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THE QUAD CITIESMAGAZINE
ALSO INSIDE
Volume 6 Issue 1 January/February 2009
+ PAST & FUTURE OF QCTRAIN SERVICE + A WEDDING DAY YOUR GUESTS WILL REMEMBER + MOLINE NEIGHBORS UNITE AROUND RAVINE + CHECK OUT CHICAGO’S BEST DINING OFFERINGS
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IT’S
BOOMER TIME
>>AT PLAY: NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN >>CAREERS: JOB CHANGE IS COMMON OPTION >>HEALTH: OVERALL WELLNESS A CONCERN
THINGS TO DO! + MOLINE RESTAURANT SERVES UP HOMEMADE DISHES THAT WOULD MAKE GRANDMA PROUD + KICK OFF 2009 WITH THEATER, CONCERTS & MORE LISTED IN OUR EVENTS GUIDE $3.95
WWW.QCMAG.COM
>> Healthy Comfort Foods for the New Year PAGE 58
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contentsJanuary/February
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Our Rail Past, Future By Michael Masters Passenger trains once were a common sight (and sound!) in the Quad Cities. Enjoy a look back at the history of travel by train in our area as well as a glance at what is in our very near future.
5 People, 5 Places By Lee Nelson The people and places of the QC are what make us great! Here are five of each: Meet the conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and hit the slopes in Andalusia.
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A Wedding to Remember By Rita Templeton Make your special day stand out to your guests with unique invitations, programs, table settings and more.
January/February 2009
Volume 6 Issue 1
Beth Clark, Publisher/President Bruce Clark, CFO/Vice President
Visit Italy By Lynne Voelliger The cuisine, the wine (and olive oil!) and the sights of the small towns of the Riviera and Tuscan countryside create lasting memories.
Brad Ellis, Managing Editor/Design rita templeton, Editorial Assistant Amy Sidhom, Ad Design Veronica Cox, Ad Design Lori Arguello, Copy Editor Contributing Writers
Norman Bower leslie klipsch michael masters Jean McAulay Lee Nelson Jodi O’Donnell Marysue Salmon Jim Stephens rita templeton lynne voelliger Contributing Photographers
COLUMNS
QCOMMUNITY
Publisher’s Notes: By Beth Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 InnerView: By Jodi O’Donnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Family Life: By Lee Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Datebook Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 QCandids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Greg Boll Trent Foltz Steve Sullivan © QC Magazine and Clark Publishing, L.L.C., all rights reserved, 2006. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding that neither it, nor Clark Publishing, L.L.C., its owners or managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, medical, technical or any other advice, professional or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect any endorsement for any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement that there is approval for such endorsement. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material to QC Magazine for consideration should not send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope, postage paid. However, QC Magazine accepts no responsibility for loss of or damage to unsolicited materials. QC Magazine is published bi-monthly by Clark Publishing, L.L.C., P.O. Box 1010 Bettendorf, Iowa 52722 and is direct mailed to 30,000 plus households in both Scott and Rock Island counties.
QC Magazine, P.O. Box 1010, Bettendorf, IA, 52722 563-359-0101, www.qcmag.com To Advertise QC Magazine is direct mailed to more than 15,000 upper income homes in Rock Island and Scott counties. Its unmatched content and quality make QC Magazine the premier advertising buy in the QuadCities. To advertise call Bruce Clark at 309-269-4564. To Subscribe Subscriptions to QC Magazine cost $38.95 for 3 years ($12.95/year); $27.95 for 2 years ($13.95/year); or $14.95 for 1 year. Subscribe on line at www.qcmag.com/subscribe.cfm or call toll free 877QCMAG 53 (877-726-2453). To Subscribe You can purchase your single copy issue of QC Magazine at these locations: >Hy-Vee, 201 West Tenth Avenue, Milan, IL >Putnam Museum Store (at the Putnam Museum) 1717 W. 12th Street, Davenport >Schnuck’s Market, 858 Middle Road, Bettendorf, IA >Quad City Convention & Visitor Bureau, Riverstation, 1601 River Drive, Suite 110, Moline
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COVER STORY
The Boomer Issue: Part One 13 Downtime? Not a Chance! Keeping Busy Is Easy 23 Changing Careers Seems to be Part of the Plan 27 Explore Your Overall Wellness Options ON THE COVER: Bill Wallace, 56, of Bettendorf spends time with his 10-year-old daughter, Claire. Wallace runs his Budweiser distributorship, Vanguard Distributing.
WINDY CITY Chi-Town Good Eats ....................48 WINE Resolve to Wine It Up ..........................60 DINING Moline’s Miss Mamies ........................61 ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Happy New Year!........63
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Friends, Neighbors
58
Healthy Homemade
By Lee Nelson Families unite around ravine neighborhood in Moline.
By Marysue Salmon Lean turkey breast makes meatloaf healthy and tasty.
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
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BETH CLARK
The Challenge to Improve t’s another New Year. The year is filled with so many opportunities for us to fulfill dreams and goals in our personal lives and in our businesses. I’m excited about what this year will bring. I think that during times of economic challenges, we as a people improve. We find more efficient and effective ways to produce products and provide services. It’s a time when everyone begins to search for a better way to get things done. It moves us along. It looks as though the business of providing news and information is in trouble right now. This past year, stocks plummeted to under $2 a share (some, much lower) and the confidence of advertisers has been somewhat shaken. It’s easy to be an arm-chair quarterback. My apologies to you if my suggestions are basic but having been in the newspaper industry, I feel as though getting back on track, at least with journalism, is somewhat simplistic. These “basics” apply to all of us – including our magazine. LIFT YOUR COMMUNITY UP! Of course the role of “watchdog” has to continue with those in the breaking-news business, but alongside the reports on crime and deception, provide stories of hope and progress! Downplay the crime – play up the accomplishments and successes in a community. Provide solutions and hope. BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. What is lacking in the media industry in general terms (and I feel is more evident in the national print and broadcast media) is credibility. In the rush to post or run with a story, many times facts aren’t checked out. I’ve read New York Times stories that were completely false, and then the rest of the media takes off with it because, “If the NY Times ran it, it must be true.” It’s best to be accurate then to be first, in my opinion.
I
Credibility is the cornerstone of journalism. Without it, you are of no value. BE OBJECTIVE. I don’t think a daily Beth Clark, Publisher newspaper should “weigh in” with their opinion (the “official opinion” of the newspaper). It places a cloud of prejudice over everything they do. Even when there is the absence of bias (well, as much as there can be), readers begin to look at news stories through the eyes of that newspaper’s opinion. I also don’t think we should mix columnists or those who share opinion with those who cover and write the news. It builds up the perception of bias. Keep opinion and news very much separated. We all do this from time to time and I think it chips away at our credibility. We are guilty of it, too. I know there are so many more problems: whether to charge for access to content (print subscriptions or internet); the ability to target broadcast, print and online content and advertising; home delivery issues; rising costs of everything; and the proliferation of information competition. But regaining and then holding close the trust and confidence of readers and viewers must come first. Without audience, you have nothing to offer advertisers. I believe it’s very important that community newspapers and local television and radio stations stay in business. When run correctly and devoted to their communities, they, along with city magazines (a-hem, like ours) and community information web sites, help communities improve and move forward. They are important to us all. My hope is that in 2009, we all find a way to serve you better.
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Rock Island Locomotive #627, circa 1880
QC TRAVEL
PASSENGER TRAIN REVISITED
ALL ABOARD! Quad-Cities Passenger Train Service, Past and Future BY MICHAEL THOMAS MASTERS
Do you remember letting your pet out on an early morning and hearing the adventurous sound of a train whistle blowing off in the distance? A particularly intriguing thought for you might have been in wondering if the whistle blowing belonged to a passenger train. Was the train taking its passengers to work, on a shopping spree, to a romantic rendezvous, or connecting friends and families from across the miles? In 2008, Americans were challenged by an injured economy, a soaring unemployment rate, outrageous gas prices (coupled with our nation’s vast dependency on foreign oil), congested highways and roads, and serious vehicle and industrially manufactured pollution. Finally, fuel-efficient, economical, and comfortable passenger train service to the Quad-Cities once again is moving closer to reality. Do not overlook the potential tourism impact and economic business advantages that passenger train service would significantly contribute to the Quad Cities. Although almost 30 years have transpired since passenger train service was last an option for Quad-Citians, rail service once thrived in the area. In fact, passenger train service flourished in the Quad-City area for more than one hundred years. By the early 1960s, the Rock Island Line reached its peak with 14 daily passenger trains and 33 commuter runs. As industrial progress began altering the lay of the land from coast to coast across 19th century America, riding horseback or horse and buggy as the sole forms of non-foot transportation were being challenged by the onset of the passenger train. Quad-Citians were among those Americans who enthusiastically awaited and welcomed the infinite possibilities provided by a public railway system. 8 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
From its beginning, Quad-City passenger-train service, and its founding fathers, offered not only necessary service and enjoyment for riders, but occasionally provided some historic events and fascination. In the summer of 1845, at the home of Col. George Davenport on Rocky Island, Ill., discussions began regarding the initial planning stages for connecting Rock Island City by rail with the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Later that summer, a group of bandits murdered the Colonel in his home, and plans for a proposed Quad-Cities’ railroad were halted for almost two years. The Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Co. eventually was incorporated in Illinois in 1847. Subsequently, the incorporated Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Co. amended its charter in 1851, renaming it the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad, with railway construction eventually commencing in the Quad-Cities in 1852. Eager Quad-Citians received their first rail passenger train service in February of 1854, amongst a grand celebration. A rich history of events encompassed passenger train service in the Quad-Cities. In 1857, Abraham Lincoln represented the Rock Island Railroad in a significant lawsuit regarding bridges over navigable rivers. The owner of the steamboat, Effie Afton, crashed into a pier of the first railroad bridge constructed across the Mississippi River at Rock Island City, Ill. Lincoln successfully argued that not only was the steamboat at fault in striking the bridge, but that the bridges across navigable rivers were of great benefit to the country. The skillful lawyer from Springfield, Ill., scored a double victory for railroad service.
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On the entertainment side, the Rock Island Railroad was honored with two original songs, including the tune “Rock Island Line,” first performed in 1937 by blues legend Leadbelly. The second song was the rousing and energetic “Rock Island,” which appeared in both the 1957 stage musical and the 1962 film version of “Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man.” Even Hollywood got in on the act by paying tribute to the Rock Island line in the 1950 Republic Studios production of “Rock Island Trail,” starring Forrest Tucker, a film that chronicled the building of the Rock Island Railroad across Illinois, the Mississippi, and Iowa. In fact, the world premiere of “Rock Island Trail” occurred on April 27, 1950, in the Quad-Cities and included in-person appearances by Republic Pictures alumnae, John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. As passenger rail service increased throughout the Midwest, the Rock Island Railroad line jointly operated the Golden State Limited (Chicago—Kansas City— Tucumcari—El Paso—Los Angeles) with the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) from 1902 to1968. In 1948, the line’s name was shortened to the Golden State. In addition to the Rock Island Rocket, traveling from the Quad-Cities to Chicago, the railroad operated a number of other “Rocket” trains serving the Midwest, including the Rocky Mountain Rocket (Chicago—Omaha—Lincoln— Denver—Colorado Springs) and the Corn Belt Rocket (Chicago—Des Moines—Omaha). Leonard Geifman of Bettendorf, Iowa, fondly remembers his passenger train trips from the Davenport, Iowa, Depot to downtown Chicago in the mid- to late 1950s, including a store-purchasing outing for Geifman Food Stores with his father. “It was exciting to travel on the train from Davenport to downtown Chicago. Being able to relax, read, chat with a friend, or just watch the sites and countryside go by while riding the train were a plus,” remarked Geifman. Most Quad-Citians today, particularly those born after 1980, believe that Amtrak once provided passenger train service to the Quad-Cities, which is not the case. The Rock Island Railroad did not join Amtrak in its formation in 1971, but instead chose to continue
U C
Am Co Re
“Th Co su rou Qu Ru Cit Amtrak’s Illinois Zephyr at Hinsdale, Ill.
to operate its own passenger trains. After resolving that the cost of joining Amtrak would be the same as operating the two remaining intercity passenger roundtrips (the Chicago-Peoria Peoria Rocket and the ChicagoRock Island Quad Cities Rocket), the Rock Island Railroad determined it was economically wiser to merely continue its intercity passenger operations and not join Amtrak. Both of the operating train lines, which represented the remaining passenger service to the Quad-Cities, eventually ceased running in 1979. Regretfully, following the Rock Island Railroad’s final bankruptcy in 1980, Quad-City passengers witnessed their railroad’s much admired and historic locomotives, rail cars, and tracks either sold or dismantled. The sale successfully raised $500 million in liquidation, thus paying off all of the railroads creditors and debts, and ultimately ending the 120-yearold passenger train service to the area. Fortunately, the possibility of passenger train service returning to the Quad-Cities has not ended. Quad-Citians’ interest, support and desire for the return of passenger train service to their area, has continued to increase since the 1990s and clear into the new century. Resulting from a well-attended Rock Island town meeting held in January of 2007, hosted by the untiring passenger rail advocate, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill), came about the “Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service, Quad-Cities-Chicago.”
The Jane Marie passenger car served the Quad-Cities Rocket until the Rock Island Railroad ceased running in 1979.
In the detailed 2007 feasibility Amtrak report, the approximate cost of upgrading the railroad infrastructure to accommodate passenger train speeds was stated as costing $23 million (over the shortest, fastest and least costly of the potential routes). Further stated in the 2007 feasibility report is the fact that annual ridership on the QuadCities to Chicago train route estimated to be almost 111,000, based upon two daily roundtrips. The Amtrak feasibility report also affirmed that the annual state operating cost for the proposed Quad-Cities to Chicago route was estimated to be in the $6 million range. Rock Island resident and well-seasoned train traveler Mary Lou Carlson is a strong supporter of returning passenger train service to the Quad-Cities. “I would like to see a train link from the Quad-Cities. Being from the western suburbs of Chicago, I would certainly use the train. Many of my friends live in the Chicago area. I have friends in the Quad-Cities who say they would love to go to museums, concerts and other special events in Chicago, but they’re afraid of Chicago traffic. And the cost of parking in that city is so high. And gas prices will probably keep rising,” observed Carlson. Over recent years, Washington politics has also played a key role in deciding the fate of Amtrak passenger train travel returning to the area. Beginning in 2000, severe and repeated nationwide cutbacks to Amtrak and the national public railway service - across the board - have occurred during the present Bush administration. These cutbacks, coupled with the lack of railway support from governmental leaders, for several years dampened (but did not diminish) the hopes of restoring passenger train service to many in locations such as the Quad-Cities. A positive and hopeful sign of the changing sentiments in present-day Washington, in favor of increasing and revitalizing passenger rail services nationwide became evident by the
10 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
“Be org an we se pro cie
Als Ja Oc Ho ov thi Ob
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UPDATE ON AMTRAK COMING TO Q-C Amidst the economic bailout negotiations, Congress passed the Amtrak Reauthorization Bill on Oct. 1. “The Amtrak provisions passed by Congress authorize unprecedented federal support for new intercity passenger rail routes, which will make the Chicago to Quad-Cities route a reality,” said Paul Rumler, executive director of the QuadCities Passenger Rail Coalition. “Because of the continued community organizing and support from key federal and state legislators, the Quad-Cities is well positioned to receive funding for passenger rail service as lawmakers focus on providing residents with affordable, efficient and reliable transportation options.” It was announced in early December that the Moline Centre Station at 1200 River Drive, would be the most ideal location for a train passenger railroad depot in the Quad Cities. As of this writing, the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition is still waiting to hear back on possible government funding. June 2008 House vote of 311 to 104 in favor of passing the recent Amtrak Reauthorization Bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa). “I’m pleased that the Amtrak bill passed the House. With gas prices now over $4 per gallon, it’s time to invest in alternate forms of transportation. The Amtrak bill will help make passenger rail service between Dubuque and the Quad-Cities to Chicago a reality,” said Braley. The Amtrak Reauthorization Bill (H.R. 6003) proposes to create a new $500 million per year State Capital Grant Program, which would award federal grants to states for the construction of new passenger rail service between U.S. cities. The proposed passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad-Cities would be eligible to apply for funding under the State Capital Program, with the estimated Quad-Cityto-Chicago fare as low as $19 one-way, per rider. That would be $38 for a round trip. Another political ally in Washington, and a strong supporter of federal funding for Amtrak and increased passenger train service in the United States, is newly elected President Barack Obama. While in the U.S. Senate, President-elect Obama co-sponsored the Passenger Rail Investment and Innovation Act of 2007, a leading act to provide long-term federal investment in Amtrak. President-elect Obama believes that providing passengers with safe high-speed rail will produce significant environmental and metropolitan planning advantages and help
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diversify our nation’s transportation infrastructure. In May 2007, the Quad-Cities Railway Passenger Coalition was established to advocate on behalf of the community. The coalition is presently supported by almost 5,000 wellinformed members and maintains an impressive web site chock full of pertinent passenger rail information. Almost 100 businesses, labor and community organizations, and governmental entities have signed on, officially supporting the coalition‘s goals. “The Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition is making great strides in building the necessary support and momentum to restore passenger rail service in the Quad-Cities. Because of successful community organizing and support from key state and federal legislators, the Quad-Cities is well positioned to receive funding for passenger rail service as lawmakers focus on providing residents with affordable, efficient, and reliable transportation for the 21st century. While we are making progress, the Quad-Cities to Chicago route still needs funding. I encourage everyone in support of passenger rail service to join the effort to help make it a reality,” stated Paul Rumler, QCPR coalition executive director. In 2008, Amtrak ridership in Illinois broke records by surpassing one million annual riders for the first time ever. Most recently, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the final Amtrak Authorization Bill, HR 2095, by a voice vote on September 24. The U.S. Senate next followed and passed Bill HR 2095 by a 74-24 vote on October 1, 2008. So when exactly will passenger rail service again be available to the Quad-Cities? After a green light is given for railway and track upgrade and construction to begin along the Quad-Cities to Chicago line, the improvements could take between two to three years to complete. As of June 2008, then Senator Barack Obama, along with fellow senators, Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, anticipate Amtrak passenger rail service from the Quad-Cities to Chicago to be up and running by 2010 or 2011. Perhaps Congressman Phil Hare (D-Rock Island) best expressed the need for returning passenger train service to the Quad-Cities when he commented, “The first passenger rail train pulled into the Quad-Cities more than 150 years ago. It’s time for it to return to this area. In addition to providing an affordable method of transportation between the QuadCities and Chicago, our region could be an important gateway to Iowa City, Des Moines and Omaha as we continue to invest in transportation infrastructure.”
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baby boomers
IN THE QUAD CITIES
In addition to playing Bridge, Mary Ann Engel of Bettendorf, keeps busy with a book club, two study groups, swimming, biking, walking, lunch with friends, and getting involved in politics.
