10 Fun Things To Do Week of July 12th: Divas, Drums, Fights and MORE!
QuadCities.com proudly presents Fun10, a list of the top 10 things to do in the Quad Cities this week, and every week! Every Sunday, we’ll drop a new FUN10, to give you a head start on your week and a heads up on what’s going on over the coming seven days. Check out FUN10 every Sunday for the details on ten awesome events happening around town. It’s a cool read, and a great way to get started planning your entertainment for the week.
As the current health situation in our country continues to force the cancellation of so many regularly scheduled events in the Quad Cities, we are once again focusing this week’s edition of Fun10QC on fun entertainment you can enjoy in the safety of your own home or while practicing safe ‘social distancing,’ as Iowa and Illinois begin to hold in-person events.
FUN10 — ten ways for you to have fun in the Quad-Cities, this week and every week, running every Sunday, only on your site for fun, free, local entertainment, QuadCities.com!
So what’s on the FUN10 for this week? Read on …
Historic House Tours
It’s no secret that the Quad Cities have a rich history filled with beautiful homes and even more stylish stories. Your opportunity to not only view two local historic homes but also to learn how those who resided in those homes helped create the community we now enjoy is back!
Starting this week, Guided Tours of Deere-Wiman House (817 11th Avenue Moline) and Butterworth Center (1105 8th Street Moline) are in full swing. Historic House Tours will take place today and every Sunday. Or you can enjoy a Weekday Guided Tour on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. All tours begin at 2:30 p.m. and run through about 4:30 p.m.
Tour the 1872 home of Charles Deere before continuing on to Butterworth Center, home of Katherine (Deere) and William Butterworth. Come and learn the secrets of the first owners, the homes’ design and construction, and their role in the development of the Quad Cities. Upstairs, downstairs and everywhere in between, you will receive a behind-the-scenes look at a fascinating chapter in local history.
Pre-registration required. Hand sanitizer provided at entrances. Face mask required. While these tours are free, donations are accepted.
Register for Sunday tours here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-guided-tours-of-deere-wiman-house-butterworth-center-tickets-111856991272
Register for Weekday tours here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/weekday-guided-tours-of-deere-wiman-house-butterworth-center-tickets-111858710414
To learn more about the history of these amazing local homes, visit https://www.butterworthcenter.com/.
David Van Allen & Ron Meyer Artwork on Display at Quad City Arts
Quad City Arts is officially open and excited to show off their latest exhibit.
Assembled portraits by David Van Allen and jazz noir images from the Iowa City Jazz Festival by Ron Meyer are now on display at the Quad City Arts Rock Island Gallery (1715 2nd Avenue Rock Island), as well as online. All pieces are available for purchase.
Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The gallery is closed on Sundays. No admissions fees are required.
About the Artists
David Van Allen – Van Allen’s process begins by collecting hundreds of images of a person, using silver-based black & white film. His camera is very close to his subject during the image collection part of the process and he changes camera position for each fragment. This tends to make the portraits mildly cubist. He then assembles the photographs (up to 200) to create a nearly life-size portrait. Through this process Van Allen compiles multiple facial expressions and hand gestures, providing the viewer a more complete “picture” of the individual.
All of David Van Allen’s pieces are mounted on foam core.
Ron Meyer – These images were captured during live performances at Iowa City Jazz Festivals. Jazz is characterized both by musical conversation between the performers (“call and response”) and by improvisation. This exhibit is my photographic improvisation, which I call Jazz Noir Images™.
Jazz Noir Images™ are crafted in the style of Hollywood 1940’s and 1950’s “film noir” cinematography. This cinematic style uses dramatic low-key, black-and-white, unbalanced compositions and negative space to elicit suspense, mystery and tension in the viewer.
Enjoy my Jazz Noir Images™ as photographic “call & response.” Imagine a visual conversation between the image and you, the viewer. Hear the sax and the walking rhythm of the bass. Sway to the swing of the ride cymbal. Feel the images’ emoting calls. What is your response?
All of Ron Meyer’s pieces are matted and framed.
Browse and shop the gallery online at https://www.quadcityarts.com/rock-island-gallery.html.
