23 Dec 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 12/24 -12/31/2015

By QC Chamber
Quad Cities Firemen are taking their pants off for charity! Yep, you read that right! Some of the best firefighters in the Midwest have bared skin for the Quad City Firefighter Calendar that's raising money to end neurofibromatosis. Need we say more? All for a good cause; you can order yours here!

The maker movement in the Quad Cities is drawing widespread and well deserved attention. Mary Talbert, owner of Crafted QC was featured in the Quad City Times on Sunday highlighting the handcrafted items you can find at her shop. For those that are in a bind looking for last minute Christmas gifts, this place will have you covered!

Another place that can help you finish up your shopping is Major Art & Hobby and they have something for everyone of all ages. The store has been located at 2nd and Perry for 60+ years and is the Quad Cities oldest hobby store! They have models of automobiles, planes, military vehicles and a wide variety of electric trains! They also have a huge selection of RC cars, art and home decor! 

What's going up at 5th & Brady? Work is underway and this under-utilized parking lot will soon be transformed into a new apartment complex and Martin Luther King Jr. Interpretive Center! The project features 24 rental units, two retail spaces, and an adjacent plaza space. The projected is planned for a Fall 2016 completion date. Read more at Davenport Today.

Have you made your New Years Eve plans? Celebrate the New Year with a night filled with live music at the NYE Masquerade at the Renwick Mansion with The Dawn, Joe Marcinek Band featuring Bernie Worrell and Soap. Or catch The Old 57's and Smooth Groove at Rhythm City Casino's last NYE downtown! For a not so normal NYE, Me & Billy is throwing an epic Toga party or ring in the new year at Dam View Inn with DJ Joey Blaze!
For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.

See you downtown!
Future Events:
01/08 - Rude Punch
01/15 - Cornmeal
17 Dec 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 12/17 - 12/24/2015

By QC Chamber
Third Thursday returns tonight! Twenty-three downtown businesses are offering unique discounts and events with extended hours. Be on the lookout for Santa sightings and score deals on gift card purchases.  Check out the holiday window displays and if you need a lift, look for the Convention and Visitors Bureau SUV for a free ride to participating shops!

Highlights this month include a "pop-up shop" with Wild Cherry Spoon Company within Crafted QC, a Kwanzaa celebration at Studio 56, holiday face-painting & cookie samples at Oh So Sweet, custom shirt-fitting for men's dress shirts at L&D15, complimentary chair massages at Infinity Salon, and much more! Check out our event on Facebook for a full list of participating businesses and specials.

For an evening all about the music of Sinatra go see Frank Sinatra, Jr. at the Adler tonight! Sinatra Sings Sinatra, As I Remember It features stories, photos, videos and songs. Tomorrow catch Lightwire Theater, A Very Electric Christmas! Audiences of all ages will treasure this magical and captivating tale of family, friendship and hope set to timeless holiday hits.

2014 Blues Music Award winner Danielle Nicole (formerly of Trampled Under Foot) returns to the Redstone Room on Saturday! You can also enjoy free shows on the Community Stage this weekend with Keith Soko and a live lunch with Ben Florence. On Tuesday, celebrate the Winter Solstice with meditation, art, workshops, and the world's premier visionary violinist, Dixon's Violin!

Bucktown Center for the Arts is hosting Final Friday a week early with a Wine Walk and reception for Winter Wonders. Stroll the galleries of Bucktown during one of their most popular events! Purchase a hand-painted wine glass, sample a selection of unique wines, and enjoy the songs of Frank Sinatra with singer Travis Hosette.

This Sunday stop by Crafted QC during the Riley Cat Fundraiser for Quad City Animal Welfare Center! Meet Riley, an awesome 12 year old that loves to draw and help homeless kitties. Check out her calendars, buttons, prints and original work. All calendar proceeds with go directly to QCAWC.

The final holiday tour of the season is this Saturday at the Figge. Celebrate the season and dive deeper into the artwork on view. L&D15 will host the final Saturday Night Social of 2015. Sip on a featured cocktail and enjoy this unique shopping experience for the last time this year.

Have you heard the news? Daytrotter is bringing it's own version of a mini SXSW music festival to Davenport! How lucky are we to have the opportunity to see the brightest new talents in our own backyard!? Daytrotter Downs is gathering the next thoroughbreds in music to various venues in February! Get your tickets now!