When friends want to reach Mary Ann Engel of Bettendorf, they know one of the least likely places to find her is at home. Keeping up with a book club, two study groups, swimming, biking, walking, lunch with friends, playing Bridge and getting involved in politics doesn’t leave this energetic 63-year-old retired teacher with a lot of time for sitting around the house. “I think I have time for a lot more interests now. It’s such a joy to have the time not to be rushing through everything,” said Engel. “When I was working, I spent so much time devoted to my school work and reading children’s literature. Now I actually get to read adult literature. I never had time to keep up with political issues before, either. But being involved in the recent presidential campaign was a real growth experience for me.” One of the Baby Boomer generation helping ease the pack into its 60s, Engel personifies the healthy senior adult who is more likely to seek out adventure, new experiences and personal growth rather than a quiet afternoon in a rocking chair.
A Demographic Force The first wave of Boomers was born right after World War II from 1946 to 1955, with a second wave arriving through 1964. They were
Little Time To
Slow
Down Boomers Fill Their Newfound Freetime With A Whole Host of Leisure Activities BY JEAN MCAULAY | PHOTOS BY GREG BOLL
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ABOVE: Rose Hoenig, 56, of LeClaire plays singles and doubles tennis two or three times a week and loves a 20-mile bike ride.
RIGHT: Bill Wallace, 56, of Bettendorf spends time with his 10-yearold daughter, Claire, tailgating and at University of Iowa games.
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born into a nation that was the unchallenged leader of the world in economic growth and production, and enjoyed unprecedented opportunities to shape and change the world. Representing the largest single sustained population growth in the history of the United States, Boomers have long commanded the attention of demographers, politicians, marketers and social scientists. Now 77.5 million strong, they make up 28 percent of the U.S. population and hold almost 80 percent of the country’s wealth. Their earliest members are starting to retire. The generation that fought to end the Vietnam War, marched for civil rights, took down the Nixon White House, brought women into the workforce and drove every major social and cultural trend for 50 years isn’t drifting quietly into old age, though. Like most everything else they’ve done, they’re redefining outdated concepts on their own terms. They expect to feel good and be active right through retirement or, more accurately, into what they see as a second adulthood.
Looking for Adventure A 2007 survey by developer of upscale communities for people age 54+, Del Webb, found Baby Boomers and seniors looking for active recreation. Although swimming, golf and bowling still top the preferred sports category, adventure activities such as kayaking, hiking, and even hang gliding are quickly growing in popularity. One Denver, Colo., Del Webb community even features skydiving, hot air ballooning, white water rafting and parachuting adventures. A 2004 AARP study on how Boomers look at retirement found 70 percent expect to devote more time to hobbies and special interests and more than half expect to volunteer and get involved in community service. Although even Boomers do eventually age and will face growing health concerns, the study also found most continue to feel young — about seven years younger than their chronological ages. Rose Hoenig, 56, of LeClaire plays singles and doubles tennis two or three times a week and loves a 20-mile bike ride. “I’m waiting until my body doesn’t cooperate
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anymore to get back into piano. I’m going to devote time to that when I can’t run around anymore like I can now.” Hoenig finds the freedom of an empty nest (her kids are now 30, 29 and 26) makes bike riding far more appealing now than when she was younger. “My husband and I can go for longer periods of time than when we had young children at home to tend to.” Living right on the river, Hoenig and her husband also love tooling around on their pontoon boat with friends. They also bought a condo in Arkansas recently and plan to spend more time there. “I do
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want to get away from the winters more. I’m a little more cautious about being out in the elements than I used to be.” Nationally, the most popular leisure activities among Boomers are travel, cultural and arts events, gourmet cooking and boating and sailing, according to The 2006 Lifestyle Market Analysis.
Retooling More Than Retiring Many Boomers plan to cycle between working and leisure activities as they head into retirement, perhaps leaving a career they worked at for years to try their hands at something completely new. According to “The New Retirement Survey,” conducted for
Merrill Lynch by Harris Interactive® in collaboration with Age Wave, today’s seniors are seeking the continued mental stimulation and challenge of part-time work. Although Hoenig, a dietitian who consults with long-term care facilities, is thinking of retiring in about six years, she too plans to continue with community volunteer work to keep from getting bored. As if anyone needed to tell people who have been involved with the opposite sex for the past three or four decades, the study also found Boomer men and women aren’t always on the same page. Women tend
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The Kwan family (Helen, Genevieve, Caroline, Jack, Ceceliz, Tony and Elizabeth) take a nature walk with the family dog Nonnie. “We are very fortunate to have right at the end of our block a nature trail surrounding 20 acres of horse pasture,” says Helen.
to view an empty nest and retirement as opportunities for career development, community involvement and personal growth, while many men are looking forward to working less, relaxing more and spending more time with their spouse (if she’s ever
home, that is!). At the moment, Bill Wallace, 56, of Bettendorf is still busy running his Budweiser distributorship, Vanguard Distributing, but likes to squeeze in plenty of time with his 10-year-old daughter.
He often brings Claire along for tailgating and to enjoy box seats for University of Iowa games and enjoys exposing her to plays, concerts and special exhibits in Chicago. He also recently trained to serve as a swim meet official to help her Pleasant Valley Stingrays traveling team. “As older parents, I think many of us in our generation have made spending time with our kids a top priority in our leisure time,” said Wallace. “Being more established in my career at this point can provide the flexibility to spend more time with Claire than I might have been able to swing in my 30s.” Wallace is also strongly committed to his volunteer work with the Vera French Foundation and is particularly focused on getting mental health counselors into the school system for kids who need help.
Between Parenthood and Elder Care Boomers riding the tail end of the wave 16 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
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are often most concerned about meeting the challenging demands of careers and families at full throttle. Helen Kwan, 46, of Bettendorf is a stay-at-home mom with five kids ages eight to 17. “The general consensus among friends my age is we aren’t always having a lot of fun,” she said. “We’re at that point where children are gaining more independence and don’t need you as much for the physical component of parenting, but now it’s the more cerebral part of parenting and that’s even more stressful. Plus, many women are also not only care-giving on the child front but also have to deal with aging parents.” With five kids, the Kwans try to balance and limit extracurricular activities to make sure they don’t overtake family priorities such as nightly dinners together. One of their favorite low-key family activities is taking a nature walk. “We are very fortunate to have right at the end of our block a nature trail surrounding 20 acres of horse pasture. When the kids are too cooped up, we head right out the door for a nature walk on our street.” Kwan also finds as she ages her interests are becoming more cerebral and more tied to close friendships rather than broad socializing. “As you get older, fun is the quality time you have with your friends and family. You realize how much work it takes to get together even once a year with old friends. Sometimes that’s all we can manage.” Once a year Kwan attends an Illinois game with college friends and every couple years goes on a trip with women friends from college. “It
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becomes more about the social connection than what you’re actually doing.” She also spends a lot of time reading and studying current events. “I am a news junkie. I’d be embarrassed to say the number of hours I spend reading news on the Internet. I take a great deal of pleasure in doing that,” she said. Kwan recently turned her interest into action by serving as precinct captain for the Obama campaign in Bettendorf, logging 20 hours per week leading up to the election. Still, she continues to participate in a dinner club with friends every other month, walks with neighbors for exercise several mornings a week and tries to make it to musicals and plays that come to town, although she and her husband miss the big-city attractions they left back in Chicago. Kwan also loves to indulge in antique shopping. “The Quad-Cities is a great spot for antiquing. LeClaire, Clinton and Geneseo and many other surrounding small communities here are just wonderful places to shop. It’s relaxing and I’ve gotten some great buys.” Still, if given the right opportunity, Kwan can let loose. With a major renovation project in the works at their Bettendorf home, the Kwans found themselves with new floors and no furniture — the perfect recipe for Salsa dancing. With one of the construction workers moonlighting as a dance teacher, Kwan called a few friends and the next thing she knew she was hosting a party that combined exercise, socializing and learning a new skill. “We were sweating and having a
great time. It’s wonderful to have a good time while getting some exercise.” Looking into the future, most Boomers want to stay active and engaged in a broad range of activities. Mary Ann Engel wants to swim with dolphins. Rose Hoenig wants to take more family trips with her grown kids. Helen Kwan is looking forward to more European travel. For the time being, though, all are enjoying the unique attributes of the Quad Cities. “We’re so lucky to live in an area like this with the river, great bike paths and a lot of natural beauty,” said Hoenig. “I’m pretty content, satisfied and very grateful. You get that way if you stay healthy and you really appreciate it.” They may not be doing it the way their moms and dads did, but as Boomers mature and face retirement, many of them are enjoying every minute of it and still marching to their own beat.
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Fundraiser Calendar JANUARY The River Prairie Minstrels at Mojo’s Saturday, January 3 The River Prairie Minstrels will perform from 6–8:30 p.m. at Mojo’s at the River Music Experience, 129 Main St., Davenport. Donations will be accepted to support educational programming at RME. (563) 326-1555 or info@rivermusicexperience.com. Illowa Community Folk Dance – Red Sky Friday, January 9 Illowa Community Folk Dance offers American social folk dancing from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Red Sky will play. Contras, squares, and circle dances are taught; no partners are necessary. Children welcome with adult participation. Donations accepted. Singing Bird Nature Center, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 15th St. and 45th Ave., Rock Island. (309) 788-8986 or illowafolkdance@lycos.com. Frostbite Footrace 8k Saturday, January 17 Registration starts at 10:30 a.m., race begins at 1 p.m. This Corn Belt Running Club-sponsored 8K race is held completely in Scott Co. park. After the race, warm yourself by the fireplace and enjoy bagels and hot cider. Door prizes. $18 registration fee includes sweatshirt. Proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s Association. Long Grove, Iowa. (563) 359-0872. Big Brothers Big Sisters 30th Annual Snowbird Softball Tournament (Co-Ed Tournament) Friday-Sunday, January 23-25 A Quad-Cities tradition for 30 years, this unique coed and men’s softball tournament hosts over 1,000 participants. Teams are guaranteed to play two games. Team rosters can be up to 18 players. $150 per team. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Dugout Sports Complex, Davenport. www.bbbs-mv.org or (563) 323-8006 or (563) 3914211. 24 Make-A-Wish of Iowa's “Share the Power of a Wish Gala” Saturday, January 24 7 p.m. Rivercenter, Davenport. This is the annual fundraising event for the Riverbend Committee of Make-A-Wish of Iowa. A live and silent auction will accompany dinner and dancing at the Davenport Rivercenter. $80 per person or $600 for a table of 8. Reservations or donations can be made by sending a request to riverbendgala@hotmail.com. For more information you can call Julie at 563-6767879. 18 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
Arrowhead Ranch’s Winter Vehicle Auction Saturday, January 24 Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., auction begins at 10 a.m.; photo ID is required. To donate a car, boat, or other vehicle, call (309) 799-7044, ext. 274. Vehicle donations are tax-deductible and proceeds from the auction help provide a second chance for the boys and girls at Arrowhead Ranch. William E. Nelson Auto Shop at 12200 104th St., Coal Valley, Ill. The Last Tour Saturday, January 24 In late 1958, General Artists Corporation started putting together a rock and roll tour that would travel through the upper Midwestern states and feature some of music’s biggest starts. It was billed the “Winter Dance Party” tour and featured Buddy Holly and The Crickets, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Dion and The Belmonts and Frankie Sardo. On January 29 of that year, the tour played its only seated theater show at the Capitol Theatre in Davenport. The Last Tour is a live recreation of the tour that inspired Don McLean’s “American Pie” and coined the term “the day the music died.” It will be performed 50 years after the untimely deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. Performers include Grammy winner Tommy Allsup, Johnny Rogers, the Shackshakers and Richie Lee. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the music of three great legends in the actual theater where it was originally performed. Proceeds benefit the Last Tour Scholarship fund, which has raised more than $40,000 for regional music scholarships. Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. The Capitol Theatre Davenport. (563) 326-8820.
FEBRUARY Illowa Community Folk Dance – The Gilded Bats Friday, February 6 Illowa Community Folk Dance offers American social folk dancing from 7:30-10:30 p.m. The Gilded Bats will play. Contras, squares, and circle dances are taught; no partners are necessary. Children welcome with adult participation. Donations accepted. Singing Bird Nature Center, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 15th St. and 45th Ave., Rock Island. (309) 788-8986 or illowafolkdance@lycos.com. Big Brothers Big Sisters 30th Annual Snow Bird Softball Tournament (Men’s Tournament) Friday-Sunday, February 6-8 See Jan. 23-25 for description of event.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Young Women of Achievement The third annual Young Women of Achievement Awards will recognize young women in the Quad-Cities, who have shown outstanding community service as evidenced by leadership given and impact shown to many worthwhile organizations. Who is eligible?: Any woman ages 17-25 who lives, works, or attends school in the Quad-City area and has shown outstanding community service. How do I nominate someone?: For a nomination form, visit www.gseiwi.org, or contact Diane Koster at (309) 7880833. Nominations must be submitted by January 16, 2009 for consideration. Wendy’s Chili Golf Open Saturday, February 7, 8 a.m. -1 p.m. It’s winter, so it must be Chili Golf Open time. Every golfer receives orange golf balls, a package of tees, an official Chili Golf memento, and nine modified holes of winter golf. Cost is $13 and a donated item for a local charity. (563) 326-7812. Credit Island Golf Course, Davenport. Big Brothers Big Sisters Putt-A-Round Tuesday-Saturday, February 10-14 Sponsored by Wells Fargo and Mel Foster Company. Spend a winter’s day or night with friends and/or co-workers at the Annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Putt-A-Round. The River Center in Davenport will be transformed into a 19hole miniature golf course, with unique holes custom-designed by local businesses. All proceeds benefit BBBS local mentoring programs. $40/golfer, $160/team of four and includes round of golf, prizes and appetizers. River Center, Davenport. (563) 3238006 or www.bbbs-mv.org. About this page To qualify for inclusion on this page a group must be a 501-C3 non-profit organization and all events must be open to the public. To submit a volunteer listing or non-profit event, go to www.qcmag.com. QC Magazine reserves the right to publish submissions based on space available, need and available resources of the organization.
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Fundraiser Calendar Quad City Arts Annual Valentine Art Auction Friday, February 13 Reception starts at 6:30 p.m., with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Silent auction featuring regional art begins at 7:30 p.m. The closing event features a fast-paced live auction of unique, locally produced artwork. Proceeds benefit Quad City Arts Visual Arts Program. Jumer’s Casino Hotel Event Center, Rock Island. (309) 793-1213, ext. 103. Champagne Wishes and Chocolate Dreams Saturday, February 14 The YWCA of the Quad Cities is hosting the inaugural event Champagne Wishes and Chocolate Dreams, featuring cocktails, a silent auction, and chocolate artistry. Dinner and champagne is $30/person; $35/door. One lucky woman will also walk out with a diamond necklace! Proceeds benefit the YWCA programs. Holiday Inn, downtown Rock Island. (309) 788-3479, ext. 12. 70th Annual Mardi Gras Charity Ball Saturday, February 21 The Junior Board of Rock Island presents the 70th
annual Mardi Gras Charity Ball. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of the “Old World” with the Tuscan-inspired theme “Bella Italiana” and experience the beauty and history of Italy. i Wireless Center, Moline. www.jbri.org. Quad Cities Heart Gala Saturday, February 21 The 2009 American Heart Association Quad Cities Heart Gala will be held at Jumer’s Casino & Hotel, Rock Island. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $75. (563) 323-4321 or www.americanheart.org. Trinity JA Bowl-a-Thon Saturday, February 21, 9 a.m.-midnight The Trinity JA Bowl-a-Thon helps support Junior Achievement programs focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness. Each team raises $300 in pledges. A $50 registration fee covers three games of bowling and shoe rental. Bowlmor Lanes, Davenport; Highland Park, Moline; Milan Lanes, Milan; Miller Time Bowling, Davenport; Town & Country, Rock Island. (309) 736-1630.
CBRC Chili Chase 4-Mile Run/Walk Sunday, February 22, 1 p.m. The course loops through Duck Creek Park, on the bike path, and the surrounding neighborhood. Post race refreshments will include chili, fruit, cookies, and beverages. Please bring a nonperishable food item for donation to a local food pantry. Register for $18 at Duck Creek Park Lodge from 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Early registration fee is $16. Register online at www.getmeregistered.com. (563) 3261942 or info@cornbelt.org. Alzheimer’s Association Memory (Trivia) Night Saturday, February 28, 7–10 p.m. The night will feature a 50/50 raffle, cash prizes for the top teams as well as a special challenge round in which teams will be able to challenge the teams of their friends, enemies and co-workers to a heated round of “I’m Smarter Than You.” $10/person; 8 players/team. Doors open at 6 p.m. Knights of Columbus, 1111 W. 35th St., Davenport. (563) 3241022 or julie.seier@alz.org.
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Out and About at Local Fundraising Events 1
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Lloyd Schoeneman Community Impact Awards – October 16, 2008
1Ralph Iaccarino was the recipient of this year’s Lloyd Schoeneman Community Impact Award for Outstanding Arts Supporter. 2 Megan Quinn received the Lloyd Schoeneman Community Impact Award for Outstanding Arts Educator. 3 From left: Quad City Arts “Above and Beyond the Call” volunteer honorees Genevieve “Gabby” Rafferty and Judith Moens. 4 From left: Quad City Arts board member Anne Colville and Quad City Arts Festival of Trees 2008 co-director Lori Syverud are all smiles at the reception in the Arts Cafe.
Paragon Commercial Interiors 25th Anniversary In October, Paragon Commercial Interiors celebrated its 25th year in business. 5 left: Rodger King, Darla Evans, Fausto Mendez, Leif Christenson, Dana 20 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
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Wilkinson, Vince Viren. 6 Back row, from left: Vince Viren, Leif Christenson, Curt Early, Rosalee Bergert, Julie Quested, Rodger King, Angie England, Jeff Brummel, Joe Evans. Front row, from left: Tara Thompson, Lauren Stottler, Stefanie Roberts, Dana Wilkinson, Darla Evans, Ghazala Irshad.
Ballet Quad Cities Educational Outreach Fundraiser “A Date with Dracula” - October 18, 2008 “A Date With Dracula” was a special event with the cast of Dracula and Die Hochzeit, starring Domingo Rubio as Dracula, to raise funds for Ballet Quad Cities Educational Outreach Programs. 7 Clyde Schoeck, Ruth Lee. 8 Domingo Rubio, Linda Bowers. 9 Donna Schoeck, Maggie Huling. 10 Sarah Slavick-Kurtz, Marty Kurtz.
