, totally identifiable... Read More

Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Moline-based Fourth Wall Films are certainly hoping the fifth time is the charm. After four previous nominations for Mid-America Emmy Awards (but no wins), the veteran documentary filmmakers received three more last week for their first docudrama, “Sons & Daughters of Thunder,” and another for their documentary “Becoming Harriet Beecher Stowe.” The Emmy awards (for TV broadcasts mainly in Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois outside Chicago) will be announced on Nov. 21 in an online ceremony. “We believe in the films and we’re glad the Emmy judges believe... Read More

Ballet Quad Cities supplied a delicious, delightful Halloween treat last year as they performed a “Dracula Unleashed” at Moline’s new Bartlett Performing Arts Center. Given the craziness of Covid, the trick in this year’s holiday special promises to be literally more delectable, as the professional dance company offers a three-course, sit-down dinner and a lively, playful Halloween performance in the beautiful ballroom at The Outing Club on Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. All proceeds will go directly to Ballet Quad Cities, to keep the organization a viable part of the community... Read More