Anyone can be an artist, and while the fourth-annual Chalk Art Fest won’t be able to gather in person this year, Quad City Arts is committed to bringing this colorful street art event to the community. So it will take place virtually from Aug. 15 to 28 and anyone and everyone is invited to participate. Chalk artists can create their work safely at home, on their driveway, sidewalk, porch or balcony. Snap a photo of your masterpiece and send to Quad City Arts (via website or e-mail) by Aug. 28 at 3 p.m., and be eligible for over $1,500 in cash prizes, including a youth category (for ages 12-17)... Read More

Rock Island District dance club Billy Bob’s has announced they’ll be closing, at least temporarily, due to low business numbers caused by covid-19. The bar posted the following on its Facebook last night: One month ago when we were finally able to open our doors back up after almost 4 months of being closed due to Covid 19. We were pretty honest in reaching out to everyone and letting them know we really needed their support. We are not sure the reason for such low numbers. Probably due to people still wanting to shelter at home and perhaps due to the District needing to close at 2am... Read More

Viva La Divas is back! The Speakeasy (1818 3rd Avenue Rock Island) is thrilled to welcome back the areas premiere drag show Viva La Divas, this Friday Jul 17. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Seating will be limited due to social distancing so order early or you won’t get in!  Because parties cannot be mixed at tables, reservations can only be made for parties of 4 or 6 people. March’s special guest performer will be Speakeasy favorite, Ginger Snaps.  We also welcome back for the second time Roxie Hancock Now in its ninth year, Viva La Divas is the longest running... Read More

A little more than two weeks after the Mississippi Valley Fair announced it would scale back its offerings this year, including no big-name grandstand acts, on Tuesday it said it would cancel the 101-year-old tradition altogether. The fair, at 2815 W. Locust St., was scheduled for Aug. 4-9. “We have continued to work closely with the Scott County Health Department to ensure that if we put on a fair this year we met all the requirements of the principles shared by both organizations,” MVF general manager Shawn Loter posted Tuesday on Facebook. “Health leaders determined our safety plan was... Read More

In addition to offering remote WiFi access, the Rock Island Mobile Library2Go vehicle is now serving as a contactless holds pickup point and taking returns. To pick up, patrons pull up to a Mobile Library stop and call the number posted outside the vehicle. Library staff will bring reserved items out for contactless pickup. To place a hold, library patrons can use the online catalog, or call the library at 309-732-7341 for staff assistance. Don’t have a hold? Suddenly in the mood for a good book? Ask Mobile Library staff for a “Story Bundle2Go.” Item categories include choices for children,... Read More

Celebrate the flower that follows the sun with the Quad City Botanical Center! Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island) will be hosting Kindernature Summer Sunflowers this Tuesday Jul 14. Two sessions will be available from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 2 – 3 p.m. The sunflower, which is native to the Americas, comes in a variety of vibrant colors. Listen to a story and take your craft and snack home for a no-contact revised program. Attendance is limited. Kindernature is for kids ages 3 – 5. RSVP is required at https://bit.ly/2YC7e1m.   For more fun things to do in the Quad... Read More

Welcome back! It’s Monday, and you all know by now that means today you get your Video You Deserve. That’s right, every Monday, to begin your week with awesomeness, we, the kind, tender, gentle, loving, butt-kicking souls at QuadCities.com give you a cheesy music video to start your week with a laugh and maybe a weird video and catchy song or something. Now, today’s video is a Very Special Request, from a young woman named Kristy. Recently, Kristy wrote me a message with a Very Special Question: Why aren’t there more videos with shirtless, shaved, Dad-bodded guys wearing tight black pants... Read More

QuadCities.com has a chilling new ad dropping tonight on Creature Feature, airing every Saturday at 11 p.m. on digital channel 6.3! QuadCities.com is a proud sponsor of Creature Feature, featuring Dr. San Guinary presenting an array of cheesy and goofy old monster movies with some funny skits and commentary thrown in! You can see our ad tonight, but here’s a special sneak preview:  Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a comprehensive, in-depth feature on a topic, trend or personality impacting the Quad-Cities, posted every Saturday morning on QuadCities.com. This week we look at the various downtown businesses of the Illinois and Iowa Quad-Cities and how they’ve been impacted by, and have adapted to, the covid-19 pandemic.   The popular Rock Island Brewing Company (RIBCO), in the middle of The District at 1815 2nd Ave., has been through a lot since it opened in 1979. Hailed as a leader in Q-C live entertainment (its starry roster of guest acts includes Bo Diddley, The Wallflowers,... Read More

Ok, so about 50 percent of you hate Donald Trump. And, about 50 percent of you hate Joe Biden. But, probably about 90 percent of you, whether you like his music or not, think Kanye West is pretty freaking insane. This week, Ye, as the kids like to call him, was more crazy like a fox with the brilliant public relations stunt of announcing he’s going to run for president. Never mind that he hasn’t formally filed to run, and never mind that he’s way past the deadline to do so or be on the ballot in a vast majority of states, so technically, he has no chance. The fact that he announced it at... Read More