Bring Out The Blues: Mississippi Valley Blues Festival includes Legends, Newcomers

Downtown Cleanup!

Spring is upon us!  The robins are back and the grass is  showing signs of life!  With that comes spring cleaning and we need your help.  Each year Davenport and Bettendorf organize a spring cleaning for our downtowns. This year’s event will be Friday, April 26th.  If you would like to give our downtowns a sprucing-up, follow the link below and get your group signed.  We will provide you with gloves and trash bags and even tickets to the Quad Cities River Bandits game that night!

come on out and spend a spring day helping your community!

Sign up here…

Q-C moves up in economic growth rankings

QC Times- The Quad-City region earned its highest ranking in the past decade in a key measurement of economic strength, according to data released Wednesday by Policom Corp.

The area was ranked 106th among 366 metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, rated across the country, the Quad-Cities Chamber of Commerce reported

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Freight House dreams come true

QC Times- Our AWOL springtime is scheduled to show up Saturday with a forecast warm enough to serve as an invitation to revisit Davenport’s Freight House Farmers Market.

There, you’ll find out what creative Davenporters were thinking when they charted a new course in 2010 for the Freight House.

Read more here…

Modern Woodmen Ferris wheel gets a location behind left field

QC Times- A 90-foot-tall Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park will stand right where early drawings predicted it would, behind left field, framing the LeClaire Park bandshell.

The location is slightly inside the left field foul line, Davenport aldermen learned at a study session Tuesday afternoon at the ballpark. A reinforced concrete base will be built outside the stadium’s flood protection but will be accessible from the walkway atop the berm that rings the outfield.

Read more here…

Bandits’ Correa brings maturity, talent

QC Times- Make no mistake about it. Carlos Correa is a special talent.

But what Quad-Cities River Bandits manager Omar Lopez likes best about the 18-year-old shortstop prospect is that he doesn’t act as if he’s special.

Read more here…

Davenport’s hot new neighborhood is downtown

QC Times-

Davenport’s newest neighborhood took root nearly a century ago. The warehouse district on the east side of downtown is among our community’s fastest growing residential developments.

Earlier this month, Times reporter Alma Gaul reported how over the past decade, those old buildings are being renovated with state and federal tax help to create a neighborhood of 300 apartments, representing more than $50 million in private investment.

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Old warehouse district gets new life as apartments sprout

QC Times- Ten years ago, the Crescent Warehouse Historic District of Davenport — the area bounded by 4th, 5th, Iowa and Federal streets — was a wasteland of vacant or underused buildings with broken windows.

A “total, total disgrace,” as Davenport Alderman Gene Meeker, then the executive director of the former Downtown Davenport Development Corp., recalls. It also was a little scary, a place to avoid.

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HOTEL BLACKHAWK NAMED FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE RECOMMENDED PROPERTY

DAVENPORT, IOWA – Hotel Blackhawk management is pleased to announce its recognition today in Los Angeles, CA as a 2013 Recommended Property by the Forbes Travel Guide – one of 24 hotels to earn the title. The announcement is part of the guide’s 55th annual Star Awards for hospitality establishments worldwide.

The Forbes guide (originally known as the Mobil Travel Guide) was the originator of the prestigious Five Star ratings and certifications. It has provided the travel industry’s most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958.

This latest honor adds to other notable achievements such as its 2012 AAA Four Diamond Award-Lodgings, 2012 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence Award, the Bix Bistro’s 2012 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence as well as 2011 and 2012 Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award recognition.

“Recognition by the Forbes Travel Guide is yet another example of how the team at Hotel Blackhawk strives to raise the bar for our guests every day,” said General Manager Tim Heim. “To be named by such a prestigious organization is to be part of what is considered the gold standard for hospitality excellence today.”

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 98-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Summit Hotels & Resorts group (www.summithotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com

Downtown Davenport in for Brewed Awakenings

QC Times — A long-time coffee shop in downtown Davenport is under new ownership with a new name.

The former Urban Grind, 221 Brady St., closed in December. Its owners expect to reopen it in early March under the name Brewed Awakenings.

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River Bandits name new general manager

QC Times- Harold Craw remembers spending Sunday afternoons as a youth with his father at the ballpark in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn.

The new general manager of the Quad-Cities River Bandits wants to create the same memories for fans attending minor-league baseball games in the Quad Cities.

