I did something terrible last night. Once my wife finds out, I don’t know what happens to my marriage. I’m sorry Mimi’s Tres Leches Cakes, people need to know. There you were though. Sitting behind that glass door. You were looking like more than a snack, maybe not the whole cake just a piece. My […]
In 1888 Vincent Van Gogh painted quite possibly my favorite work of art. Cafe De Terrace. It was part one in a series of three. Fast forward to 2021, and Chef Keys from Cooks and Cuffs has cooked for me her Cafe De Keys. This New York born and raised Chef found her way here, […]
There’s a foreboding line early in the excellent “Murder in Green Meadows” (which concludes its run Saturday at the Black Box Theatre) – “Everything is perfect. What could be wrong?” Well, as we’ll soon learn, quite a lot. The new production at the Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Ave., Moline, features a quartet of the […]
Twenty-four years ago I stood at the entrance of Bent River Brewing Company , with my old man’s ID in my hand. My thumb covering the photo. I wasn’t wise to the world, that world including bartenders being able to tell I wasn’t a 72 year old man. But, this week I made my triumphant […]
To know Tacobar is to know Chef Toby. To know Chef Toby is to know the deranged, angry, passionate, frustrated, loving man. Who refuses to give up, give in, or go “mainstream.” He pushes the boundaries of what most Chef’s will do, then he breaks those boundaries, and smashes through the walls of your expectations […]
Embezzlement, fraud investigation, and misuse of state research and development reimbursements wouldn’t seem at first glance to make fertile ground for comedy and romantic sparks. But they say write what you know, right? Jim Sederquist, a 39-year-old accountant who lives in Bettendorf and loves to write, adds up his years of number-crunching in supremely suspenseful, […]
The 50s and 60s gave way to the age of the diners. Small greasy spoon stops where you could get eggs and bacon, maybe some buttered toast and a strong cup of coffee that’d wake you up and send you on your way. Mornings and lunch belonged to the working class, and the night time […]
As much as it pains me to say this, attending the last dress rehearsal for the new Quad City Music Guild production, “Roald Dahl’s Matilda,” was not a very pleasant experience. That’s not to say the super enthusiastic 32-member cast (most of whom are under 18) is not talented. They did about the best possible […]
It’s hard to go wrong with “Disney’s Newsies: The Musical.” But that doesn’t mean at all that it’s easy to get right. The glorious, massive show – given an expert, exhilarating production by Countryside Community Theatre – is a classic “underdog vs. topdog” battle. Scrappy, poor, relentlessly tenacious newspaper carriers (the newsies) go on strike […]
Meli’s Pancake House is wonderful. Today’s breakfast was an impromptu stop at Meli’s Pancake House. I didn’t expect to find a classic diner, however I’m always up for surprises. This isn’t your usual Mom and Pop breakfast place, it’s something more. While the menu is full of the regular staple items, it offers a comfort […]
