One of the area's most eagerly anticipated sales events returns to Rock Island's QCCA Expo Center March 6 through 8, as Melting Pot Productions, Inc. presents this year's spring Antique Spectacular Vintage Market, allowing hunters of vintage goods an all-weekend opportunity to shop for a wide range of quality antiques.
A Midwestern comedian, New York Times bestselling author, Emmy-winning journalist, and musician whose content for his various social platforms has amassed more than 10 million followers, Charlie Berens brings his "The Lost & Found Tour" to Davenport's Adler Theatre on March 8, the Wisconsin native famed for his appearances on Comedy Central, Funny or Die, and MTV News.
Patrons of the German American Heritage Center are invited to discover the history of one of the world's most recognizable dolls – and how she evolved from a comic for adult men in Germany (!) – in Barbie: An All-American Girl?, with Putnam Museum and Science Center Curator of History and Anthropology Christina Kastell leading a fascinating March 8 program in the Davenport venue's popular "Kaffee und Kuchen" series.
Beloved for his 1996 to 2003 tenure on Saturday Night Live, where he was best-known for characters including Mango, Mr Peepers, and one of the Butabi brothers opposite Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan performs as the latest guest in the "Laugh QC" Thursday Night Comedy Series held in the Mississippi Hall of the Davenport RiverCenter, the comedian's March 12 engagement treating fans to a night (at the Roxbury) with one of SNL's longest-serving cast members.
A fascinating illustrated lecture focusing on the remarkable women who had a first-hand view of our nation's creation, The Founding Mothers of America will be presented at the Rock Island Public Library's Watts-Midtown Branch on March 12, with presenter and touring performer Laura Keyes sharing insightful tales of her subjects' history, bravery, and surprising legacies.
Former State Senator and Emergency Room Doctor Shifts from Compelling Iowa Courts to Provide Judicial Review Over Agencies' Actions to Suing for Damages
For the second time, a former state senator and physician is suing two state licensing boards over an investigation into his practices related to COVID-19.
State Representative Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, who is running for Illinois comptroller, reported receiving the maximum campaign contribution of $72,800 from Governor JB Pritzker on February 19.
As expected, we did not see a whole lot of spending increases in Governor JB Pritzker’s state budget proposal last week. Last year, Pritzker said his budget limited discretionary spending to less than a one percent increase. The plan unveiled last week limits discretionary spending to less than a half a point increase.
As I write this, Governor JB Pritzker is preparing to give his annual budget address. It’s an unenviable task. Earlier this month, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released a report showing federal tax cuts caused a $587 million reduction in state revenues this fiscal year.
Governor JB Pritzker announced a plan last week to “manage Illinois pension commitments through a set of proposals designed to build on the state’s recent fiscal progress and further reduce long-term risk for taxpayers and retirees.” The price tag, however, is already giving one legislative leader pause. And “fiscal progress” is not the reality when factoring in federal funds.
Director/choreographer Ashley Becher and musical director Ethan Hayward, alongside their wonderful crew and energetic, talented crème de la crème cast, elevate the solid script and score into the realm of delight.
Need a laugh? Need 40? Playcrafters has them for you.
Praised by WhartonPlazaTheatre.com for its "rousing musical numbers, hilarious social commentary, and heavenly harmony," the feel-good, foot-stomping, country-music sensation Honky Tonk Angels enjoys a March 11 through April 25 run at Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, RochesterMedia.com adding, "To paraphrase a well-known movie quote: Is this heaven? No. It’s Honky Tonk Angels. Welcome to heaven on earth.”
A groundbreaking achievement whose original Broadway production received six Tony Awards and whose most recent New York presentation won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, composer Stephen Sondheim's and author George Furth's Company enjoys a March 12 through 16 run in Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center, the legendary work a resonant dramatic comedy by an artist the New York Times calls “one of the most sophisticated composers ever to write Broadway musicals.”
The recipient of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama that, according to Intermission magazine, "cuts to the heart with a simply constructed story, understated humor, and dialogue unburdened by purple prose," playwright Eboni Booth's Primary Trust makes its Iowa City debut at Riverside Theatre February 27 through March 15, the work also hailed by The Daily Beast as "beautifully written" and "a 95-minute, intermissionless, buffed-to-gleaming jewel.”
A consistently popular performer touring in support of his March 8 release Homeaid, beloved Midwestern folk singer/songwriter Cody Diekhoff – better known by his recording alias Chicago Farmer – headlines a March 6 concert with his band The Fieldnotes at Davenport's Redstone Room, the artist a soulful crooner and guitarist who inspired No Depression to rave, “If the Midwest is looking for a voice, the search is over.”