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The Days of Wine and Rotary – Thursday, October 16, 2008 The Days of Wine and Rotary, sponsored by the Rock Island Rotary, was held at the Holiday Inn in downtown Rock Island. The event featured wine and beer tasting, raffle and silent auction and raised more than $5000 for Rock Island Rotary service programs. 11 Jenny Hager and Kevin Koster. 12 Jim and Judy Nordquist, Dave and Theresa Rockwell
Celebrity Scooper Night at Maggie Moo’s, benefiting the Boys and Girls’ Clubs of the Mississippi Valley – November 10, 2008
13 Steph Kosgard, Maggie Moo Staff; Jeff James, Star 93.5; Brad Cole, Quad City Flames Player; Shannon Hans, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley Director of Development; Brett Sutter, Quad City Flames
Player; Andy McCray, WHBF. 14 Quad City Flames hockey players Brad Cole, Brett Sutter, Firestorm, Jamie Lundmark, Aki Seitsonen, Anders Eriksson. 15 Maggie Moo, Jeff James, Andy McCray, Firestorm. 16 Boys and Girls Clubs Members Miltasia Owens, Boys and Girls Clubs Member; Theresa Bryant; Jonathon Garcia, Boys and Girls Clubs Member; Mike Mickle; Daniele Howe; Abbigail Sird, Boys and Girls Clubs Member.
International Women Authors’ Event – November 1, 2008
17 Firoozeh Dumas with Dr. Kim Armstrong from Black Hawk College and her international students. 18 Darcy Smith and Melissa Korte. 19 Katie Johnson, Kathy Michel, Cheri Bustos. 20 Jill Goldesberry, Firoozeh Dumas and Amy Bakke. 21 Sherri Behr DeVrieze, Firoozeh Dumas and Colleen Rafferty. January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 21
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JODI O’DONNELL
Even in Winter, There’s No Place Like the Quads I had intended to write this column about New Year’s resolutions, but then thought, why not bottom-line it so we can all move on to more interesting topics: Resolution #1 Lose weight. Resolution #2 Save more money. And sure, what the heck, Resolution #3 Work for world peace. That pretty much covers the subject, right? Because what I’d really like to talk about is how on God’s un-green earth it is that we’re stuck here facing another winter in the Snowbelt. I don’t know about you, but I still get PTSS symptoms just thinking about last year’s long, cold, hard slog from the first cold snap in November through the next four months of sleet and snow and ice and more snow and bone-chilling temps and even more snow. After a string of fairly mild winters, we were caught flat-footed, taking the brunt of the shock right in the proverbial kisser. Like the opening scene of one of those doomsday movies, we were the happy children playing in the sun, blissfully unaware of the shadow of one of the worst-ever winters looming predatorlike to snatch away our innocence forever. I became so beaten down by the weather I stopped trying to shovel out my driveway every time it got plowed in. Couple that with a two-inch thick ice sheeting the driveway’s length, and it meant that each morning I resorted to a game of Russian roulette (the outer Siberia version), gunning my car in reverse out of my garage with enough velocity so I could get across the ice to pause with my rear wheels balanced atop the snowpack, but not so much speed that I shot into oncoming traffic. So it’s no wonder that, one particularly cold day, the tenth or so in a row with below-zero temps, I stood on my front sidewalk, shovel in hand, raised my face to the dull gray sky that was dumping yet another six inches of snow on the Quads, and, doing my best Scarlett O’Hara, vowed, “As God as my witness, this time 22 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
next year I will not be living in the Midwest!” Even though I was dead serious, this kind of declaration does take a little planning to execute. Perhaps it was the gawdawful spring and summer we had here in the Midwest that made winter 2008 seem like the Ivory Flakes variety found in a Bing Crosby musical, but I never even sketched out the barest of strategies to get myself to a warmer, gentler climate and thus to a warmer, gentler me. That’s why I thought, even if we haven’t the means or time to move to more temperate climes, we could all use the diversion of planning our escape from Middle Earth as soon as it warms up enough to step outside without donning our long johns. Even if it’s just an indulgent exercise, it sure beats dwelling on three more months of winter. So grab your sunlamp and let’s go. First, I’m assuming we want to stay domestic, right? Next, I suggest we eliminate any place that has ever experienced a weather report containing the words “record-breaking snowfall.” I should think the top part of the U.S. — from New England and the Northwest on down through the Plains states and the Midwest — ought to do it. Shoot, while we’re at it, let’s strip out states like Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kentucky, which are prone to some pretty ugly ice storms. No one wants to deal with that stuff either. Trust me when I tell you we can forego consideration of southern California. Although it’s been 30 years since I lived there, the area still doesn’t have a comprehensive public transportation system, so I’m guessing the smog has only gotten worse. Northern California would be lovely, except for the fact real estate is so expensive that a shack by the freeway costs you $200,000. I’m arbitrarily taking another state in which I’ve lived, Texas, out of the running, and here’s why: bugs. With no hard freeze to kill them off, insects grow to pre-
historic size. You think it’s bad here — in Texas you can’t even flip your cell phone open after dark without the light drawing hundreds of moths as big as bats. Same goes for most of the South. The locals there call cockroaches palmetto bugs, as if that makes you feel less revolted when you spy one crawling across your kitchen counter. Plus — and I’ve got to be honest here, even if this is just a hypothetical exercise — I simply can’t live anywhere that people use “fixin’ to” in a professional setting. The Southwest is an option. I’d worry about having enough water, though, given the number of people (such as possibly us) moving there who expect oasis conditions in the middle of the desert. And the states along the Gulf and lower Eastern Seaboard —call me crazy, but I’ll take a good old-fashioned tornado over a hurricane any day. That leaves Hawaii, which may be as close as Americans can come to living in paradise. But I already get rock fever after just a week’s vacation there. So you probably see where this is leading. When it comes down to it, every place has its advantages and disadvantages, climate-wise. And in the end, regardless of weather, what keeps us in the Midwest has a lot more to do with where we call home than where we live. I’m not saying there’s no perfect spot in the U.S. where the climate is mild yearround, the housing affordable, the resources plentiful and the people delightful. But if you come across it first, call me. Jodi O’Donnell is senior director of communications and marketing at St. Ambrose University. She’s also the author of 13 books published by Silhouette Books, New York. You can contact her at jodiod@aol.com.
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baby boomers
IN THE QUAD CITIES
Barbara Ven Horst, 51, spent 10 years working in the investor relations department of the McDonald’s Corporation in Chicago. In November 2007, after taking some time off from work, Ven Horst became president of Junior Achievement of the Heartland.
No matter what you call it—an “encore” career, a redirection of energy, or simply a job change—you probably know someone between the ages of 45 and 63 who has redefined their life through a change in career. Of the 76 billion Baby Boomers, many have re-evaluated their life’s work and, whether by choice or necessity, capitalized on diverse skills and knowledge by applying them to new endeavors and adventures. Here in the Quad-Cities, you don’t have to look far to find boomers thriving after taking a chance and changing a career.
Capturing Passion Teri Long, a 50-year-old boomer from Bettendorf, has always had energy and passion for life, and much of the work she has done over the years has stemmed from her interests. Long’s first career change came in 1989 with the birth of her second child. For the five years prior, she owned a hair salon in Bettendorf. She gave up Classic Clips Hair to stay home with her newborn son and her daughter, who was three at the time. “I stayed home and I did play groups. I went to the library and developed friends who were taking care of their kids as well,” she recalls. “But I have a creative mind and when the kids were sleeping I started creating floral arrangements and eventually did some interior design. I made business cards to hand out and to this day I have people calling me to do interior decorating.” Now that her children are in college, Long has
The Changing Nature Of
Boomer
Business Diverse Skills and Years of Experience Make A Career Switch A Reality BY LESLIE KLIPSCH | PHOTO BY TRENT FOLTZ
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embraced another passion out of which she has made a career: exercise and health. In 2004, she and her husband began looking at franchise opportunities and decided to purchase Stretch-N-Grow, an exercise program for 2- to 12-year-olds focusing on education
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They learn about muscles and we really try to train them to be fit for life.” Because of the frequency and severity of diabetes in Long’s family, she truly believes in the valuable nature of her midlife mission. Another Quad-Citian who acted on an
and well-stocked wine shop, The Grape Life, in Davenport. “After 25 years in any business, you start getting to a point where you want to do something different,” he said. “I once in awhile miss the writing, but honestly, you get to a point
“I MIGHT BE LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER WHO WORKED UNTIL SHE WAS 82. AS LONG AS I HAVE THE ENERGY AND THE PASSION, WHY NOT? SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO QUIT, BUT I WONDER IF THIS GENERATION WON’T DOUBLE DUTY A BIT.” - TERI LONG and nutrition. “I like to exercise. I play a lot of tennis and work out four or five days a week. One of my lifelong passions is exercising, eating right, and staying healthy.” “Coach Teri,” as she is referred to by her students and staff, has grown her business to service 35 area schools. “We teach a fun, 30minute workout in which we talk about fruits and vegetables and what the kids are eating.
impulse to capture a passion is Jim Renkes, 56, a writer who spent almost 30 years in the publishing industry — 25 at the Quad City Times and three at QC Magazine. During his time at the magazine, he got the chance to work closely with his wife, Nancy Renkes. The couple discovered that they enjoyed their work relationship and worked well together. With this realization, they opened a laid-back
where you’ve written every story there is to write. It’s nice to do something completely different.” Renkes finds that the listening skills he honed as a reporter come in handy when he’s behind the wine bar serving a customer. His literary talents are obvious in his lush descriptions of his products and the metaphor for living that “The Grape Life” evokes. He is an
SI T,
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Jim Renkes, 56, (with wife Nancy) a writer for almost 30 years, changed careers and opened The Grape Life, a wine bar in Davenport.
example of a skilled Boomer who has applied the knowledge, insight and experience of one career to a whole new arena. As a writer, Renkes flew with the Blue Angels, jumped out of an airplane, had lunch at the White House, and interviewed Paul McCartney. His new career as a small business owner brings a different sort of excitement and satisfaction. He says, “There’s a pressure to succeed because you’re the one responsible. But despite the pressure, it’s liberating. I have fewer sleepless nights than I did in my previous careers because when I wake up in the morning I know that I’ll be able to do something about it. I can make it work,” he said. Renkes, a wine lover who tries to make buying a bottle as non-intimidating as possible for customers, gets great satisfaction knowing that patrons come into his store and enjoy themselves. Of his new career venture Renkes says, “This didn’t come as some part of a mid-life crisis but as an appreciation that there was a more fulfilling way to do things and to live. And it’s been great.”
ment make decisions, both good and bad. It was a tremendous education for me to be that close to seeing people run something that big,” she says. In November 2007, after taking some time off from work, Ven Horst became president of Junior Achievement of the Heartland, an organization that works with more than 62,000 students and 2,000 volunteers in 25 Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin counties. Within this organization that teaches students the importance of entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy, Ven Horst has found what she believes to be a tremendous opportunity to use the skills that she has honed over the years and run a business that can have an enormous effect in people’s lives. “I have always believed that nonprofits need to run like businesses because if they don’t, pretty soon there is nothing left to run. The mission is paramount, but you’ve got to have it in good shape … especially when you’re Junior Achievement and you’re supposed to be teaching other people how to run a business,” she said. “I have always been dedicated
to the jobs that I’ve done, but to be able to channel my skills and hopefully improve the lives of kids is really exciting to me.” In 2004, Lee Gaston, now 54, also began looking to use his experience in the corporate banking world and apply it to the nonprofit sector. Prompted by a death of a peer, a growing interest in the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago where he acted as Chairman of the Board from 1998-2000, and the feeling that he was missing out on too many evenings and weekends with his wife and young children, Gaston began to mull over the idea of leaving his job at Bank One (which, at the time, was just beginning its merger with JP Morgan Chase) in search of something different and more meaningful. “I’m not particularly adventurous and I’m not a huge risk taker. I would have moments that I wondered what I was doing,” he recalls. “But my sense of discontent was staying in place, plus I had confidence that I could find something to do. This was enough to overcome that sense of insecurity.” Eventually, after 21 years with the same company, Gaston and his family made their way to the Quad-Cities where he is now the CFO of the Scott County Family YMCA.
Making the Change and Settling in In the recent PBS documentary “The Boomer Century: 1946-2046,” Dr. Ken Drychtwald notes that a common trait many boomers share is the ability to embrace change. This serves them well, especially when a career change also constitutes a change in geography. Ven Horst (Junior Achievement president) has been delighted by the move back to the area in which she was raised. Despite the Rip Van Winkle phenomenon, her move to the
Switching Sectors Barbara Ven Horst, 51, spent 10 years working in the investor relations department of the McDonald’s Corporation in Chicago before voluntarily leaving the company at a time when it was trying to consolidate and cut back its workforce. Though she enjoyed her work and believed in what she was doing, she reached a point where she was working 75 or 80 hours a week, wondering if there was more to life. “I was there for a time when McDonald’s stock prices went from $44 down to about $12 per share. I got to see the top echelon of manageJanuary/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 25
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Quad-Cities has been nearly seamless. “I loved my time in Chicago, but I am thrilled to be back in this area,” she said. “I have a huge family here who I’m starting to get to meet again. My immediate family is here and I love the area. Coming back here, especially recognizing that Chicago is just two and a half hours to the east, has been great.” Gaston (CFO of the Scott County YMCA) did not necessarily intend to move his family from Oak Park, Ill., the first suburb west of Chicago. However, he had always liked the “human scale” of small cities. After careful consideration in light of their three children, Lee and his wife, Lisa, decided to head farther west. “This has been a great move for us. Our kids have adjusted pretty well,” he reflects. “And I believe they have a happier, healthier father because of it.” Both Ven Horst and Gaston have been thrilled with the generosity of the Quad-City community. “I am so pleasantly shocked at
was so nose-to-the-grindstone for so long that it was a kind of a re-awakening for me,” she said. When the opportunity to work for Junior Achievement presented itself, she felt refreshed and ready for the new challenge. Gaston helped Bank One through its merger with JPMorgan Chase (the third challenging merger of equals in his career) and then made an intentional decision to take a year off to spend time with his family. With the support of his wife and children, he enjoyed the year and is to this day grateful for the time. During his reprieve he was able to reflect on what was important to him and enjoy small but significant moments, like walking his youngest daughter to school. “My kids were at an adorable age,” he recalls. “It was a very good stretch of time for me.” He also indulged his lifelong interest in writing and completed about one-third of a mystery novel before accepting his position at the Scott County Family YMCA.
As boomers look to the future, many are asking questions about what retirement may actually mean for them. “I don’t know what it will be like,” said Teri Long. “I might be like my grandmother who worked until she was 82. As long as I have the energy and the passion, why not? Some people might want to quit, but I wonder if this generation won’t double duty a bit.” Long points to the current economy and the mounting costs of sending her children to college and says that right now she and her husband are working hard. Gaston, too, acknowledges that contributing to the cost of his children’s education might help shape the way retirement looks for him. Books about redefining oneself in the workplace at the approach of the retirement years are becoming more and more prevalent. One such book, Retire Retirement: Strategies for the Boomer Generation, written by Tammy Erickson, suggests redefining the
“I HAVE A HUGE FAMILY HERE WHO I’M STARTING TO GET TO MEET AGAIN....AND I LOVE THE AREA. COMING BACK HERE, ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZING THAT CHICAGO IS JUST TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO THE EAST, HAS BEEN GREAT.” - BARBARA VEN HORST the giving nature of this community,” acknowledges Ven Horst. “Nobody turns their back on you when you need help. A lot of these people are the same ones who were doing this when I left in the mid-90s and they continue to be here.” Gaston agrees. “I have been very impressed since I moved here with the civic-mindedness of the business community. There are a lot of people who are giving a lot of time to a variety of agencies in this community.”
Smelling the Roses The change in career and geography came after a bit of a reprieve from the corporate world for both Ven Horst and Gaston. Each of them took time off after leaving their jobs to re-evaluate and relax. After Ven Horst left McDonald’s Corporation, she spent time traveling, visiting friends, and getting the things done that she had not had time to do in the past. During that period she also did some consulting and freelance work, but spent the majority of the hiatus catching her breath. “I 26 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
As he told his new employer when he accepted the position, “I’m not sure if this is for 18 months or 18 years; I’m not going to worry about that right now.” In a recent interview, Gaston went on to say that he loves the lifestyle here in the Quad-Cities and appreciates the fact that he can feel great about the mission of the Scott County YMCA.
Looking Ahead When considering his next course of action, Jim Renkes became convinced that owning a small wine shop would be a positive thing for his family. “As we start to move toward the retirement years that are in the horizon, Nancy and I saw this as an opportunity,” said Renkes. “We thought it might be nice to either grow The Grape Life to the point where we can sell it, or run the store together through our retirement. It’s something that we could do together and be proud of. When thinking about this venture we asked ourselves, ‘How does this fit into the next phase of our ‘Grape Life’’?”
idea of retirement and encourages boomers to make the most of the opportunities presented to them due to the shrinking workforce and aging population. Another book on the subject is Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, written by Marc Freedman, CEO of Civic Venture, an organization that, according to its web site, is “leading the call for millions of baby boomers to become a vital workforce for social change.” Freedman believes that millions of boomers will move into a new phase of work and cause significant transformations in the work world. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a shortfall of 10 million workers in the United States by the year 2010, boomers will likely once again embrace a changing world, capitalizing on their ability to move well through life in times of trouble and triumph. It would appear that this influential generation may not only redefine their personal work lives, but impact the overall look and lexicon of retirement as well.
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baby boomers Tom Waterman, a Davenport attorney and triathlete, thrives on challenging physical competitions like the 2007 Panama City Ironman event that required a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.
VE O
The Inevitability Of
Boomers
&Wellness
Embracing a wellness lifestyle is more than a trip to the gym ... Are you ready to go for it? BY NORMAN BOWER CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
IN THE QUAD CITIES
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Hey, you, boomer! Yeah, you. Got 10 minutes? Let’s take a look at the good and bad in your life. Do you like your work? Good. Got a family? That helps. Do you have a few friends? You need ‘em. How about a hobby or two? Can you sleep through the night? Do you go for the apple or the doughnut? Do you rev up the heartbeat regularly? It’s important. Are you comfortable in your own skin? Folks born between 1946 and 1964 can’t deny the realities of middle age. Like it or not, they have arrived, with memories of disco, big hair and the Reagan era being confronted by the realities of grandkids, crow’s feet, 24/7 information and the coming of Obama. The generation that thrived on rebellion and new experiences finally seems to be reaching for a slower pace and finding satisfaction with simpler things. Many, right here in the QuadCities, are striving for “wellness,” which seeks balance and fulfillment in all elements of life — physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social and occupational.