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.

Future Events:
01/15 - Cornmeal
11 Dec 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 12/10 - 12/17/2015

By QC Chamber
One holiday event you won't want to miss is Ballet Quad Cities' enchanting production of The Nutcracker featuring live music by Orchestra Iowa! This well-known holiday classic comes to life this weekend on the Adler stage with a cameo appearance by the Quad City Symphony's Children Choir.

The RME Community Stage has a busy week ahead beginning tonight with Jazz Jam with the North Scott Jazz Combo and continuing tomorrow with a live lunch by Tony Hoeppner. Holiday Concerts by QC Homeschool Band and A Soul Purpose happen this weekend, too. The community stage is a great place to support local talent and all of the events are free!

Another must-stop in your holiday adventures is the German American Heritage Center. Two special exhibits, Winterscapes and Amazing Advent Adventure - A Christmas Exhibit, are open until January 3rd. Saturday, enjoy free samples of sausage provided by Jerry's Market in Moline. Drive past the Center at night to see the Living Advent Calendar.  Each night, a new image will be revealed in the windows until Christmas Eve!

Speaking of window displays this holiday season, our downtown retailers have a friendly competition going on to see who has the best decor! Head over to our Facebook page and check out the photos. Make sure to like your favorite so they can earn bragging rights! While you're there, check out the daily #downtowngiftguide posts that highlight all the fun & unique gifts you can find downtown!

A spotlight has been shining on Crafted QC lately and we couldn't be happier for all the press the shop has received. Radish Magazine is the latest to highlight the cozy shop packed with eclectic handmade goods.  Read up; it's a great story describing how owner Mary Talbert got her start. 

L&D15 will host a new style-event this week with Saturday Night Social beginning at 7 p.m. Inspired by salons, soirees and the speakeasy, this event incorporates shopping, sipping and socializing. It's a unique retail experience and chance to see the great collection of apparel, accessories and home items at L&D15!  

Everyone's favorite monthly shopping event, Third Thursday, returns next week! It's easy to find unique, special and handmade gifts for the holidays downtown. Not sure what to buy? Many shops are offering great deals on gift card purchases! If you need a lift on Third Thursday you can hop in the Convention & Visitors Bureau SUV for a FREE ride to your next stop.

Santa Claus will be appearing around downtown that evening, too.  When you find him, take a selfie using #thirdthursday and tell him what you want for Christmas! A pop-up shop with Wild Cherry Spoon Company will be at Crafted QC, Infinity Salon will have free 5 min chair massages and $5 brow waxes, and Oh So Sweet will feature holiday face painting and samples of Santa's favorite cookies. Check out our event on Facebook for a full list of participating businesses and specials.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.

Future Events:
04 Dec 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 12/3 - 12/10/2015

By QC Chamber
Handmade City Holiday returns to the Figge this Saturday! The indie craft show promotes handmade modern makers from the Midwest and features high quality and affordable gifts. This showcase is one of our favorite shopping events of the year that supports local artists. It's family friendly and free to attend! 

  Handmade City is just one of many events on the calendar at the Figge this week. Tonight catch the Heartland Marimba Festival members perform at the Holiday Spectacular Concert. After the show take part in the Annual Family Holiday Workshop to create your own gingerbread house!

  Catch more of the spirit of the season this weekend with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra: Winter Fun - Mozart and more! Enjoy a delightful blend of classic favorites played from the Adler stage including Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 with St. Ambrose professor Marian Lee.

Get all your super smart friends together and put your knowledge to the test for a good cause! Sign up for Trivia Night on Saturday at the Freight House, benefiting the Quad Cities Food Hub! It's eight players per table at $10 per person and the first place team takes home $160.

  Get lost in the music tonight with the fast-paced and soulful The Way Down Wanderers with Miles Over Mountains at the Redstone Room! And to help you keep you in the holiday spirit on Saturday, have a joyous and festive evening with Suzy Bogguss' Swingin' Little Christmas.

  2015 is coming to a close and its time to start looking to next year with a new calendar! These beautiful images in Art Meets the River captured by local artist Heidi Brandt show everything that makes living along the Mississippi River so spectacular. Plus a portion of the proceeds benefit local nonprofit, River Action. Order online today.

The downtown retailers are helping to make the holidays shine! As downtown Davenport continues its business boom, retailers are resurrecting the tradition of splashy holiday window displays. Read more at Davenport Today!

