Austin Robertson is innately drawn to chalk pastel art. The 23-year-old Davenport artist, who earned an associate’s degree in fine arts from Scott Community College, was the first-place winner in the first Quad City Arts Chalk Art Fest in 2017, in downtown Davenport, and has taken part every year since. “Just watching the creations come alive – it’s fun to see them go from concept to finished piece,” Robertson, a Davenport North alumnus, says of his love for art. “It’s fun to see its progress.” In 2015, he won the best of show in Quad City Arts’ High School Art Show, a self-portrait... Read More

Live music returns to the banks of the Mississippi! Rock Island Parks and Recreation kick off their Thursday Night Groove Concert Series this Thursday Aug 13 at Schwiebert Riverfront Park (101 17th Street Rock Island). Beginning at 6 p.m., concessions will open featuring Happy Joe’s Pizza (Rock Island), grill items, popcorn, plus much more! A beer garden will be provided by Bent River Brewing Company, as well. From 7 – 9 p.m. you can enjoy a live music concert along the beautiful Mississippi River. Check out this 2020 line-up: Aug 13                Funktastic 5 Aug 20               ... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a comprehensive weekly feature looking at a trend, personality, or major subject involving the Quad-Cities arts and entertainment scene. Though he’s been unemployed for months, like millions of Americans, due to Covid-19, St. Ambrose University alum Brian Hemesath got good news late last month. For the third time out of eight nominations, the 48-year-old Iowa native won a Daytime Emmy Award for his costume design work on “Sesame Street.” Hemesath – who earned his bachelor’s in theater and art in 1994 from SAU – was among a team of 21 designers to tie for the... Read More

As bars and restaurants have been back open in the Quad-Cities, the two major movie multiplexes in the area plan to reopen this month, both with new health and safety restrictions. Cinemark, at 3601 E. 53rd St., Davenport, will open Aug. 14, and Regal, at 4100 38th St., Moline, will be back and running Aug. 21. Cinemark is doing a phased reopening nationwide – 16 theaters are now open, with 43 more on the 14th and the rest by Aug. 31 – and Regal is reopening all its U.S. locations on the same day. “There’s nothing quite as powerful as great cinematic storytelling on the big screen,” Cinemark... Read More

Things are not looking good for this fall in regard to covid-19. Numbers are spiking, the government has been pathetically inept in terms of dealing with the crisis, and the economy is once again on the verge of completely tanking. Unemployment is up, some industries are shut down through the end of the year, and others are teetering on the precipice of being shut down, maybe for good. I don’t know about you, but I’m so pessimistic I’m starting to stock up on toilet paper. That’s why it’s more important than ever to shop at your locally-owned small businesses now. Local... Read More

Fourteen years before Aug. 6 was burned into the world’s memory (with the 1945 U.S. atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killing more than 70,000 people), that date marked another impactful death. Davenport native and jazz legend Leon Bismark (“Bix”) Beiderbecke died Aug. 6, 1931 at age 28, from alcohol abuse and lobar pneumonia in his Queens, N.Y., apartment. His mother and brother Burnie were on their way to New York but arrived too late. Bix’s body was returned to Davenport with services on Aug. 11, 1931 at Hill & Frederick’s Funeral Home, and burial at Oakdale Cemetery,... Read More

Join the Northern Parallels 043 for another open-air event, Backyard Boogie Edition, this Saturday Aug 8 from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. at Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Avenue Rock Island). This free, all ages event (21+ to drink), will feature DJ Sets from Mike Derer and HIGGY outside of Rozz-Tox. Outdoor seating includes the LaborSpace park next door, the side patio and the backyard. Drinks will be available for purchase at the walk-up window on the side of the building. Masks are encouraged throughout the night and will be required to go inside to use the restrooms. No mask, no entry. For more information, please... Read More

Are you a local performer, theatrical actor, theater, or arts organization? We’re looking to provide you a virtual stage on the QuadCities.com site and social media! With covid rampaging, we know it’s a crazy time and we want to showcase your organization. No one can come to you but that doesn’t mean you can’t come to them. Along those lines, we’re producing a Virtual Cabaret called The Show Must Go On(line) and we want you to be part of it! The “live” event will air on our Facebook page on Friday, August 14 at 7 p.m. Submissions are due Friday, August 7 by 7 p.m. Use WeTransfer... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a comprehensive weekly feature looking at a trend, personality, or major subject involving the Quad-Cities arts and entertainment scene.   When Davenport jazz pianist and singer Freddy Allen returned July 25 to perform at The Grape Life Wine Store & Lounge, it was the first time the former regular played there since Feb. 28. It was a bittersweet occasion for the 50-year-old full-time musician, who has seen his livelihood decimated due to the raging Covid-19 crisis. “It was emotional, it was hard,” Allen said recently. “I’ve been one of those people, during... Read More

Flamingos have been flocking to the Quad City Botanical Center this past week and are ready to be judged. ​The Flamingo Follies exhibit will culminate at the QC Botanical Center’s (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island) Art in the Garden event this Saturday Aug 1 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission on closing day is included with admission to Art in the Garden, which is $10. The exhibit will be judged by Botanical Center guests. The three artist categories include adult, youth and professional. All flamingos in the adult and professional category will become a donation to the center and will be auctioned... Read More