Wine sampling events are always fun, but when you are partaking to help raise funds for a good cause they always seem to feel even better! Gilda’s Club and the Village of East Davenport are hosting their annual Wine Walk this Saturday Aug 18 from 3-6 p.m. A $25 donation to Gilda’s Club will result in a commemorative wine glass and a wristband to participate in an East Village-wide wine tasting! Visit participating businesses throughout the Village to enjoy a 1 oz. sample of wine. Local, domestic and imported wines will be offered as well as samples from the local Homebrew community. Multiple... Read More

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

One of the most iconic festivals in the Quad Cities Area is once again upon us. It’s time for some jazz! Bix Beiderbecke was a musical genius from our very own city of Davenport. He was a famous jazz cornetist pianist and composer. The annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival is not only a celebration of his accomplishments but a way to keep the genre alive. The 47th Annual Bix Festival has a new location! The festival will be held once again at the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport (7077 Elmore Ave) in the Event Center. World-class jazz bands will charm you while dancers twirl and... Read More

In 1975, there were only 84 participants. Only 3 were women. The Bix 7 has come a long way since its inception. After participating in the 1974 Boston Marathon, John Hudetz (Bettendorf) and a few of his friends decided to bring a bit of the ‘running craze’ home to the Quad Cities. They created the Cornbelt Running Club. This group of friends saw a future in the sport of running and started the plans to bring a race worthy of Boston Marathon standards to the Quad Cities. The decision to make this run a 7-mile race was an extremely unique idea. The first Bix 7 was not an easy-going accomplishment.... Read More

Since 1975, runners have traveled from all over the world to the Quad Cities for a one of a kind race event. The Bix 7 brings the most elite talent to downtown Davenport for one weekend, every July. That weekend is officially upon us, once again. It’s time for some Bix 7 fun! The Running Wild Sports and Fitness Expo will be in full-swing on Thursday July 26 from 5-9 p.m. and Friday July 29 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. The expo is a two-day event featuring vendors from the health, wellness and fitness industry including running apparel and gear, nutritional products and injury prevention. There is no... 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

I’m not sayin’ it was aliens, but… It was certainly unidentified, definitely flying and presumably an object, therefore it, by definition was a UFO, and I, and my son and his friend, saw it slowly gliding over the Mississippi River and Schwiebert Park going into Rock Island, Illinois. Giorgio Tsaukalos, take notes… It was a warm Monday night, July 9, just after sunset, and we were enjoying the weather and the atmosphere at the park on the river. Schwiebert is just east of the centennial bridge connecting Rock Island to Davenport, Iowa, just to the west of the Rock Island Arsenal military... Read More

There’s nothing quite as refreshing and fun on a summer day than hitting the links and having a few beverage afterwards, and for those playing and watching during the John Deere Classic, running through Sunday at Deere Run Golf Course in Moline, there are plenty of great options to check out local brew pubs. Here are a few to grab a couple of beverages at after hitting the greens: Bent River, 1413 5th Ave., Moline, is right in the middle of the vibrant downtown Moline scene, which offers a great array of fine local restaurants, the ambiance of the river walk, and of course plenty of clubs... Read More

An entire generation grew up learning acceptance, appreciation and kindness (not to mention how crayons and our beloved macaroni were made) from one man. He was not afraid to approach topics that were typically hushed around children. He made us feel loved and respected. He also gave way to one of the most universal catch phrases of all time, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? And every child who had the privilege of welcoming this down to earth and comforting man into their living room deeply wanted to respond to that question with, ‘YES! I want to be a part of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood!” In... 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