  The Parker Building has begun its evolution under Restoration St. Louis and passers-by can easily see the work progressing. The building is one of the anchors to the half-city block that will become the $60 million City Square. We couldn't be more excited about this project to bring on more downtown businesses and apartments!

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.

Future Events:
12/10 - Holiday Member Dinner
12/12 - The Nutcracker
25 Nov 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 11/25 - 12/3/2015

By QC Chamber

The holiday fun continues at Festival of Trees this week with a Celebrity Lunch today and Jingle Jam tonight! Your last chance to visit the festival is on Saturday for Family Day. Enjoy all the magic and attractions of the Festival at a reduced price!

Join us this Saturday and encourage others to shop local this holiday season by using #ShopSmallQC on social media! Small businesses bring so much vibrancy to our downtown community and the impact they have is crucial to our local economic growth. Small Business Saturday is a nationwide movement to remind shoppers to spend some holiday dollars at small, local retailers. 

Friday is one of the biggest music events of the year for downtown business Ragged Records with Black Friday Record Store Day! This year features nearly 100 official Black Friday titles and 100's of unofficial titles. Plus there will be free live music all day long and sales from both Ragged Records & Trash Can Annie!

Avoid the holiday hangover and participate in The 29th Annual McCarthy Bush Turkey Trot! The road race takes to our streets on Thursday morning. The event includes a one-mile family fun run, a five-mile run and two person relay. It's a downtown tradition!

A Pink Floyd party gets started at 9 p.m. tonight at the Redstone Room with a showing of the film Dark Side of the Rainbow with local musicians performing their favorite Pink Floyd songs following the film! Taking the Redstone stage on Saturday is the Family Groove Company with Frank F. Sidney's Western Bandit Volunteers!

Need help deciding where to have a night out over the holiday? Me & Billy has you covered tonight for Laid Black Wednesday featuring Free Live Trivia and 2 for 1 draft beer! And they are open early at 8 am Thanksgiving morning for the Turkey Trot!

Give the gift of art this holiday season! The Bereskin Fine Art Gallery offers gift certificates that can be used for classes and/or artwork. Bereskin just released their new class schedule for this winter and it makes for the perfect unique gift for the creative person on your list.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.

Future Events:
12/05 - QC Food Hub Trivia Night
12/18 - Lightwire Theater
19 Nov 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 11/19 - 11/26/2015

By QC Chamber
At the center of downtown's holiday festivities is one of our all time favorite events, Quad City Arts Festival of Trees! Celebrating 30 years of the festival, the event will feature numerous special events including the celebrity lunch, grand premiere party, silver bell social, jingle jam and more. Of course, the Holiday Parade kicks off on Saturday; it's still the largest helium-balloon parade in the Midwest!  The Figge Art Museum is also featuring FREE admission all day Saturday. 
Come downtown tonight for a Third Thursday holiday shopping kick-off! In addition to the usual Third Thursday VIP treatment, many shops are unveiling festive window displays! There's 25+ businesses that will be open late offering sales, specials, giveaways, treats and so much more.   RSVP to our Facebook event and bring a friend. 

Gifts, Greetings & Gourmet has 50% off all items in the store, Oh So Sweet will have complimentary pie samples and you can sip on a delicious cocktail made from Artisan Grain Silver Rum, Great River Brewery has 1/2 off pints of Punk'N-Mator, and The Creative Collective is hosting an open house to show off their new co-working space. There's many sales you won't want to miss out on; check out the full list of participating businesses and specials.

River Music Experience has a busy weekend starting on Friday with local up and coming pop artist, Alyx Rush.  In the Redstone Room, Australian guitar virtuoso and River Roots Live favorite Joe Robinson is making a return trip to the QC!  Bringing their signature sound of roots infused Reggae Rock, Jon Wayne and The Pain will take the stage on Saturday and adding a bold fusion of Jam and EDM.

Parents - do you need a few hours without the kiddos to run errands, have a date night, or go to dinner? The downtown Y is now offering, Kids Night Out! The Y staff has tons of fun and exciting activities planned throughout the evening including arts & crafts, swimming, movies and gym time. They will also serve the kids dinner. 

A downtown Davenport nonprofit organization has been nominated to receive a $75,000 donation from DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and need your help to win it! Dress For Success Quad Cities is one of only eight nonprofits selected for the nationwide "Leave Your Mark" contest. Vote daily and support Dress for Success.

