Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse in downtown Rock Island is thrilled to announce local auditions for their upcoming productions of ANNIE and NEWSIES on August 11, 18 and 19th.  Those auditioning must be available for all rehearsals and performances as scheduled and must prepare a verse and chorus or 16 bars of a Broadway song. Music from the show is acceptable. They should bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be provided.  Young performers should dress comfortably (please no costumes, wigs or makeup for Annie) and provide a non-returnable photo, as well as a brief résumé.... 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

The Genesius Guild will present “The Merchant of Venice,” opening on Saturday, July 14 at 8 p.m. in Lincoln Park, Rock Island, IL. The production will also be performed Sunday, July 15 and the following weekend, July 21 and July 22 at 8 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public. “The Merchant of Venice” is a play often studied in high school and college, but rarely performed onstage in the United States. The script includes some challenging content, but its powerful message about how humans treat people from different backgrounds remains highly relevant today. While... Read More

How would you like to spend an evening going back in time to the roaring 20’s? Friends of Hauberg Civic Center (1300 24th Street Rock Island) are hosting their annual fundraising event, Age of Wonderful Nonsense Gala Fundraiser, on Saturday Jul 14 from 6-11 p.m. Cocktail hour will start at 6 p.m. and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. A silent auction featuring local art will begin at 8:30pm. Throughout the evening, guests will also enjoy live music by pianist/vocalist, Freddy Allen, performing popular tunes from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Advanced tickets for this evening $75 and... Read More

Do you dare to check it out? The Awful Daring of a Moment’s Surrender will be on display beginning with a July 6 reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Rozz Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island. Awful Daring  is the second photography exhibition at Rozz Tox for Quad City photographer Laura Heath. Her first, Shadows and Shapes in 2017, was so well received she was immediately asked to return for a second show. The Awful Daring of a Moment’s Surrender is far more provocative with an emphasis on nudes and the human form.  Heath started her photographic journey shooting flowers and insects with her Cannon... Read More

It’s not summer without Genesius Guild, and the venerable local theater company begins its latest round of theater in the park shows this weekend after debuting its performance schedule with Ballet Quad Cities’ Ballet Under the Stars in Rock Island’s Lincoln Park last weekend. The 2018 summer series includes nineteen performances of five productions, including ballet, Shakespeare, and classic Greek drama. All performances are offered free of charge in Lincoln Park, Rock Island. It is the only community program of its kind in the country (www.genesius.org). Shows always begin at 8 p.m. This... Read More

Tav Falco and Panther Burns ripped up the stage at RIBCO with their raucous rock last weekend, much to the delight of those assembled on a warm spring night for beverages and hot live music. The band will continue to tour through the year in support of their album, Cabaret of Daggers. For more information about the group, see www.tavfalco.com.  Read More

Catch yourself daydreaming about warm sunny days spent at the local swimming pool? Soon, you can turn those daydreams into a reality! Whitewater Junction’s Opening Day is upon us! On Saturday May 26, the Whitewater Junction season will be kicking off with a splash! They will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is $9 for ages three and older. Ages two and under are free with a paid adult. The evening swim rate (from 6-8 p.m.) is only $5. You can also get a punch pass for $67.50 (10 punches) and $87.00 (15 punches). For season pass information and holiday closings, visit https://www.rigov.org/1280/Rates-and-Hours. Whitewater... Read More

Mango, peach, beer… and mint? Ewww, right? Bear with me folks, bear with me. If there’s one of several bars in the Quad-Cities that I really enjoy going to, it’s Radicle Effect, at 1340 31st Street, Rock Island. The bartenders can vouch for this. So can many of the regulars. So can Freddy Rumsen. Radicle is a pretty radical joint. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend you check it out. It’s got a lot of the veteran bartenders from one of my other faves, Blue Cat, now behind the post, as well as several other excellent mixologists. It’s a great place to get a perfect Old Fashioned... Read More