When it comes to treating and alleviating shoulder pain, patients are finding Dr. Tuvi Mendel a shoulder to lean on. Dr. Mendel, of Orthopaedic Specialists in Davenport, draws upon his decades of experience treating injuries and performing rehabilitative and reconstructive procedures on the shoulder, ankle and knee. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, state-of-the-art procedures and superb care, Dr. Mendel has established an elite track record of success, improving the lives and lifestyles of his patients. Frances Vawter of Clinton, Ia. reflects on her experience with Dr. Mendel. “It was about... Read More

Looking for different dragons to slay than just the ones offering bad pickup lines? A local science-fiction and curio shop is looking to offer “more than just bars and church events” in the area on weekend nights, boasting a slate to ultimately include gaming, trivia nights, dungeons and dragons, Magic and more. Dickens’ Curiosity Shop, 207 W. 2nd St., opened two years ago, and since then has been expanding its universe of collectibles, books and art items for sale on its shelves. Along with that growth has come an expansion of the store’s place in the local entertainment galaxy. “We’re... Read More

Mike Rankins is putting the pep back in Pac Man, the thrills into Evel Knievel’s pinball machine and the spring back in Mario’s step. That’s because the Muscatine-born-and-raised 46-year-old is the mastermind behind The Land of Oz Arcade Restoration, 801 Oregon Street, Muscatine, a business dedicated to repairing any and all arcade games, personal video games, electronics and more. Rankins has been restoring video games and related ilk for over 25 years, mostly as a hobby, but after repairing over 200 games over the Christmas season two years ago and continuing to rake in the pixels, he decided... Read More

If you’re looking for a custom guitar unique as your playing style, you don’t need to fret those frets, just pick Shumaker Guitar Works at 1706 N. Brady, Davenport. The sharp shop, at suite 102, is packed with stacks of guitars and musical memorabilia along its walls, everything from vintage acoustics to flying V’s, and amidst the Fenders and Gibsons are the unique works of art created by the shop’s owner, Thad Shumaker. Shumaker restores instruments to their classic glory and is also happy to build a one-of-a-kind axe to your specifications at a price that’s in line with a new instrument... Read More

You’ll find quaint, cute, fun and funky products more folksy than a dropped “g” at Rustic Pickin’s, a new store that just moved from its old Park Avenue locale to new digs at 225 E. 2nd St., in Muscatine. The location specializes in the suddenly hot market for repurposed items, furniture, housewares and the like. As owners Jackie Petty and Melissa Lowrey put it on their Facebook page, “We use old, forgotten ‘junk’ in unexpected ways. Come to our next show to see what we’re all about.” So, what are they all about? “We’re all about repurposing different materials into new... Read More

Keeping your items safe and secure is what fires up the owners of Blue Flame, a secure storage facility at 18602 County Road in Fruitland, Iowa. How do they achieve that? “We have a very secure storage facility and buildings,” said Rocky Phillips Jr., manager of Blue Flame. “We have one building with temperature controlled units, indoor and outdoor parking, an access controlled gate and cameras all over to keep tabs on everything.” What led them to start up the business? “We noticed there were a lot of storage units in Muscatine and noticed a lot of them were full,” Phillips said. “We... 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

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