"Happy holidays, Jeff!"
"And happy holidays to you, Mike. You seem to be in a good mood."
"That I am! I just finished my last writing assignment of the year, and am about to take off to do the last of my Christmas shopping!"
"So the What's Happenin' pages are done, then?"
"That they are! As usual for this time of year, we're treating readers to our special centerspread What's Happenin' on New Year's Eve, which gives the lowdown on the area venues that are hosting live music, karaoke, or DJs prior to midnight on January 1. We include information on what time the music starts, whether there's a cover charge, and what New Year's treats - party favors, appetizers, champagne - folks can look forward to, along with venue phone numbers and street and Web addresses for added convenience. Plus, it goes without saying that all of the bands and venues are also listed on the Live Music pages in the back of the Reader."
"I hope everyone knows, too, that the article will be online at RiverCitiesReader.com, which means we'll be able to add and update New Year's Eve information all the way through December 31."
"I made a point of mentioning it, yes."
"Looks like you're done, then. So who else do you have to shop for?"
"Actually ... just you, sir! Is there anything in particular you'd like this year?"
"You know what I'd love? A continued reprieve from those asinine Jeff-and-Mike conversations than are normally on the What's Happenin' pages. It's been months since I've seen one, and I'm enjoying the break."
"Hmm ... ."
"What?"
"How would you feel about socks?"
The River Cities' Reader staff wishes you all a safe and happy New Year!
Blueport Junction (6605 West River Drive, Davenport): North of 40, 8 p.m., $3, champagne toast, party favors, (563)326-3251, BlueportJct.com.
Brady Street Pub (217 Brady Street, Davenport): DJ Night, 9:30 p.m., (563)323-1700.
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island): Remember the King: Elvis Through the Years, 9:15 p.m., $65-77, 8-9 p.m. buffet, party favors, champagne toast, (309)786-7733 extension 2, Circa21.com.
Circle Tap (1345 Locust Street, Davenport): DJ Night, 9 p.m., (563)322-9276.
Clinton Moose Lodge (1936 Lincoln Way, Clinton, Iowa): The Second Chance Band, 8 p.m., $30, champagne toast, party favors, (563)242-6102.
Ducky's Lagoon (13515 78th Avenue, Taylor Ridge, Illinois): ACES, 9 p.m., (309)788-2423, DuckysLagoon.com.
Edje Nightclub at Jumer's Casino & Hotel (777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island): Smooth Groove, 9 p.m., party favors, (800)477-7747, JumersCRI.com.
11th Street Precinct (2108 East 11th Street, Village of East Davenport): Tronicity, 9 p.m., no cover, champagne toast, (563)324-9545, 11thStreetPrecinct.com.
The Establishment Theatre (220 19th Street, Rock Island): The Late Nite Blues Brothers Band, 8 p.m., $25/person, $40/couple, champagne toast, appetizers, Guys in Ties improv performance, (309)786-1111, EstablishmentTheatre.com.
Fargo Dance & Sports (4204 Avenue of the Cities, Moline): Secret Squirrel, 8 p.m., (309)764-7439.
G's Riverfront Cafe (102 South Main Street, Port Byron, Illinois): Jeff Miller, 6 p.m., Jordan Danielsen, 10 p.m., (309)523-2781.
Gabe's (330 East Washington Street, Iowa City): The Fez, OSG, 9 p.m., $10-15, (319)354-4788, ICGabes.com.
The Gallery Lounge (3727 Esplanade Avenue, Davenport): A Party to Go Karaoke, 8 p.m., (563)391-9784.
Generations Bar & Grill (4100 Fourth Avenue, Moline): Karaoke Night, 9 p.m., (309)757-1331.
The Grape Life Wine Emporium (3402 Elmore Avenue, Davenport): Danika Holmes, 8 p.m., $45, champagne toast, appetizers, (563)355-7070, MyGrapeLife.com.
Greenbriar Restaurant & Lounge (4506 27th Street, Moline): The Karry Outz, 9 p.m., party favors, champagne toast, (309)764-2043.
Headquarters Bar & Grill (119 East 22nd Avenue, Coal Valley, Illinois): Kooby's Karaoke, 9 p.m. (309)799-3532, MySpace.com/headquarters66.
Hillsdale American Legion (402 Main Street, Hillsdale, Illinois): Back 4 More, 8 p.m., (309)658-2220.
Hollar's Bar & Grill (4050 27th Street, Moline): Southern Thunder Karaoke & DJ, 9 p.m., (309)277-9028.
Iowa City Yacht Club (13 South Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa): Dead Larry, 5 in a Hand, Item 9, 9 p.m., $10, (319)337-6464, IowaCityYachtClub.org.