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra spectacular holiday tradition comes to the Adler this Friday and Saturday. Holiday Pops: Cirque de la Symphonie has an all new show this season! Artists are veterans of exceptional cirque events and include aerial flyers, acrobats, dancers, balancers and spinners! 

Last, but certainly not least, demolition of the former Howard Johnson hotel has begun! We are thrilled to see this project move forward with our partners at Riverwatch LLC and can't wait to enhance the eastern gateway to downtown. Check out the QC-Times recap and  footage from Mickle Communications of the ceremonial first swings of the wrecking ball.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar. 

Future Events:
11/28 - Shop Small Business Saturday
12 Nov 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 11/12 -11/19/2015

By QC Chamber

It's been birthday celebrations galore downtown lately, this week we are raising a glass to L&D15! They are marking their first year anniversary with a guy's night out on Saturday. The night will feature a fashion presentation from men's clothing designer Harmsen, music and hors d'ouvres. Happy Birthday L&D15!

For those wanting a little more funk, soul and true-blue grassroots in their life - you'll want to catch JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound with The Maytags tonight in the Redstone Room. Americana/Folk duo, The Cerny Brothers play Friday and Martin Sexton hits the stage on Saturday continuing the folk rock vibe. The weekend bill at RME wraps up with Lila Ammons for Third Sunday Jazz.

Need a good laugh? The Adler has two rave worthy comedy events this week beginning tonight with the truTV's Impractical Jokers "Where's Larry" Tour. The night will be filled with laughs and hilarious videos inspired by long-running "Jokers." Saturday catch Girls Night: The Musical, described as "awesome Housewives' meets Mamma Mia!" (Applause Magazine). 

Did you know there's an owner of a downtown Davenport business that collaborated with Nike to design a shoe!? There's much more to learn about Mitch Dettman and his business The Full Kit in this month's Gold Book issue. Don't receive the Gold Book? No worries we found a digital copy of the feature! 

The 2015 Tree Lighting Celebration for the Genesis Remembrance Tree will take place Friday at Bechtel Park. Blessing and illumination of the tree will occur at 6:30 p.m. Since 2004, the Genesis Remembrance Trees have honored more than 5,500 individuals and raised more than $30,000 for hospice care at Genesis.

Make sure you visit downtown next week for Third Thursday! We are bringing some serious holiday cheer to downtown. In addition to the usual Third Thursday VIP treatment, many shops are unveiling festive window displays!

This month features fabulous holiday inspired deals, appetizers and cocktails. Discover the many unique and locally owned shops during this featured event from 5-9 p.m. There's lots to see & do downtown, check out the full list of participating businesses and specials! Kick-off the holiday shopping season with a bang and treat yourself to a fun evening downtown. 

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar. 

Future Events:

11/28 - Shop Small Business Saturday

05 Nov 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 11/5 -11/12/2015

By QC Chamber
It's a birthday celebration this week for two fantastic downtown businesses! Eclectic retail shop Abernathy's will be celebrating two years with a sale, lucky us! Shop Saturday for 50% off all vintage clothing, shoes, hats and bags. Me & Billy will celebrate their two year anniversary with $2 drink specials all day long and live music by Karl Beatty starting at 10 pm! Cheers and best wishes to another bright year for both!

The music lineup downtown this week is absolutely incredible! The Avett Brothers are in town on Tuesday playing a much anticipated show at the Adler. The Avett show is just the beginning of a busy month on the Adler stage. Still to come is truTV's Impractical Jokers, Girls Night: The Musical, Holiday Pops Cirque de la Symphonie and Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood.

River Music Experience has a packed bill with The Keller Williams Trio playing tonight in the Redstone Room. Joining Keller Williams on this tour is Rodney Holmes on drums and Rob Wasserman on upright bass, both are Grammy award winning composers and producers. The #1 Billboard Blues Artist, Anthony Gomes will take the same stage on Friday. Gomes is a top draw on the Rock/Blues circuit - don't miss your chance to see him!

Saturday, the Redstone Room will fill for favorite local annual event, Moondance! This year features live music from Lissie, Jason Carl & The Whole Damn Band and many other special guests. Proceeds from this very special event will go to benefit the Karli Rose Kell Music Scholarship Fund at RME. 

