If Lora Adams’ name is on something there’s one guarantee: it’s going to look AMAZING. And Black Box’s Turn of the Screw is no exception to that rule. The latest offering from the intimate Black Box – and ONLY live theatre event in the Quad Cities this summer – looks and feels as eerie as it should. This particular production has that Disney detail thing going on. It’s like a bunch of Imagineers flew in from Anaheim and rocked a stellar set, lighting and costume design. It looks THAT good. The “Imagineers” in the case are set designer (and director) Lora Adams,... Read More

WALT’S WHITE CHICKEN CHILI This is a banging dish and I know you’ll dig it! Here’s with you will need: 1 pound of chicken 1⁄2 bag of frozen corn 1 can black beans 1 can great northern beans 1 can diced green chilies 1 lime 2⁄3 cup canola oil 5 cups of chicken broth 1 8oz cream cheese 2 tsp onion powder 2 tsp garlic salt 2 tsp red pepper flakes 2 tsp oregano 2 tsp cumin 2 tsp paprika A liberal amount of salt and pepper to taste Here’s what you will need to do: Cut the chicken and season with 1 tbsp of everything listed In another pot, bring cream cheese, chicken broth and 1 tsp... Read More

A number of years ago I hurt my hip in a rehearsal of RENT and a friend of mine coined the phrase Grand Pappy Tappy and it’s been dark for years but now… the name has risen! It seemed apt for this particular dish! Here’s with you will need: 1 chicken breast 1 Andouille sausage 1 can corn 4 tbsp Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning 2 cups of brown long grain rice ⅔ cup canola oil 4 cups of chicken broth 2 cups vegetable juice 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic salt 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp thyme 1 tsp parsley A liberal amount of salt and pepper to taste Sprinkle on Cajun seasoning to taste Here’s... Read More

The local arts scene took a huge blow this spring when Covid-19 shut down the entertainment industry. But it takes a lot more than a pandemic to get Quad-Cities artists down and out. And it takes even more to get the big idea makers to stop dreaming. Enter Royce Barnett, Mr. Crunk Chocolate. Barnett, a Quad City resident and popular voice on social media and podcast platforms, where he often posts under the name Crunk Chocolate, has launched Quad-Cities Repping, a one stop shop Spotify playlist of Q-C artists. “The Ultimate Goal is to have The most complete Q-C Anthology of our local artists,”... Read More

CAPTAIN JACK’S CARIBBEAN JERK CHICKEN This is a new one for me but the heat is on in the QCA so we might well take the dishes south and pretend we are in the Caribbean! Here’s with you will need: 1 pound of chicken tenderloins 1 can red beans 3 tbsp creole seasoning 1⁄2 bag of frozen corn 2 cups of brown long grain rice 4 tbsp canola oil 2 1⁄2 cups of chicken broth 1 3⁄4 cups of coconut milk 1 tbsp onion powder 2 tsp garlic salt 2 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp thyme A liberal amount of salt and pepper to taste sprinkle on creole seasoning to taste. Here’s what you will need to do: Cut... Read More

What if “Love Is Blind” met “Tiger King?” It’s Netflix and maybe not so chill, as Tristan Tapscott takes another swipe at the “Tiger King” phenomenon in the latest episode in his new comedy series of short videos, “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” for QuadCities.com. Watch and enjoy, as Tristan proves himself a multiple-threat, taking on the roles of Joe, Carole, and, yes, MORE, in this hilarious video, and stay tuned for more episodes of “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com!  Read More

You think this pasta is funny? Funny, how? Like a clown?! It’s a pretty rad and a little different and I think you’ll dig it! Here’s with you will need: 1⁄2 pound of ground beef 3 tomatoes 2 tbsp parmesan 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp onion powder 2 tsp garlic salt 1 tsp basil 1 tsp oregano 2 tsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp red pepper flakes (or more) A liberal amount of salt and pepper to taste   Here’s what you will need to do: Cut tomatoes Mix 1 tbsp parmesan, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp basil, 1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp red pepper... Read More

Actor, director, writer, raconteur, mojito enthusiast and general man-about-town Tristan Tapscott has tackled the “Tiger King” phenomenon in the latest episode in his new comedy series of short videos, “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” for QuadCities.com. Watch and enjoy, as Tristan proves himself a multiple-threat, taking on the roles of Joe, Carole, and, yes, MORE, in this hilarious video, and stay tuned for more episodes of “Oh Geez, It’s Tristan Again…” on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! Oh,... Read More

There’s nothing seemingly structured. There’s nothing seemingly rehearsed. And that’s PART of what makes Chapelle’s surprise special on YouTube, aptly entitled 8:46 (after both the amount of time George Floyd was choked to death on film, and a surprising detail about Chappelle’s own life) so searing and necessary. Like the movement itself and the 400+ years of oppression black humans have experienced, it is ragged and honest and brutal and unrefined. This dialogue Chappelle presents is something of this moment and something the world needs. It finds itself less stand up special... Read More

When I was in the cast of Kinky Boots some of us didn’t have a lot to do and would y’all about food constantly. And we were always hot on burgers! This is a tribute to cube movers of Kinky Boots and the beloved burger of our dreams! Here’s with you will need: 1⁄2 pound of ground beef 1 jalapeño 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp red pepper flakes (or more) 1 1⁄4 cup of tomato juice A liberal amount of salt and pepper to taste Here’s what you will need to do: Cut 1 jalapeño in any way you’d like Put said jalapeño in a blender with the the onion powder, red pepper flakes,... Read More