Make plans to experience the Spooky Spotlight Spectacular: A Halloween Cabaret, this Thursday Oct 29 and Friday Oct 30 at The Spotlight Theatre (1800 7th Avenue Moline). Doors open at 6 p.m. and the fun begins at 7 p.m. Featuring performances by local singers, this fun filled night of Spooky Songs will be the perfect night to get you into the mood of Halloween! Come in costume to be entered to win various prizes! Cost: $20 in advance / $25 at the door Bar and concession stand will be open! Seating is limited to 50 people and masks must be worn upon enter. Visit https://www.thespotlighttheatreqc.com/... Read More

Put on your best costume and join the Moline Parks and Recreation Department for a Not-so-Normal Spooktacular trick or treat this Thursday Oct 29 from 3 – 7:30 p.m. at Stephens Park (7th Street and 15th Avenue Moline). This fun trick or treat walk is open to Moline residents, ages 3-12. You will visit a number of various stations to collect candy, trinkets, coloring pages, photo opportunities and more. Space is limited per time slot and pre-registration is required – you must register all children wanting to participate. You must come during your registered time (select time at registration). Social... Read More

Despite the Covid crisis, the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) — an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber – has been very busy for the past eight months. The result of all that work was presented Tuesday afternoon, as DDP executive director Kyle Carter unveiled a new strategic master plan to the Davenport City Council during a public work session. The 110-page plan (led by a New York-based consulting firm) will be added to upcoming city council agendas for further public input, and a vote to accept the final version is expected by December. Carter is most excited about providing hope... Read More

The second Rock Island Public Library/Augustana College Frieze Lecture, Tip of the Iceberg: Understanding the Bigger Picture of Pandemic Disease Severity with Dr. Rebecca Heick has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 5 at 2:00 pm via Zoom. Though the rising toll of COVID deaths is a major focus of concern and intervention, Dr. Heick’s remarks will note that mortality is just the tip of the iceberg. Less severe, but perhaps long-lasting, disease and after-effects of infection are much more common. As an assistant professor of public health at Augustana, Heick will consider the bigger prevention... Read More

Despite an online petition protesting theater cuts, the private St. Ambrose University in Davenport has decided to eliminate its award-winning theater major, but maintain faculty and programs. It’s also cut two theater staff positions. “It’s a disappointing decision, and a short-sighted one,” River Music Experience executive director Tyson Danner (a 2007 SAU alum) said Monday by e-mail. “I don’t believe the university’s leadership has an understanding of the value of the arts, or the important role SAU has (had?) as an anchor of our arts and culture community.” Steph DeLacy, an... Read More

Possibly the greatest GIF in the history of the young digital artform has been brought into existence and gained sentience. A short captured clip of a ravenous and behatted Khalil Hacker devouring donuts with violent bravado, has been captured for the enjoyment and enlightenment of humanity and the sharing of online residents by one Douglas Kutzli, Esq. Gaze upon its wonder, and marvel at its existence, humanity. In these troubling times, we need a light, a beacon of hope, and this GIF, of young Rock Island man Khalil, eating donuts, could very well be that hope. At least that’s what Morpheus... Read More

The 70-minute teen comedy/drama “Yes, God, Yes” is a sweet, slight and mostly satisfying film that deftly, gently tackles enormous, weighty subjects – sexuality, morality, religion, personal autonomy and responsibility, and the vast, disgusting hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. The 2019 film was written and directed by Karen Maine (who co-wrote the 2014 abortion-themed “Obvious Child”) and stars Natalia Dyer (of “Stranger Things” fame), based on Maine’s 2017 short film of the same name also starring Dyer as a shy, sympathetic, and secret rebel. The awkward, totally identifiable... Read More

Quad City Arts will launch its collection of online educational materials, called the Visiting Artist Series Educational Resources, this Wednesday. The website, found at https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-educational-resources.html, offers exclusive content from professional artists and ensembles, such as ballet fusion company Hiplet, pianist Barron Ryan, steel pan artist John Patti, Mexican folk/rock quartet Jarabe Mexicano, and National Players theatre company. Their contributions include brief demonstration videos, study guides, workshop-style videos, and more. This collection of resources stands... Read More

Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Moline-based Fourth Wall Films are certainly hoping the fifth time is the charm. After four previous nominations for Mid-America Emmy Awards (but no wins), the veteran documentary filmmakers received three more last week for their first docudrama, “Sons & Daughters of Thunder,” and another for their documentary “Becoming Harriet Beecher Stowe.” The Emmy awards (for TV broadcasts mainly in Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois outside Chicago) will be announced on Nov. 21 in an online ceremony. “We believe in the films and we’re glad the Emmy judges believe... Read More

There are awards, and there are VERY SPECIAL awards. Honors, even. And this weekend, Quad-Cities actor/musician/bon vivant Doug Kutzli was verily bestowed with one of the greatest honors that could be graced upon a local performer. Upon a search for “donuts near you,” Mr. Kutzli’s performer page came up, thus putting him in rarified company as the ONLY Quad-Cities entertainer thus dubbed as AN OFFICIAL DONUT NEAR YOU. This is the first time any local entertainer has come close to gaining such a status since actor, singer, and cocksman Russell Lee was handed the Aunt Connie’s... Read More