Nestled inside the Green Thumbers flower shop on Brady Street, is a lovely place where you can have a coffee and enjoy the sight and smell of true natural beauty. The coffee shop has been a part of the beautiful floral Nursery for  slightly over a year. But in that one year Aroma Coffee has gained quite a following. Not just those with green thumbs( that right there leaves me out) stop in.  But people driving up Brady Street and( we know how busy Brady Street gets.) Many business people and they have quite a group of Palmer students come in for a coffee a cinnamon roll or a very tasty fresh made... Read More

The Adler Theater is always poised between being a part of history and adding to it. A venerable Quad-Cities landmark and gorgeous architectural gem, the Adler has added to its luster by hosting a wide variety of entertainers over its nearly 85 years as a performing arts venue, first as the RKO Orpheum when it was built in 1931, at 136 E. 3rd St., and as the Adler since 1986. “We’re here to make memorable experiences for people,” said Heather Brummel, director of marketing. In terms of the future, the building is undergoing a nearly $500,000 renovation including an overhaul of its signature... Read More

A philly cheesesteak sandwich seems deceptively simple to make but it’s much easier to botch than you would think. And believe it or not, Charley’s Philly Steaks – a MALL sandwich shop no less – is the real deal. And it’s freaking delicious. A philly is, at its heart, thin slices of steak, onions, green peppers and a rich cheese (I’ve seen everything from the traditional provalone or Havarti to cheddar used) between a couple of toasted but fresh sub rolls. Sounds pretty easy, but more often than not, some element is off. The steak is overdone and too chewy, there’s too many onions,... Read More

Like most Quad Cities citizens, I love economic growth in our community and bringing new vendors to town – especially when it involves attracting new and wildly popular dining or entertainment vendors.  Those of you who’ve heard about the potential for Portillo’s Hot Dogs to expand onto 53rd Street in Davenport are salivating, ready to pull their chairs up to a local helping of this popular restaurant chain that currently requires a round trip to either Rockford or Peoria. (For those of you who aren’t familiar with Portillo’s, they serve a wide variety of hotdogs, burgers, sandwiches,... Read More

Mango, peach, beer… and mint? Ewww, right? Bear with me folks, bear with me. If there’s one of several bars in the Quad-Cities that I really enjoy going to, it’s Radicle Effect, at 1340 31st Street, Rock Island. The bartenders can vouch for this. So can many of the regulars. So can Freddy Rumsen. Radicle is a pretty radical joint. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend you check it out. It’s got a lot of the veteran bartenders from one of my other faves, Blue Cat, now behind the post, as well as several other excellent mixologists. It’s a great place to get a perfect Old Fashioned... Read More

Great things are always blooming at Quad City Botanical Center. Over its past 20 years, the facility at 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island, has taken root and become one of the most colorful attractions in the area. With a bouquet of fun activities for all ages and indoor gardens that always bring the feeling of warmth and natural beauty to life even during the harshest winters, the Quad City Botanical Center is a unique and beautiful rose in the downtown Rock Island garden. Every year, the center serves between 40 and 50 thousand guests, including over 10,000 area children, in a variety of ways, from... Read More

Today the Java Journey takes us to Iowa. Nestled inside the Green Thumbers flower shop on Brady Street, is a lovely place where you can have a coffee and enjoy the sight and smell of true natural beauty. The coffee shop has been a part of the beautiful floral Nursery for  slightly over a year. But in that one year Aroma Coffee has gained quite a following. Not just those with green thumbs( that right there leaves me out) stop in.  But people driving up Brady Street and( we know how busy Brady Street gets.) Many business people and they have quite a group of Palmer students come in for a coffee... Read More

In a storied history that began as a Sash and Door Works, traveled through time as a notorious Millwork company, was decimated multiple times by fire and then finally rebuilt as the edifice today known as the QCCA Expo Center, the building at 2621 4th Avenue in Rock Island has seen its share of muddled and magnificent local lore. The 60,000 square foot Expo Center features a 4,600 square foot auditorium that has a seating capacity of 500 used for consumer trade shows and special events, including antique shows, auto shows, craft shows, holiday-themed celebrations and more. And in the last 33 years... Read More

Our backbone is undoubtedly the trunk of our own tree of life, and Tree of Life Chiropractic is helping to maintain that healthy foundation for our existence. Owners Dr. Heath Treharne and Dr. Cindy Treharne have held the business at 1804 3rd Avenue, Rock Island for 12 years. Heath Treharne was previously a teacher before deciding to take up a different set of books and attend Palmer College of Chiropractic, from which he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. “I always wanted to be a chiropractor, but my seventh grade counselor said I did not have enough scientific aptitude to become a chiropractor,... Read More

TPC Cash and Carry began with a simple idea – to be a bulk grocery store — since then, it’s grown from that conceptually humble beginning into a haven for everyone from restaurant owners to party planners to the average Joe or Jill looking for a one-stop shopping spot for their party. “We know it can be a hassle sometimes, and a lot of work, to plan a party, people come in stressed out sometimes, and we want to make it easier on them,” said Roger Youngblut, general manager of the spot at  2160 E. 53rd St., Davenport.  “We’re very customer focused, we help everyone as much as... Read More