Quinn Mei Lysaght majored in musical theater at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University, but she had the misfortune to graduate in spring 2020, when the world shut down due to Covid-19. Luckily, the world’s turned around – she took Manhattan by moving there Aug. 1, and Lysaght is making her regional theater debut in Circa ‘21’s new production of the wacky, naughty musical, “Disenchanted!” – based on some very well-known Disney heroines. She is literally living a dream playing three roles: Hua Mulan, Pocahontas, and Princess Badroulbadour, thrilled to be part of the Q-C premiere of what... Read More

When Jeff and Renae Hoskins of Rock Island adopted their adorable little girl from China in early 2008, they had no idea that eight years later, Ava and her family would be plunged into an unimaginable bout with a rare, advanced childhood cancer. Now 14 and starting her freshman year at Jeff’s alma mater, Alleman High School in Rock Island, Ava is in remission and wrote an introduction to Hoskins’ memoir of their extraordinary experiences – “From Cancer to Kinnick: Love Finds a Wave,” to be released Sept. 3 by Ice Cube Press of North Liberty, Iowa. “I hope that you will be inspired,”... Read More

BREAKING NEWS (UPDATED): At an invitation-only event Thursday night, the Figge Art Museum unveiled seven new acquisitions and a newly created Art Diversity and Equity Fund intended to combat the systemic inequality in the art world. The fund is supported by a lead gift from locals Jim and Michelle Russell of Russell Construction. According to a 2019 published research journal by the Public Library of Science, the diversity of artists in major U.S. museums illustrates the urgent need to focus on collecting and preserving the works of artists from marginalized communities. The study found that 85.4%... 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

A dozen outstanding Quad Citizens will be honored as part of the YWCA Quad Cities 3rd-annual Race Against Racism on May 22, presented by IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union. A special recognition ceremony will be held at the post-race party at Lindsay Park Yacht Club, Village of East Davenport. The race started in 2019, featuring a 5k run/walk and a 1-mile fun-run; however, the most important part of this event is honoring individuals who are standing firmly and intentionally against racism and doing this through their words, choices and actions, according to a Tuesday YWCA release. “At YWCA Quad... Read More

Xixuan Collins of Bettendorf, a biology professor at Black Hawk College, is taking her personal and professional experiences to heart to help other students facing special challenges. She and her family are starting an endowed scholarship, “ABC All-Star,” for students with disabilities at BHC. “ABC” are the initials of their son Ari – a 5th grader who lives with autism and ADHD. It also stands for “American-Born Chinese” (in tribute to their family background) and “all students can be stars and shine,” Collins said recently. Currently, there is no scholarship for these students... Read More

Welcome back to our look back at the strange and apocalyptic journey that was the arts and entertainment scene of 2020. It was a year unlike any other, that’s for sure, and we at QuadCities.com are recapping it this year in a series of stories through Dec. 31, and then we’re going to have the entire series of stories sent to a licensed shaman, a priest, an exorcist, and Oprah, in the hope that they’ll bless the coming 2021 and put this year behind us. If you want to check out our recap of January and February (the “normal” months), click here; if you want to read about... Read More

Eleven cultural organizations and three artists in the Quad-Cities were among those to receive a share of $7 million in new grants announced Tuesday by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. A total of 267 cultural organizations and 152 artists serving 118 Iowa communities will get funding, made possible by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, on Dec. 2. The department launched the Iowa Arts & Culture Recovery Program the same day and received more than 550 requests totaling more than $36 million by the Dec. 11 deadline. The list of recipients includes some of Iowa’s... Read More

Teen Anime Day is going virtual Saturday, November 21 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Zoom! Register here: https://davenportlibrary.libcal.com/event/7196938 The annual Teen Anime Day is going virtual! All Teens ages 11-19 are invited to register for a special Teen Anime Day To Go activity kit and to attend a special Zoom party with the Davenport Public Library, the Figge Art Museum and special guest, “JAPANNA” anna ito, founder at Japan Shinzen Art and Culture International! Each Teen Anime Day To Go kit will include cups of ramen, tea, and candy sushi supplies plus some simple crafts, drawing... Read More

The annual Teen Anime Day is going virtual! All Teens ages 11-19 are invited to register for a special Teen Anime Day To Go activity kit and to attend a special Zoom party on Saturday, November 21st from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Zoom with the Davenport Public Library, the Figge Art Museum, and special guest, “JAPANNA” anna ito, founder of Japan Shinzen Art and Culture International! Each Teen Anime Day To Go kit will include cups of ramen, tea, and candy sushi supplies plus some simple crafts, drawing activities, and swag. Registered teens will be invited to attend a virtual Teen Anime Day featuring... Read More