Boetje’s really knows how to cut the mustard. The world-reknowned Rock Island mustard company once more won the gold medal in the 2020 World Wide Mustard Competition. Boetje’s announced the honor on their blog: “We are very excited to announce that Boetje’s Mustard has once again received a gold medal in the annual World Wide Mustard Competition! This year we entered and won gold in the Deli/Brown category. “The description for this category, according to the official entry form, is: ” This mustard is usually tightly-grained or coarse and is the crowning touch to a corned... Read More

The curtain isn’t closing at Rock Island’s Circa ’21 Dinner  Theater, it’s only temporarily shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and, according to Brett Hitchcock, director of audience development, the show WILL go on! “Circa ‘21 will absolutely be reopening!” Hitchcock said in an e-mail. “We have no plans to close for the remainder of the 2020 season.  At this point we have no idea when we will reopen because, like every business in Illinois, we are waiting for the Governor to give us the ok to open. Sometime in the middle of June would be the earliest... Read More

As part of their commitment to small businesses, Lillie & Pine  are donating 10 percent of proceeds of sales through May 1 to Rock Island’s Ballet Quad Cities. Lillie & Pine sells naturally handcrafted bath items, which would be a great idea for Mother’s Day. An even better idea would be to purchase them this week to help out the only local professional dance company, but, ya know, just an idea. Ballet Quad Cities CEO Joedy Cook is stoked about being selected. “Be sure to visit their online store for locally made Mother’s Day, Graduation, and Birthday gifts and... Read More

Midwest Monster Fest 2020 is proud to announce it will be hosting C.J. Graham, who played Jason Vorhees in fan fav Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives, during the fest this Sept. 5-6 at The Rust Belt in East Moline! A 6’3″ former nightclub General Manager in the Los Angeles, CA market, C.J. Graham was spotted as a potential Jason Voorhees for Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives when he was playing Jason in a night club act, impressing the casting people from Reel Effects who were in search of a new Jason since the stuntman wasn’t coming across as imposing or powerful as they... Read More

Jason Platt is a man who wears many hats, and he talked about those various artistic chapeaus as well as his latest book about a certain hat, “Operation Hat Heist,” with Spotlight Theater’s Brent Tubbs for Spotlight Live Q&A this past Monday, Apr 27. Jason, a middle grade graphic novelist, is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (in Savannah GA). He was accepted into the National Cartoonists Society in May 2015, and his first graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures, made national recommendations. His second novel, Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat... Read More

Are you truly ready to experience “Saturday Night Cribs?” Oh, I know you might THINK you’re ready, but are you? Ok, ok, you’ve been warned. Circa ’21’s cast for the Rock Island theater’s “Saturday Night Fever” is going live on Facebook at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first episode of CRIBS: Circa ‘21 Quarantine Edition. Some members of the cast are still in town and ready to give you a tour of the cast house, discuss life in quarantine, and take your questions. They hope to see you right here on the Circa Facebook on Wednesday night!  Read More

Whatever artwork you have felt compelled to create during this time of uncertainty, Quad City Arts wants to share it with the public at a time when they hope to be able to gather socially again to celebrate the power of creativity.    All artists residing within a 250-mile radius of the Quad Cities are invited to submit up to two artworks of any medium created during the Quarantine period which began in March 2020, for a juried, group exhibition in Quad City Arts’ Rock Island Gallery from January 29-March 19, 2021. There is NO entry fee.  Timeline:  Friday, January 1, 2021: Entries... Read More

Trick Or Treat! Marc “Skippy” Price is coming to Midwest Monster Fest Sept. 5-6 at the Rust Belt! Marc is most known for playing Skippy on Family Ties, Price starred as Eddie ‘Ragman’ Weinbauer in the 1986 horror film Trick Or Treat. He appeared with Kevin Dillon in the 1988 action-adventure film The Rescue. He then hosted the game show Teen Win, Lose or Draw on The Disney Channel (1989–92). While hosting the game show, Price played the young American tourist calling himself Michael J. Fox in Killer Tomatoes Eat France in 1991. As a stand-up comedian, Price drew heavily... Read More

The Flamingo, the biggest openly gay event in the world, is moving from its usual destination of Las Vegas to the city of Moline, Illinois. The event features gay musical acts, clinics, and novelties, and is coming to Moline for the first time due to tax breaks and the fact that the mayor is the uncle of the one and only fabulous host, Spencer Gayman. Of course, this isn’t really the case; rather it is the plot to “Hello Fabulous!” the new audiobook from Rock Island author Jason Tanamor, the critically acclaimed author of “Drama Dolls” “The underlying story revolves around a straight... Read More

Are you an LGBTQ+ adult in the Quad Cities looking to stay connected to your community during COVID-19? Join The Project Quad Cities for a FREE virtual book club! Just fill out a quick RSVP form so The Project can collect an address to ship the book to. Reserve your spot by April 28. Please note there are only have ten (10) spots available. They will take registrations on a first come first serve basis. If they cannot accept your registration, they will inform you via email. Virtual meeting information will be shared with those who RSVP via email. Discussion Date: Monday, May 18 Discussion Time:... Read More