Kindernature Summer Sunflowers
Celebrate the flower that follows the sun with the Quad City Botanical Center!
Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island) will be hosting Kindernature Summer Sunflowers this Tuesday Jul 14. Two sessions will be available from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 2 – 3 p.m.
The sunflower, which is native to the Americas, comes in a variety of vibrant colors. Listen to a story and take your craft and snack home for a no-contact revised program.
Attendance is limited. Kindernature is for kids ages 3 – 5. RSVP is required at https://bit.ly/2YC7e1m.
The Black Box Theatre Presents The Turn of the Screw
The latest masterpiece to the hit The Black Box Theatre stage will surely leave you with a few turned screws.
The Turn of the Screw, by Jeffrey Hatcher, comes to The Black Box Theatre (1623 5th Avenue Moline) this Thursday Jul 16 through Saturday Jul 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Jul 20 at 2 p.m.
Genuine chills are provided in this tale of a governess, left in charge of a boy and a girl at a lonely estate, who begins to suspect that the ghosts of two former servants have hideous designs upon the children. But the governess is the only one who can see the ghosts—and to complicate matters further, the children may know more than they’re telling. If the governess is right, the children are in terrible peril, but if she’s wrong, she herself might be driving them mad.
With every twist in the plot (or turn of the screw) the tension increases until something—or someone—must snap.
To get your tickets today, visit https://theblackboxtheatre.com/.
Viva La Divas Drag Show
Viva La Divas is back!
The Speakeasy (1818 3rd Avenue Rock Island) is thrilled to welcome back the areas premiere drag show Viva La Divas, this Friday Jul 17. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.
Seating will be limited due to social distancing so order early or you won’t get in! Because parties cannot be mixed at tables, reservations can only be made for parties of 4 or 6 people.
March’s special guest performer will be Speakeasy favorite, Ginger Snaps. We also welcome back for the second time Roxie Hancock
Now in its ninth year, Viva La Divas is the longest running drag show in the Quad Cities bringing you some of the United States best performers! Viva La Divas has three multiple title holders and Speakeasy favorites… Dementia Jaide, Jamie Summers and Milange Cavalli! This outstanding show cast is the kind you would expect to see in a large market like Chicago, New York and even Las Vegas! Each month the show will feature a special guest performer as well.
The music you will hear at Viva La Divas ranges from Top 40, Country, Latin, Rock, Hip Hop, Disco and everything in between!
This is a great “girls night out” or perfect for a bachelorette party! Tickets are only $10 in advance and $12 day of for this two hour show!! You must be 18 or older to attend – no exceptions.
Reserve your seats online at thecirca21speakeasy.com and experience the one and only – VIVA LA DIVAS. No phone reservations are available for this show.
Nunn and Miletich Fight Live at Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds
The highly anticipated “Clash of Legends” is officially upon us!
Quad Cities’ fighting legends, Michael Nunn and Pat Miletich, were originally scheduled to fight on Apr 18 at the TaxSlayer Center. However, due to Covid-related issues, the battle was rescheduled to this Saturday Jul 18 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds (2815 W Locust St. Davenport).
The “Clash of Legends” will take place outdoors, in a temporary venue in the parking lot. The lot is located directly south of the Fair Center, where an after-party will take place.
Gates open at 5 p.m. and the first fight begins at 6 p.m. Advanced tickets are $40 and are available now at Jumping Joey’s (1914 North Division St. Davenport), at the fair office during normal business hours or online at https://nitrotickets.com/event/231/Clash-1of-1Legends-1MILETICH-1vs-1NUNN. Tickets are $50 on the day of the show.
Ringside and Table tickets receive FREE ADMISSION to afterfight party featuring ELECTRIC SHOCK!
Iron and Grain Home’s Sidewalk Pop Up Sale
Get your Saturday morning started right this weekend, with some local vendor shopping!
Iron and Grain Home (575 12th Avenue East Moline) will be hosting a Sidewalk Pop-Up Sale this Saturday Jul 18 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Enjoy local eats and coffee from Iron + Grain Coffee House, as well as local small business and maker shopping!
