Quad City Arts is helping promote a new grant opportunity for artists to help combat rampant vaccine hesitancy nationwide. It is posting the fact that Arts Alliance Illinois is looking for practicing local artists (any medium) whose audiences reach Illinois residents under 35 years old, people of color, and women. Ideally, these artists have audiences and followings in the target demographics. The artists themselves do not have to fit within said demographics. The goal of the Arts and Vaccination Campaign is to encourage Illinois residents to combat Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, and to support Illinois... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: As the Covid-19 vaccine becomes more readily available, more efforts in the Quad-Cities are taking shape to encourage more people to not throw away their shot. UnityPoint Clinic – Express Duck Creek is welcoming walk-in vaccine appointments seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Now, anyone age 12 and up can now get their Pfizer vaccine by simply walking in at the Express Duck Creek located at Kimberly and Middle Road, Bettendorf. Residents of both Illinois and Iowa are welcome to receive their vaccine at this location. “We are trying to do our part to make sure the vaccine... Read More

Working with local beer brewer Twin Span Brewing, the R.I.A. Federal Credit Union is relaunching its special label R.I.A. beer. The beer is called the R.I.A. I.P.A. and it is an India Pale Ale. A donation of $2 from every can/pint will help to fund the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities (HFQC). “We released it for a short time earlier this year and we’re now bringing it back by popular demand,” said Jim Watts, President/CEO at R.I.A. Federal Credit Union. This beer is a hazy IPA blended with blood orange puree for a bold fruity flavor with low bitterness. “We were very happy with the great... Read More

Like Cake? The band, not the bakery item. Well, ok, you can like the bakery item too, but this event is more about the music. Have Your Cake is coming to RIBCO for a CAKE Tribute Show Saturday May 22nd starting at 9:30PM! At Rock Island BREWING COMPANY 1815 Second Ave. Rock Island, IL 61201 309-793-4060 www.ribco.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaveYourCakeBand  Read More

Cynthia Tidwell, President and CEO of Royal Neighbors of America, is the 2021 recipient of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) Forum 500 Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented annually to a member of the ACLI Forum 500 whose work exemplifies life insurers’ commitment to helping all Americans – regardless of where or how they work, their life stage, or the economic status of their household – to protect their family’s financial future. The Forum 500 is composed of small- and medium-sized life insurance companies that serve consumers in communities across the United... Read More

I feel bad for Matthew Perry. Let’s face it, the road after “Friends” has not been kind to the once-ubiquitous ’90s star. From alcoholism to rehab to flop films and shows, Perry has pretty much been on the downward slope since his career peak with one of the most popular sitcoms of the ’90s, and beyond, on streaming services. The career paths of any “Friend” not named Jennifer Aniston have followed more or less the same path — albeit with considerably less personal drama. All of the other “Friends” have pretty much settled into being much... Read More

Quad City Arts is having an in-person artist reception for its current exhibit at 1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island, on Friday, May 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free and beer, wine and pre-packaged snacks will be served. Face masks will be encouraged, but not required in conjunction with the new CDC and state guidelines, according to Quad City Arts. The featured artists – Peter Xiao, art professor at Augustana College, and sculptor Ioan Marcu of Davenport – will speak about their works at 7:30 p.m. Xiao presents a mixed body of work, “INundATIONs,” completed through the year of the... Read More

SPECTRA Lives! Finally, an outdoor #SPECTRA reading! Join us at our natural home, Rozz-Tox,  2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island, on May 22 at 7:30pm for a beautiful and much-anticipated live reading! Featured readers Beth Roberts, XH Collins, and KayLee Chie Kuehl! Stay tuned for info on limited open mic spots! Reading followed by a DJ set from Pat Stolley! Rozz-Tox window will be open for all the delicious eats & drinks! *Masks + social distancing in place & masks required to enter to use the bathroom* Free & open | Donations Appreciated Stay tuned for more info! #mwc #mwcqc #midwestwritingcenter... Read More

If you get your Covid vaccine at the Rock Island County mass vaccination clinic in Milan 2 and 3 p.m. today, there will be something special that’s literally music to your ears. Taking inspiration from famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s recent impromptu performance during his Covid vaccine observation period, the Rock Island County Health Department and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) are partnering to bring live music to the mass vaccination site at Camden Centre in Milan, and TODAY is the last day for the performances! “Vaccine Variations” is an initiative that arranges for one-hour performances... Read More

Seven bands from the QC Rock Academy will perform at a free summer kickoff concert at Rock Island’s Schwiebert Riverfront Park on Saturday, May 22, from 5 p.m. to 10 p,m, The bands (totaling more than 35 teenage students) are Been There Done That, Strictly Business, Crushed Monkey, Made Ya Look, Daze Off, Tell Tale Heart and Nonetheless, plus an “All-Star Jam” to end the night, comprised of a half-dozen members of different bands playing together. There will be a few opening acts starting at 5 p.m. — Mike Diehl with Hallie Shemek, Grace Bryant and Makayla & Aleigha Navin. This event... Read More