You ever wonder what happened to Strawberry Shortcake? You know, Strawberry Shortcake, the cartoon ginger who has had her artificially-scented life documented by various cartoons/animated reality TV shows over the past couple of decades before they got sent to the reeking dumpster of cancellation? Her friends were Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Orange Blossom and Raspberry Torte, and they all had their own sickly sweet and sour personalities, but Strawberry Shortcake was the leader. Strawberry Shortcake debuted in 1980 as a child in the cartoons, so she’d be in her forties now. And like many... Read More

It’s rare in life you find anything perfect, but you’ll come pretty damn close at Redband Coffee. I’ve been to Redband now probably 40 or 50 times over the years and I’ve yet to have anything but a superb experience, with the food, the service, the vibe, the whole schmeer. It’s exquisite. Redband serves up a limited menu but what they do, they do to perfection. The egg sandwiches, which you can get with sausage or chorizo, are maybe the best breakfast sandwiches you will ever have. I’ve been all over the country, and the only spot that rivals Redband is Snooze in Boulder (which, if... Read More

Just off the foreboding paths of Harrison Street, in the wild jungles of a college-student populated strip, and in the midst of Duck Creek, marked only by a scruffy, makeshift signpost, lies a slice of the Caribbean right here in the Quad-Cities – Zeke’s Island Café. The tropical-themed restaurants have grown like tropical forestry since opening up five years ago in their original Kimberly Road location (now closed), before spreading to the two new locales like palm trees in the rainy season. “It’s pretty cool, I look at how things have grown and I’m like, ‘wow,’” said chef Jason... Read More

Well, from the looks of things, between the stifling humidity, the oppressive sun between monsoons, and the constant harassment of gnats as persistent and unwelcome as guys hitting on newly single women on social media, summer seems to have finally kayaked into the Quad-Cities. And with that new season comes a desperate need for a beverage, known to those over 21 (and ONLY those over 21, of course) as “a beer,” to satisfy the full summer cravings of escape, levity and the blessed sainthood of responsible inebriation. Local brew pubs have, generously, proven up to this crucial task on the annual.... Read More

Just off the foreboding paths of Harrison Street, in the wild jungles of a college-student populated strip, and in the midst of Duck Creek, marked only by a scruffy, makeshift signpost, lies a slice of the Caribbean right here in the Quad-Cities – Zeke’s Island Café. The tropical-themed restaurants have grown like tropical forestry since opening up five years ago in their original Kimberly Road location (now closed), before spreading to the two new locales like palm trees in the rainy season. “It’s pretty cool, I look at how things have grown and I’m like, ‘wow,’” said chef Jason... Read More

There’s a robust family atmosphere that fills Sal Vitale’s and Sons, with the same richness and flavor of their delicious Italian food. The authentic Sicilian restaurant at 1010 Park Ave has been a family tradition since opening in 1984, said owner Salvatore Vitale, and given how the amiable Salvatore beams with jocularity and pride when speaking about it, it’s easy to see how it’s become so popular. “It’s all about the quality, and the situation is, absolutely nobody has the products and the ingredients we have,” Vitale said, proudly. “Everyone has quality ingredients, but we’ve... Read More

If you’re drifting through a haze of heat exhausted and you see a painted shack near the side of the road, don’t worry, it isn’t a mirage. It really is nirvana. Nirvana in the form of icy cold refreshment. Nirvana in the form of the Flamingos Tropical Cone stand. For more than five years, Flamingos has been serving up icy cold treats – from smoothies to drinks to Mexican ices to flavored fruit concoctions and more – at its 801 Oregon St. location, and at 1903 Park Ave., right outside Muscatine Mall. Gabby Aguilar, 28, who owns both of the shops, is proud and thrilled to see her dreams... Read More

Right off the riverside hustle and bustle of Mississippi Drive in Muscatine is an oasis of calm. You walk in, and you’re greeted by soft, gentle music, a room painted in violet and blue and filled with the scent of lavender and sandalwood. This is Nutrition Outlet, and it’s not your average vitamin store. The outlet, at 403 W. Mississippi Dr., has been open since 2000, beginning as a sports supplement outlet before morphing, over the years, into something far more. “It’s not just your run of the mill mall store, with stuff that everybody has,” said Shelly Meier, who owns the shop with... Read More

Well, as the savage debate over whether pineapple goes on pizza rages on, with countless lives lost in the process, and by lost in the process, I mean time lost spent debating whether pineapple goes on pizza when who really cares about what someone else has on their pizza, let alone their opinion on it, allow me to throw a new pineapple conflict your way to endlessly debate. Should pineapple go in beer? Oh my God! Did he actually say that??? Did he??? Did he??? Yeah. You’re damn right I did. Because that’s just how I roll. And I like pineapple. I like it on my pizza. I like it in smoothies.... Read More

Forget your pumpkin spice lattes. You want a fall beverage that’s really going to warm up your ugg boots and steam up your Han Solo vest and stretch pants? Head over to your friendly neighborhood HyVee Marketplace Café and get yourself the O’Fallon Vanilla Pumpkin Beer, which is now on tap. After having a couple of these, you’ll feel like you’re cheating on your Starbucks in the best of ways and the worse of ways. When I first saw the Vanilla Pumpkin Beer on tap, of course dozens of basic white girl jokes came tumbling out of my brain like so many wicked treats out of a Halloween bag,... Read More