On Saturday, September 24, 2016, the Family Museum will open Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tết Festival, a new exhibition to promote understanding of Vietnamese culture. Children and their parents throughout the country will delight in the opportunity to discover the beauty, sights, and sounds of Vietnam through its most important celebration of the year, Tết. Funded through a highly competitive national initiative by the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series and developed by Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, the Voyage to Vietnam exhibition is traveling to nine... Read More

The freedom to read and access ideas can transform lives – but when books are challenged or banned outright, readers are blocked from seeing all viewpoints and perspectives. That’s one of the reasons why libraries and bookstores focus on the harm of censorship during Banned Books Week, Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, 2016. On Tuesday, Sept. 27, local authors, librarians and other lovers of freedom will stand up for their right to read during a public reading of banned and challenged works at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. The free event takes place in the library Community Room,... Read More

Everything from fall crafts to ice cream to art to a marathon is helping Moline Centre feel like fall this coming week. The Moline Rotary Club is sponsoring a FREE ice cream social on Sept. 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Taking place along 6th Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets the purpose of this event is to showcase and dedicate the Rotary Plaza in downtown Moline.  Bring the entire family and enjoy free music and refreshments, catch a glimpse of Rascal the River Bandit, Pete the Purple Bull and inspect the police and firefighter vehicles and equipment that will be on display. The Moline... Read More

The streets of the Quad Cities can get pretty rough for some of these kids. There is not much to do outside of getting into fights and causing trouble in some instances. Some kids have less than perfect lives. Some of them never make it out of this lifestyle. Drugs and jail time end up being norms and dreams fade away and die. But some kids find that something inside of them that drives them to go for it. Some kids fight to change their stars. One kid I know that grew up with my oldest son, Curtis Bell, did just that. At a certain point, he decided he wanted to do something with his incredible... Read More

Drag queens, kings of comedy and princesses of burlesque will make up the royalty of upcoming events at the Speakeasy, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island. Reservations for all shows can be made at www.thecirca21speakeasy.com or by calling (309) 786-7733, Ext. 2. Anyone attending a show at the Speakeasy must be 18 or older except for the big band concert. Viva La Divas, the area’s premiere drag show with award winning performers will spangle their way into the venue with a show Sept. 23. Doors: 7:00 – Show: 8:00 – Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The Quad City Lip Sync Battle,... Read More

Ford Photography is sponsoring a film series at the Figge Art Museum, beginning  Sept. 23. “Expect to see films from established directors/giants like Jarmusch, Herzog, Kubrick, Lynch as well as emerging directors like Jeremy Saulnier, Panos Cosmatos and Chloe Zhao,” said Joshua Ford, the director of the series and president of Ford Photography. “Each evening will begin with a short film program, including short films from local filmmakers,” Ford said. “Jason Parris and Justen Parris will be providing their amazing beer and local musicians like Dennis Hockaday and Idpyramid will be performing. “And... Read More

The Rock Island Library will host a special after-hours event this September that will probably be a blast from the past for children of the 1980s and 90s. The Lisa Frank Palooza on Friday, Sept. 23 will offer coloring, crafts, and nostalgic activities based on the vibrant designs made famous by Arizona artist Lisa Frank. The event is from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Rock Island Library 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street. The company’s rainbow-hued unicorns, stars, pandas, ponies, puppies, cats and more appeared on school supplies (including Trapper Keeper notebooks), posters, stickers, clothing... Read More

The German American Heritage Center is holding its Fall Frolic Fundraising Gala from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Outing Club Ballroom in Davenport. The center, 712 W Second Street, Davenport, is selling tickets now for $60. For more information call (563) 322-8844, email info@gahc.org or see www.gahc.org. With your ticket, you help support educational outreach to area schools. Cocktails and the Silent Auction will begin at 5, Dinner at 6 with a delicious new menu this year including Sauerbraten and Weiner schnitzeland. A presentation at 7 p.m. will take place featuring special guest J. Douglas Miller,... Read More

The Establishment Theatre rests in the heart of the District of Rock Island just around the corner from Circa 21. Within it are your local improvisational comedy masters and the softest big pretzel you are going to find in the Q-C.  When you make it down for Comedy Sportz, be sure to stick around for the late shows. There are MANY of these. It just depends on which night you choose to come by that will decide your fate. These are geared toward adults, so the kids are more than welcome for Comedy Sportz shows, but need to be safely out of the building before the actors are virtually set free on... Read More

If you’ve passed the Fort Armstrong replica blockhouse near the Government Bridge without thinking much about what the structure represents, you can learn more about its place in local history this week at the Rock Island Public Library. As part of the Fort’s 200th anniversary year, Army Sustainment Command Historian George Eaton will speak on the history of Fort Armstrong at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th St. The original Fort Armstrong (1816–1836) was the second in a chain of western frontier defenses erected between St. Louis and Prairie... Read More