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MORE INFO Boomerlifestyle.com, a fun, information packed magazine-style blog whose tagline is "forever grabbing life by the balls," focuses on topics of crucial interest to Baby Boomers: Work, Money & Retirement, Food & Recipes, Health & Fitness, Relationships & Family, Spirit & Faith, Travel & Leisure. Great read: http://boomerlifestyle.com Cathy is a QC healthcare professional in her 50s who enjoys a lot of job satisfaction, but has expanded her horizons as a volunteer docent at the Figge Art Museum. “This gives me access to information and education that enriches me. And it’s rewarding and exciting to share time with the variety of visitors,” she said. She also noted that continued learning
and social interaction are proven to help with mental health in later life. For physical activity, she regularly makes time for lap swimming. Amy is a local librarian who loves nature and the outdoors, and who has been an athlete all her life. “My extracurriculars are mostly fitness activities, like hiking and snowshoeing and swimming and running. I make plans to enter competitive events so that I can have the extra motivation of a goal. This kind of plan also makes me more effective with other things.” Paul is an engineering firm executive with four children and a demanding schedule. He also is a devoted runner and community volunteer. “I have to prioritize things. The job takes a lot of time, so I do my running at 5 a.m. It helps physically and mentally as I organize my day. After-work hours, weekends and vacations are family time.” These three have made a conscious effort to be multi-dimensional and not let any one par-
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ticular facet of their life dominate all the others. The physical side of wellness is the easiest to focus on because it’s what we see when we look at ourselves and each other. And the QC has vast resources when it comes to physical enhancement.
The new Satva Center in Rock Island, offers a broad spectrum of classes, including yoga, T’ai Chi (above) and meditation. At left is the Meditation Center.
Keep It Moving After teaching spinning classes at the local YMCAs for eight years, 56-year-old Suzanne Humphrey of Bettendorf has some smart advice for boomers seeking fitness. First, she recommends checking with the doctor for those not currently in shape, to get the green light for increased physical activity. Then choose something fun that won’t bore you. And go slow, but steady at first, so that you want to keep going over time. If time and money are restraints, she suggests walking as both convenient and cheap. For middle-aged folks who have been injured, Humphrey recommends following the doctor’s orders and trying to be patient (rarely a virtue among boomers) to avoid re-
injury.
nutrition, sleep and relationships. Over and
Finally, she strongly advises all people to have some kind of physical activity as a basis for overall wellness. “It’s just as important as
over, studies tie exercise to good health. I really believe in cross-training, but basically, any form of activity is essential.” January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 29
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A positive attitude is also needed for wellness, according to chiropractor Lisa Killinger, who teaches healthy aging at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport. Her favorite 104-year-old patient (who still drives) believes that her chipper attitude helps her deal with the aches and pains. Killinger has a few warnings about aging for boomers: MONITOR BONE density (especially females). AFTER AGE 50, watch for decreased muscle mass in lower extremities, which can cause falls. AS ALL five senses decline at various levels, strive to maintain a healthy appetite. IN ORDER to remain strong during potential illness, don’t try to lose weight after 65. Fellow chiropractor Dave Juehring is the director of Chiropractic Rehab and Sports Injury at Palmer College. He notes that healing rates slow after age 50, so injuries such as a clavicle fracture can linger. “Get rid of your ego and accept that you are mortal,” he said.
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“Take care of little injuries so they don’t become chronic, and know that training for competitions will just take longer than it did in your youth.” Juehring’s recommendations for fitness include choosing an activity that you enjoy, and finding a group, if possible, for motivation. He also advises healthy eating and ample hydration to avoid problems with drug toxicity in older people who take medications.
Use It Or Lose It Tom is a 49-year-old lawyer in the QC, and an avid triathlete. His training and racing give him stamina and discipline, and set a good example for his daughters. He says the key to fitting workouts into a busy work and family life is to participate in activities you like. He works out in the morning when the kids are sleeping and enjoys the cross-training benefits of running stairs. He plans to test his 50-yearold body in 2009 with a 100-mile run in Colorado. Another focused athlete, Luanne, has a
demanding job in information systems, but she consistently devotes part of each day to either swimming or running. Now 55, she broke her wrist several years ago, and since then she never takes her workouts for granted. Those two months of inactivity and inconvenience “drove her nuts.” She also enjoys singing and providing care for her 90-year-old mother and two other older friends as a way to balance her life. More good advice on physical endeavors comes from Ryan Arnold, who is a certified strength and conditioning specialist at the Bettendorf Life Fitness Center. His QC Sports Acceleration program for dedicated athletes is coordinated by Orthopaedic Specialists (OS). “After a needs assessment, we customize all our workouts for the individual, focusing on aerobic benefits and endurance,” he said, “No one is ever bored here.” He added that in middle age, people will inevitably lose balance, coordination and flexibility, but workouts can help retain range of motion and overall strength. John Hoffman, an orthopaedic surgeon for
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OS, said, “Active boomers have a hard time changing expectations, but even with injuries, loss of bone density, and joint replacements, they can still enjoy golf, swimming, skiing, walking and cycling.” And, of course, dental health can’t be ignored at any age. Dave Samuelson, D.D.S., has been practicing in the QC for more that three decades. He said the majority of baby boomers have established quality dental hygiene, including flossing, brushing and regular check-ups. Now he notices that in middle age, a number of wives want their husbands to go in for more cosmetic improvements like veneers or whitening procedures. “It’s perhaps more money-driven since at this point they have the resources to tend to things that didn’t seem necessary a few years back.”
Appetite For Life As Oprah, Rachel Ray and other TV doyennes can attest, food can be a friend or foe. Everybody has a favorite food, and a need for nourishment, but if you are overeating for emotional reasons or eating a lot of unhealthy foods, your overall health and well-being can be affected. One local dietitian suggests a few commonsense approaches, such as taking small portions, eating regular meals, choosing healthy snacks and not shopping while hungry. Denise Strathdee of Genesis Medical Center in Davenport also advises increasing physical activity in conjunction with improved eating habits in order to lose or maintain weight. “The older we get, the fewer calories we need, so we must choose wisely. Exercise and healthy food are critical, and protein is important to optimize muscle mass,” she said. One fairly fit 50-year-old had this to say about food: “I try to follow my grandfather’s advice to do all things in moderation. He lived to 93 and is my best hope for a decent gene pool. That, plus making good choices in restaurants is my secret. I can’t tell you how many times I have wanted to order the creamy pasta but have opted for the grilled salmon and substituted vegetables for the mashed potatoes.”
Head And Heart And Soul Beyond literal, physical nourishment, we also have to consider “food for thought,” figuratively. What satisfies our appetites in our interpersonal world? “Many boomers are reconsidering choices they made earlier in life,
Debbie Story at Foster Family Music in Bettendorf says recent research has shown that music turns off the stress markers in the brain and may even help the body fight against cancer.
and they are looking at church as an important element in their lives,” according to Rev. Richard Miller, associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Davenport. “Especially people who were church-goers in their youth are rediscovering their spiritual side.” Physical, mental and spiritual elements all are tended to at the new Satva Center in Rock Island, where the focus is on alternative health and holistic healing methods. A broad spectrum of classes includes yoga, T’ai Chi and meditation. They have specially trained therapists who offer reflexology, Thai massage, art and sound healing, and Reiki, an intense massage therapy known to help with allergies, asthma, and arthritis and migraine headaches. According to Rita Melissano, Ph.D., the Satva Center helps individuals oversee their own personal health and relationships, as well as their place in the community and on the planet. “When people are under stress, they
become less tolerant, less forgiving and more reactive. This impacts their health and relationships in their lives, including the one with themselves, said Melissano. “Taking time for yourself and your partner and engaging in activities that enhance relaxation will help you get back into balance and feel at peace.” At some point in life, everyone needs some help with relationships, stress or grief, said Richard Hutchinson, Ph.D., a counselor at the Child and Family Psychology Center in Moline. That goes for boomers, too, including men, who can be naturally adverse to reaching out for help. “Middle-aged people must adjust to changes when children graduate, move out, and even move back in. Couples may have to get reacquainted when the nest is empty. Elderly parents may need help, which can be stressful,” said Hutchinson. “And we come to terms with our mortality as we lose friends January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 31
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When it comes to eating healthy, follow these common-sense approaches: taking small portions, eating regular meals, choosing healthy snacks and not shopping while hungry.
in downtown Davenport, but he devotes time each week to his love of music. A lifelong pianist, he takes an adult group piano lesson every day with Debbie Story at Foster Family Music in Bettendorf. Story says there is a wave of middle-aged adults who want to engage in “recreational music making.” “Your cares melt away when you are at the piano,” said Story. “Our group lessons are social, with laughter and learning. There are no slapped wrists at this stage of the game.” She promotes the life-enhancing properties of music, describing an older female student who had suffered a stroke and was so frustrated not to be playing the piano as well as before. “She had gone into a shell and was so shy, but with the lessons and regular physical therapy, she became quite sociable within a couple of months and her playing rapidly improved.” Known as the “pianovangelist, Story also teaches piano at the CASI facility for seniors in Davenport. She points to the Web for supporting data, such as www.mindbody.org/bittman.html, www.amcmusic.com/musicmaking/wellness.htm, and www.pianonet.com (click on recreational music making). She says recent research has shown that music turns off the stress markers in the brain and may even help the body fight against cancer.
Employer Assistance and relatives. Retirement can be a tough transition for a man who identifies totally with work.” Hutchinson advises counseling for those with ongoing diminished motivation. “If you can’t find any pleasure in life, are always irritable or lethargic, you may be depressed and in need of assistance.”
Music And Other Muses With schedules that demand multi-tasking and three-generation “sandwich” family responsibilities, some boomers feel stressed out from the moment the alarm goes off at 5 a.m. until they limp off to bed at 11 p.m. While sometimes that hectic day is unavoidable, it is important to plan — and take — moments for yourself. Take a lunch break. Go for a walk. Read a chapter in a new book. Call or write to a friend. Close the door and find a creative outlet. Some people, left to their own devices, 32 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
will flip that creative switch and take a turn at art, music or writing. Chris is a full-time homemaker with two grown children, elderly parents to check on, and a husband whose work sees him on the road half the time. Two years ago, with some extra time on her hands, she determined to write a play — a challenging but energizing effort that she finds quite gratifying. “I always had this idea for a play, but during the chaotic years of raising children, I put it on the back burner,” she said. “Two years ago, I pulled out my old notes and started to write the play. I recently completed the book and I’m working on writing music and lyrics.” She added that it’s tough to balance life, whether you work inside or outside the home. “I think women tend to put their family’s needs first, which makes it even more difficult to balance your own well-being.” At age 60, Bob manages a successful office
More and more employers recognize that healthy employees are more productive and less costly. To help with this issue, Trinity Health Systems offers Heart Aware, a free online seven-minute self-assessment that creates a score focused on one’s risk factors for cardiovascular disease. With that information, users can also receive a free personal consultation and blood test, and be entered in a care database for five years, according to Dan Saskowski, manager of cardiac rehabilitation at Trinity Medical Center in Moline. “This high-quality, customized service can make a difference, and also includes doctor referrals, as needed.” So, boomers, get a grip. Find that balance. In practical everyday terms, it pretty much comes down to you vs. that pizza, or you vs. the elliptical in the guest room. Or you vs. the demanding boss or the mouthy teen-ager. Find that joy in life. Find that joy in you.
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FIVE PEOPLE, FIVE PLACES Quick! Name 5 Great QC-Related Names & Locations! MYNDI O’SHEA She has her own version of the Brady Bunch. Myndi O’Shea and her husband, Kevin, have a combined family of six children and one grandson. Losing family members has taught her so much about life. “After the sudden loss of my first husband and my dad, I realize how important and special seemingly mundane activities are when spent with those you care about. I try to reinforce to my children – and myself for that matter, the importance of taking advantage of every day and not taking anything for granted.” Myndi has always worked in women’s health. She serves as nurse practitioner at the Edgerton Women’s Health Center in Davenport. Her career has taken her in many directions, including community health, education, high risk obstetrics, transport team and inpatient hospital care. After a stressful day, she loves planning parties and having friends over for dinner. If she has any extra time from her hectic life, she sits down to read a good book. YOUR DREAM JOB (OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE): Cultural anthropologist. YOUR DREAM VACATION (ONE YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN YET): To visit Scotland and find the church cornerstone that bears the name, Baff, my maiden name. WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Determined. YOUR FAVORITE PIG-OUT FOOD: Chocolate anything. YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY, PASTIME OR PASSION: I enjoy visiting family wineries in different areas of the country and decorating. SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I would like to pursue a real estate career.
MARK RUSSELL SMITH Since September, Mark Russell Smith has been the music director and conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He still lives in Minneapolis, where his wife is a horn player with the Minnesota Orchestra. They have two sons, Alexander and Noah. Smith grew up in a musical family in Phoenix, Ariz. where he began his studies of conducting. He graduated in cello performance from the Juilliard School and from the Curtis Institute of Music. He came to the Quad-Cities after serving more than a year as director of new music projects of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and artistic director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota. He also has served as music director of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra since 1999. He has been praised for his innovative and approachable programming while fostering that orchestra’s unprecedented artistic growth. YOUR DREAM JOB (OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE): Shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves. YOUR DREAM VACATION (ONE YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN YET): A month traveling around Europe, visiting Berlin, Florence, Paris and more. WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Passionate. YOUR FAVORITE PIG-OUT FOOD: Ribs. I also eat popcorn in mass quantities while watching my children’s athletic events. YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY, PASTIME OR PASSION: I love cooking. SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I speak German and Italian. PROFILES BY LEE NELSON PHOTOS BY TRENT FOLTZ January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 33
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DRUE KAMPMANN For 11 years now, Drue Kampmann has pursued a career in the financial services industry. He has lived in the Quad City area all of his life. He felt there were great opportunities for all walks of life here so he decided to stay in the area. “My focus has been my career for so long that you could say I married my career and ‘we’ have gotten along pretty well since. I truly love and enjoy what I do and the relationships created and built make it all worth the time and hard work.” He is vice president of Poterack Capital Advisory, Inc., in Davenport. He has begun to spend a lot of time pursuing his hobbies and experiencing what the QC area has to offer. A number of his hobbies are seasonal so he enjoys the climate changes, knowing another one of those hobbies is around the corner. “I also enjoy working out and being health-conscious. I believe it’s necessary to work out and eat right in order to maintain good health and keep the energy levels to be productive daily.” Drue is single, with his parents still living in Orion, Ill., and a sister and brother. YOUR DREAM JOB (OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE): Fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. YOUR DREAM VACATION (ONE YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN YET): African safari. WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Blessed. YOUR FAVORITE PIG-OUT FOOD: Giordano’s pizza in Chicago. YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY, PASTIME OR PASSION: Anything outdoors! Hunting, fishing, golf, skydiving ... Anything adventurous SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: Not sure how to answer that question. Can’t think of anything
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ABBIE ESSARY Being her own boss as a hairstylist has been very rewarding to Abbie Essary. “Some days, we have too much fun at work. Who gets to say that? Every client soon becomes a friend, and I get the chance to make them feel good. How lucky am I?” Abbie works out of Pat’s Riverview Salon in Port Byron, Ill. She has done many random jobs in her life, from filling donuts to filling slot machines. Much of her free time is spent with her mother, two sisters and their families. “I also have a close circle of wonderful friends. They have taught me that family is really about showing up, and they keep showing up.” Being a community-minded person has kept her busy, too, with the East Moline/Silvis Chapter of the Jaycees. Not only does she give her time, but she feels that meeting so many wonderful people throughout the country has aided her in both her personal and professional life. “Plus, we really have a lot of fun.” YOUR DREAM JOB (OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE): I have always been strangely intrigued by make-up effects in horror movies, etc. That would be an interesting craft to practice. YOUR DREAM VACATION (ONE YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN YET): Tour through Europe with no time limit and no financial restrictions. But I will need a handsome tour guide. WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Quirky. YOUR FAVORITE PIG-OUT FOOD: Chinese. YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY, PASTIME OR PASSION: I am very dedicated to volunteering in my community through the East Moline/Silvis Chapter of the Jaycees. SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I have the strange ability of falling asleep in the middle of movies, in the theater or at home. If I stay awake, it must have been really good.
FRANK DONCHEZ JR. When Frank Donchez came to Davenport in March to be the new police chief, he already had two careers behind him. He had served for more than 25 years in law enforcement, retiring in 2006 as police commissioner of his hometown Bethlehem, Penn., where he had risen through the ranks after starting out as a patrolman. In 2001, he graduated from the Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia with a law degree and had his own private practice as an attorney. But only in his late 40s, he realized his heart has always been in law enforcement. He was selected as Davenport’s new police chief from a field of 51 applicants in a highly competitive national search. He and his wife, Beverly, have two sons. Frank had been a lifelong resident of Bethlehem till moving to Iowa. “I had really missed the direct, meaningful public service of police work.” YOUR DREAM JOB (OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE): Head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. YOUR DREAM VACATION (ONE YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN YET): Hawaii. WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Determined. YOUR FAVORITE PIG-OUT FOOD: Philadelphia cheesesteak. YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY, PASTIME OR PASSION: Fishing. SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I was a former rodeo clown and bullfighter. January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 35
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RIVEREDGE B&B-ON THE MISSISSIPPI 4234 River Drive, Moline (309) 797-6442 www.bbonline.com/il/riveredge The RiverEdge B&B offers guests the entire second floor, which features a beautiful 2-bedroom executive suite with a breathtaking river view. The location is ideal, only minutes from the John Deere Commons, shops, restaurants and the iWireless Center. The rooms, named Kory’s Room and Kelly’s Room, both offer unique settings. Kory’s Room has a queen-sized brass bed and includes an adjoining sunroom. Kelly’s room offers two twin beds that can be converted into a king bed. It overlooks the inground pool and deck that are favorites during the warmer months. The rooms offer the conveniences of your own home with full-sized refrigerator, microwave, and dishware and kitchen table. Don’t worry about going out for breakfast. Just like the best hotels, continental breakfast is included with your stay. If you want a bigger full breakfast, that’s available, too. A private guest entrance, wireless high-speed internet and cable TV in the bedrooms and living room make life a little easier, whether you are staying for business or pleasure.
MICHAEL’S FUN WORLD 354 W. 76th St., Davenport (563) 386-3826 www.michaelsfunworld.com Many customers feel if you can’t have fun here, you can’t have fun. Michael’s Fun World is a place that offers year-round entertainment for all ages. The facility, located on 5.5 acres, gives its customers an array of activities from miniature golf to rock climbing to arcade games. People come as families, singles, couples or as groups of friends to enjoy the batting cages and ranges, laser tag, Jungle Zone and unique games like Bowlingo, which is advertised as “bowling with an attitude.” It is Canadian-style bowling, and uses balls the size of croquet balls. The balls are 5 pounds so anyone can use them and there are no finger holes. And you don’t even need special shoes! You can also participate in trampoline basketball, jousting space walk or an obstacle course. The Go kart area offers four kinds of tracks, including the super fast Viper Kart and the Clover Leaf Slick Track. They oil the corners so drivers slip and slide around the track. The place has been a favorite for group gatherings or just a good old-fashioned fun afternoon with friends.
