Tonight I got two phone numbers. I wasn’t trying for either, however I guess I still have game. Not many BBQ ribs around here are suck-the-meat-off-the-bone good. But hot damn Smokey’s Country Diner in East Moline is a winner. There I was minding my own business, gnawing every morsel of deliciousness off the bone when I looked up and saw his face. At first I thought he was disgusted. He looked away quickly and I continued my vigorous method until the bone was clean. Shortly afterwards I even licked my plate clean. Now, at that time, the person who I thought was the man’s... Read More

I think by now we’ve all heard about the carnage, the brutality, and the humanity of the Great Quad-Cities Pickle Wars of June 2021. For those unaware, the owner of Cafe Fresh made a lengthy post the other day claiming that her Cafe was in fact the originator of the dish which has been floating around the midwest for almost 100 years, and lambasted Meatball’s sandwich shop for having the audacity to add pickle wraps to their menu. The Quad-Cities erupted in brine and bile, putting the Cafe Fresh owner in quite the pickle as she was called out by hundreds of people for not, in fact,... Read More

Perspective. Context. They’re two of the greatest gifts you can give yourself throughout your life. Think about the things that seemed so important to you as a teenager. The people you wanted to date. The things you wanted to do. The goals you had, the friends you had. Of all those things, which are still important to you? Do the same thing for your twenties, or thirties, and every decade beyond depending on how old you are. Hell, if you’re a vampire, go back to the 1800s. If you’re one of the Eternals, ask yourself why you were sitting on your ass when Thanos was killing half... Read More

Working with local beer brewer Twin Span Brewing, the R.I.A. Federal Credit Union is relaunching its special label R.I.A. beer. The beer is called the R.I.A. I.P.A. and it is an India Pale Ale. A donation of $2 from every can/pint will help to fund the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities (HFQC). “We released it for a short time earlier this year and we’re now bringing it back by popular demand,” said Jim Watts, President/CEO at R.I.A. Federal Credit Union. This beer is a hazy IPA blended with blood orange puree for a bold fruity flavor with low bitterness. “We were very happy with the great... Read More

River Music Experience — with other local businesses and nonprofits that make their home in the historic Redstone building in downtown Davenport – has a lot to celebrate, including the planned opening of a new Zeke’s Island Café and re-starting of the free weekly Live@Five concert series. They all will celebrate the start of the summer on Friday, June 4 with their first outdoor concert of the year, and a building-wide Open House. The 1892 Redstone (129 Main St.) is welcoming its newest tenants, Underground Economy and Zeke’s Island Café. The building now houses two restaurants —... Read More

Today is last call for QC Craft Beer Week! Throughout the past two years, hundreds of craft beer lovers from 17 different states have blazed the QC Ale Trail.  The QC Ale Trail invites beer lovers on a self-guided tour of the local craft breweries across the Quad Cities region. To close out QC Craft Beer Week, there will be a QC Tap Takeover happening on Saturday, May 15 at Five Cities Brewing.  Starting at 11 a.m., it will be all QC craft beer on tap from our local breweries.  $1 from every pint sold will be donated to the River Bend Food Bank.  Lopiez Pizza will be there from 12-4... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – When Western Illinois University President Guiyou Huang isn’t taking care of business as WIU’s 12th president, you may likely find him doing what he enjoys outside of work … cooking for family and friends, among other hobbies. “Cooking, like many other things worth doing, requires resources and preparation and involves lots of creativity and even innovation, something that is much expected of the higher ed industry,” Huang said. WIU faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends are invited to join Huang in a virtual cooking show from 4-5 p.m. Saturday,... Read More

It’s almost your last day to quaff up some local suds as Quad-Cities serves up QC Craft Beer Week just in time for the second anniversary of the QC Ale Trail. Over the past two years, hundreds of craft beer lovers from 17 states have blazed the QC Ale Trail, according to Visit Quad Cities. The QC Ale Trail invites beer lovers on a self-guided tour of local craft breweries across the region, from Muscatine, Iowa to Geneseo, Ill. The Q-C craft beer community continues to grow, with three new breweries opening last year and Nerdspeak Brewery opening soon at 7563 State St.,... Read More

Local breweries will be spotlighted next week as the Quad-Cities serves up QC Craft Beer Week on May 10-15, just in time for the second anniversary of the QC Ale Trail. Over the past two years, hundreds of craft beer lovers from 17 states have blazed the QC Ale Trail, according to Visit Quad Cities. The QC Ale Trail invites beer lovers on a self-guided tour of local craft breweries across the region, from Muscatine, Iowa to Geneseo, Ill. The Q-C craft beer community continues to grow, with three new breweries opening last year and Nerdspeak Brewery opening soon at 7563 State St., Bettendorf. “Craft beer,... Read More

Hey, how about a pizza? You really can’t beat a great ‘za for comfort food in jenky times. In eras of uncertainty, there’s really nothing more certain that the delicious combo of malty crust, tangy sauce, gooey cheese and fresh toppings. Got your attention? You’re darn right we do. Now what you gonna do about it? Call up for some fresh pie? Good thing for you QuadCities.com offers you a list of local restaurants, bars and cafes that are going above and beyond to offer the community options to still get their favorite dishes – and here’s your list of pizza joints available for carry-out,... Read More