Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is hoping to re-open in July, with fingers crossed that all goes well with the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Owner Denny Hitchcock has issued a statement on the current state and future of the revered local entertainment venue. Released on Facebook tonight, it reads as follows: To Our Dear Guests, I hope this finds you doing well and remaining safe. Since a few weeks have passed since you’ve heard from us, I wanted to touch base and let you know what’s been happening – unfortunately not too much. We still have no one working in the offices and the phones are... 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

If you’ve been spending time stress cooking or baking during the COVID-19 quarantine, the Rock Island Public Library wants your recipes. In partnership with libraries throughout the Quad City area, the Rock Island Public Library is collecting recipes for a Quad City Quarantine Cookbook. Contributors are encouraged to share what they’ve been making or baking to document life during the historically-significant pandemic of Covid-19. “People have been quarantining themselves with their families, cooking from their pantries, and limiting trips to the grocery store. We believe it’s important... 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

Distribution looks different this year for the Rock Island Public Library Seed Library. This free resource is still a great way for Rock Island and Milan-area residents and organizations to cultivate their gardens this spring. The Seed Library is a free collection of seed packets suitable for the local Zone 5 growing area. Using the online form on the RIPL website, participants can request one of the following pre-selected packages: ·         Vegetable garden bundle ·         Flower garden bundle ·         Herb garden bundle ·         Grab Bag (mixed bundle) Each... Read More

It was baby’s first protest. My daughter,  Harper, is 6, and didn’t quite understand why we were there but she knew it was important and it was for some guy who died. Kids have empathy so she was on board. It was really something to see. And her reaction to it was awesome. She somehow got it. And it wasn’t hard to grasp the importance and grace of the event. Downtown Davenport. A beautiful Saturday evening. The streets filled with people. It could’ve been any other Saturday night, pre-covid, in the summer, during a festival, or even just a nice evening with the streets... Read More

There won’t be any bi-state fireworks along the river this year. The annual Red, White and Boom fireworks display in downtown Davenport and Rock Island has been canceled due to concerns and regulations tied in with the covid-19 pandemic. The date for next year’s event has been set for July 3, 2021. According to the event’s facebook, “Red, White and Boom always has been a bi-state event, and in the spirit of regionalism, we felt it was the right thing to do to move the event to a time when both states can participate.”  Read More

To help fill the need for digital connectivity while library buildings are closed for COVID-19, the Rock Island Public Library is temporarily repurposing its Library2Go vehicle as a traveling hotspot. Starting Tuesday, May 26, the mobile library will make stops Monday-Thursday in selected neighborhoods to provide mobile WiFi connections for up to 30 devices at a time. The new service assists Rock Island and Milan residents who need an internet connection to fill out the Census, apply for jobs, check on unemployment, or other tasks. There will be no public entry onto the vehicle. Weekly WiFi stops... Read More