Theaters in the Quad-Cities and nationwide are canceling spring and summer shows, due to Covid-19. The latest response to the global pandemic is the Augustana College-based Mississippi Bend Players (MBP), which is shelving its 2020 season. Jackie McCall is in her first year as MBP producing artistic director, and this was to be the fourth season for the professional summer-stock company. It planned to start rehearsals for Neil Simon’s “Broadway Bound” June 7, with performances June 19-28 at Brunner Theatre Center, Rock Island. “When we just looked at ahead at what could happen,... Read More

Though Rock Island Public Library Buildings are closed for the Governor’s Executive Order, the Library Services Go On! Staff are working from home, checking messages daily from patrons about how to use digital library services, how to get a digital library card, and trouble-shooting other issues. If you need help, here’s how to contact them: Our Reference Department Email Private Message us via our Rock Island Library Facebook Page Need your library PIN reset? Question about your library card? Something else? Contact Us via our Library website. If you know someone who needs a Digital... Read More

Looking for a way to brighten up your world with a little foliage and some cool plants? The Quad City Botanical Center is taking online orders through this Friday, April 17 for its annual plant sale. Curbside pickup has been changed to Saturday, May 9, 2020. Members 9 AM-1 PM and non-members 1 PM -5 PM. Purchasers are asked to largely print their first and last name on a sheet of paper to show to the attendant in the circle drive of the Botanical Center for pick up. The attendant will bring the plants to the vehicle and load to provide a contact-free experience. The annual Greenhouse Stock Plant... Read More

Having a hard time deciding what to have for lunch or dinner this week? How about some Vampire Bites? Or maybe a Transylvania Pie. Igor’s Bistro (3055 38th Avenue Rock Island) may be rumored to be haunted, but there’s nothing frightening about their delicious To Go Menu!   UPDATED Hours of Operation!! It has been decided that Igor’s Bistro will be open for To Go Orders starting this Wednesday Apr 15 through Saturday 11 a.m. – 7p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thereafter, Igor’s will be open for To Go Orders Tuesday thru Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Don’t... Read More

Rock Island’s Augustana College is ready to make a splash, after announcing this week they’re going to be adding men’s and women’s water polo to its varsity sports lineup beginning with the 2021-22 school year. Director of athletics Mike Zapolski announced in a press release on the Augustana site that the two genders of water polo will give the Vikings 14 women’s sports and 14 men’s sports. Just last week Augustana announced that women’s wrestling would become a varsity sport, also in the 2021-22 school year. Zapolski is beginning a search for a new coach... Read More

DAVENPORT, IOWA — In one of the most incendiary, perverse, and controversial masterpieces of performance art over at least the past eight days on the Quad-Cities social isolation scene, Khalil Hacker, a.k.a. Khalil Antonio, a.k.a. “you know, Khalil, from Circa,” ate donuts live on Facebook Monday night. The provocative and unsettling live feed began at 7 p.m. when Hacker, dressed mysteriously in a rakish black fedora, black suitcoat, white shirt and gray tie, but wearing no pants, stared into the camera in defiant fashion, brandished an unnamed silver sleeve, dispensed what appeared... Read More

ROCK ISLAND – Women’s wrestling will hit the mats at Augustana College beginning with the 2021-22 school year! The addition pushes to 26 the number of intercollegiate varsity sports offered by Augustana, with 13 women’s sports and 13 men’s sports, according to a statement released by director of athletics Mike Zapolski. . “Wrestling is becoming an increasingly popular sport for girls nationwide, and our goal is that Augustana will become the small college destination for young women who want to excel at a high level academically and continue to compete,” said Zapolski... Read More

Are your kids ready to rock some reading? With distance learning becoming the norm, and more time at home leading to more time for reading, the Rock Island Library is stepping up to help parents and kids with an all-ages online reading challenge that the whole family can do together! The stay-at-home challenge offers six virtual reading badges and six for completing online activities, such as trying World Book online, checking out a magazine from RB Digital, or learning something new with HelpNow or JobNow from Brainfuse. Complete just six badges (you choose which ones) to complete the... 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

Circa ’21 is returning! Well, online at least. The Rock Island dinner theater will return at 7 p.m. Sunday with a virtual cabaret on the Circa ’21 Facebook page. Circa posted the following today: Who’s missed us?! We’ve certainly missed you! We know you can’t go anywhere but that doesn’t mean the entertainment has to stop! Tune in on Sunday to see some of the super talented Bootleggers and other performers belting out some show tunes, playing some classic rock and everything in between in our virtual cabaret! It’s all going to be right here on Facebook! See you Sunday night... Read More