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FREIGHT HOUSE COMPLEX 421 River Drive, Davenport Penguins: (563) 324-5233 Balls & Pucks: (563) 332-5499 Nan’s Piano Bar: (563) 323-5081 Ripley Street Grille: (563) 323-1484 During the last year, the Freight House Complex has been transformed into a mecca for entertainment, food, fun and relaxation. The once-empty building now houses the popular Nan’s Piano Bar, Penguin’s Comedy Club, Balls & Pucks Sports Café, and Ripley Street Grille. Wednesday nights feature local live entertainment at Nan’s, while Thursday through Saturday nights the martini and piano bar brings in nationally known piano players who perform sing-along hits requested by the audience. Penguin’s hosts nationally touring comedians Thursdays through Saturdays. Memorabilia from area sports teams and events line the walls of Balls & Pucks Café while four big-screen TVs broadcast all your favorite sporting events. Ripley Street Grille offers a diverse lunch and dinner menu. Each location gives guests a spectacular view of the Mississippi River from a long deck spanning the length of the building that houses all four entities. For those of you who like great produce and products, the location offers an indoor market from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays all year round. You can purchase cheese, soaps, wines, baked goods, meat and hand-crafted gift items. Check that out at www.freighthousefarmersmarket.com.
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ROSS’ 24-HOUR FAMILY RESTAURANT 430 14th St., Bettendorf, IA (563) 355-7573 This family-owned diner, open since 1946, serves up homemade specialties like the signature meaty, cheesy Magic Mountain. You get Texas toast topped with hash browns, topped with Ross’s loose meat then cheese sauce. If you want it topped with onions, also known as “snow,” just ask for them. Homemade mashed potatoes, hot spicy chili, hamburgers and more attract families to business people to truckers time after time. The fried chicken and homemade cinnamon rolls have won acclaim from those who travel far to get to Ross’. For those with a big appetite, the breakfast mountain with Texas toast, hash browns, eggs, onions, grits and of course, cheese sauce, is a delight. It doesn’t matter if you are just getting off work at 3 in the morning or if you want a quick lunch at 3 in the afternoon. Every hour of the day, you’ll find just what you need to eat. You can also get breakfast anytime of day. It’s hard to miss the restaurant. It’s underneath the Interstate 74 overpass just as you come into Bettendorf from the Illinois side.
SKI SNOWSTAR Route 92 outside of Andalusia, Ill. (309) 798-2666 www.skisnowstar.com Get over the winter blues with family skiing on 28 acres. Delight in this regional ski area with two quad-lifts, two doubles and rope tows. The tube hill also brings smiles. Open through midMarch. The summit has an elevation of about 790 feet. If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate and make enough snow for skiing, the staff and new technology at Snowstar manage to do it with 32 snow guns to keep fresh snow on the trails for a 75-day season. Night skiing and snowboarding are also available seven days a week on all trails. The lodge also offers a cafeteria, a bar and pizza/sub shop, two fireplaces and a patio with cookouts for sunny days. The Welcome Center gives ski-goers a place to buy anything they forgot as well as gifts. The rental shop hands more than 1,225 skis and 275 snowboards to choose from for your day’s adventure. The Stargazer tubing hill has become a popular spot for all ages with five lanes of a 68-foot vertical drop.
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making it
Memorable
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Special Touches Give Your Guests an Day to Remember From the flower petals to the fondant frosting, you’ll remember your wedding forever – but will your guests? After so many turns on this side of the pew, one white dress, champagne toast and cha-cha slide blends into the next. By incorporating a few unique details and thoughtful touches, you can make your big day more sentimental, more meaningful, and – most importantly – more memorable. Your guests will be begging you to renew your vows!
Invitation Innovation Weeks before a major movie hits theaters, we’re given tantalizing trailers, enticing snippets of the big production. Invitations are the same concept; they’re your guests’ first impression of your wedding’s ambiance and style. And thanks to today’s technology, choic-
es for personalization are almost limitless. “The good thing is, there are a lot of options. The bad thing is, there are a lot of options,” laughs Barbara Trimble, owner of WaterMark Stationers in Moline. Couples no longer need to choose a pre-designed invite from an album. New technologies allow you to custom-design exactly what you want, from the colors and font to the type of paper they’re printed on. (WaterMark Stationers can also assist in creating a unique wedding monogram, which can then be printed onto invitations, napkins, programs – even onto glassware – for a consistent theme.) If you’re concerned about the environment, go the ecofriendly route with handmade paper invitations infused with seeds – recipients just plant them, and they grow into beautiful wildflowers (BotanicalPaperworks.com). Whatever the contents, make an impression before your
guests even open the envelope with personalized photo stamps. (PictureItPostage.com or PhotoStamps.com are two sellers.) Simply upload any photo, edit it as desired with online tools, choose the postage amount and quantity – and within about 10 days, receive the personalized stamps. And yes – they’re approved by the U.S. Postal Service!
Perfect Programs Wedding programs provide the briefest of synopses of the ceremony, yet they’re often read over and over again while people wait for everything to begin. Might as well make them entertaining! Add a few paragraphs about how the bride and groom met, a list of fun facts about your wedding or courtship (“There are 72 flowers in the bride’s bouquet,” “The groom chickened out three times before popping the question,”) or even a short, personal-
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ized crossword puzzle or word search. You chose the specific people in your wedding party because they’re an important part of your life – so why not make your connection an important part of the wedding program? Devote some space to a small picture of each person in the party and a couple of lines about that person: i.e., “Janie Jones, bridesmaid. Bride’s college roommate and sorority
sister.” If you want to have a little fun with it, add an extra line or two: “Maker of the world’s best lasagna!”
Get Fancy With Flowers The significance of a bridal bouquet goes way back: historically, brides carried bundles of herbs and flowers symbolizing fertility and harmony. Whatever sentiments you’d like to convey on your special day, there are several
creative ways to “say it with flowers.” Depending on the season, your bouquet can be comprised of flowers cut from a meaningful place: your grandmother’s rose garden, for example. Or find a photo of your mother’s wedding bouquet and have it recreated for your own ceremony, including her wedding photo showing the original in the program along with a short explanation. (Similarly, guys, recreating your wife’s wedding bouquet for an anniversary can be unexpected and touching; take note of what type of flowers are in it, and save your florist’s number!) Wedding flowers can also be a sweet way to acknowledge those you love. For example, hand out a few blooms to certain special people pre-ceremony, and have those people sit closest to the aisle. Then as the bride walks down, she can collect the flowers from each person, adding them to her bouquet as she goes. If you’d like to recognize just the mothers, have your florist design two removable flower sprays into the bouquet; as the ceremony ends, the bride and groom each present a spray to the new mothers-in-law (it’s even more special if you do it as a surprise – there won’t be a dry eye in the house). Or you could simply thank your guests for their presence by having someone present a flower to each lady on her way through the door.
Great Guestbooks Gone are the days when guestbooks were a mere collection of names. With a little ingenuity, they can become a more functional keepsake! Have guests sign a large photo mat – afterward you can add your favorite wedding picture and a frame for a lovely piece of personalized art (try a black mat and a silver pen, and a black-and-white photo, for a dramatic look). The same can be done with scrapbook pages, to be included later in a special wedding book. Rolodex cards, though perhaps not the fanciest, are among the most practical of ideas; guests can write in their names and addresses, and voilà! – a complete and up-todate directory of important people. For smaller weddings, take a photo of each single or couple as they arrive, and enclose a copy of the photo with their thank-you note.
Comfort and Convenience Wedding festivities may be in celebration of the bride and groom, but it wouldn’t be much of a celebration without the guests and the wedding party! These are the people who love you and share in your 40 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
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occasion will be! To show your appreciation to your (often overworked) wedding party, provide them with everything they need to stay comfortable. Having snacks, such as a fruit and cheese tray, on hand will ensure that nobody walks down the aisle ravenous. Burning soothing aromatherapy candles in the rooms where everyone is getting ready will help to quell pre-wedding jitters. And if you’d really like to show them how much you value their assistance, hire a mobile manicurist or massage therapist to treat everyone before the ceremony begins. happiness, so it’s important to make their day special, too. Besides, the more you pamper them, the more memorable the
For your guests, wedding-day hospitality is the word. Fun and informational “goody bags” are a nice idea, especially for out-of-towners. Include area maps, enterJanuary/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 41
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tainment guides, coupons and gift certificates (you can get brochures and other information from the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau), plus a few little gifts: visit the local farmers’ markets for regionally produced soaps, candles and other treats exclusive to the QuadCities. Once they’ve settled in for the festivities, emergency baskets in each bath-
room, full of fast fixes such as safety and bobby pins, sewing kits, dental floss, breath mints, Advil, and the like, head off wardrobe malfunctions and other embarrassments at the pass. (Be sure to have them at both the wedding and reception sites, along with a little sign letting guests know to help themselves.) If your event is to be held outdoors, particularly in hot
and sunny weather, appoint a helper to go around before the ceremony with trays of cold drinks: sparkling flavored water, lemonade, or other nonalcoholic beverage to help everyone keep cool. And to keep the youngest set busy (and their parents sane), designate a reception table or even an entire room especially for them, with crayons, coloring books and puzzles – or consider hiring an on-site sitter. For recent bride Laura (Zaruba) Meckley of Davenport, the hospitality reached beyond the wedding day. One of her bridesmaids lives out of town and couldn’t make it to the shower, so Laura decided to send the shower to her. “I boxed up snack cakes, fruit punch drink mix, shower games, candy, cups, plates, napkins and more and sent this ‘party in a box’ to her and her sons,” she said. “They were so surprised!” The more thoughtful you can be toward those who contribute to your special day, the better!
Just Desserts Receptions vary as much as weddings themselves – open bar or alcohol-free. Discspinning deejay or string quartet. All-out buffet or hors d’oeuvre trays. But one thing is nearly universal: cake. Make yours stand out from the inside with a uniquely flavored filling. Perian Webb, owner and operator of Davenport-based Sweet Perfections, says that she’s had requests for both lemon-blueberry and peanut butter, to name a few. Colored cakes are another option; Webb is also known for her attention-grabbing “tie-dye” cakes. Though they’re a swirling riot of bright color, they taste just like regular white cake. If you’d prefer to offer an additional sweet treat – or forego the cake altogether in favor of something less traditional – there’s no shortage of creative ideas. “We’ve done caramel apples for fall weddings,” said Lisa Ambrose, assistant manager of Lagomarcino’s Confectionery. (Other wedding treats by Lagomarcino’s have included engraved boxes filled with homemade candy, and chocolate molded into various shapes – for one couple, pigs and corn!) For her post-nuptial noshes, the future Mrs. Meckley chose a candy buffet decorated with signs that said Love is Sweet. “Everyone enjoyed having candy they haven’t had since they were kids!” she says. And speaking of children, make your youngest guests a part of the celebration with their own refreshment table – Twinkies, Ding-Dongs 42 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
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and other kid-friendly favorites arranged on “fancy” platters and cake stands, with sparkling juice served up in plastic champagne flutes.
lilac florets, rose petals, pansies, or violets) or grapes with an egg white and water mixture, then dip in superfine sugar and allow at least 24 hours to dry.
A Reception to Remember
Food can be fun when it’s a D.I.Y. affair; try a taco, baked potato, pasta, or ice cream sundae bar. If you’re serving drinks, have a significant signature cocktail: the first drink the groom ever bought the bride, or a totally new concoction named after the two of you.
The ceremony is beautiful, but the reception is where the party really begins, and where it’s most important to show everyone a memorable time. A videographer can prepare a three- to five-minute video “documentary” of your courtship, to be shown just before the formal introduction. Similarly, you can project childhood photos of the two of you on the wall behind you during your first dance (or pictures of the bride with her father, or the groom with his mother, during those important dances). Find the couple who has been married the longest and have a special spotlight dance just for them. Mirrors on tabletops will reflect and visually double your centerpieces, adding a beautiful depth. And if you’d really like to make an impact, invite the guests to eat said centerpieces – make them from edible flowers or frosted grapes. Simply brush blossoms (try
Finally, commemorate the whole thing by renting a real live photo booth – Joe’s Photo Booth provides unlimited photo strips and even an attendant to help (JoesPhotoBooth.com). However you choose to make your wedding a standout, be sure to let your guests know the significance behind each special element; some of the sentiment may be lost on them if they’re unaware of the meaning behind your choices. There’s quality in the details – by combining personal touches with go-the-extra-mile hospitality, you’ll have a wedding that’s as beautiful as the marriage itself. January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 43
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TRAVEL
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TOURING ITALY
Tuscany and the Italian Riviera
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With every journey, a new chapter of your life unfolds. It’s been said that travel changes you. As you visit a new destination and experience its culture, you grow, you learn and you change. Your perception of the world around you changes. How true. As I traveled through Tuscany and the French and Italian Rivieras with my mother and three sisters last fall, we grew, we learned and we changed. By motorcoach, we meandered through the Riviera and onto the hills of Tuscany. We stood in awe of Michelangelo’s Statue of David in Florence; we splashed in the Mediterranean Sea and had our fill of Italian wine and cuisine. We met new people, made a stab at speaking the language and ate Italy’s world famous gelato every night … yes, every night! While all good things – including travel – must come to an end, we have memories and photos that will last a lifetime! SAN REMO, ITALY LA CITTE DEI FIORI, THE CITY OF FLOWERS IN LIGURIA REGION OF NORTHWEST ITALY This resort town located on the Mediterranean Sea is Italy’s most important flower market, exporting blooms to perfume factories throughout Europe. As we entered the city, we were surrounded by flowers - in gardens, on terraces, in greenhouses and lining the city streets. Our hotel, Nazionale, was situated on a lively street with block after block of designer boutiques and restaurants. The hotel’s rooftop provided spectacular views of the sea and the city.
The Cuisine, The Wine (and Olive Oil!) and the Sights of the Small Towns of the Riviera and Tuscan Countryside Create Lasting Memories
One step out the door of our hotel was a small outdoor café actually built into the busy street. It became our favorite spot for a glass of wine as we became acquainted with our fellow travelers. Our first evening, a Sunday, was authentically Italian. We found an outdoor café in a courtyard setting in San Remo’s “Old Town”. It was a beautiful evening and we were surrounded by Italians. On one side, school-age children gleefully played a game of four square. On the other side, large Italian families were gathering in front of a church. The atmosphere was festive and at the center of each family was a baby dressed in white, obviously awaiting baptism. Every 30 minutes, when the church bells rang, one family entered the church as another family departed. Baptisms one after another!
STORY & PHOTOS BY LYNNE VOELLIGER
Each morning during our stay in San Remo, we were awakened by the sound of bells ringing from the church beside our hotel. After a lavish European breakfast, we were off to another day. January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 45
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ABOVE: Lynne with her mother and sister. RIGHT: Fresh olives at the market.
EXCURSIONS FROM SAN REMO MONTE CARLO Built against the mountains of the Southern Alps and spreading down to the shores of the Riviera, Monte Carlo is a playground for the rich and famous. The yacht-filled harbor, the lavish Grand Casino, the Grand Prix and the elegant Hotel de Paris, where the cheapest room goes for $2,500 euros a night, all add to the allure of this tiny principality. For many, Monaco is synonymous with Grace Kelly, who gave up a successful acting career to marry Prince Rainier III. Princess Grace later died in a car accident on a winding Monte Carlo road. Her burial site can be seen in Monaco’s Cathedral of St. Nicholas. Monaco is steeped in rich and colorful history. For 700 years, it has been linked to the Grimaldi dynasty and now stands as a proud monarchy under the rule of Prince Albert II. The Prince’s Palace, which was constructed in the 13th century, remains the residence of the Prince today. FRENCH RIVIERA A MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE WITH MILD TEMPERATURES AND SUNSHINE 300 DAYS A YEAR ST. PAUL DE VENCE – ONE OF THE MOST INTACT MEDIEVAL VILLAGES IN PROVENCE Now an enclave for artists, St. Paul de Vence is a beautiful medieval fortified village perched on a narrow spur between two deep valleys. The village was fortified in the 13th century, with many ramparts visible yet today. In 1537, a second wall was built to completely enclose the village. A beautiful town cemetery is located outside the village walls. In St Paul de Vence, I experienced an olive oil tasting in a shop that sold scores of varying types. As a non-gourmet cook, I had no idea that olive oil could vary so much in taste. I brought my favorite one home, and don’t know what I’ll do when it’s gone! NICE Located on a large bay of the Mediterranean, called the Baie des Agnes (Bay of Angels), Nice is the capital of the French Riviera. Nice is best kept for a leisurely day. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, a long walkway built in the 1830s that stretches along the sea. From there, visit the Cours Salenya, the flower market located in the heart of the old city. While flowers dominate the market, a myriad of merchants share the marketplace; vendors with fresh produce, nuts, Mediterranean olives, cheeses and bread. For at least a century, this open square market has been a site for the selling of flowers, but the large rectangular area has served as a market place since the time of the Romans.
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TUSCANY - TOSCANA PISA En route to our Tuscan “home” in the spa town of Montecatini, we spent a day in Pisa, the birthplace of Galileo and the Medici family. Pisa’s three important sights, the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Leaning Tower make up the Field of Miracles. The three were built at the end of the 14th century and sit regally on “the best lawn in Italy,” according to Rick Steves, the American authority on traveling through Europe. My sister and I had fun trying to capture the perfect allusion on film of holding up the Leaning Tower. Three delightful teenagers from Germany, who didn’t speak a word of English, helped orchestrate the perfect angle. MONTECATINI Our Tuscan home in the popular Italian resort, Montecatini lies in a valley at the foot of the Pistoian Mountains. Once again, our hotel, the Ariston, was located in the heart of bustling activity. We easily walked along the tree-lined avenues to the shops, restaurants, coffee shops and to our favorite gelato shop. In the evening, activity revolved around a city park with a beautifully lighted carousel. One of the highlights of this delightful town was taking the funicular up the mountainside to the beautiful hilltop village, Montecatini Alto. The funicular railway was constructed in 1897 (which I’m glad I didn’t know at the time!) and offers spectacular views of the lower town and the surrounding Tuscan landscape. EXCURSIONS FROM MONTECATINI FLORENCE – FIRENZE Florence, the capital of Tuscany, was one of our much anticipated highlights of the trip. Known as the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance,” Florence is Europe’s cultural capital with more artistic masterpieces per square mile than anywhere else. In just one day, which is all we had in Florence, we tried to hit the highlights. We stood at the foot of Michelangelo’s David in the Academy of Fine Arts, viewed Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and saw (but didn’t climb) the Duomo, the world’s first dome, which still dominates the Florence skyline. For a lunch break, we headed to Oltrano, the south side of the Arno River, crossing Ponte Veccio, Florence’s most famous bridge. Afterwards, we browsed the garment stalls of the San Lorenzo Market, Florence’s open air market where leather is sold by the inch. After visiting a few more “must sees,” my mom, my sister and I took time out to sit in a quiet chapel, a welcome reprieve from the massive crowds of Florence.
