After 11 weeks being closed due to the coronavirus, the Putnam Museum & Science Center is taking longer to reopen than many other Iowa businesses and organizations, in order to present a new visitor experience. The 153-year-old Davenport institution, at 1717 W. 12th St., has been closed since March 16, and is planning to reopen for small summer camps July 6, for members July 8 to 12, and to the general public July 15, with new safety precautions. Putnam president/CEO Rachael Mullins says the summer camps July 6-8 will be limited to just 10 kids each, to allow for more social distancing. When... Read More

One of my favorite local artists, Jon Burns, will be helping out the Black Lives Matter movement by donating 50 percent of proceeds from sales of his artwork in his current gallery to the movement. Pieces will be marked as sold when paid for and can be picked up by appointment at my living room window in downtown Moline. Burns’ art is a colorful and fun pastiche of pop art and pop culture images in a unique style. Send Jon a DM on his Facebook for interest. New pieces will be added throughout the month and you can check out his artworks in his virtual gallery here. Here’s a sampling... Read More

Quad-Cities Pride Week had to be canceled this year due to concerns over covid-19, but that doesn’t stop Pride Month from being a point of pride and celebration throughout the nation and the Quad-Cities! In celebration and remembrance of the event, here’s a flip through memory lane and some photos from last year’s event…  Read More

Several Q-C arts and cultural organizations received emergency relief funding, among 173 grants throughout Iowa announced Wednesday by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (IDCA). The department awarded more than $1.1 million in grants — $923,372 for emergency relief and another $178,000 in humanities grants to help Iowa cultural organizations rebound from the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Funding for the emergency relief grants was made possible by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The IDCA distributed CARES Act funds through its partnerships... Read More

Camp Hertko Hollow, which offers annual camps to children with diabetes, has decided to cancel its summer season of programs in lieu of the covid-19 threat. The camp released the following letter via e-mail: Dear Friends of Camp Hertko Hollow, In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and in the interest of the health and safety of all campers, volunteers and staff, Camp Hertko Hollow has made the very difficult decision to cancel our upcoming summer sessions. After careful deliberation and review of the health and safety guidelines provided by the government, CDC, American Camp Association,... Read More

Sept. 30, 2016 was one of the best nights of my life. At the Boho Chic Gallery in downtown Davenport’s Bucktown Center for the Arts, I was surrounded by friends, samples of Front Street beer (including its Bucktown Stout), and copies of my first book, “A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport’s Infamous District Transformed.” It was because of this quirky collection of art galleries and studios – which had a brief, busy, vital life from 2005 to this past March – that I was commissioned in August 2014 by The History Press to write the definitive story of the colorful east end of downtown... Read More

June is National Safety Month, and the Iowa Quad-Cities can certainly feel secure, according to a study by the website WalletHub. Today, the personal finance site released its report on 2020’s Safest States in America, as well as accompanying videos, and it listed Iowa as among one of the safest states in the U.S. In order to determine the most secure states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 53 key metrics. The data set ranges from the state’s coronavirus support to assaults per capita and the unemployment rate. Safety in Iowa (1=Safest; 25=Avg.) 26th – WalletHub “States Offering... Read More

We continue our journey to find the best Instagram walls in the Quad City Area! Here are six more top spots to make your Instagram pop. Ike’s All American Cafe Burger Wall – 635 15th Ave – East Moline, Illinois. Dude… it’s a burger… on a wall! Need I say more? Cabana’s Sea Wall – 2120 4th Ave – Rock Island, Illinois – Located across an alley from the now vacant bar that was once Cabana’s (you cant miss the shark on the roof!), this 2 story wall of sea creatures is a one of a kind in the QCA. Freight House Wall – River Drive – Davenport,... Read More

America in late May 2020 turned into a dystopian hellscape of grief, loss, and rage. A relentless global pandemic has killed over 100,000 U.S. citizens just since March; 40 million are on unemployment; a nation has been tense, restless and confused in shutdown, and 75 cities were plunged into chaos and violence this past weekend as thousands protested racial inequality and police brutality – including looting, rioting and death in Davenport late Sunday night. So, it is oddly comforting to find calm, methodical distraction in a new Netflix documentary that recalls a different kind of terror and... Read More

Ready to play Spark Golf? Spark is a 9-hole, recreational golf league where golfers play fun golf, connect with others and experience friendly competition. You can now experience Spark Golf every Wednesday night, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at Palmer Hills Golf Course (2999 Middle Road Bettendorf). Spark Golf is intended to be relaxed and fun with friendly competition. 2-person teams play a net better-ball format earning points during each league round. Play more rounds, earn more points and have more fun all season! Joining the league is free! League rounds are available for purchase each week or... Read More