At one point in the original bluegrass musical “Big Rock Candy Mountain,”the witchy, bitchy character Velda decries the Depression-era theater in which the story takes place as “frivolous nonsense.” Well, in the midst of what seems like a greater 21st-century Depression (see: Covid, unemployment, racial injustice, political division and endless quarantine), I think a little mindless, frivolous nonsense is just what we need right now. Filmed recently at the Circa ’21 Speakeasy (featuring eight mask-less cast members), the 2014 musical – affectionately written and directed by Tristan... Read More

The Bureau of Cultural Affairs (BCA) at Western Illinois University will offer a series of five free, virtual shows for the Spring 2021 semester as part of “On the Couch – Virtual Arts Series.” The production company, BiCoastal Productions, is offering free shows to presenters like BCA during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to offer exposure to the arts to audiences. Each show begins at 7 p.m. on a series of Wednesdays. The schedule includes: • Feb. 10 – “The Red Hot Chilli Pipers” – Bagpipers who Rock – is the band AC/DC meets poet Robert Burns, with rock anthems sitting “comfortably... Read More

If you want to see the beguiling dancers of Ballet Quad Cities in “Love Stories” this weekend, you need to act fast. Ticket sales will end Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m., for reservations at the Outing Club (2109 Brady St., Davenport) for performances Friday at 6:30 p.m., or Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The first show is “Burgers and Ballet,” to celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend. Enjoy a casual evening of fabulous dance entertainment and dinner, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. for drinks. On Saturday, for the first show doors open at the grand ballroom at 1 p.m. for beverages and... Read More

Linda Phan does not consider herself a child prodigy, but the 11-year-old Bettendorf student is the youngest musician to perform as a soloist with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in recent memory. Linda – who’s in sixth grade at Riverdale Heights Elementary – won the Grand Prize at the 2019 Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles Concerto Competition. This past Saturday night, she joined the QCSO for the first movement of Wolfgang A. Mozart’s charming Third Violin Concerto, written when that child prodigy was 19, and you can buy digital access to the concert through March 9. It was performed,... Read More

When you can’t trust a random person claiming to be a time traveler on TikTok, really, who CAN you trust? Three out of five alleged time travelers on TikTok claimed that the Kansas City Chiefs were going to win the Super Bowl. And, well, we saw what happened. A romp of 31-9 for the Bucs. Tom Brady dominated the Chiefs and cemented his GOAT status with another Super Bowl ring, disappointing the Kansas City fans, as well as the one or two people who actually believe folks claiming to be time travelers on TikTok. Yes. It’s a sad day when you can’t trust random strangers claiming... Read More

About half a football field’s throw ago, I wrote a column about an alleged time traveler from the year 2485. I wrote it as a joke, of course, because I can only take time travel so seriously. As a concept, I find it fascinating, as I find all esoteric science and the ilk fascinating, and of course time travel has been proven theoretically possible, so I don’t completely discount it out of hand. However, I also use a generous serving of salt grains when reading about alleged time travelers. And I add limes and tequila. There are plenty of time travelers on TikTok, the social media platform... Read More

Two members of the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles (QCYSE) have been named winners of the annual Concerto Competition – a pianist from Alleman High School and a trumpeter from Pleasant Valley High. Last month, eight Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) members auditioned to win one of two prizes. The YSO Prize winner is typically awarded the opportunity to play their concerto at the QCSYE Winter Concert in February, accompanied by the YSO. The Grand Prize winner performs their concerto with the QCSO at the QCSO/QCSYE Side-by-Side Concert in April. Winners are selected by a committee consisting... Read More

Looking to order some food for your big Super Bowl party today? We’ve got you covered — and so do the vast array of Quad-Cities locally-owned restaurants! Check out our awesome listing of area restaurants offering carry-out, drive-through and pickup options! QuadCities.com offers you a list of local restaurants, bars and cafes that serve up a number of your favorite dishes. If you have information about a businesses not listed here, please feel free to send a quick email to eat@quadcities.com. Quad City Pizza Company 2724 Avenue of the Cities Moline            (309) 797-5600 Will... Read More

In this bitterly cold winter of our discontent, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra transports us to warm, bright musical landscapes in its latest digital concert. In a program literally focused on youth, the concert (recorded without an audience at Davenport’s Adler Theatre) features Felix Mendelssohn’s musical exploration of Italy’s culture and countryside in his joyful and energetic “Italian” Symphony. 2019 Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles Concerto Competition winner Linda Phan (who’s in sixth grade) joins the QCSO for the first movement of Wolfgang A. Mozart’s effervescent, charming Third... 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