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THE TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE SIENA Just 35 miles south of Florence, Siena is the antithesis of busy Florence. The first European city to eliminate vehicle travel in the square, Siena is a stroll down narrow streets with colorful flags and rings to tether horses. Siena is divided into 17 contrades, or neighborhoods, each represented by a mascot, such as porcupine, wolf and unicorn. Each contrade has an identifying color as well. Pride, loyalty and close bonds abound within every contrade. At the center of Siena is II Campo, the village square, best known for its world famous Palio di Siena horse race. The medieval style race is hosted twice a year, on July 2 and August 16. The square is transformed as dirt is brought in and packed down to create a track surface and mattresses pad the walls of surrounding businesses. Hundreds of tourists cram into the square to watch the race as 10 of the 17 contrades compete for the title. The winning contrade celebrates – and inevitably boasts - for the entire year. WINE TASTING The next highlight, again much anticipated, was our visit to a family farm in the heart of Tuscany. As we traveled through the Tuscan countryside, with its manicured fields, rustic farms and towns clinging to almost every hill, we finally found our pre-conceived image of a true Italian village. As we approached the family wine estate, we were fascinated by the hills carpeted with vineyards and olive groves. Our wine tasting and visit was more than we could have hoped to experience. We were greeted by the owner and led to the tasting A helpful stranger returns Lynne’s lost purse.
room. We were seated at long tables set with served plates of cheese, bread and meats. We tasted three wines made from the family vineyard as the owner detailed the attributes of each. Afterwards, we were introduced to the family and invited to step inside the family home. As we browsed from room to room, it was surreal to experience an ordinary Italian family in their century-old Tuscan home. To watch the mother and grandmother in the kitchen preparing elaborate plates of antipasto for their bed and breakfast guests, to talk to their children and to see laundry hanging out to dry are memories I will never forget. CINQUE TERRA A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE How can each day surpass the day before on such a wonderful journey? I don’t know, but somehow it did. Back again to the Liguria region of Italy, Cinque Terra is five miles of rocky Mediterranean coastline which link the five medieval villages of Monterosso, Vernazzia, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The area which is barely accessible by car, is best reached by train, by boat or on foot. For centuries, the villagers have farmed the steep and rocky coastline by painstakingly terracing the soil to avoid as much erosion as possible. Villagers also trek down – and back up again -the steep slopes to fish. Our day began in Portovenere, a picturesque seaside village with pastel houses lining the shore of the harbor. Here we saw a wedding walk – a bride, fully dressed in her wedding gown, with a parent on either side walking through the village to ancient church at the top of the hill. It was also here that I had a near disaster. I left my purse on a rocky outcropping on the back side of the village. When I realized it was missing and rushed back to find it, it was gone. After a few panic-stricken moments of fear that I wouldn’t be allowed to leave the country, I found a couple looking as intently for me as I was looking for my purse! Although the gentleman spoke no English, he wanted to be sure I was the rightful owner. We finally agreed that the purse was indeed mine. I was so relieved that I gave them a hug and a kiss on the cheek. With that, our journey wound down to a weary trip home, flying from Bologna, Italy through Amsterdam. So as another chapter in my book of travel closes, I can’t help but wonder where my next adventure will take me. In the meantime, I’ll settle at looking over the hundreds of pictures taken by the five of us! LYNNE IS A TRAVEL AGENT WITH GULLIVER’S TRAVEL SOUTHPPARK AND LOVES TO SHARE HER ENTHUSIASM FOR TRAVEL WITH OTHERS. January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 47
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LESLIE KLIPSCH
Dinner that’s worth a Drive Heirloom Tomato Salad at Green Zebra.
I love food — the taste, the smell, the texture. I love purchasing food, preparing food, eating food, reading about food, and writing about it. When it comes down to it, of the pivotal things in my life like family, friendship, and food, it should be no surprise that I find they are constantly intertwined. Some women never forget what they were wearing during moments of extreme excitement or significance or loss. I never forget what was on my plate. Good meals, it seems, help me punctuate time and many of the most pleasurable moments in my life have taken place at a table. My love affair began growing up in a small Iowa town where my family farmed. My childhood was simple, but my palate was privileged. My uncle raised pigs responsibly and we were treated to high-quality pork so often that we took it for granted. My grandmother kept chickens for fresh eggs. My mom had a huge garden and the local meat locker sold beef that grazed the pastures surrounding town. This love of good food has followed me throughout my 30 years and the more I talk to people about it, the more I realize that I am not alone in my enthusiasm. There is such pleasure in sustaining the physical body that we are privileged to enjoy. Eating, and especially sharing, food often provides not only essential, basic physical nourishment, but also fulfills a primal need for companionship. A good meal eaten in the company of another can fulfill, I believe, the soul’s need for another soul to be in communion with something bigger. For someone who begins looking forward to eating dinner promptly after eating breakfast, it should come as no surprise that my family has always taken care to enjoy the efforts of the cook, as well as the companionship that a good meal entails. You can bet that while living in Chicago, a food destination growing in reputation, we fervently took advantage of the diverse dining options. We tended to frequent the restaurants that we could walk to from our apartment (KAZE, UNCOMMON GROUND, TANGO SUR), and always celebrated special occasions with food (SCHWA, ROSE ANGELIS, VOLO, GEJA’S CAFÉ, are among my favorites). We enjoyed unbelievable meals with family friends at TRU, SPIAGGIA, MK, and ZEALOUS where we were awed by the creativity of the chef, the efficiency of the wait staff and the brilliance of the sommelier. We also took pleasure in casual dinners with friends at places like PENNY’S NOODLES, PIAZZA BELLA, and CHEN’S where the food, while still appreciated and good, doesn’t necessarily steal the show, but rather provides a common ground in which to talk and linger over friendship. Recently, my mother, two sons, and I drove to Chicago from Davenport for a mid-week culinary adventure. We arrived at FRONTERA GRILL, a restaurant I somehow missed while living there, in time for a late lunch. It was everything that a good meal should be: Food carefully harvested and prepared by a myriad of thoughtful, creative people; a few hours to step back from the business of life and lose ourselves in conversation; and an atmosphere of warmth and celebration. We talked about wood-grilled onions and radishes, just-made tortillas, and the organic seafood bar. My kids cooperated; the conversation flowed. Chef Rick Bayless sat down at the table next to us and ate a beautiful-looking salad. On my plate was the ensalada Frontera, and then the sweet fried plantains with homemade sour cream, and finally enchiladas de res. Another meal shared, another memory made.
Where the Food-Minded Quad Citians are Eating There’s no doubt about it, Quad-Citians have good taste. When I began asking around town where people eat when they go to Chicago, eyes lit up and stomachs growled. Here’s a sampling of what I found … TARA BARNEY, CEO of DavenportOne, recommends GREEN ZEBRA (1460 W. CHICAGO AVE.) to all of her friends. She loves the atmosphere, 48 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
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The Green Zebra opened in 2004 and serves mainly small vegetarian plates.
the angular arrangement, and the cool veggie and seafood options. Mainly small vegetarian plates, the Green Zebra opened in 2004 and has won accolades as well as the hearts of many critics. Their menu is seasonal, and recent selections included sweet onion and garlic soup to start and blueberry crisp, with lemon thyme and brown butter ice cream to end. With such an inspired, inventive line-up, it’s no wonder Barney says that she has never left disappointed. Pleasant Valley resident BOB MCILLWAIN, the president of a publishing and development company, is a fan of Rick Bayless – both in philosophy and plated product. He learned about Bayless on the chef’s TV show, “Mexico—One Plate at a Time,” and now heads to FRONTERA GRILL or TOPOLOBOMPO (445 N. CLARK ST.) each time he visits Chicago. Bayless is known for his appreciation of quality, local foods and has been using the goods of local farmers long before the word “locavore” found its way into the dictionary. Serving traditional Mexican fare with great gusto, both Frontera Grill and Topolobompo come highly recommended. As McIllwain says, “The story is great and the food is right on par.” When DEB PETERSON FITZSIMMONS, a fine art dealer at Molten Splendor in Moline, goes to Chicago to visit family, she tries to fit in a trip to BLACKBIRD (619 W. RANDOLPH), a small restaurant in the West Loop where Chef Paul Kahan has been delighting guests for years. Peterson Fitzsimmons loves the atmosphere – “small, intimate, and dressy casual”— and has swooned over everything from a salad garnished with a poached quail egg to the dessert cheese tray featuring a sumptuous triple crème and tangy Saint Argur bleu. The atmosphere of the restaurant is one that Peterson Fitzsimmons wants to hold on to long after the meal is done. In fact, after inquiring about a mood-inducing CD playing in the background during a recent visit, James Beard-winning Kahan took the time to find out the artist for her. Fitzsimmons now enjoys the
funky Les Nubians back home in the Quad-Cities. CAROLINE RUHL, president of Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors, enjoys NORTH POND (2610 N. CANNON DRIVE), a lovely restaurant tucked into Lincoln Park. North Pond is an excellent Chicago dining destination — perfect for Saturday night dinner, Sunday morning brunch, or a slow summertime lunch. The views of the park and Chicago’s skyline are lovely, the service is outstanding, and the food is mostly organic and local and completely exquisite. Former Chicagoan BETH JOHNSON, a stay-at-home mom from Davenport, enjoys the SIGNATURE ROOM at the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center. The food is Contemporary American and the views of the city are breathtaking. The Signature Room serves both lunch and dinner and is located 95 floors above Michigan Avenue so it’s convenient if you’re spending time downtown. The Signature Lounge, located on the 96th floor, is the perfect oasis for a cocktail and some baked brie with apricot jam. Once again, the views of the city are sweeping and stunning.
Where My Friends Are Eating Having been away from a city that changes constantly for just over a year now, I realize that even though I still visit frequently, my insider knowledge is dwindling. To help keep me up-to-date and my readers inthe-know, I enlisted the help of some adventurous eaters who live in the city and appreciate good food. Tony and Karen Dreyfuss have proven to me, many times over, that they know good food. Tony owns one of my favorite Chicago coffee shops, METROPOLIS COFFEE COMPANY (1039 W. GRANVILLE), and I have shared some delightful meals with the couple. Recently, they have been enjoying the INDIE CAFÉ (5951 N. BROADWAY). Karen, who is a student, an educaJanuary/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 49
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tor, and a mom of two girls, says, “We love Indie Cafe because it’s a perfect blend of Thai and Japanese cuisine. It’s always fresh and delicious, even take out. The sushi is amazing. When we are lucky enough to dine in, we are always blown away by the presentation of the food. It’s a casual, affordable spot that feels elegant.” Their favorites include crab ragoons, Tom Yum soup, Indie Cafe salad with grilled shrimp, tofu teriyaki, drunken noodles, and green tea ice cream. Karen also reports that the sushi specials are creative and the customer service is tops. Jason and Justine Pucker held their wedding reception at SALVATORE’S (525 W. ARLINGTON PLACE) and have never once regretted it. “First,” Justine, an artist and volunteer, tells me, “let me give high-props to the staff at Salvatore’s. They are most attentive and kind. Next, let me acknowledge that the food is great Italian and for all the times we have gone there or brought others with us, no one has ever regretted their choice.” The Lake View couple suggests stepping up your attire a bit from jeans. Jason, who works in change management for a consulting company, recommends the fresh Norwegian salmon with caper-butter sauce, while Justine loves the penne con spinaci e ricotta (pasta with fresh spinach, ricotta cheese and cream). “There are two Mexican places at opposite ends of the spectrum that I love,” said Heidi Moore, a freelance writer and editor who lives in Albany Park with her husband James, who is the Director of Online Learning for the College of Commerce at DePaul University. “The first is a neighborhood favorite, LOS NOPALES (4544 N. WESTERN AVE.), in Lincoln Square. It’s a small family-run BYOB – very cozy and friendly. The homemade salsas – mild green and spicy orange – kick off the meal perfectly. I always order the same thing for an entree: the tilapia taco dinner. Strips of tilapia laced with tangy pico de gallo and sliced avocado are nestled in soft flour tortillas, with a comforting side of rice and beans.” The second place Heidi told me about is a newish spot that she says is great for a date — REAL TENOCHTITLAN (2541 N. MILWAUKEE AVE,). “It’s high-end regional Mexican cuisine by one of my favorite chefs, Geno Bahena, who cut his teeth at Frontera Grill with Rick Bayless. Bahena is known as the ‘King of Moles,’ and anything on the menu featuring one of these rich, complex sauces is a guaranteed winner.”
The bar at Uncommon Ground.
Frontera Grill’s Flautas de Puerco.
When I asked my foodie friend Tasha Buser (stay-at-home mom) where she and her attorney husband Scott have been eating lately, she brimmed with excitement. They had just checked out GRAHAM ELLIOT (217 W. HURON), named after and run by Graham Elliot, the much-celebrated former chef of the Avenues at the Peninsula. Elliot’s new restaurant is more affordable, while still very chic. “It is much more than dinner,” said Tasha. “It is an experience that dazzles the tastebuds. While being very cutting-edge and forward, it is also very playful. For any out-of-towner, it is like combining a show with a nice dinner.” Elliot calls the concept at play Bistronomics — using his fourstar, scientific approach to dishes, while making the fine dining experience lively and accessible. My friend also raved about a new restaurant in Wicker Park called MADO (1647 N. MILWAUKEE AVE.). Mado is all about local, fresh, and pork, she tells me. For instance, the husband and wife team who run the place buy the entire pig and create their menu with a “whole animal” approach. Formerly of Avec (another Chicago hotspot), the chefs are down to earth people with, as Tasha says, “amazing resumes.” Nick and Ashley Richardson enjoy HOPLEAF (5148 N. CLARK ST.) a tavern with a stunning beer menu and impressive foodie fare. “At my inaugural visit to Hopleaf, the beer menu stunned a bit,” Ashley, a communication manager, reports. “Names like Grimbergen, Monk’s Café and Dark Horse read like bad movie titles, not beer names. But the super-friendly staff treats foodies and wannabe foodies, like yours truly, with the same friendliness and happily guides patrons through the menu.” While the menu is extensive, Hopleaf is a tavern so no one under 21 is allowed. Though the house specialty is mussels, Ashley recommends the CB&J. “Cashew butter, fig jam and Morbier cheese are not items in my normal food routine, but this combination is heavenly,” she recalls. “Everything melts together in such an amazing way that this meal now ranks in my top five of best meals ever.” The couple also loves the toasted Nueske ham sandwich served on pumpernickel with gruyere cheese accompanied with apple-tarragon coleslaw and pommes fritas, and the Organic Montrealstyle brisket.
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Healthy Helping LEAN GROUND TURKEY KICKS THE FAT OUT OF COMFORT FOOD
ON PAGE ...
52 Ravine Unites Moline Neighbors 57 Moving On After an Affair
58 Meatloaf Minus the Guilt 60 Resolve To Enjoy Wine More in ’09
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The Zimmermans, Kalemkarians, McNeils and Knedlers enjoy the close-knit heighborhood that has grown around a Moline ravine.
Haute RavIne Even Divided By a Small Valley, these Moline Neighbors are a Close-Knit Bunch STORY BY LEE NELSON | PHOTOS BY STEVE SULLIVAN
The view of nature outside their windows all four seasons is just a bonus. Their close-knit neighborhood in the serene, ravine area near 45th Street in Moline remains priceless to those who enjoy this country living within city limits. Christopher and Juliann Zimmerman and their three children witness bald eagles in the wooded area behind their home. They see all kinds of wildlife within the quiet street. “This is one of the coolest communities within the Quad-Cities that is down a gravel road,” Christopher said. The Moline community is secluded with quiet, hidden roads smack dab in the middle of the city. “It is a unique neighborhood with most of the homes being built from 1900 to the 1930s. The homes here fit together but they are all different styles,” he added. But the Zimmermans agree that it’s not the houses, it’s the neighbors that make it unique, fun and a place to build family roots.
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The Zimmerman’s 2-year-old son Simon loves his neighbors, George and June Kalemkarian, who have become good friends and mentors to the younger family. Simon loves visiting George’s basement to watch his set of “choo-choos” going around their tracks.
He now witnesses his three children explore the woods with their friends just like he did a few decades ago.
“Everyone watches out for everyone else. We pick up the mail for one another when they are out of town. This is our 10th year here. I live 13 blocks from work with one stoplight between here and there. We love it here,” said Christopher.
His parents built a new, bigger house in the same neighborhood when Porter was about 11 years old. His mother’s parents moved into their old house. He visited his grandparents all the time to chat and eat their homemade cookies.
On any given summer night, half of the neighbors are standing out in someone’s yard discussing their days, politics or any random topic. When Christopher got a new snowblower, he went up and down the streets and driveways cleaning out everyone’s snow drifts. People do things for each other all the time. They give each other their garage door openers and door keys to feed their animals or take in the mail when they are on trips. “I’m not old enough to know what the 1950s were like. But my sense is that this neighborhood was like that, and it continues to be like that today,” he said.
“We were always playing outside. It was a great neighborhood to grow up in. Only a handful of houses have a view of the river, but our house did. It was so neat.”
“We literally walked through the woods to grandmother’s house all the time. My whole childhood with Thanksgivings and Christmases is based on being at our house or my grandparents’ house. I have siblings around the country, but I’m the only one who came back to the Quad-Cities.” The house that Porter grew up in during middle school and high school is now the home he and his wife Mary raise their children in, making their own memories. They
just moved into the home last spring after doing a little renovating. But the house had been kept in great condition and still has all the same beautiful woodwork and built-in features that Porter remembers as a child. “Coming back to the family house and this neighborhood does bring back a lot of history. But those memories have so much more positive in them than any negative. When I walk around in this house, it does bring back a lot of memories as I go from room to room.” The McNeils had lived in Springfield, Ill., since the mid 1980s. They wanted to move back to the Quad-Cities, where they both grew up, and try some new businesses. “There’s just a really good feeling here. There are just really cool neighbors who enjoy it here as much as we do.” Porter finds it ironic that the first house he bought when his family moved back was George and June Kalemkarian’s house located behind the YMCA. “They had bought a home in my old child-
The Zimmerman’s 11-year-old son, Noah, put it simply, “We all trust each other.” The Zimmermans bought their home from the late Don McNeil, a Moline dentist. His mother-in-law had lived in the house before passing away. Now, Porter McNeil, Don’s son, also lives on the street that he grew up on. He grew up in the Zimmerman’s house, and tells stories to Christopher about the neighborhood and the home. “It’s fun to talk to someone who grew up here.” The Zimmerman family home has beautiful built-in bookcases, a woodburning fireplace with original marbles for the eyes of the inlaid owls and oak floors throughout.
The McNeils When Porter McNeil was still in diapers, his family moved into the bungalow. “We moved there because my dad was just a mile away from his dentist office. He would ride his bike to work each day,” he said. The home was set in the woods on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 53
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hood neighborhood. Life has some peculiar twists.”