Currently traveling the country in their “Smokestack Town '26 Tour,” Ole 60, self-described as “not your father's country band,” headlines a March 6 engagement at East Moline venue The Rust Belt, The Westview Wire giving the musicians' 2025 album Smokestack Town five our of five stars, and The Bluegrass Situation calling the ensemble "one of the most intriguing new acts in Americana."
Praised by Rolling Stone for “gutbucket rock & roll and soulful boogie” and by NPR Music for being “fresh, original, and truly pledged to rock and roll,” Adam Weiner a.k.a. Low Cut Connie headlines a March 6 solo concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the artist's 2023 album Art Dealers hailed by Glide magazine as "a perfect mix of charm, love, and devotion with just enough sleaze and grit to keep it interesting."
Dedicated to taking his audiences on a journey through the Golden Age of rock and roll, popular touring vocalist brings Chris Ruggiero brings his headlining tour to Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre on March 6, the PBS and social-media sensation revered for breathing new life into the timeless music of the 1950s, '60s and '70s.
Rhythm, energy, and innovation will be celebrated in the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's fifth Masterworks concerts of the 2025-26 season, the March 7 and 8 repertoire boasting Leonard Bernstein's vibrant "Three Dance Episodes" from On the Town, Rebecca Burkhardt’s captivating Ballet for Cello and Orchestra, and, as fitting for the program's title, Ludwig van Beethoven’s spirited and uplifting Second Symphony.
As a slasher flick with comedic leanings, director/co-writer Kevin Williamson's Scream 7 is pretty weak. As a half-dozenth sequel so steeped in callbacks and meta-commentary that nostalgia is practically its plot, it's exhausting. And as a statement on big-studio moviegoing practices and habits with a quarter of the 21st century behind us, it's depressing as hell.
Going to the cineplex or staying in and streaming this weekend? Every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. you can listen to Mike Schulz dish on recent movie releases & talk smack about Hollywood celebs on Planet 93.9 FM with the fabulous Dave & Darren in the Morning team of Dave Levora and Darren Pitra. The morning crew previews upcoming releases, too. Or you can check the Reader Web site and listen to their latest conversation by the warm glow of your electronic device. Never miss a pithy comment from these three scintillating pundits again
Thursday, March 5: Discussion of Scream VII, Pillion, and EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concerts, previews of Hoppers, The Bride!, Protector, and the Oscar-nominated shorts at the Last Picture House, and an even longer, more shameless plug for Mike's run in God of Carnage at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre. Dave saw it, and has a few things to say -- blessedly, all good things.
In this dark comedy thriller, and in a change of pace for the performer, Margaret Qualley turns out not to be an on-screen firecracker. She's more like a countdown clock, the type that requires action heroes to cut either the blue or red wire before everything gets blown to bits
Because the experience felt so unusual, I actually checked my archives to make sure, and it was true: This past Thursday-through-Saturday marked the first time since pre-COVID that I viewed six new big-screen releases over the course of three days.
Now playing at area theaters.
In celebration of National Quilt Day on March 16, Davenport's Figge Art Museum will again showcase a number of colorful and hand-crafted functional artworks in the March 3 through 8 Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild Display, with a special reception for the exhibit's gifted artisans scheduled for March 5.
Held in conjunction with the current exhibit The Golden Age: Featuring Northern European Works from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art, Davenport's Figge Art Museum will host a special Art Conservation Talk on March 12, the event featuring a program conservator visiting the Quad Cities from the National Gallery of Art.
With the works of both Iowa-based artists boasting vivid colors and expressive storytelling qualities, the dual exhibition Laber & Mullins will be on display in Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center through March 20, this showcase of local talent boasting evocative, thrilling paintings by Phillip Laber and Rachael Mullins.
Amethyst cathedrals, diamonds, Lake Superior agates, opals, geodes, and additionally beautiful objects will be on view at the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery through March 20, with works in the fascinating exhibition Rocks, Minerals, & Gems: The Olsen Collection spanning five-plus decades of curiosity, craftsmanship, and global exploration.
A wide range of disparate mediums and gorgeous artworks will be on display at the Quad City Arts International Airport Gallery from March 4 through April 27, with art lovers area-wide invited to view new metal and fiber sculpture by Amanda Langer, encaustics by Cindy Lesperance, and Japanese tiles by Nick Schroeder in the exhibit Langer, Lesperance, & Schroeder.
You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?)
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