Great news today! Whitey’s ice cream is coming back May 11! Whitey’s announced this on their Facebook today: We are thrilled to announce that our stores will be opening again on Monday, May 11! All stores (except North Park) will be open for drive-thru business only and our hours of operation will be Sunday – Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Friday/Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. We have taken extreme caution in reopening to ensure the safety of our employees and customers. For additional information on how each store’s drive-thru is going to operate and more details on... Read More

Boetje’s really knows how to cut the mustard. The world-reknowned Rock Island mustard company once more won the gold medal in the 2020 World Wide Mustard Competition. Boetje’s announced the honor on their blog: “We are very excited to announce that Boetje’s Mustard has once again received a gold medal in the annual World Wide Mustard Competition! This year we entered and won gold in the Deli/Brown category. “The description for this category, according to the official entry form, is: ” This mustard is usually tightly-grained or coarse and is the crowning touch to a corned... Read More

Ice cream always makes everything better, unless you’re lactose intolerant, and so the news today that Whitey’s Ice Cream had selected their contest winner for their new flavor has been met with a welcome bliss from all but the lactose intolerant and their sadly intractable (literally) lactose-loathing stance. At any rate, earmuffs and eyemuffs, anti-lactites! Because here’s the big news: The flavor contest winner was MONSTER COOKIE submitted by Abby Barkema! Whitey’s released the following incredibly important information and quotage today on their Facebook page: “We... Read More

Rock Island, Moline, Davenport, Bettendorf and throughout the Quad-Cities, ice cream fans aren’t going to be able to get the malts, or get the shakes. Whitey’s Ice Cream, a sweet institution throughout the area, will be temporarily closing all their stores starting Friday. The announcement came today, via Facebook: “As of ‪Friday, April 3 at 10:00 p.m.‬ all Whitey’s stores will be closing temporarily. As much as we would love to stay open and continue serving the Quad Cities, we are closing out of an abundance of caution to ensure that our employees are staying healthy... Read More

One of the tragedies of the coronavirus situation is that many children have been going without school lunches that they and their families may have relied upon to help. A couple of local restaurants are stepping up to give those kids and their families an option, and to help them out in this time of need. Due to school closings, the Chief’s Bar and Grill family would like to offer FREE kids meals for K-12 grade for Silvis and East Moline students from March 16th – March 30th. Receive kids meal with proof of school ID or adult present with area documentation. We are not encouraging to leave... Read More

If you’re looking for a way to add more bacon to your diet — and let’s face it, who isn’t? — Dunkin Donuts has just the option for you with a new, literal bucket o’ bacon. Yup, for those of us who feel that bacon and eggs would be so much better without those pesky eggs, DD has debuted the new Snackin’ Bacon, which features eight strips of bacon in a little paper bucket. According to the Dunkin Donuts website, “Our Snackin’ Bacon starts its journey smoked with natural cherrywood. It’s then treated to our sweet and savory blend of brown sugar and... 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

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, 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