From wine to Wayne to a wace, er, race, there’s a lot going on in downtown Moline Centre this weekend. Here’s the rundown: Barley & Rye Bistro will be hosting a 5-course wine dinner Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Showcasing Pedroncelli from Dry Creek Valley, California, Chef Jarod will be preparing mouth watering meals paired with distinct wine pairings for your culinary pleasure.  This is an evening you won’t want to miss so call for reservations today. Also happening Thursday, Moline Centre Thursday Night Concerts on The Plaza at Bass Street Landing will feature 50 Shades of Rock presented... Read More

Moline’s Fourth Wall Films has been selected to produce a visitor center film for South Dakota’s newest state park — Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls.  Mid-America Emmy® nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle successfully competed with 42 proposals by 36 other companies nationwide to win the $276,000 contract from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department. The Good Earth State Park at Blood Run Visitor Center film will present the fascinating story of this historical and cultural site as told by a Native American grandfather to his grandchildren. ... Read More

Time to stir up the Gumbo again. Gumbo Ya Ya,  Mardi Gras in The District, returns to downtown Rock Island Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, bringing the atmosphere of New Orleans to the Quad-Cities for its 24th consecutive year. A variety of New Orleans style music will be performed over the weekend including zydeco, blues, and more. Louisiana style food will also be available through various vendors and a “French Quarter” marketplace will offer gifts and novelty items. A street magician, David Casas, will perform David Blaine-style tricks among the crowd on Friday night (which will... Read More

A man’s worth is determined by the number of people who feel more valuable for having been in his presence. And in this way, Bob Murdock was one of the richest men in the Quad-Cities. “Dr” Bob Murdock passed away late Sunday night and since then a large part of the Quad-Cities community has been awash in shock and sadness over the loss of a great man, a longtime beacon of the community and a good friend. Murdock grew up in Ohio and moved to the Quads in 1991 to help open the long defunct Funny Bone Comedy Club. But like so many things in life, the plans we make often lead us to the destiny... Read More

Fans of the Retro Rally and Street Fair are ready to twist again like they did last summer, with a whirl of ‘50s-themed nostalgia and cool events for the whole family at the fourth annual shindig hitting Rock Island’s college hill Saturday from noon to 5. Memories of rallies past continue to drive the success and crowd numbers of the annual Retro Rally and Street Fair in Rock Island’s college hill, and have driven up expectations for this year’s event. “This year’s event is going to be much bigger, much better!” said organizer Jennifer Horvath, who also owns one of the participating... Read More

The car chases. The witty banter between Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. The redneck hijinks of Jackie Gleason and his bumbling array of cops hot in pursuit. If you smiled at the mention of any of those things, you’re probably a fan of the 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit,” and if you are, you’ll want to check out the BanditRun, coming to town Thursday to LeClaire, Iowa, and Friday and Saturday, to Davenport. Around 100 replica Trans Ams, semis and the police cars from the movie have been traveling across the country since May 27, rolling through Sandusky and Dayton, Ohio, Nashville, Indiana... Read More

Billy Bad Bass isn’t going to stand a chance. It’s time, once again, for the annual fishing rodeo at Riverside Pond in Moline. The Moline Conservation Club, Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities, and the Moline Police Benevolent Association are holding the event will be held Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration begins at 7 a.m. sharp and is limited to the first 150 fishermen between the ages of 5 and 15. All rodeo contestants must register, have their fishing pole tagged, and receive a bib that must be worn during the rodeo. A special prize fish, Billy Bad Bass and his henchmen, all... Read More

Kids around the Quad-Cities are celebrating the end of the school year, and that means that parents around the Quad-Cities are asking themselves what they’re going to do with their kids now that school is out. Junior Theater offers some solutions that are entertaining, artistic and educational for kids this summer. Founded in 1951, DJT is the second-oldest children’s theatre in America that produces theatre “For Kids, By Kids”. Programming is available for kids ages 3-18. With a goal of teaching kids to present themselves clearly, confidently, and creatively.  Summer classes start the... Read More

As the weather gets warmer, the sounds of live music begin wafting through the humid air in all the Quad-Cities’ downtowns, and Moline is one of the first to open its stages to tunes. The River House Music Under the Stars series is already under way with Soul Storm hitting the stage on May 27 at 7 p.m. Other upcoming acts include longtime local faves Lynn Allen on July 11. Moline Centre’s Thursday Night Summer Concert Series kicks off their season with The Tailfins, presented by General Pattern Corporation, on June 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. on The Plaza at Bass Street Landing.  Check out the... Read More

The city of Rock Island needs to stop pining like John Cusack lofting a sad boom box of tax incentives outside the window of the richest people in America and instead turn that attention to where their music could really be heard and appreciated – ringing through the streets of its downtown. For months, Rock Island has been panting after a Walmart location on 11th Street, and as most cities do, they have thrown a boatload of incentives at the owners of the chain, the Walton family, who need it about as much as Scrooge McDuck needs another bed of gold bars. Listen, I get it, guys. Walmart is a... Read More