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Non-Profit “Brews” New Fundraising Idea

Since 2009, government funding to non-profit organizations that provide human services has been in steady decline, forcing these service organizations to change much of their funding strategies or face a reduction in their ability to provide critical services to their communities.  Competition amongst non-profits for the “donated” dollar is extreme:  How can an individual not-for profit make itself standout from the crowd to garner more support and exposure plus increase donor dollars?

Known for their “outside the box” fundraising programs, senior center CASI (Center for Active Seniors, Inc.) in Davenport, Iowa, has” brewed” the prefect fundraising plan.

CASI has teamed up with a regional microbrewery, Great River Brewery, to create a new beer dedicated to seniors and senior services. The results: Owney Irish Red Ale. Owney, an old Irish name for “elderly” is being released in retail locations throughout the Quad Cities the week of February 4^th.  Proceeds from the sale of Owney Irish Red Ale will be used by CASI to fund services for seniors in the Quad City community.  Additionally, distributors Vanguard Distributing Co. and Stern Beverages are providing marketing materials used to promote awareness of CASI’s programs and services.

Then on March 9, a formal tapping event is planned at Great River Brewery (332 E 2^nd St., Davenport) beginning at 1:00 p.m. Area senior centers and the general public are invited to join in the festivities. Food will be provided by The Fountains Senior Living Community of Bettendorf.

We all have a senior in our life that needs our help. So toast CASI with a pint of Owney and support our senior services!

Founded in 1973, CASI is a multi-service nationally accredited senior center providing a variety of social, educational, support and wellness programs and activities designed for adults over the age of 60 and their families/caregivers.

Find out more about CASI and Great River Brewery

Davenport landmark to join collection of luxury hotels

Quad City Times- After playing host to guests ranging from President Barack Obama to Quad-City newlyweds, the restored Hotel Blackhawk is finding itself in more good company as it prepares to join the Marriott Autograph Collection of luxury hotels.

Read more here…

Nerdy Merry X-Mas Cat Video Generator

Everyone loves a hilarious cat video, but what if we told you there was a way to see tons of adorable cats in one convenient location while supporting a good cause ALL AT THE SAME TIME!  Help our friends at Nerdwerx decide whether to donate $500 to United Way, Gilda’s Club, or Red Cross by checking out their Nerdy Merry X-Mas Cat Video Generator!  Awesome, right? Help the cause and have a good laugh while you’re at it!

Redband Coffee opens second Q-C store

Quad City Times- Redband Coffee, a gourmet coffee shop, has opened its second Davenport location.

The store at 329 E. 4th St., joins the original shop at 110 W. 13th St.

The shop is located is a small brick building that most recently housed Crescent Cleaners, which closed in May.

Read the full article here

Thousands flock downtown for parade

Quad City Times- Karen Krick of Clinton called it an ideal day for a parade.

One would be hard-pressed to find many who would disagree after thousands of Quad-Citians enjoyed temperatures in the 50s, lots of sunshine and very little wind during the 21st annual Quad-City Arts Festival of Trees Holiday Parade that took place Saturday morning in downtown Davenport.

Read more here

No longer a secret: Antonella’s serves up slice of home

Quad City Times- Reno Vitale can hardly walk into the restaurant without offering some bit of advice for making things better.

His daughter, Antonia Vitale-Sgro, said she’s come to expect it.

Vitale-Sgro and her husband, John Sgro, are the owners and operators of Antonella’s Ristorante & Pizzeria at 112 W. 3rd St., Davenport.

Read the full article here

‘The godfather of Quad-City music’

Quad City Times-We rather like the label Moliner Richard Leddy bestowed upon Ellis Kell at his latest benefit performance. On Saturday at Davenport’s RiverCenter, Kell was leading his band to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief. Kell has organized and performed for disaster relief, music education, cancer recovery and research and a zillion other great causes.

Read more here

Festival of Trees: Holiday designers get fest in shape

Quad-City Times-Along with the usual wreaths and bows, glass ornaments and ribbon were camouflage and door knobs that will serve as decorations for displays at this year’s Quad-City Arts Festival of Trees.

To read more click here

Coming Soon – Peterson Paper Building Lofts

The historic Peterson Paper Building is currently being renovated and beautiful new market-rate apartments are expected to be complete in spring/summer 2013. For rental information, please call 563-517-RENT.

Click here for more info.

Thousands turn out for parade

Quad City Times- Thousands of costumed children and adults lined downtown Davenport streets Wednesday night for the city’s annual Halloween parade.  Read more here…