Symphonic Tribute to Local Roots Takes the Stage Today

River breezes are mild and the sky is clearing out early today. Make time for an outdoor walk or an afternoon concert before tonight’s temperatures take a tumble.

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The Lead

Centennial Hall will reverberate with regional pride this afternoon as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks II: Cityscapes Home & Abroad. Conductor Mark Russell Smith leads the ensemble through an ambitious musical itinerary spanning Mozart’s Paris and Duke Ellington’s Harlem, but the emotional centerpiece of the program is Jim Stephenson’s “CitySpeaks.”

Written as a vibrant sonic portrait of the Quad Cities, the piece weaves orchestral movements together with spoken word, archival imagery, and the recorded horn of native jazz icon Bix Beiderbecke. For concertgoers, hearing local street corners and riverfront memories echoed through a full symphonic brass section transforms familiar hometown geography into high art. The performance gets underway at 2:00 PM, with students and educators eligible for discounted admission at the box office.

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Local Pulse

• Vintage Flea Market Opens Downtown Business The two-story marketplace welcomes weekend shoppers in neighbouring Moline with retro home goods, vintage vinyl, and curated clothing.

• Holiday Mailbox Opens for Santa Letters Community Local parks staff are accepting letters through month’s end to ensure every youngster receives a personal North Pole reply.

• Daily Lane Shifts on John Deere Road Roads Utility maintenance crews are restricting traffic between 16th and 38th Streets, requiring drivers to plan for minor slowdowns.

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Today's Outlook

• High 63°F · Low 40°F — Mainly clear
  • Enjoy the afternoon sun, but grab a warm jacket before tonight's brisk chill sets in.

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What's On Around Town

Today

• Antique Spectacular Vintage Market QCCA Expo Center (2621 4th Ave), Rock Island, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM · $10 Hunt through vintage treasures, mid-century furniture, and rare collectibles before doors close.

• Masterworks II: Cityscapes Home & Abroad Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave), Rock Island, 2:00–4:00 PM · $8–70 Experience Jim Stephenson's multimedia symphonic tribute celebrating regional history and Bix Beiderbecke.

• Alex Axup Live Len Brown's North Shore Inn (700 N Shore Dr), Moline, 2:00–5:00 PM · Free Unwind along the Rock River shoreline with an afternoon of acoustic favorites.

• The Minutes The Black Box Theatre (1623 5th Ave), Moline, 2:00–4:00 PM · Paid Catch Tracy Letts' Tony-nominated dark comedy delving into small-town council secrets.

Tomorrow

• Pre-K Prep Storytime Moline Public Library (3210 41st St), Moline, 9:30–10:15 AM · Free
• Darryl Rahn Live Raccoon Motel (315 E 2nd St), Davenport, 6:00–9:00 PM · $15.88

Tuesday

• Home Sweet Hot Honey: Habitat Connect LoPiez Pizza (429 E 3rd St), Davenport, 5:00–8:00 PM
• The Animeros Live Raccoon Motel (315 E 2nd St), Davenport, 6:00–9:00 PM · $19.64

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Spotlight & Story

• Runner's Park
  • Before transforming into the downtown civic commons at 742 15th Avenue, this parcel sat vacant until Triumph Community Bank donated the land. Built originally as the permanent starting line for the Firecracker Run, it now welcomes Sunday concerts under open skies.

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East Moline Daily Digest — compiled from local sources every morning. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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