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Hey Quad Cities, hope your week’s off to a good start! WIU career and internship fairs, a Martini Shake-Off fundraiser, gold and silver’s hot streak, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Connect with hiring professionals: WIU will host Spring 2026 Career and Internship Fairs, starting at the Bend Expo Center in East Moline on February 18, then Education Career Fair in Macomb on February 27 — see dates and locations.
Major projects and planning update: On February 2, Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati outlined the 2026 budget and priorities, including a $120 million South Slope upgrade, continued road work, and new downtown housing plans — get all the details.
Pleasant Valley housing expansion: Youssi Custom Homes of Iowa has unveiled new condos and ranch villas at Forest Grove Crossing in Bettendorf, with options starting in the low $200,000s and online walkthroughs for buyers — get all the details.
New reads and family resources: Quad Cities Live Book Club shares February picks with Davenport Public Library, featuring Redwood Court as this month’s selection and a Preschool Fair at the Eastern Branch focused on child development — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
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.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A night of spirited giving: The annual Martini Shake-Off returns to the RiverCenter in Davenport on February 19. The event will feature handcrafted martini samples from local spots, a silent auction with exclusive items, and live music by The Young Guns. Proceeds will support HAVlife programs for Quad Cities youth ages 10 to 15. Get all the event details.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Inspire tomorrow’s leaders: Junior Achievement of the Heartland is seeking volunteers for spring classroom programs that help students build real-world skills in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. No teaching experience is required. Opportunities are available across the organization’s 24-county service area, with hands-on lessons supporting teachers. See how to get involved.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Spin-worthy treasure hunt: Whether you’re chasing a first-pressing grail or stocking a weekend soundtrack, Ragged Records keeps bins packed with new vinyl, used gems, and vintage stereo gear. It’s the kind of browse that turns “five minutes” into “oops, an hour”… and you won’t mind at all.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Cozy pho, zero fuss: Pho Fusion & Bar ladles deeply aromatic bowls with bright herbs and a soothing, meeting-daydream broth. There are playful Thai and Southeast Asian detours for the “not a soup person.” It’s an “I deserve this” stop any day.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🎈 Preschool Palooza @ Children’S Village West | Wednesday (2/11) at 5:30 PM – Children’s Village West is hosting DCSD’s first Preschool Palooza, a one-stop browse to tour classrooms, meet the teachers, and enroll your tiny negotiator on the spot. Think speed dating for preschools, minus the awkward small talk, and families can attend either location.
💃 Girls’ Night Out @ Edison’s | Wednesday (2/11) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats a girls’ night that lets you catch up, order from the full menu, and do some actual good. Meet Power of 100+ crew at Edison’s Gastropub for mingling, presentations, and the BIG Give, bring a friend to help hit 100 members, and RSVP.
🍷 Galentine’s Day Wine & Paint Party @ Wide River Winery Village of East Davenport | Wednesday (2/11) at 6:00 PM – Galentine’s season calls for wine, paint, and the kind of laughs you only share with your ride or dies. Head to the Village for a sip and swirl with Art With Kare, where masterpieces happen, and happy accidents make the best stories.
This weekend
🚗 Cupids & Chrome @ Towers’ Quad Cities Harley-Davidson | Saturday (2/14) at 12:00 PM – Whether you’re riding in with your Valentine or blissfully solo, the Harley shop is serving free food, mimosas, and mischief. Shred Your Ex, take a Blind Date with a Bike, and flex Harley trivia for prizes. Come for the chrome, stay for the chaos.
🎭 Junior Theater: Puppetry @ Family Museum | Saturday (2/14) at 1:00 PM – Got a kid who thinks socks belong on hands? Junior Theater’s puppetry workshop at the Family Museum lets them bring characters to life, not your furniture. Hands-on fun, artsy vibes, and zero screen time, so watch for registration, it fills fast.
🎤 Galentines Day Sing-A-Long Brunch @ Kavanaugh’s Hilltop Bar & Grill | Sunday (2/15) at 11:00 AM – Brunch at Kavanaugh’s means one thing, group vocals and zero judgment. It’s a Galentine’s sing-along with a DJ leading the karaoke, $20 gets you finger foods, snacks, and your first drink, tickets at the bar. Bring your besties, belt breakup anthems, and call it self-care.
🐶 Molly Durnin @ The Office Cocktail Bar & Lounge | Sunday (2/15) at 12:00 PM – Whether you know Molly Durnin from late-night playlists or not, she’s rolling into Icons Martini to debut Preacher Man and raise funds for PUPENTINES. Expect strong vocals, stronger martinis, and the warm satisfaction of doing good, no chew toys required.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Quad Cities report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 46°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny. High near 46, with temperatures falling to around 42 in the afternoon. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 45°F – Low: 29°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 45. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
This house is wild
This 3-bed, 2-bath ranch in Northwest Davenport features vaulted ceilings and an open floor plan. A cozy kitchen with breakfast bar connects to an informal dining area and a 3-season porch. All bedrooms and baths sit on the main level. The basement offers space for an additional bedroom and bath, plus an entertainment room. Whole-house generator, shed, and appliances included.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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