No House is the Same June Kalemkarian loves the fact that every house in her neighborhood is different. “I love that feature. I also love that we are all surrounded by trees and ravines. It’s just a very calm, quiet neighborhood with people who care about each other.” The only reason she found the house was because her daughter used to take flute lessons nearby. “The teacher didn’t want me to stay during the lessons, so I drove around. I drove around this neighborhood. I never would have found it because it was so secluded.” She and her husband George bought the house eight years ago. The original house was built in the 1920s, but it has been added on all Porter McNeil remembers days of playing in the woods as a child. Now, he enjoys seeing his own three children and other neighborhood kids exploring the same wooded ravine.
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four sides through the decades. “There is no house like this house. It is very charming. My husband says there are stairs here and there and everywhere. But you get past that. It was wonderful raising our children here.” Neighbors help neighbors. They are giving and generous. Many of June’s hostas and other plants came from neighbors – including Char Knedler who moved just across a ravine. “We were like the chain gang digging up things. Neighbors giving to other neighbors is how life should be. And we all do that around here. All of the neighbors talk with one another. We help each other. If someone has a project, people come to help.” The Zimmermans, who live right next door, always pitch in to help the Kalemkarians and vice versa, whether it’s using chainsaws to cut down tree limbs after a storm, or to help plant a flower garden.
Longtime Residents Char and Paul Knedler raised their two children in their first home in the 45th Street neighborhood. They lived there 43 years, building strong friendships and lasting relationships. They decided about two years ago to start looking for a home that was more one level. Their former home was added on to four different times and had four different levels. “We thought we would move in the next five years and just downsize a bit. It happened so quickly. We found a home seven blocks away from our home, but in the same vicinity, and really just a ravine away.” They saw the home on Thursday night and owned it by Saturday. Their new address on 52nd Street still had the picturesque setting with deep ravines, big huge trees and seclusion if you wanted it. “Both places are like living in the country, but you are only five minutes from everything. The location is wonderful. There’s privacy, mature trees and a beautiful place to see nature.” Their first home fit their family and entertaining needs. “I’ve really only lived in two homes all my life – a few blocks apart. I lived on the same street I grew up on. We are a very mobile society, but I haven’t gone very far,” Char said. Char loves the fact that both of her homes had plenty of room for gardening. The home they live in now had parquet floors in prime condition. The library has a fireplace and built-in bookcases. There’s also a fireplace in
Deer and other wildlife are common sights along the quite street.
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“I TO B
“We all trust each other,” says 11-year-old Noah Zimmerman.
the hearth room off the kitchen. A screened-in porch offers a little solitude in the warmer months, and a place to witness the animals and peacefulness of their country setting. The dining room shows off built-in closets for china. Linen closets in the bedroom wing even have pullout shelves for folding. “Back when they built this house, they thought of everything that someone might need. The closets are deep. The laundry room is off of the kitchen.” When Char walked into the home, she felt like she was home. “I immediately envisioned our eclectic style here. I could visualize where everything would
go. We didn’t have to buy anything new. In fact, we had to sell a few pieces before coming here.” Their new property has 1.5 acres and is very private. Their closest neighbor is more than a half a block away. “I would have a hard time having neighbors right next door to me. We all have our space and big yards. We are close neighbors, but you also have your breathing space. I could go to my deck or backyard and not see my neighbors for days. “ She likes the fact that these are very unique neighborhoods on the bluff with hidden little roads that no one knows about unless they have friends or family here.
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LEE NELSON
FAMILY LIFE
Separation of Faith and Love When someone you’ve loved for more than 20 years suddenly decides that the life he has right now isn’t what he wanted, your life turns upside down. That’s what happened to me Labor Day weekend. It definitely will be a day I can never forget. My marriage of almost 20 years disintegrated when my husband said he was moving out. For almost 10 years, I have written a personal column – first for the local newspaper and then for QC Magazine. I have opened up
want. You never dream you could be in the middle of all this hassle, emotions and expense. You just never think it’s going to happen to you. And then, Bam! It does and you have to pick up the pieces, especially when you have kids, and get on with the daily routine of living. I want to do more than live, though. I want to spread my wings again, try new experiences, travel more and show my kids that Mom can handle what life throws at her. My friends and family have helped me
This is a new year. I turn 50 on January 7, and I feel like a million bucks. As I write this, I have lost more than 145 pounds in less than seven months. And by the time you read this, it will be even more. I continued to lose weight even after all this tragedy came my way. I feel strong, more beautiful than I ever have, and psychologically ready to take on the world by myself. I’m ready to conquer my fears about being alone. I am woman, hear me roar!
“I FEEL STRONG, MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN I EVER HAVE, AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD BY MYSELF. I’M READY TO CONQUER MY FEARS ABOUT BEING ALONE. I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR!” my life to readers about my dreams, family, experiences, vacations, friends and more. But this column was the toughest to write. Life comes at you hard sometimes, and those events can knock you to the ground. Getting oneself back up can prove to be a challenge for us mentally, physically and spiritually. A pending divorce can take its toll on someone’s psyche. The whole situation becomes a huge learning tool - lawyers, mediators, custody, visitation, child support, anger, resentment, sadness and so much more. But the bitterness has passed, and I’ve realize I have to get on with my life … a life that I want filled with adventure, happiness and hopefully, a new true love someday. It was a great marriage for a very long time. My children and I have become even closer through it all. But I’m still a Mom, and they know it. They still need guidance, discipline and hugs and kisses. I’m holding my head up high. I cannot imagine the great discoveries I’ll make about myself and my world in the future. I’ve learned so much the first half of my life. Now, I can write my own ticket to do whatever I
through the darkest moments. Without them, I would be a basket case. They encourage me, compliment me, stand by me, watch out for us, call me, text me, e-mail me, invite me over and just laugh with me. It’s my kids who have suffered so much. I feel for these teen-age boys. I hope none of this affects the way they live their lives in the future, their relationships or their hopes for a long and lasting marriage. We never know what a divorce can do to our children. But I will try with all my power to keep the transition from a family of four to a split family as cohesive and amicable as I can. It won’t always be easy. The emotions run high. We all have talked with therapists on our own to get an outside perspective. I encourage my sons to talk openly to me, to their friends or to their counselors. They have both said it helps to have someone outside the family with whom to reveal their feelings and anger. I’m glad for that. We talk, we listen, we do routine things, just like we used to do. It just happens to now be a family of three in this house, not a family of four. They will be my priority, but I also need to focus on my world, too.
Next column, I’m going to have before and after photos of me to show the physical transformation. Hopefully, I will be down to where I want to be. I really don’t know where that is since I haven’t been there before. I believe that this diet and change of lifestyle came at the best possible time in my life, and I will continue to keep healthy, strong and confident. At 50, the whole world has opened up its doors to great possibilities and opportunities. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not heartless. I still have love for the man with whom I spent so many years. But that man is no longer the center of my world. I have great memories, great photos of our past together, and hopefully a forgiving heart that will allow me to live a life free of bitterness and hate. Through it all, I am learning the healing power of forgiveness.
Lee Nelson is an award-winning reporter and freelance writer living in DeWitt, Iowa.
January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 57
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COOKING
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MARYSUE SALMON
Happy (Healthy and Lean) New Year! The new year often brings resolutions about losing weight and eating a more healthful diet. How would you like the ultimate comfort food, a nice juicy slice of meat loaf? It doesn’t sound like part of a “spa diet”, but it is when the meat loaf is made of ground turkey breast and colorful chopped vegetables. This meat loaf is wonderfully seasoned with nutmeg, coriander, and garlic and it is moistened with egg whites. The slightly sweet and tasty glaze, which is spread on the loaf halfway through the 1½ hour baking time, tops it off perfectly. Be sure to buy GROUND TURKEY BREAST not what is labeled just GROUND TURKEY. There is a big difference between the two in calories and in fat content. Four ounces of TURKEY BREAST has 100-120 calories and only 1.5 grams of fat. GROUND TURKEY usually has about 150 calories and 8 grams of fat in the same four ounce portion. (Ground turkey breast can be at least partially substituted for ground beef in many recipes, saving up to 20 grams of fat for a four ounce portion.) This recipe for turkey breast meat loaf is a large one. You can easily make a half recipe, since the ground turkey breast usually comes in packages of about 1 ¼ pounds. I like to make the whole recipe and divide it into two loaves. Leftovers make a spectacular lunch sandwich the next day, 58 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
with whole grain bread and crispy lettuce. It also freezes well so you can tightly wrap the second cooked loaf and enjoy it weeks later, either lightly warmed or sliced cold. Preparation takes a little time, about 30 minutes, because the veggies are finely-chopped and sauteed before mixing them with the ground turkey breast, seasonings, and egg whites. This can be done a few hours ahead and the mixture refrigerated. Before baking be sure to bring it almost to room temperature. As a part of your happy new year plan, why not resolve to have at least one “spa meal” a week? That means REALLY eating lean! Your plate could have either chicken, turkey, or fish. There would be two or three vegetables (without butter or sauce, of course, but seasoned with herbs). You could also add a helping of a whole grain, like brown rice or whole wheat pasta. Or you might experiment with lesser-known grains like farro, spelt or bulgur if you are feeling adventuresome! The turkey breast meat loaf qualifies as “very lean” and it is hugely satisfying. It would be a good addition to that spa meal. Happy New Year!
Some good choices to accompany slices of turkey breast meat loaf are fresh steamed spinach, roasted beets and creamy pureed cauliflower. (Put well- cooked florets of cauliflower in the food processor and add no-fat chicken stock with the processor running until desired consistency.One medium head of cauliflower usually takes about 1 cup of stock. Season with a little salt and pepper. It will be the consistency of mashed potatoes.)
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GLAZED TURKEY BREAST MEAT LOAF 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 cup finely-chopped onion ¾ cup finely-chopped carrot ½ cup finely-chopped green onions, tops included ½ cup finely-chopped celery ½ cup finely-chopped red pepper 2 minced garlic cloves 2¼ to 2½ pounds 99% fat free ground turkey breast 1 cup dry home-prepared bread crumbs or purchased panko crumbs 1 teaspoon each: salt and pepper ¼ teaspoon each: nutmeg, coriander, cumin 4 egg whites, slightly beaten 1 /3 cup catsup Glaze: ½ cup catsup or chili sauce 3 tablespoons brown sugar
Saute’ vegetables in canola oil about 5 minutes or until soft but not browned. Slightly cool, then combine with turkey breast, crumbs, 1/3 cup catsup, seasonings and egg white. Mix well. (Mixture will be wet). Shape into 2 oblong loaves and place side by side in 13x9x2-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes. Remove from oven and quickly spread mixture of catsup and brown sugar glaze on top. Return to 350 degree oven for 30-45 more minutes, or until glaze sets and caramelizes slightly. Let stand a few minutes before cutting into 1-inch slices. Twelve slices=186 calories and 2 grams of fat each. (Cooking Light adaptation)
Marysue Salmon, Moline, has taught French and Italian cooking in her home for more than 25 years. She is a long time member of International Association of Cooking Professionals and Society of Wine Educators.
January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 59
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OFF THE VINE
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JIM STEPHENS
Wine Wishes and Resolutions To me, January is just one big game of kickball. When I was a kid, this was the only game I can recall where you could call “do-overs” and get away with it. Call it juvenile if you wish, but don’t we in the “older-and-wiser” genre attempt the same thing year after year in the form of New Years resolutions? Now, I’ve got nothing against a bit of rudimentary redemption on occasion, but why do we always pick the ones that are either too sublime (“Let world peace begin with me”), too practical (the inevitable duo of lose weight and exercise) or simply too ridiculous (“This year I’ll learn the bagpipes.”)? Well, as you might surmise, I’ve got a few simple resolutions that are not only fun, but are those that surely won’t be inevitably forgotten. 1. RESOLVE TO DRINK MORE BUBBLY. In a recent California study, more than half (57%) of the participants surveyed reported that they only drank Champagne or sparkling wine “infrequently” or on “special occasions.” Sounds like there’s plenty of room for improvement there! Bubbly doesn’t have to mean expensive. Find a “house” sparkler from Spain or California and make your own reason to celebrate. It’s a ridiculously simple way to make a ho-hum day festive. My wife and I often do Champagne and popcorn on Sunday nights. Just because. 2. RESOLVE TO TRY NEW VARIETALS. When was the last time you tried an AlbariZo, a Carmenere, Neprica, Chamboursin, Primitivo, Chardonnel or Valdiguie? Don’t look to me to tell you what they are – get past the strange names and go experiment for yourselves. 3. RESOLVE TO VISIT AT LEAST ONE NEW WINERY. With gas prices at least temporarily down from the “Yikes!” stage, what better time to get away for a weekend adventure? Below are several state-wide wine sites from which to choose, whichever direction you decide to wander. Be sure to call ahead to avoid disappointing closed signs. www.illinoiswine.org iowawinegrowers.org www.wiswine.com www.mngrapes.org www.missouriwinecountry.com/news www.indianawines.org/links www.localwineevents.com (This link tells of wine events around the globe.) 4. RESOLVE TO ATTEND (OR HOST) ONE WINE-RELATED PARTY. DID YOU KNOW that the last Saturday in February is OTBN? “Open That Bottle Night” is a national day 60 QC MAGAZINE January/February 2009
set aside by the New York Times wine columnists simply to gather friends and pop the cork on that special gem that’s been gathering dust in your cellar while you await a good reason to celebrate. BASTILLE DAY IS July 14th. Sounds like a good day for a French-themed party to me. THE THIRD THURSDAY of November is the official day that Beaujolais Nouveau is released. HAVE AN OKTOBERFEST party featuring wine instead of beer. THE DAY TRADITIONALLY celebrated as the day Dom Perignon “discovered” Champagne is August 4th (1693). UNITED NATIONS DAY is October 24th. Have everyone bring a bottle and a dish from different countries. YOUR PARTY IS only limited by your own imagination and/or research! 5. RESOLVE TO BUY ONE EXPENSIVE WINE TO PUT AWAY FOR TEN YEARS. Make it a big red, Port or dessert wine. Not only is this fun to do, but if you’re diligent every year, your wine will always be the hit of the party in a decade’s time when you start to reap the rewards of your patience. Well, I know that whatever I have to offer here, there will still be a huge cadre who will once again valiantly begin the year following the lemming-like crowds to the fitness center while munching on their Jenny Craig tofu turnip tarts. Who knows, I may just join you, with exception of the tofu part. After thirty years, I still haven’t found a wine suitable (or potent enough) to pair up with soggy, slimy bean curds. Call me unimaginative. But one thing is certain: by this time next year, I will have few regrets when it comes to my oenological exploits. My wish for you as well is a year full of rich and rewarding vinous ventures of your own. As they say, life is indeed too short to drink bad wine, and, outside of kickball, there are no do-overs. Cheers! *clink*
Jim Stephens has been a wine enthusiast and educator for more than 25 years.
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DINING OUT
JIM STEPHENS
Miss Mamies’ Chicken Fricassee is a popular entree.
I had forgotten about the honey butter. Yet, when I told people I had visited Miss Mamies, it was the first thing everyone mentioned. Next came the sweet rolls. Then the conversation forked off to catfish or pot roast or crab cakes, each recollection accompanied by nostalgic smiles and gentle “m-m-m-m-m” sounds. It had been about fifteen years since I had darkened their doorway, but it was like I had never left. With all due respect to the proprietors of the restaurant, I think they might’ve misnamed their eatery, since to most people, Miss Mamies’ food evokes memories of Grandma’s instead of a grand southern belle. It’s comfort food in the truest sense of the word. We visited early on a cold and rainy Wednesday evening, and, still, the parking lot was practically full. The warmth inside was immediate, and its richly-colored walls even reminded me of Grandma’s parlor, and although I don’t recall for certain, surely there must’ve been hand-crocheted doilies in and around the place. It just has that “doily” feel to it. We were greeted at our table by Kris, who brought water and their infamous bread basket while we perused the menu. While my Mom raves about their catfish, we weren’t quite in the mood that evening, but we saw Catfish Stix in the appetizer section, so that would be our starter, and we ordered a bottle of Riff Pinot Grigio off the tabletop wine list as well. In the blink of an eye, both were on our table, the catfish literally just out of the fryer. There were six or seven nice sized “stix”, each lightly breaded and lightly seasoned, letting the signature catfish flavors shine through. They were served with what seemed to be a homemade tartar sauce, or at least one that didn’t scream “straight out of the jar”. Even so, I used it sparingly, since this fish didn’t need embellishing in the least. Even my lemon wedge went untouched. It made me wish that Mrs. Paul’s had copied the recipe years ago! Next came one of the best salads – or at least the best dressing – I’ve had in ages. If you’re not a garlic fan, don’t even read this paragraph, because I’m sure even my words are permeated with the creamiest, most pungent dressing since Al Klass’ infamous Town & Country concoction. It was conveyed via mixed greens and crunchy homemade crouton bits, and with garlic’s properties being what they are, they lingered well into the night and next morning. Yes, luckily my wife ordered it, too. Even though it’ll take longer to read this paragraph than it did for our entrees to
Grandma Would be Proud Want down home comfort food? Head to Miss Mamies
REVIEW BY JIM STEPHENS IMAGES COURTESY OF MISS MAMIES January/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 61
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TIDBITS&MORSELS SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT As Bettendorf continues to expand northward, so do the eateries. New in Crow Creek Plaza is GAHAGAN’S DELI, which features a wide array of homemade soups, fresh salads, fast and friendly service, catering and deli trays. 2513 E. 53rd Ave., Bettendorf. Also coming soon to the Plaza is SENSASIANS CHINESE & THAI RESTAURANT. Watch this space for further details. Right around the corner as the crow flies is DICKEY’S BARBECUE restaurant on Utica Ridge Road, Davenport, in the site of the former San Francisco Oven restaurant. Bruce and Judy Norden, Bettendorf, are the local franchise owners of the Texas-based chain; and they plan to open two more locations in the Q-C. Specializing in beef brisket and pulled pork, they also offer sweet pork ribs, smoked chicken and turkey breasts. 4706 Utica Ridge Road, Davenport. ACH DU LIEBER! Celebrate Oktoberfest in January with the BIERSTUBE BAR AND GRILL at their new location in LeClaire, Iowa. The restaurant is part of the River Run commercial development on Canal Shore Drive and Eagle Ridge Road. Since being established in 2003, the Bierstube has prided itself in offering the Quad City's best selection of imported beers and wines with a full menu of traditional German cuisine, sandwiches and salads. MUNCHIES IN MOLINE The owners of ENERGY NIGHTCLUB have replaced their downtown Moline teen club with TWENTY SPORTS GRILLE & NIGHTCLUB, a full service restaurant and pub. Owner Mike Reddish says that Twenty features an ESPN Zone type atmosphere with 20 different draught beers in signature glassware highlighting the beer's characteristics. 1405 5th Avenue, Moline. STEAK & CHEF The new Executive Chef at Moline’s Bass Street Chop House is Angela Pobanz. She previously served as a Sous Chef for the restaurant for two years. Prior to that, Angela worked at Biaggi’s, as well as sister companies Vinni Vanuchi’s and Bubba’s in Galena, Ill. where she was a Kitchen Manager. Pobanz is hard at work creating new seasonal items featured on the daily fresh sheet at Bass Street. She has also introduced a number of new steak preparations, sauces and toppings to the menu since taking the job. Bass Street Chop House, 1601 River Drive, Moline. ROCK ISLAND DINES MAMA COMPTON’S has moved to new and bigger digs in Rock Island’s District. The new space, formerly occupied by ALMA TAPAS and ROCK ISLAND RAPIDS, is better suited to house the gigantic sandwiches they serve. Sandwiches, soups, ice cream or candies are just a few of the things Mama has to offer. Mama Compton's 1725 2nd Ave. Rock Island.
