As part of their commitment to small businesses, Lillie & Pine  are donating 10 percent of proceeds of sales through May 1 to Rock Island’s Ballet Quad Cities. Lillie & Pine sells naturally handcrafted bath items, which would be a great idea for Mother’s Day. An even better idea would be to purchase them this week to help out the only local professional dance company, but, ya know, just an idea. Ballet Quad Cities CEO Joedy Cook is stoked about being selected. “Be sure to visit their online store for locally made Mother’s Day, Graduation, and Birthday gifts and... Read More

Rock Island Milan School District 41 has been doing an awesome job in helping to feed kids in need during the covid break — feeding both their minds and bodies. The district announced today that since March 23 they have served more than 13,000 meal kits to our students. That equates to more than 39,000 individual meals (based on the three-day meal packages in the kits). The next meal distribution dates will be Monday, April 27 and Thursday, April 30. While schools are closed, RIMSD #41 is offering a DRIVE THROUGH pick up meal service for ALL STUDENTS (PreK – Grade 12) who live in the... Read More

Well, you can forget about spring sports and concerts, and a whole bunch of other things you enjoy, unless you enjoy wearing masks, in which case YOU’RE IN LUCK! Illinois’ stay-at-home order has been extended to May 30, keeping a myriad of Quad-Cities businesses and activities closed through at least early June. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement this afternoon in an online press conference. Pritzker is also requiring residents to wear masks in public. The current stay-at-home order was through April 30th. “On our current trajectory, the state is projected to see a peak... Read More

Hold on to your hats! Jason Platt is back, with a brand new book for tweens, Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist! The book is the second on Little, Brown for Platt’s Middle School Misadventures series, and is available in online bookstores worldwide. The book follows a boy, Newell, on the cusp between tween and teen years, navigating his way through the strange and funny misadventures of junior high. It’s an evolution of Platt’s popular long-running comic strip Mister and Me. For more info from Jason, check out our conversation on the podcast QCUncut. Fans can also... Read More

For the first time since 1949, the sweet sound of music will not play in Prospect Park. Quad City Music Guild became the latest arts organization to cancel its summer 2020 season, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it announced Wednesday. Following a March 13 decision to cancel the planned spring show, “The Secret Garden,” at Music Guild’s April 21 board meeting, they decided to cancel the three summer productions (all already cast) – “Spamalot,” “Mamma Mia!,” and “Matilda.” “Our hope is to bring you these three shows, along with our previously canceled spring production, ‘The... Read More

Mercado on Fifth misses their Mercado Familia and has been thinking of ways to connect with all of them virtually! One way they have found to achieve this, is by creating a series of events online until everyone can be together again. Enjoy cooking videos, live music and more story-times! Experience “Story Time With Rosi” this Friday Apr 24 at 2 p.m. on Facebook. Rosalva Portillo will share favorite children’s books, in Spanish and English. Rosalva, a Quad Cities native, is the principal at Lincoln Irving Elementary School, one of the few dual language schools in the Quad Cities.... Read More

The dance has ended, for this year, at least. Ballet Quad-Cities, the only professional dance company in the area, has canceled its season. Ballet Quad-Cities CEO Joedy Cook released the following statement this evening: Greetings and good wishes for health and safety to all of you in this difficult time. For the safety of our community, dancers, staff and other team members we are cancelling the rest of our season, which includes The Sleeping Beauty and Ballet Under the Stars*. This was a heart-breaking decision, but have no fear – Ballet Quad Cities is made up of people that are resilient,... Read More

Earth Week is here! With the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day being Wed., April 22nd, the Faith Leaders Caucus of Quad Cities Interfaith, along with Living Lands and Waters, the Environmental Forum of PACG and others challenge you to help us plant 1000 trees in the QCA now! Red Oak, Burr Oak, White Swamp Oak and Persimmon tree saplings are available on a first come, first served basis. (See attachments above for information about each variety). The public is reminded to wear masks and use safe physical distancing when picking up their saplings. Even if you can only take one tree – please come and... Read More

Looking for a fun way to incorporate an Earth Day celebration this Wednesday while remote learning? Join Stable Vibes Yoga online for Kids’ Earth Day Music/Yoga this Wednesday Apr 22 at 2 p.m. This interactive event with live music and yoga will provide a fun way to celebrate our planet! The cost for this experience is only $10/household and will give your kiddos 45 minutes to play, laugh, and learn with Country Music Artist/Yoga Teacher, Angela Meyer! Angela will be playing some music with her guitar and leading the kiddos through a fun yoga flow perfect for Earth Day! Register here and watch... Read More

According to an announcement just made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, all Iowa schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, with distance learning via computer remaining in place through the end of the curriculum year. Chicago’s NBC 5 just broke the story, and QuadCities.com broke the story locally, that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will be making an announcement at 2:30 p.m. today closing all Illinois schools through the end of the current curriculum year. According to the Iowa story posted by KWWL News 7 Iowa City, the state school districts will be required to continue... Read More