Instructing and entertaining audiences on the art of “Old Manspaining,” touring comedian and popular radio presence Tom Briscoe brings his comedy show to Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre on August 22, offering hysterical advice on maintaining agood marriage, raising daughters, empty nesting, and the fine art of unsolicited advice.

Inspired by her upbringing at the turn of the 20th century and considered “Iowa’s first feminist writer,” Ruth Suckow was largely forgotten until researchers rediscovered her story in the 1980s. Consequently, the Ruth Suckow Memorial Association, with the support of Humanities Iowa, has developed a traveling exhibition celebrating the life and work of this Iowa novelist and short-story writer who lived from 1892 to 1960, the exhibit Everyday Lives, Extraordinary Voices: Ruth Suckow's Iowa on display at Davenport's German American Heritage Center from August 22 through November 15.

An eagerly awaited day of outdoor fun culminating in an attempt to break a pair of Guinness World Records is set for August 15, when River Action hosts the 17th-annual celebration of paddle sports Floatzilla, with participants and spectators gathering at Rock Island's Sunset Park to see if the Quad Cities can boast the world's “Largest Raft of Canoes and Kayaks” and “Largest Simultaneous Kayak Launch.”

With the Midwest Writing Center's literary magazine THE ATLAS celebrating the publication of its 21st volume, a release party, open-mic night, and KAS concert honoring the Young Emerging Writers (YEW) program will be held at Rock Island venue Rozz-Tox on August 13, the evening boasting readings from YEW alumni and copies of new and back issues of THE ATLAS available for purchase.