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arrive, not once during our visit did we ever feel rushed. I took the time in the brief interlude to notice the people in the booths around the room. There was a family next to us, two blue-collar types across the way, a table of seasoned ladies behind us. The ladies were the best-dressed, perhaps reflecting the era in which they were raised, but my point is that everyone was comfortable, and there wasn’t a necktie in the joint. Even the men in the pictures had removed theirs. Grandma would’ve been proud to have seen the presentation of the entrees when they came. They had the requisite potatoes and lots of mixed veggies, including broccoli, carrots and even those little pearl onions that Grandma liked to put in her creamed peas. Now, UN-like Grandma’s, these vegetables weren’t boiled to smithereens, but still had some nice texture and flavor left in them. Mine came alongside the Gulf Crab and Shrimp Duo, which consisted of skewered broiled shrimp and two flaky, tasty crab cakes. While I’m certainly no expert on what an authentic crab cake should taste like, especially since they’re not a species indigenous to the Midwest, I found them really wonderful, moist and layered with flavors. The shrimp were okay, as far as I was concerned, but one of the accompanying sauces (I don’t know if it was supposed to be for the shrimp or crab) was a sauce that looked to be Thousand Island dressing, but turned out to be a delicious, much less tangy Remoulade sauce. At least that’s how Kris described it when we asked. It perked up the shrimp nicely. There was drawn butter served as well. My wife’s entree of Chicken Fricassee was the hit of the evening. I’m usually reluctant to order chicken breasts, since they too often have the texture of shoe leather, but this was more of a comfortable old shoe. There were Crab Cakes make a great appetizer or — when paired with a salad — meal.
Miss Mamies Restaurant 3925 16th St., Moline, Ill. (309) 762-8336 www.missmamiesrestaurant.com Hours: Open seven days a week at 11:00 am Cuisine: American southern Reservations: Accepted Service: Very Good Ambiance: Casual Prices: Moderate
Ratings Food . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Ambiance . . . . . . . . 18 Service . . . . . . . . . . 19 Wine, bar list . . . . . 15 Value . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Beverages: Full Bar, Wine List Wheelchair Accessible: Yes Banquet Rooms: Yes Credit Cards: All major
Total:
89 out of 100 possible
two fillets, each coated with what appeared to be the same coating used on the fish stix, but with the first bite, it was obvious that there was a whole lot more to this one, especially in the herb department. Flavors of thyme and rosemary and light pepper jumped out, and the light cream sauce that was ribboned over the top was a wonderful completion. By this time my wife was judging the space needed to be left for dessert, so one of the fillets went home with us to become certainly the best breakfast on my block the next morning. Dessert was perhaps the least memorable part of the evening, which is not to say that it still wasn’t nice. My cheesecake and her pecan pie seemed to come out of the Sam’s Club freezer, and while they were sweet endings to the evening, to me they weren’t up to the accolades that the rest of the meal truly earned. Also earning accolades were definitely Kris and her cohorts. There seemed to be three women working our part of the restaurant, and they complemented each other very well, whisking away empty plates and re-filling water glasses seamlessly, whether it was their table or not. The evening moved along ever so smoothly, and not once did we find ourselves looking at our watches or finding the need to flag anyone down. The food came hot, as ordered, properly prepared and in a timely fashion. I know it’s trite and overused, but the phrase “well-oiled machine” certainly comes to mind. Good job all around, including back in the kitchen. Well, Mamie, I’m sure the word “Miss” is just a Southernism and not indicative of your marital status, because you are obviously someone’s Grandma to cook up comfort cuisine like this. Thanks for inviting us in to sit for a spell, and thanks for the scrumptious vittles as well. May I please be excused now? I cleaned my plate.
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EVENTS CALENDAR & FEST GUIDE
JANUARY - MARCH 2009
Star-Crossed Lovers
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BALLET QUAD CITIES PRESENTS ROMEO & JULIET 21ST CENTURY Saturday, February 28, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 1, 2 p.m. Johanne Jakhelln’s Romeo and Juliet comes to life again along with other favorite ballets from our extensive repertoire. In this dramatic modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s classic play, Jakhelln challenges our perception of Prokofiev’s classic score with her bold and jazzy choreography. Capitol Theatre, Davenport. (563) 326-8820.
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JANUARY
1
EXHIBITION GALLERY AT QUAD CITY ARTS: LISA HIGBY LEFEVRE AND MATT MOYER Through January 8. The Exhibition Gallery at Quad City Arts features the work of artists Lisa Higby LeFevre and Matt Moyer. Quad-City Arts, 1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island.
1
MYSTERY OF THE NILE AT THE IMAX Through January 22. For 114 days, a team of explorers led by Pasquale Scaturro and Gordon Brown face seemingly insurmountable challenges as they make their way along all 3,260 miles of the river to become the first in history to complete a full descent of the Blue Nile from source to sea. $8:50/adults; $7.50/seniors; $6.50/youth ages 312. Putnam Museum IMAX Theatre, Davenport. (563) 324-1933, www.putnam.org.
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HANGOVERFEST Thursday, January 1, 11 a.m. The 8th annual HangoverFest at Cordova Dragway Park will be mostly for street-driven vehicles. Racing is open to everyone. Gates open at 10 a.m. for test-and-tune; grudge racing starts at 11 a.m. Race or watch for $10. Cordova Dragway Park, 19425 Illinois Rte. 84 North. (309) 645-2110.
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DANCING WITH THE STARS ON TOUR Thursday, January 8, 7:30 p.m. Dancing With The Stars On Tour will include Lance Bass, Toni Braxton, Marlee Matlin, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Lacey Schwimmer, Edyta Sliwinska, Karina Smirnoff, and Fabien Sanchez. Tickets are $49.50, $125, and $192.50. iWireless Center, Moline. (563) 326-1111.
Take Flight
9
BALD EAGLE DAYS Friday, January 9
through Sunday, January 11. Hours are Friday, 4 -8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call (309) 788-5912 for details. QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island.
16
CIRCA ‘21 PRESENTS RING OF FIRE: THE JOHNNY CASH MUSICAL Friday, January 16 (through March 21). A cast of gifted singers and instrumentalists take you through some of the greatest songs from one of America’s most brilliant singer/songwriters, Johnny Cash. Though he is never impersonated, his remarkable life story of love and faith; struggle and success; rowdiness and redemption; and home and family is told through his music, climaxing in a concert that will both move and exhilarate! Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island. (309) 786-7733, www.circa21.com.
16
IT’S A MYSTERY PRESENTS WHACKED AT DA WEDDING Friday, January 16. It’s a Mystery will present a mob-themed comedy whodunit, Whacked at da Wedding, at 6:30 p.m. at The Lodge in Bettendorf. The mystery package is $35 and includes dinner, entertainment, tax, and gratuity. Reservations required. The Lodge, Bettendorf. (563) 359-1607.
17
WEDDINGS 101 Saturday, January 17, 1 p.m. Weddings 101 is a free informational event to help couples plan a perfect wedding day. Features vendor exhibits and an interactive, informal panel discussion with the vendors. Doors open at 1 p.m.; panel discussion begins at 2 p.m. (309) 794-0991, www.weddings101event.com. Quad City Botanical Center, Rock Island.
4
SILVER SKATES COMPETITION Sunday, January 4, 1 p.m. The annual Silver Skates Competition will be held outdoors on the ice at Vander Veer. Pre-registration is free through Davenport Parks & Recreation; $3 day of event. Vander Veer Botanical Park, Davenport. (563) 326-7812.
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HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS AT THE I WIRELESS CENTER Sunday, January 11, 2 p.m. The Harlem Globetrotters are a squad of extremely talented tricksters who combine comedy and mischievous basketball moves to entertain and amuse the audience. $17-$80. i Wireless Center, Moline. (309) 764-2000.
15
DISNEY ON ICE AT THE IWIRELESS CENTER Thursday, January 15 Monday, January 19. Rev up for nonstop fun as Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the crew of Disney/Pixar’s Cars race across the ice. Dive into The Little Mermaid’s enchanting undersea kingdom and experience “Circle of Life” with The Lion King. Then enter into the magical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and all her fairy friends. On opening night, Thursday at 7 p.m., tickets are just $11! Showtimes vary. iWireless Center, Moline. (309) 764-2000
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JANUARY
THE BUCKTOWN REVUE Friday, January 16 and Friday, February 20, 7 – 8:30 p.m. The Bucktown Revue (from the same people who produced The River City Radio Hour) will run from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Redstone Room. Featuring Scott Tunnicliff as host and The
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Barley House Band performs. $7. River Music Experience, Davenport. (563) 326-1333 or email mromkey@mac.com.
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QUAD CITY SYMPHONY PRESENTS THE MID-WINTER CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT Saturday, January 17. Set at the elegant Outing Club, the QCSO’s Chamber Series is an intimate celebration of exceptional music. The concert is programmed around an exquisite meal for sale separately through the Outing Club, making the event a feast for all the senses. $27. The Outing Club, 2109 N. Brady St., Davenport. (563) 322-7276, www.qcsymphony.com.
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MOMMY’S LITTLE MONSTER AT MOUND STREET LANDING Saturday, January 17, 9 p.m. Mommy’s Little Monster will play at 9 p.m. at Mound Street Landing. No cover. Mound Street Landing, Davenport. (563) 3231200.
20
VENTURE TO ALASKA (WORLD ADVENTURE TRAVELOGUE SERIES) Tuesday, January 20, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. The World Adventure Travelogue Series presents Venture to Alaska with filmmaker Dale Johnson. Davenport. $6. Putnam Museum IMAX Theatre. (563) 324-1933, www.putnam.org.
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THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE opens Friday, January 30. In this remake of the 1951 classic, aliens land on Earth with a message for all humans: live in peace or be destroyed. $10/adults; $8/seniors; $7/youth ages 3-12. IMAX Theatre, Putnam Museum, Davenport. (563) 324-1933.
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SLEEPING WITH THE LEOPARD: AFRICAN ART FROM CAMEROON Through June 28. This exhibition of over 60 wood, metal, fiber and mixed media objects highlights the beauty, diversity and importance of art from Cameroon, West Africa. $7/adults; $6/senior citizens/students with ID; $4/children ages 3-12 years. Figge Art Museum, Davenport.
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PASSPORT TO THE SEASONS FOR KIDS: WINTER Sunday, January 25, 1–4 p.m. This is the third event in a four-part series of fun, educational seasonal activities at various locations. Participating organizations include the Family Museum of Arts and Science, the Figge Art Museum, iLivehere: myhome ourcommunity, Niabi Zoo, Putnam Museum, Quad City Animal Welfare Center, Quad City Botanical Center, the University of Illinois Extension, and the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center. Free with regular admission: $6/adults; $5/seniors; $4/ages 3-12. Putnam Museum, Davenport. (563) 324-1993, www.putnam.org.
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LUJACK LEXUS PRESENTS THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Monday, January 26, 7:30 p.m. In this Tony Award-winning new musical comedy, six young people in the throes of puberty learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. $30.50, $39 and $49 and may be purchased at the Adler Theatre Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or call (563) 326-1111. Adler Theatre, Davenport.
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TEEN TECH LAB AT THE DAVENPORT LIBRARY Tuesday, January 27 and Tuesday, February 24, 5:30 p.m. Young people, from beginner to advanced, can learn new technologies through talks and handson equipment lessons. Topics will include podcast and video production, website design, music downloads, social networking, and nonprint library resources. They are also invited to contribute to the teen blog. Free. Davenport Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport. (563) 326-7893 or email cvogt@davenportlibrary.com.
Guest Poet
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LI-YOUNG LEE (RIVER READINGS) Thursday, January 29. Li-Young Lee will be the guest author for The River Readings at 7 p.m. at Wallenberg Hall, Denkmann Memorial Building, Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island. (309) 794-7823.
30
BRAD PAISLEY, WITH DIERKS BENTLEY AND DARIUS RUCKER, at the i Wireless Center Friday, January 30, 7:30 p.m. Brad Paisley headlines, with special guests Dierks Bentley and Darius Rucker. $39.75 - $49.75. iWireless Center, Moline. (309) 764-2000.
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SANTA CRUZ RIVER BAND Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1. Santa Cruz River Band is the music of the American Southwest. $12; $8/students. Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island. (309) 793-1213.
FEBRUARY
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THE CLIMATE CHANGE SHOW exhibition opens Friday, January 30. The Climate Change Show is a one-of-akind exhibit experience filled with magnificent environmental effects, recreating weather and climate changes right inside the exhibit theatre. $6/adults; $5/seniors; $4/youth ages 3-12. Add on to any IMAX ticket for $1.50. Putnam Museum, Davenport. (563) 3241933, www.putnam.org.
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QUAD CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS MASTERWORKS IV Saturday, January 31, 8 p.m. Masterworks IV brings 19-year-old Swiss pianist Louis Schwizgebel-Wang in to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. The New York Times described this star of the next generation as “passionate ... with an expressive elasticity” and the Washington Post hailed his “perky touch” and “expressive phrasing.” Tickets may be purchased at the Adler Theatre Box Office, online at www.qcsymphony.com, or by phone at (563) 326-1111. Adler Theatre, Davenport.
3
CORSICA AND THE RIVIERAS (WORLD ADVENTURE TRAVELOGUE SERIES) Tuesday, February 3, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. The World Adventure Travelogue Series will present Corsica and the Rivieras with filmmaker Stan Walsh. $6; $4 for members. Putnam Museum IMAX Theatre, Davenport. (563) 3241933, www.putnam.org
6
IOWA-ILLINOIS REGIONAL AUTO SHOW Friday, February 6-Sunday, February 8. Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Get an upclose look at the latest in new cars, trucks, mini-vans, and sport-utility vehicles. $6/adults (ages 13+); $6/seniors (ages 62+); $3/children (ages 7-12); ages 12 6 and under are free. Kids Day is Sunday, Feb. 8! All children 12 & under admitted FREE on Kids Day when accompanied by a paying adult. RiverCenter, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport. www.motortrendautoshows.com/quadcities/, (563) 326-8500.
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QC HOME BUILDERS SHOW Friday, February 6-Sunday, February 8. From plumbing to drapes, remodeling ideas to new construction, landscaping to interior decorating…it is all on display at the home show. 60,000 square feet of exhibits featuring home construction, design, decJanuary/February 2009 QC MAGAZINE 65
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orating, and furnishings. There is the latest in home theater, windows, doors, insulation, siding, hot tubs, fence, decks and more! The Quad City Homebuilders Association (QCHBA) sponsors this event. The QCHBA is a non-profit organization dedicated to affordable home ownership. A portion of the proceeds go to local charities and non-profit groups. QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island. eoburrows@gmail.com; (563) 441-5692; www.tmqc4.info.
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LUJACK LEXUS PRESENTS DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Wednesday, February 11, 7:30 p.m. Based on the popular 1988 MGM film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels centers on two con men living on the French Riviera who make a bet: the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress triumphs, and the other must leave town. Tickets are $30.50, $39 and $49 and may be purchased at the Adler Theatre Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (563) 326-1111. Adler Theatre, Davenport.
14
SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND AT MOJO’S Saturday, February 14, 3–6 p.m. . Listen to and learn from leaders in the craft as they make music and talk about their process. Songwriters are welcome to perform an original song or two. Piano, guitar, boom box (for back trax), and a PA system will be available. Mojo’s Cafe in the River Music Experience, Davenport. (563) 326-1555.
20
HENRY FARNAM DINNER Friday, February 20. The 2009 Henry Farnam Dinner will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the completion of Locks and Dam #15 at Rock Island. Dr. John O. Anfinson, a historian with
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the National Park Service, will present “A River Transformed: The Upper Mississippi Before and After Locks and Dams.” The evening’s program will also include an original film showing the construction of Locks and Dam 15 between 1932 and 1934. This year the Farnam Dinner will join with the 47th Engineering Week Banquet of the Quad City Engineering and Science Council. $40 per person, $375 for a table of 10. Radisson Quad City Plaza, Davenport. (309) 764-6122 or libby@qconline.com.
(563) 326-1111. Adler Theatre, Davenport.
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BALLET QUAD CITIES PRESENTS ROMEO & JULIET 21ST CENTURY Saturday, February 28, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 1, 2 p.m. Johanne Jakhelln’s Romeo and Juliet comes to life again along with other favorite ballets from our extensive repertoire. In this dramatic modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s classic play, Jakhelln challenges our perception of Prokofiev’s classic score with her bold and jazzy choreography. Capitol Theatre, Davenport. (563) 326-8820.
MARCH
7
QUAD CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS MASTERWORKS V Saturday, March 7, 8 p.m. For Masterworks V, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra will be joined by cellist Joshua Roman as he performs Bloch’s Schelomo and Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Roccoco Theme. Dubbed a “classical rock star” by the press, he regularly performs in clubs around the Seattle region, where the repertoire is as likely to include Radiohead as it is J.S. Bach. Tickets may be purchased at the Adler Theatre Box Office, online at www.qcsymphony.com, or by phone at
10
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: CARIBBEAN JEWELS (WORLD TRAVELOGUE ADVENTURE SERIES) Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. The World Adventure Travelogue Series will present St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Caribbean Jewels with filmmaker Steve Gonser. $6; $4 for members. Putnam Museum IMAX Theatre, Davenport. (563) 324-1933, www.putnam.org. GRAND SATURDAYS AT PUTNAM MUSEUM Saturday, March 14. Go green with hands-on activities all about recycling, alternative energy sources, and what you can do to make a difference. Features familyfriendly program, breakfast and exhibit halls tour, including The Climate Change Show exhibit. $5 for children; $7 for grandparents/friends. (563) 324-1933 or email thompson@putnam.org.
14
LUJACK LEXUS PRESENTS MAMMA MIA! Saturday, March 14, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 15, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Over 30 million people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music of MAMMA MIA! Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Tickets are $39.50, $49.50 and $64.50 and may be purchased at the Adler Theatre Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (563) 326-1111. Adler Theatre, Davenport.
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