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Quad Cities USA - Guide to Davenport & Bettendorf Iowa and Rock Island & Moline Illinois
 

Bettendorf’s Crawford Brew Works and New Nerdspeak Partner for Last Fundraiser

August 9th, 2021
Bettendorf’s Crawford Brew Works and New Nerdspeak Partner for Last Fundraiser

If you have a case of the Mondays, stop by Crawford Brew Works in Bettendorf tonight for not only some great beer, but to help a great cause. The brewery and bar, at 3659 Devils Glen Road, has served up a new initiative called “Crawford’s Culture of Care” and it involves a more focused amount of time and energy to local non-profit organizations and getting the brewery’s culture involved in the community. Phase one of this culture is a new guest bartending series, which for two months has worked to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley and their annual “Over the... Read More

Big Swing Swinging Into Rock Island In March

February 21st, 2019
Big Swing Swinging Into Rock Island In March

The Big Swing Brewing Company, located in the spot of the former Blue Cat Brew Pub at 113 8th St., Rock Island, will be opening in March prior to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sources say. The new owners of The Big Swing are local real estate developers John Timmer, Shane Scott and Jon McAtee. The trio are the creative and financial force behind the new Backyard Bowl and Abides Bar, in the old Milan Lanes building, 2020 1st St. W, Milan. Some members of the Blue Cat staff will be moving to the Big Swing, so Cat fans can expect to see some familiar faces. It’s still up in the air as... Read More

Farewell, Blue Cat, You Were Beloved

September 7th, 2018
Farewell, Blue Cat, You Were Beloved

Farewell, old friend. Through murky magnificent memories of countless theater after-parties, lonely nights of last calls, the rushes of love and infatuation, passionate kisses and warm hands held, a very public breakup at the bar, a very public makeup off in a corner booth upstairs, huge smiles and laughs, big embraces from friends, solitary lunches with a notebook and a pen, business meetings and birthday celebrations, late nights and early mornings, and even a baby shower, the Blue Cat has been the setting for a large portion of my adult life, as well as the lives of many others. When the Cat... Read More

Don’t Scotch The Scotch Egg! Blue Cat Fans Offer Pitches For Big Swing Menu

August 31st, 2018
Don’t Scotch The Scotch Egg! Blue Cat Fans Offer Pitches For Big Swing Menu

Will the Scotch Egg be scotched? Will the soups survive? And will Arkham Stout be in, or out? Blue Cat Brew Pub will close its doors tonight, after 24 years in business, and soon, a new brew pub, Big Swing, will take its place after a few weeks of renovations. It’s still up in the air as to what Blue Cat menu items will be kept around beyond its demise. Brew master Dan Cleaveland will remain on staff for at least a year with the new venue, bringing his 60-plus beer recipes with him, so the chances of the BC brews still popping up in the new spot are high. But what about the food? As reported... Read More

Have Good Memories Of Blue Cat? Want Your Favorite Menu Items To Stick Around?

August 30th, 2018
Have Good Memories Of Blue Cat? Want Your Favorite Menu Items To Stick Around?

Since opening in 1994, Blue Cat Brew Pub has been one of the favorite hangouts, restaurants and brew pubs for thousands of Quad-Citians, and been the spot for many great memories. As we near the Blue Cat’s closing date of Aug. 31, we’re asking you to share your favorite Blue Cat memories and menu items with us! Please feel free to email your favorite memories to Sean@QuadCities.com. This will be for an upcoming story about the Blue Cat, its customers and people’s favorite memories of the local hot spot. Also, please email your favorite Blue Cat menu items and beers to us as well at Sean@QuadCities.com.... Read More

Blue Cat’s New Owners Identified, New Direction Becoming Clearer

August 24th, 2018
Blue Cat’s New Owners Identified, New Direction Becoming Clearer

EXCLUSIVE – The new owners of Rock Island’s Blue Cat Brew Pub, soon to be the Big Swing Brew Pub, are local real estate developers John Timmer, Shane Scott and Jon McAtee, according to a number of sources who asked not to be identified, and verified through city documents and applications. The sale to the trio was also confirmed Friday by Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, during recording of an episode of the podcast QCUNCUT. The trio are the creative and financial force behind the new Backyard Bowl and Abides Bar, in the old Milan Lanes building, 2020 1st St. W, Milan, which is having its opening... Read More

Blue Cat Becoming Big Swing, Brew Master Staying On

August 21st, 2018
Blue Cat Becoming Big Swing, Brew Master Staying On

The Blue Cat is becoming the Big Swing. The Rock Island Blue Cat Brew Pub, 113 18th St., will close Aug. 31, remain shut for renovations and open later this fall as The Big Swing Brewing Company, sources close to the situation said. It was reported first here on QuadCities.com that Blue Cat, one of the first brew pubs opened in the Quad-Cities in 1994 by brewer and chef Dan Cleveland and his sister, Martha Cleveland, was sold by the duo to an unnamed local buyer last week for an undisclosed sales price. Dan will stay on as brew master after the purchase, sources said, and the menu will continue... Read More

Blue Cat Sold, Closing For Remodel In Two Weeks

August 17th, 2018
Blue Cat Sold, Closing For Remodel In Two Weeks

EXCLUSIVE – Rock Island’s Blue Cat Brew Pub, one of the first brew pubs opened in the Quad-Cities in 1994, has been sold, sources that asked not to be identified said Friday. The restaurant and brewery, in the heart of the District, at 113 18th St., was sold to an unnamed buyer this week and will be closed down two weeks from now, the source noted. The pub will not be closed for good and will instead be shut for “a significant remodeling,” the source said. “From what I hear, they’re going to put a lot of money into it and it’s going to look really cool,” the source added. A grand... Read More

Get In ‘Christmas Vacation’ Mode At Mississippi River Distilling

December 21st, 2017
Get In ‘Christmas Vacation’ Mode At Mississippi River Distilling

Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit more than a little Chevy Chase and Christmas Vacation. Except maybe enjoying the holiday classic on a distillery floor with friends! Come celebrate Christmas Eve-Eve this Saturday Dec 23 with Cocktail Cinema: Christmas Vacation! That’s right, Mississippi River Distilling Company and Cody Road Cocktail House will be showing the holiday comedy right on the distillery floor at both 7 and 9 p.m. Cocktail Cinema will provide the screen, tables, move and the drinks! All you need to bring is your friends, some food or you can order a pizza! The Mississippi River... Read More

Get Your Brew And View On With Suds At The Putnam

December 20th, 2017
Get Your Brew And View On With Suds At The Putnam

Looking for a fun, adult-only, night out before the busy holiday weekend begins? Then head to the Putnam Museum for this month’s Brew & View! Every third Thursday of the month, the Putnam Museum hosts an adults-only evening with local craft brews, music, party games and a movie on the GIANT screen. December is no exception! This Thursday Dec 21, come enjoy the holiday-themed evening with the movie Scrooged! Tickets for Brew & View are $15 and include one free drink ticket, pizza, games, music and GIANT screen movie admission. Tickets can be purchased online at http://putnam.org/Calendar/December-Brew-View. Featured... Read More