Jammerz Roadhouse (3729 248th Street North, Hillsdale, Illinois): Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls, Superfly Samurai, 9 p.m., (309)523-3940, JammerzRoadhouse.com.
Legends (201 East Main Street, Aledo): Elvis in the House, 9 p.m., (309)582-9966.
The Lucky Frog Bar & Grill (313 North Salina Street, McCausland, Iowa): PBJ & Friends, 9 p.m., (563)225-3764.
Lucky's at the Steeplegate Inn (100 West 76th Street, Davenport): Gray Wolf Band, 9 p.m., $10, champagne toast, (563)386-6900, BestWestern.com/steeplegateinn.
Martini's on the Rock (4619 34th Street, Rock Island): Justin Morrissey & Friends, 9 p.m., champagne toast, party favors, (309)732-1631, MartinisOnTheRock.com.
The Mill (120 East Burlington Street, Iowa City, Iowa): Wylde Nept, 4 p.m., $10; The Diplomats of Solid Sound, Ben Driscoll, 10 p.m., $10, champagne toast, (319)351-9529, ICMill.com.
Moe's Pizza (1312 Camanche Avenue, Clinton, Iowa): Karaoke Night, 9 p.m., (563)242-7209, MoesPizza.net.
Mound Street Landing (1029 Mound Street, Village of East Davenport): Project Pickle Farm, 9 p.m., champagne toast, party favors, (563)323-1200.
The Muddy Waters (1708 State Street, Bettendorf): Avey Brothers, 9 p.m., champagne toast, party favors, (563)355-0655, TheMuddyWaters.com.
Ohnward Fine Arts Center (1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa, Iowa): A Neil Diamond Tribute, 7 p.m., $13-25, (563)652-9815, OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
The Old Stardust Sports Bar (1191 19th Street, Moline): Karaoke Night, 9 p.m., (309)764-9644.
Paddlewheel Sports Bar & Grill (221 15th Street, Bettendorf): Karaoke Night, (563)344-9646.
Pebble Creek Golf Course (3851 Forest Grove Drive, LeClaire, Iowa): Night People, 8 p.m., (563)332-5072, PebbleCreekGolf.org.
Phoenix (111 West Second Street, Davenport): Russ Reyman, 7 p.m., (563)323-2345, ThePhoenixOfDavenport.com.
The Pub (4320 North Brady Street, Davenport): 1380, 9 p.m., champagne toast, party favors, (563)391-1455.
Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf): Dr. Zhivegas, 8 p.m., $30-45, party favors, champagne fountain, balloon drop, (800)843-4753, TheIsleBettendorf.com.
Rascals Live (1414 15th Street, Moline): Funktastic Five, 9 p.m., $10-12, champagne toast, party favors, (309)797-9457, RascalsMoline.com.
The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport): Family Groove Company, 9 p.m., $20-25, party favors, appetizers, (563)326-1333, RiverMusicExperience.org.
Rhythm City Casino (101 West River Drive, Davenport): Jordan Danielsen, 11 a.m.; Matt Walch, 3 p.m.; The Rod Pierson Big Band featuring Craig Boche, 8 p.m., (800)724-5825, Davenport.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.
RIBCO (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island): Three Years Hollow, Mindset Evolution, Eleven Fifty Two, 8 p.m., $10, champagne toast, party favors, (309)793-4060, RIBCO.com.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort (3184 Highway 22, Riverside, Iowa): Morning After, 5:30 p.m.; Hold On Band, 9:30 p.m., champagne toast, (319)648-1234, RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island): Twopeace, Fiyah, Firesale, $5, 9 p.m., RozzTox.com.
The Rusty Nail (2606 West Locust Street, Davenport): Vodkaseven, 9:30 p.m., $8, champagne toast, party favors, (563)386-1900, NewRustyNail.com.
Shannon's Bar & Grill (252 South State Avenue, Hampton, Illinois): Karaoke Night, (309)755-4140.
Skinny Legs BBQ (2020 First Street, Milan, Illinois): Rob Dahms & Detroit Larry Davidson, 2 p.m.; Buddy Olson, 7 p.m., (309)787-1117.
Studio Pub (1465 19th Street, East Moline): Jeff Smallwood & Friends, 9 p.m., (309)752-5210.
Uncle Harley's Bar & Grill (202 West Mayne Street, Blue Grass, Iowa): DJ Night, 8 p.m., champagne toast, (563)381-1717.
Uptown Neighborhood Bar & Grill (2340 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf): Lynn Allen, 9 p.m., (563)359-1015.
Van's (3333 North Harrison Street, Davenport): DJ Night, 9 p.m., drink specials, party favors, (563)386-0090.
V.F.W. Post 9128 (2814 State Street, Bettendorf): Fifth of Country, 8 p.m., dinner served 5:30 - 8 p.m., champagne toast, (563)355-8528.
