Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! Over two weeks in summer 2019, Alejandro Martinez literally had the whole world in his hands. A Mexican immigrant who made a living as a painter in his home country, he was asked by World Relief Quad Cities director Laura Fontaine to paint a world map mural on one wall of their conference area, at 1852 16th St., Moline, Martinez’s daughter Alejandra – who graduated from... Read More

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, along with 3rd Ward Ald. Mike Wendt, are hosting the mayor’s fourth  “Listening Post” public meeting this Tuesday, focused on charting a new vision for the I-74 corridor. City leaders will be joined by Renew Moline staff to hear ideas from the public regarding this once-in-a-generation opportunity. The meeting is scehduled for Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Church-BridgePointe, 1 Montgomery Drive, in the church’s River View Room. (Register for the meeting HERE.) Renew Moline will lead the public input portion of the meeting with... Read More

After having to take a hiatus in 2020, the area’s biggest and best celebration of Belgian heritage is back in the Quad Cities! Take a trip to the heart of Moline Illinois, for some Flemish fun this weekend at the Fall Belgian Fest! The 8th Annual Fall Belgian Fest returns to Stephens Park (7th Street and 15th Avenue Moline) this Sunday Sep 19 from 12 – 4 p.m. Admission is free to all! The Fall Belgian Fest, formerly known as the Fall Flemish Fest, is sponsored and organized by the Center for Belgian Culture. Bill Cornelis, President of CBC and organizer of the Fall Belgian Fest shares, “Many... Read More

The 8th Annual Fall Belgian Fest returns to Stephens Park (7th Street and 15th Avenue Moline) this Sunday Sep 19 from 12 – 4 p.m. Admission is free to all! The Fall Belgian Fest, formerly known as the Fall Flemish Fest, is sponsored and organized by the Center for Belgian Culture. Bill Cornelis, President of CBC and organizer of the Fall Belgian Fest shares, “Many of the Belgian Community came to Moline, after World War II to begin a new life.  They came here with nothing but a dream.  They didn’t ask for much.  They only asked for an opportunity to work hard, raise a family, and thank... Read More

The Black Box Theatre located in downtown Moline is presenting ‘The Guys’ by Anne Nelson to honor the heroism of first responders on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and today at 2 p.m. is the final show of the run. Based on a true story, “The Guys” follows an editor named Joan, who receives an unexpected phone call on behalf of Nick, a fire captain who has lost most of his men in the 9/11 attack. He is looking for a writer to help him with the eulogies he must present at their memorial services. Nick and Joan spend a long afternoon together, recalling the fallen men through recounting their... Read More

The Black Box Theatre located in downtown Moline is presenting ‘The Guys’ by Anne Nelson to honor the heroism of first responders on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Based on a true story, “The Guys” follows an editor named Joan, who receives an unexpected phone call on behalf of Nick, a fire captain who has lost most of his men in the 9/11 attack. He is looking for a writer to help him with the eulogies he must present at their memorial services. Nick and Joan spend a long afternoon together, recalling the fallen men through recounting their virtues and their foibles, and fashioning the stories... Read More

Moline Centre is holding free outdoor concerts every Thursday night during the summer at Bass Street Landing Summer Concert Series, off 17th Street and River Drive. Moline Centre “is taking many extra precautions to ensure that these series of concerts are following all CDC/State of Illinois Covid-19 safety guidelines,” the group posted. “We ask that all guests please wear a mask anytime social distancing is not possible. Social distance whenever possible. Frequently use the hand sanitizing stations that will be provided. Avoid concentrated gatherings of people. Please stay home and do... Read More

In some hazy, halcyon future when the old I-74 bridge is gone, Moline’s riverfront will have lots of opportunity for growth and redevelopment. A final advisory report done for Renew Moline by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) recommends many big ideas – a new Mill Town neighborhood, Moline history museum and welcome center, much more housing, an arts district, riverfront restaurant, zip line, and a signature water spout shooting up more than 200 feet over the Mississippi River. Creating greater connections with the river is a prime focus of the 44-page plan by Washington, D.C.-based ULI. Renew... Read More

Playcrafters Barn Theatre is hosting auditions for our upcoming production of “You Can’t Take It With You”, directed by Vicki Deusinger, which will run November 12-14 and 19-21. Auditions will take place August 7th from 2-4PM and August 8th from 4-6PM at Playcrafters (4950 35th Ave Moline, IL), for casting information visit bit.ly/3i6Y2gu This show is rated “PG” and will feature 7 females and 12 males, those coming out to audition should be prepared to cold read from the script and will have possible callbacks after the Sunday auditions. If you’re interested in helping out backstage,... Read More

Two years after its Moline theatrical colleague staged it, “Matilda: The Musical” will take its first bow at Quad City Music Guild on Aug. 6-8 and 12-15, at Prospect Park Auditorium, 1584 34th Ave., Moline. Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl (who penned the 1988 children’s book), the Tony Award-winning “Matilda: The Musical” (which debuted on Broadway in 2013) is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly... Read More