Are you ready to get stamp’d? Head down to downtown Rock Island’s Big Swing for karaoke night tonight (and every Friday night starting at 8) and you can line yourself up for some prizes, but getting a Get Stamp’d Passport at Big Swing, and then heading down 2nd Street a bit to get another stamp over at Billy Bob’s Q-C dance club. Both stamps win prizes and the more stamps you collect on karaoke nights wins you a bigger prize. For more info, check out Big Swing’s Facebook page.  Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a comprehensive, in-depth feature on a topic, trend or personality impacting the Quad-Cities, posted every Saturday morning on QuadCities.com. This week we look at the various downtown businesses of the Illinois and Iowa Quad-Cities and how they’ve been impacted by, and have adapted to, the covid-19 pandemic.   The popular Rock Island Brewing Company (RIBCO), in the middle of The District at 1815 2nd Ave., has been through a lot since it opened in 1979. Hailed as a leader in Q-C live entertainment (its starry roster of guest acts includes Bo Diddley, The Wallflowers,... Read More

Following many years of work in historic preservation, Rock Island leaders made history again Monday, July 6, as the downtown officially became part of the National Register of Historic Places. Led by the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, the effort was announced by the city of Rock Island and the Development Association of Rock Island (DARI) on the Great River Plaza downtown. “Rock Island is a historically significant community. Establishing this designation offers many benefits to property owners and the community,” Mayor Mike Thoms said. “Projects will be easier to... Read More

As Illinois relaxes its social restrictions Friday (including allowing all gatherings of 10 people or fewer), the Quad City Arts Center, 1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island, will reopen Friday at 10 a.m. Free entry is available 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 Saturdays. Following the next phase of the “Restore Illinois” plan, which also allows bars and restaurants to open outdoor seating under restrictions, executive director Kevin Maynard said May 29 was the earliest the downtown gallery could reopen. “We’re taking all the precautions, taking it seriously,” he said Thursday. “Both... Read More

The Rock Island Library is reviewing all library programming for the next two to three weeks and expect to make an announcement after Tuesday’s board meeting in regard to postponement or cancellation. If you are registered for a program, you will receive an automatic email from our online registration system if it is cancelled. If the program does not require registration, watch for email updates from us. We also recommend checking our online calendar. Please stay tuned for updates by email and social media. Older adults and those with chronic illnesses are more at risk for COVID-19... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library has issued a statement on the coronavirus and its potential impact on customers and patrons. The library’s comments are as follows: As a library, we are monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation nationally, within the Quad Cities, and within our greater library service region. Our interest is to continue serving your library needs while maintaining the safety and health of our staff and public. We are receiving a great deal of guidance from our library system and the State Library. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will update staff and patrons... Read More

It’s looking like the luck of the Irish isn’t going the way of the Quad-Cities St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The 35th annual bi-state event, originally slated for this Saturday, has been postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus, according to a press release sent out by the event’s president, Joe Dooley. The press release from the St. Patrick’s Society states: “We pledged that should we hear from experts that the Parade should not be held, we would follow that recommendation. We did indeed this evening receive the recommendation from a County Health administrator... Read More

Truckfighters, Valley of the Sun, Daykeeper Rock Island Brewing Co. 1815 2nd Ave, Rock Island Saturday, February 22 Doors 7/Show 8 $18/18+ Heavy music devotees in the QCA are used to high-quality touring bands stopping at the Rock Island Brewing Company with clockwork regularity. This Saturday’s bill, however, will cause even the most complacent headbanger to take note. Swedish desert rockers Truckfighters are back from a short breakup, and, with Ohio’s Valley of the Sun in tow, are visiting Rock Island for the first time in years. Wake Brewing, the heaviest brewery in the Midwest,... Read More

Attention chocolate lovers, and those who love them: The Quad City Botanical Center is hosting Chocolate Experience, a family-friendly event for all ages from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  March 15! Local chocolatiers and sweet treat shops will be offering free samples of their tasty creations and have products for guests to purchase and take home to enjoy after Chocolate Experience or give as gifts for Easter or Mother’s Day. Non-edible chocolate items will also be for sale at the event. During the Chocolate Experience guests can enjoy the indoor and outdoor gardens at no additional charge and activities... Read More

Need a little Sunshine in your life? Tomorrow night, you can cut through the gloom with some great pop songs and performance as Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is thrilled to be hosting an all-ages pop music cabaret on Thursday, Feb. 20 called A NIGHT OF SUNSHINE, featuring one of the theatre’s most popular performers, Sunshine Ramsey. A long-time Bootlegger, performer and member of our ticket office staff, Ramsey is thrilled to finally be back on the Circa ’21 stage with an-all new cabaret! This will be the fifth time that Sunshine has hosted her own show at the theatre. Each of the previous... Read More