A New Year’s Eve tradition for the last nine years is back at The Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island as the theater welcomes Bottom’s Up Burlesque to ring in 2022 with an all new show!  “We’re thrilled to be continuing this tradition after having to skip last year,” said Brett Hitchcock, Speakeasy director of audience development. “The NYE shows are so popular with their fans!  They always sell out and there’s such a buzz in the theater!  It’s really fun to be part of,” said Hitchcock. Bottom’s Up will roll out the red carpet to ring... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid numbers have ripped up another 20 percent over the past week, omicron is surging around Chicago, statewide healthcare officials are pleading people to be cautious as hospitals are overwhelmed, and events cancellations continue as the possibility of another statewide shutdown looms. Health officials in Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, are warning that “suspected cases of the omicron variant are rising… and are likely to escalate quickly,” the health department said in a press release. “CCDPH is issuing Increased... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University Program Coordinator, Business Advisor Ann Friederichs, of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb 2021 Civil Service Employee of the Year. Friederichs, who was named the Civil Service Employee of the Month for June 2021, received an engraved clock and a $500 stipend from the WIU Foundation. She came to WIU in 2017, as a faculty assistant in the SBDC. In 2019, she transitioned to Civil Service and her current title. Her nominator said Friederichs has helped several small businesses flourish during the... Read More

It’s Sunday, and QuadCities.com proudly presents Fun10, a list of the top 10 things to do in the Quad Cities this week, and every week! Every Sunday, we drop a new Fun10, to give you a head start on your week and a heads up on what’s going on over the coming seven days. Check out Fun10 every Sunday for the details on ten awesome events happening around town. It’s a cool read, and a great way to get started planning your entertainment for the week. FUN10 — ten ways for you to have fun in the Quad-Cities, this week and every week, running every Sunday, only on your site for fun, free, local... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Shutdowns of performances, events and schools have begun to hit Illinois as covid numbers rage “out of control” and the omicron variant begins to make its spread across the state, as Gov. JB Pritzker hints at more restrictions and shutdowns to come. “This is setting up to be a very deadly COVID Christmas and New Years,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Friday in a video press conference. “Hospital bed availability has reached a critically low level, demand on resources is high and the wait times in local emergency departments... Read More

You’re down to the wire, no time to order online, and presents left to buy. What are you going to do? Come to Skeleton Key Art and Antiques, of course! On Saturday, December 18th you’ll find tons of great gift ideas – all priced to move! We’ve got a little bit of everything – Christmas decor, bath and body products, jewelry, antique furniture, clothes, vintage houseware, candles, cards, scarves, towels, original art, local games and more… the list is endless! From those big presents to stocking stuffers, we’ve got you covered. Hours for our Last Minute... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! When James Lambrecht came to teach music at Augustana College, Rock Island, nearly 34 years ago, Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts was already in need of a makeover. The building (which dates from 1955 and includes the 1,500-seat Centennial Hall) is finally getting one. Bergendoff, at 3701 7th Ave., Rock Island – named for Conrad Bergendoff, the college’s fifth president —... Read More

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Check out our Weekend in 2 Minutes podcast! Every week we give you a rundown of cool things to do in and around the Quad-Cities. It’s always fun, FREE, and local, and you can hear it here on QuadCities.com! Check out plenty of holiday-themed shows this weekend, from Deck the Halls at the Mockinbird on Main, to Winter Wonderland at Circa ’21, and more, in this week’s Weekend in 2 Minutes! Listen HERE!  Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid numbers soared to record highs yesterday, with almost 12,000 new cases of the virus, record hospitalizations and deaths, and with more omicron cases being identified in the state, both Gov. JB Pritkzer and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot are talking about more restrictions being put in place. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 11,858 new confirmed and probable cases of covid over the last 24 hours, a record high for 2021, and the highest since Dec. 1, 2020, when 12,542 new cases were reported. The state is now averaging more than 8,000 new cases per day,... Read More

I don’t feel like writing anything funny today. Just not in the mood. For the second consecutive Friday, I, and millions of other parents across the country, have had to deal with a bunch of hysteria over kids allegedly threatening to shoot up schools. In fact, this week’s threat went nationwide, as a trend on TikTok calling for a National Shoot Up Your School Day swept viral with such speed that by Thursday afternoon, schools across the country were all sending out e-mails telling parents about it and saying they were stepping up security, and would understand if parents wanted to... Read More