Pop-ups will be available from the follow vendors:
Iron and Grain Home
Makin Sawdust
Prep to Table
Respect Abilities
Dona Vitae Interiors East Moline
C&J Collection Boutique
Designs On 3rd
Redhead Ceramics
Red Barn Boutique
Guilford/Gauge
The Bag Broker
SAINTS
Celestial by Design
Arlo & Elm
Ritter Candle Company
The Doggy Bag Bakery
Claire’s Creations
The Doggy Bag Bakery
Kimberly Pierce Jewelry
Thicc Kitchen
Rewarded Rescues
Becalm Bath and Body LLC
Hoppiness On the Hill
Westward Wanderer
Headbands By Mimi + El
What’s Poppin QC Popcorn & Sweets
Art With Kare
Kare Scrunch
Mad Matti’s
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/260397805228377/.
Thank the SEALs 2020 Benefit Dinner and Honor Ride
Since 2015, Thank the SEALs motorcycle ride and events have been promoting Veterans First and raising much-needed funds one family at a time.
The 2020 Thank the SEALs Benefit Dinner will take place this Friday Jul 17 from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center (2021 State Street Bettendorf). The Thank the SEALs Honor Ride will take place on Saturday Jul 18 at 9 a.m.
Benefit Dinner Featured Speaker
Darren McBurnett “McTeams” is a highly decorated combat veteran, Navy SEAL and diversely skilled operator. As a SEAL platoon leader, he has deployed over eight times into combat zones in four theaters of war. With a 23-year+ career as a United States Navy SEAL, he has operated with multiple SEAL teams to include; SEAL Team One, SEAL Team Two, SEAL Team Three, SEAL Team Four and SEAL Team Eight. He has over 45 individual, unit and campaign honors including the Bronze Star with Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, 2 Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and five Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
Honor Ride Information
Those attending the Honor Ride this year will have the privilege of being part of the presentation to one of the Beneficiary Families. The ride will Depart the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, IA at 1100 with support from Bettendorf’s finest. We will travel about 90 miles to Hazel Green, WI the hometown of US Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Grindey. Thank the SEALs will present to the Grindey family during our mid-point stop. There will be food, drink and facilities available during this 90 minute stop. Departing between 1430-1445, we will retrace much of the route back with a 1700 planned arrival at The Tangled Wood in Bettendorf, IA where the post-ride event will be hosted. Due to the length of the ride, and likely scorching July weather, there will be a planned Hydration Stop en route each way.
For more information on this year’s events, please visit https://www.thanktheseals.com/.
Virtual Star Party
St. Ambrose University and the Quad Cities Astronomical Society will be hosting a Virtual Star Party from the Menke Observatory this Saturday Jul 18 from 7 – 11 p.m.
This cosmic event will stream live on WebEx. You do not need any extra software on your computer to join, just simply follow the link: https://stambrose.webex.com/webappng/sites/stambrose/meeting/download/8d43d52e45474a7da90e3d21b1772c85?siteurl=stambrose&MTID=m3927636fc19a36cb78ce134a4a4457be.
The Virtual Star Party will start with a little bit about the observatory itself, a quick primer in how to use the software, previews of what will be visible that night (Jupiter and Saturn are the main attractions), and maybe a slide presentation.
Anyone joining the live stream can use their computer’s microphones or the software’s chat room for questions and answers. Once the sky is dark enough, a camera will be set up in the observatory’s 14″ telescope for live views of what it’s looking at.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/563542207571639/.
Don’t miss this Virtual Star Party! It’s going to be out of this world!
Drum Clinic with Morgan Rose of Sevendust
QC Rock Academy and Instamix Live have teamed up to bring the drummers of the Quad Cities an amazing event this weekend.
Morgan Rose of Sevendust will be visiting QC Rock Academy (901 E Kimberly Rd. Suite 22 Davenport) this Sunday Jul 19 from 5 – 7 p.m. for a one-of-a-kind Drum Clinic.
Morgan Rose, an American drummer, is also a recording producer and founding member of the Atlanta-based alternative metal band Sevendust.
The cost for this awesome 2-hour Drum Clinic is just $50. Seating is very limited, so get your tickets today at https://www.instamix.live/.
Stay tuned to QuadCities.com, your site for fun, free, local entertainment for upcoming events in our weekly column, FUN10, every Sunday!
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