Fontana is in southern California, over 1,800 miles from the Quad-Cities, but that didn’t stop Yuji Baba, a graphic designer and illustrator there, from using The Force (and his amazing talent) to win the Quad City Arts Chalk Art Fest. The 30-year-old California native, who was raised in Osaka, Japan, won the first place of $500 with his gorgeous rendition of a book cover featuring Natalie Portman as Padme from the “Star Wars” prequels. “I’m so honored,” Baba said Monday. “If I had other graphic design work, I would not have been able to enter this festival.” For the fourth-annual... Read More

How do you spell an upcoming film blockbuster? Add star Adam Driver to a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Bettendorf natives Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-produced by the legendary Sam Raimi. “We’re still pinching ourselves with this news,” Beck and Woods tweeted on Tuesday of the planned pic “65.” “Adam Driver will be the star of the next film we’re directing for Sony. He’s one of our favorite artists on the planet. Can’t wait to share this special movie with all of you.” In May, Variety reported a reunion for Beck and Woods (both 35-year-old Bettendorf... Read More

Brent Tubbs is a seriously talented improv comedy veteran. A graduate of The Second City Conservatory in Los Angeles, he was a member of multiple improv and sketch comedy groups throughout L.A., has done improv in the Quad-Cities and was a member of Reduced Shakespeare Company, performing around the world. So needless to say, Brent and his seriously talented wife Sara (a musical theater veteran) know how to improvise and get creative. The co-owners of The Spotlight Theatre, 1800n 7th Ave., Moline, continue to come up with ways to entertain, enlighten and educate the Quad-Cities community – even... Read More

The TaxSlayer Center in Moline will join with live-music venues across the U.S. Tuesday to literally or virtually light their facilities in red to promote passage of more federal financial assistance, covering lost income due to the pandemic. Spearheaded by the #WeMakeEvents coalition, the #RedAlertRESTART campaign seeks to bring awareness to the dire situation live music faces if Capitol Hill does not supply support for venues that have been shuttered since mid-March to slow the spread of Covid, according to a recent piece in Billboard. On Tuesday night, the venues are encouraged to be lit red... Read More

Come and enjoy a night filled with Disney songs, performed by some amazing local performers! The Spotlight Theatre (1800 7th Avenue Moline) will be hosting A Night of Disney! this Friday Sep 4 and Saturday Sep 5 at 6 p.m. Performances will take place outside in the parking lot, with The Spotlight Theatre acting as a beautiful backdrop, so you can enjoy some Disney under the stars! Ticketing is limited to 50 people right now. If weather does not allow an outside performance, it will be moved inside to the 600-seat theater with a 50-person limit and social distancing measures implemented. Masks are... Read More

Join the Figge Art Museum virtually for a conversation with renowned Los Angeles photographer George Rodriguez this Thursday Sep 3 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. George Rodriguez will speak about his nearly six-decade career photographing the Los Angeles Chicano community and celebrities of film, TV, and music. This program is offered in conjunction with the exhibition Magnetic West: The Enduring Allure of the American West. This live online program is free but advanced registration is required. After registering at https://sales.figgeartmuseum.org/performance.aspx?pid=1488, you will receive... Read More

Welcome to the QuadCities.com Virtual Art Gallery! In this feature, we’re spotlighting area artists and their work. Every Tuesday we’ll feature a new local artist. It’s free and our way of showcasing awesome area artists and allowing them to include a link to their own online gallery or patreon! If you’d like to be included in the gallery, just send your bio, a headshot pic of yourself and up to a half-dozen .jpgs of your art to Sean@QuadCities.com. We look forward to featuring you and your artworks in our gallery! This week’s artist is Shy Brewer, whose abstracts and portraits... Read More

Got a perfect pupper? A great good boi? A darn awesome doggo? QuadCities.com wants to feature your dog in our new Pupper Of The Week feature! Just send a picture of your pet with their name, your name, and a sentence or two about them and we’ll post their pic and story on QuadCities.com. Message your doggo pics and info to Sean@QuadCities.com. And get ready to check out some cool doggos on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! Today’s doggo is the buddy of Kate Price. She writes, “My Baya…..a few sentences just isn’t enough room to describe... Read More

More than 170 fans of independent film converged on the Midway Drive-In Theatre in Sterling, Ill., for the first-annual Northwest Illinois Film Festival on Aug. 26. Most came from the Northwest Illinois region, some from Chicagoland, and one flew in from Los Angeles, according to the festival organizer, the Northwest Illinois Film Office (NIFO). The event was a celebration of Illinois indie filmmakers, featuring 11 short films — the night’s theme was “Shorts-A-Palooza.” “The feedback from both the audience and the filmmakers was very positive,” NIFO executive director Gary Camarano... Read More

Get your Fair Food Fix at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds (4200 Archer Drive East Moline) this week! Westmoreland Concessions will be at the Fairgrounds between Tuesday Sep 1 and Monday Sep 7. Hours will be 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily, except for Sunday when the stand will close at 5 p.m. Enjoy some Corndogs, Funnel Cakes, Nachos, Fried Cheese on a Stick, Deep Fried Oreos, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, Soda and Tea. And the best part? Everything is only $5! Fulfill that fair food craving you’ve been dealing with all summer! For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/324947621886163/.   For... Read More