The funny bone of one of the United States' most revered presidents will be explored at Coal Valley's Robert R. Jones Public Library on February 11 when historian and former professor Dr. William Hampes presents The Humor of American Lincoln, a program focusing on the types of humor that Lincoln used, how he used them in politics and his personal life to achieve his goals, and what his sense of humor demonstrated about his personality.

With his most recent work The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store named one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2023, National Book Award and Library of Congress Prize winner James McBride takes part in the latest virtual Illinois Libraries Present program hosted by the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries, the February 4 event A Conversation with James McBride finding its subject in fascinating conversation with interviewer Heather Marie-Montlilla of PBS Books.

Designed to offer the magical chance to see our national symbol in its natural habitat, the third-annual LeClaire Eagle Festival sponsored in part by the Riverboat Twilight will, on January 18 and 19, treat visitors to live eagle demonstrations and educational presentations, as well as opportunities to spot bald eagles in their natural habitat high above the Mississippi River.

Presented as part of the Davenport venue's popular Kaffee und Kuchen series, an in-person and online program on one of the most horrific tragedies in Iowa history - one that took place just over 75 years ago - will take place in The St. Elizabeth Fire, with Bret Grimes, the Bettendorf-based author of The St. Elizabeth Hospital Fire in Iowa, leading the January 26 discussion at the Herman American Heritage Center.

With the in-person event held in commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Week, Augustana College graduate, former Moline teacher/coach, and Superintendent of Rock Island-Milan Public Schools Dr. Dave Markward takes part in a talk-show-style conversation about his memoir From Dubuque to Selma & Beyond: My Journey to Understand Racism in America, the January 23 Moline Public Library program finding Markward engaging with fellow Augustana grad and Moline businessman Brett Carter.

Fresh off her critically acclaimed role in Pamela Adlon's 2024 indie comedy Babes, an award-winning standup comedian, actress, television host, producer, and podcast host takes part in the latest virtual Illinois Libraries Present program hosted by the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries, the January 23 event Love & Laughs with Michelle Buteau finding its subject in honest, hilarious conversation with interviewer Greta Johnsen.

With their works deemed “fresh and innovative” by the Chicago Tribune and“so imaginative, so playfully revisionist, so superbly realized” by the Chicago Sun-Times, the Windy City hoofers of Chicago Dance Crash serve as the latest guests in Quad City Arts' Visiting Artists Series, their January 16 public performance at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center sure to deliver, according to the Tribune, “a show that so floods the stage with energetic talent."

After its 2024 cancellation due to extreme weather, an eagerly awaited wintertime treat and annual celebration of Jack Frost's powers returns to downtown Davenport in Icestravaganza 2025, with this family-friendly event – taking place from January 17 through 19 – boasting favorite monuments carved out of ice and lit up with gloriously colorful LED lights.

Court-ing fans in their eagerly anticipated return to Moline, the electrifying athletes of the Harlem Globetrotters bring their “2025 World Tour" to the Vibrant Arena at the MARK on January 8, thrilling crowds with phenomenal basketball action, comic hijinks, ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks in a fully-modernized amphitheater production.

Lauded by the New York Times as "invigoratingly funny," touring comedian Myq Kaplan brings his acclaimed standup act to Davenport's Renwick Mansion on January 5, his local appearance the latest act in the venue's popular Tomfoolery on Tremont series hosted by beloved comic Chris Schlichting.

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