DAVENPORT — Local musician Josh Duffee has long been a scholar of area legends like Louie Bellson and Bix Beiderbecke, and now he’s sharing his encyclopedic knowledge with a new online show, Bix Beiderbecke: A Driving Tour Around Davenport, taking place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday on Josh’s Facebook Live. “When I have the opportunity to travel the country and the world performing the music I love, I am proud to say that my family and I live in Davenport, Iowa, the hometown of Bix Beiderbecke!” Josh said. “The one thing I’ve heard the most from the... Read More

My son Jackson turned twelve this week. He is undeniably the best person I’ve ever had the honor of meeting, and I’m looking forward to continuing to experience the adventure of his life with him. And as that time goes by, he may ask me for the advice I’ve gained in my years before him and since he’s been born. That’s why I started writing this list of things I’ve learned and I wish my parents had told me. I started it shortly after he was born, and I’ve added to it and published it every year on his birthday since, and, now, I’ve published it in... Read More

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? Here’s your chance! QuadCities.com is seeking interested and hard-working high school and college students for our internship program. Interns will get professional experience (and potentially college or high school credit, depending on your school’s program) writing, doing videos and podcasting for the fastest-growing media site in the area, your site for fun, free, local entertainment and positive news, QuadCities.com! Want to find out if it’s right for you? Send an email telling us why you want to be an intern and a couple of samples of your work (any... Read More

DAVENPORT — Like many of his fellow musicians who are airing videos on Facebook and working to raise money during the Covid-19 pandemic, Don Gustafson is using the social-media platform for good. The 49-year-old Davenport man makes his living as a full-time musician – as bassist in the Q-C band Funktastic Five, assistant music director at Davenport’s St. Paul Lutheran Church, and adjunct music teacher at Black Hawk College, offering private piano, guitar and bass lessons. In response to the coronavirus, which has closed bars and restaurants, and put musicians out of work, Gustofson... Read More

Sunday, March 22, was an important day — and not only because it was the 90th birthday of legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, whose moving ballad “No One Is Alone” carries extra weight nowadays. In this crazy, continually changing time of Covid-19, this past Sunday was the first I can remember our church ever canceling its worship service. I have been piano accompanist at Davenport’s Zion Lutheran Church since 1999; performing each week and becoming close to many of its members have been highlights of my life. Among religious congregations nationwide that closed their doors,... Read More

Finally! Here’s some good news! Quad City Arts is pleased to announce the 2020 Arts Dollars grant awards to 24 nonprofit organizations, totaling just over $85,000. Since 1979, Quad City Arts grants have provided funding for local artists and non-profit organizations to enrich the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts. Since 1990 alone, more than $1,000,000 has been awarded. Arts Dollars funds are generously provided by the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency. The Awards go to: Capacity-Building Grants: Quad Cities Woodturners Education... Read More

Looking to check out some colorful artworks? Quad City Arts Art @ the Airport presents encaustic paintings by Cindy Lesperance (McHenry, IL), color reduction woodcuts by Cathie Crawford (Peoria, IL) and mixed media sculptural work by Dawn Wohlford (Bettendorf, IA) March 3 to April 28. Cindy Lesperance’s work will explore the abstractness of the earth when viewed from an aerial perspective. Lesperance uses encaustic medium (wax with pigment) to create smooth polished sections of color and then adds her signature drop technique to provide interesting textural areas. Each work becomes a composition... Read More

How would you like to step back in time and see how life was for the Great Plains Native Americans? Well here is your opportunity! Join Illiniwek Forest Preserve (1201 State Avenue Hampton) this Friday Sep 27 – Sunday Sep 29 for the 2019 Tipi Gathering! This FREE event will feature elements of the Great Plains Native American culture. Tour fifteen different tipis while enjoying music, drum circles and dancing. Here is a full schedule of events for this weekend: Friday Sep 27 School group day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will view tipis, learn history, and experience the drum circle and dancing.... Read More

Remember the days of loading up the family camper and setting out for a memory-making getaway? Take a step back in time this weekend, to a sun-filled summer day with some vintage trailers. The 5th Annual Great River Road Vintage Trailer Rally is taking place at Illiniwek Forest Preserve (1201 State Avenue Hampton) this week. More than 40 vintage trailer owners will be gathering together for a 4-day rally along the beautiful Mississippi. The rally will begin tomorrow, Thursday Jul 11, and will continue through this Sunday Jul 14. The Great River Road Vintage Trailer Rally is part of the Tin Can... Read More

Have you been wondering how you can do your part to help with the recent devastating floods in the Quad Cities? Xstream Cleanup, in response to historic flooding, is calling for volunteers for a one day, region wide flood cleanup. Flood Cleanup 2019 will take place on Saturday Jun 29 from 8 – 11 a.m. Multiple areas throughout Iowa and Illinois will be focused on, with a full list found at https://www.xstreamcleanup.org/upcoming-events. Xstream Cleanup is a Quad-Cities initiative to clean up our waterways with the goal of maintaining clean water for drinking, recreation, wildlife and commerce. Those... Read More