The Figge Museum's popular program Wine and Art continues tonight with a Holiday Card session. Design cards of thanks, praise or holiday greeting cards. Visit the museum on Sunday for the Figge Highlights Tour. An expert docent will give visitors an overview of the traveling exhibitions currently on display, free with paid admission or membership.

German American Heritage Center has a few exhibits opening this weekend. Check out Winterscapes, an exhibit of winter themed fine arts by Artists Unlimited. The holiday countdown officially begins with a Christmas exhibit for the entire family, Amazing Advent Adventure opens this Sunday too.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar. 

Future Events:
11/25 - Quad City Arts Festival of Trees
11/28 - Shop Small Business Saturday
30 Oct 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 10/29 - 11/5/2015

By QC Chamber
Get ready for a spooktacular weekend in downtown Davenport! It all starts with an Animazing Halloween Final Friday at Bucktown featuring artistic and quirky lighting throughout the first two floors in the spirit of the season! After you've experienced art in a new light head over to Crafted QC for Boos, Booze and Bling with Two Gems. Complete your evening at the Redstone Room and see show-stopping HalloQUEEN with Have Your Cake. 

Speaking of events in the Redstone Room, don't miss tonight's performance of An Evening With That 1 Guy! Mike Silverman has set himself apart as a true one-of-a-kind talent with an extensive track record of unique and imaginative performances. You can expect to see magic seamlessly integrated into the dynamic music. This original show is sure to please.

Enjoy the traditional Halloween events on Saturday. The City of Davenport Halloween parade steps off at 1 p.m. at 3rd and Brady. Check out the parade route map and plan your afternoon downtown. Trick or Treat is Saturday evening from 5 - 7 p.m.

Fresh Deli is hosting their fourth annual Rocky Horror Picture Show night. Arrive early to begin the evening with a dinner buffet and to receive a gift bag filled with all the necessary items for the show. Hocus Pocus will play at 5 p.m. and Rocky Horror will begin promptly after.

Enjoy free admission all day Sunday for the Figge's Day of the Dead Family Fiesta! Celebrate the rich cultural traditions of El Dia de los Muertos through art projects, live performances, music and food. This profoundly serious occasion is celebrated with great joy, laughter, music and dance as the lives of lost loved ones are remembered.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast comes to the Adler Theatre on Tuesday for one night only. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes and dazzling production numbers.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar. 

Future Events:
22 Oct 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 10/22 - 10/29/2015

By QC Chamber

There's something to offer all music fans this week in Davenport. Jazz enthusiasts will enjoy a performance in the Redstone Room with Nick Colionne & Richard Elliot, country fans can catch Lee Brice at the Adler on Saturday and genre-defying acoustic act The Ballroom Thieves will end the weekend bill at RME!

  It's time to get your tweed on for the 3rd Annual Quad-Cities Tweed Ride! Registration begins at 10 am on Saturday at the Freight House. The ride includes tea and scones at Credit Island, twick or tweed in the Village of East Davenport and finishes with a traditional English fare at Mac's Tavern. If you can't find anything in your closet at home, check out the tweed collection at Trash Can Annie so you can ride in style.

  Excitement has been building Quad-City wide and beyond for the opening of Analog Arcade Bar. Friday, the wait is finally over! Analog offers a unique combination of the childhood fun of an arcade with a bar atmosphere. You will be in awe when you see what they've done to this historic space, let alone the 60-game selection on the floor. 21+ only!

  Shop, sip and mingle at L&D15 this weekend for their Saturday Night Social from 7 - 10 p.m. Immerse yourself in a unique retail experience and meet new people in a friendly, relaxed environment. Each Social features a different complimentary cocktail, this week's feature is a Blood Orange Martini! 

  A fantastic local collaboration has been brewing and Boetje's Barrel-Aged Mustard Stout is ready for tapping on Friday. Boetje's Mustard aged their famous mustard in a bourbon cask from Mississippi River Distilling Company and then Great River Brewery filled it to create a truly unique stout in very limited quantities. Get some this weekend before it's gone! 

  It's officially the time of year for our flower baskets to come down. The flowers had a great run and received a ton of publicity for beautifying our downtown. Big thanks to our Operations Manager, Ryan Jantzi and his crew for an exceptionally stunning season downtown.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar. 

Future Events:

11/25 - Quad City Arts Festival of Trees

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