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Hello Quad Cities! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Alternating currents festival, Marlee Matlin keynote, and Bluey's Big Play + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Today’s sponsor, Goldco, is helping folks around the Quad Cities help protect their savings after a remarkable few years for gold and silver. Their free guide explains what's behind the run… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Arts and entertainment festival: Alternating Currents will return Aug. 13–16 with 200-plus free performances across 40 venues in Davenport, Rock Island and Bettendorf, featuring national acts, indie films, stand-up, family programming, plus Mural Fest -- get all the details.
Explore a new learning approach: Rivermont Collegiate will host a free Montessori Open House this Saturday, August 8, 10 AM to noon, with classroom tours, meet teachers, hands-on activities, and information on year-round programming -- see the Montessori open house.
Arts series highlights inclusion: Marlee Matlin will visit the Putnam Museum on Aug. 19 during Culture Bright for a film screening and keynote. The event will debut the Caption accessibility tool. Tickets are limited -- see Marlee Matlin at Putnam.
The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $1,500 this year. Case in point: Shopping around could cut your premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy*
Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Gold posted one of its strongest runs in decades...Silver has been right there with it, and after a few remarkable years both metals have become some of the most talked-about assets for those looking to stay ahead of market volatility. While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning. If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, Goldco has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how people are approaching precious metals right now. It’s free and worth reading before the next move.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Tune up your week: AM Guitar Works is the Quad Cities' largest independently owned one-stop guitar shop, with a friendly mom-and-pop vibe, expert repairs and quick turnarounds, pro setups and mods, and lessons to level you up. Browse quality new, used and refurbished guitars, basses, ukes, amps and accessories, then peek their Sunday New Arrival videos for first dibs.
Level up your walls: From family photos to that concert poster you swore you’d hang, Evergreen Art Works turns what you love into display-worthy pieces with custom framing that actually fits your style and space. Perfect for freshening up the living room or finally giving the kids’ art its moment.
Upgrade your kitchen smartly: Discount Appliance Davenport has brand-new, never-used scratch-and-dent refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and laundry pairs from name brands, with a 1-year parts and labor warranty. Inventory lands daily, so if your fridge is humming weirdly again... this is the week to pounce.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade →
Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
The fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →
One plug-in drives bugs out of your home, no spray required: For every bug you see along the baseboards, more are nesting out of sight, and traps and poison only reach so far. This one works differently: patented pulse technology runs through your home's wiring to make the whole place uncomfortable for insects and mice, so they clear out on their own. No fumes, nothing on the floor near the kids or pets, just plug it in. Over 3.5 million sold, it's silent, and there is a money-back guarantee. *Get yours 40% off →
The real retirement risk isn't a bad year. It's a long life: 40 years of saving, and the hard part is making it stretch across 30 more. SmartAsset's free quiz matches you with vetted fiduciary advisors who serve your area and are legally required to act in your best interests. The plan is built around you, not their commission. No obligation to hire anyone. *Start the quiz → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📺 PBS Carl the Collector Event @ Autistic & Loved Sensory Gym (Davenport) | Thursday (8/6) at 4:00 PM – PBS, our childhood babysitter, is popping into Autistic & Loved with a Carl the Collector hangout celebrating friendship, acceptance, and kids’ superpowers. Expect crafts, sensory-friendly play, and low-stress vibes the whole crew can handle. It’s free, family friendly, and registration is required, with limited space.
🏖 Itty Bitty Beach Party @ Annie Wittenmyer Aquatic Center (Davenport) | Friday (8/7) at 10:00 AM – Finally, a pool day that caters to the under-5 crowd, and your sanity. Annie Wittenmyer hosts the Itty Bitty Beach Party on select Friday mornings, no big kids, just the pool to themselves, floating toys, and the concession stand. Toddlers rule, splash tantrums optional.
🎪 PG-HV-8/07/26 Penny Carnival @ Bettendorf Parks & Recreation | Friday (8/7) at 12:30 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign that pennies still matter, here it is. The Penny Carnival brings all the playground sites together for a field trip, part of the summer package, with throwback games, small stakes, and big, very Bettendorf smiles.
🎬 Movies in the Park - Lilo & Stitch @ Veterans Memorial Park (Bettendorf) | Saturday (8/8) at 7:00 PM – Catch Lilo & Stitch, our favorite troublemaking duo, free at Veterans Memorial Park. Bring a lawn chair, a blanket, and your patience for quotable kids, then enjoy island vibes, cosmic mishaps, and a bill graciously covered by K&K Hardware.
🛼 Roller Skating Party @ The Landing Ice Rink (Bettendorf) | Saturday (8/8) at 7:00 PM – Whether you still have your old quads or just a healthy respect for your knees, The Landing is hosting a roller party rich in nostalgia and people-watching. Rentals are three bucks while they last, or bring your own, show off, and maybe stretch first.
🧚 Fairy-topia @ Family Museum (Bettendorf) | Monday (8/10) at 9:30 AM – Build pint-sized fairy houses with natural bits and bobs, and give your Bettendorf backyard some honest-to-goodness magic. Great for seasoned gardeners, skeptical adults, and curious grandkids, no glitter required. Expect sticks, stones, moss, and a surprisingly zen afternoon.
🎭 Bluey's Big Play @ Adler Theatre (Davenport) | Tuesday (8/11) at 6:00 PM – Bluey's Big Play brings the Heelers to the stage for real life, with brilliantly crafted puppets, an original Joe Brumm story, and new Joff Bush tunes. The kids will lose their tiny minds, and you might actually laugh, clap, and forget about the bean bag.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Skip credit card interest until nearly 2028You know the feeling: you make your credit card payment, check the balance, and it's barely moved. That's interest quietly eating most of what you pay. Here's a rare chance to stop it. This card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, so for over a year every dollar you pay goes straight to what you owe, not the bank's cut. And you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. The rewards are where it gets even better. Every purchase earns you at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories climbing as high as 5%, so the card pays you back on the spending you're already doing. Put a little on it early and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting. Between the break on interest, the cash back, and no annual fee, it's a lot of card for nothing to hold. *Take a look → |
07 — Quad Cities report Weather forecastToday — High: 79°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 79%
Showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy. High near 79, with temperatures falling to around 77 in the afternoon. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tomorrow — High: 81°F — Low: 63°F — Precip: 47%
A chance of rain showers before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. This house is wildThis 3-bed, 2-bath earthern home in East Moline spans over 2,000 finished square feet on 11 wooded acres MOL, with expansive windows, warm hardwood floors, and a dedicated office. Born from an artist’s eye for light and landscape, it runs on solar energy and shares its hillside setting with deer, turkey, and songbirds.
Take a peek inside → |
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