Tag: Iowa

Quad Cities Summer Events 2015

Summer events are plenty in Quad Cities which let us enjoy the best outdoors. With the mighty Mississippi by our side, we get to explore the nature and create beautiful memories. With thousands of people attending, these events make living in the Quad Cities interesting.

Summer Events in Quad Cities

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Here are some quad cities events which are my favorites:

Rock Island County Fair: The 146th annual Rock Island County Fair is from July 11th to July 19th at 4200, Archer Drive
in East Moline. Most of the grandstand acts are from July 15th to July 18th that is, Thursday through Saturday. Admission fee is $2 for adults, unlimited wristband for $20 which covers all the rides. If you want to get tipsy you can either get on the rides or the beer tent nearby. The fair food is mouth watering such as the curly fries, funnel cakes, french fries, hot dogs, nachos cheese, cotton candy, and of course the Lemonades!!

The grandstand acts include popular artists such as Charlie Worsham on Saturday and Clayton Anderson and Keith Anderson on Friday. This year the Demolition Derby is on Thursday 7pm unlike last year when they had it scheduled for Saturday evening. Get your spirits high for the racing and dashing. Further, check their schedule for more information and do not forget there is free pizza by Dominoes on Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30 am to 1pm.

 

Mississippi Valley Fair: The 96th annual Mississippi Valley Fair is from August 4th to August 9th at 2815, West Locust St in Davenport. The fair is one of the largest fair in Iowa which costs $10 for the general admission and $45 for fun cards. The fun card lets you in for all the five days including the grand stand acts. Kids 12 and under have free admission on Wednesday Aug 5th. This year the grand stand line up includes Kip Moore, Reba, The Marshall Tucker Band, Styx, The Band Perry, and Big & Rich.

You can visit the Mississippi Valley Fair for the fair food especially the corn and baked potatoes. The rides are $20 from 11 am to 5pm and they have a zip line too. There is also the beer tent and free music. There are some free acts throughout the day which include the alligator show, Dallas the Fire Guy, and Team Rock Karate Show among others.

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Citation: http://n.b5z.net/i/u/10002415/i/2015_TugFest_Logo_black.png

Tug Fest: The 29th annual Tug Fest is from August 13th to August 15th in Port Byron, Illinois or Le Claire, Iowa. Illinois has the most wins 17 over Iowa. You can choose the side depending on which side of the river you are. Thursday night is the family night and is free admission to all. Friday and Saturday admission is $3 per person. Don’t miss Friday night Rumble on the River fireworks over the river at 9pm. The kids tug is at 11 am on Saturday. The actual tug is from 12 to 3pm at the tug site.

Tug fest is a tug of war competition over the Mississippi river between two states Iowa and Illinois. The 2400 feet rope is pulled by tug teams across the river and the state with most points win. Local businesses form teams to compete in the tug. Tug fest is possible with the help of local sponsors and hard working volunteers. Also, the bands are amazing at the Gazebo. I like the music, fireworks,the river, and of course the actual tug. Combine your tug fest visit with the annual Floatzilla  on August 15th to make it even more fun.

River Roots Live: The 11th annual River Roots Live is on August 28th and August 29th at 400 W Biederbecke Dr, Davenport in the LeClaire Park. I like their new website though developed by Nerdwerx! The admission is free before 3pm on both days. Gate admission is $15. River Roots Liveis clubbed with the rib fest. The ribs are open at 11 am on both days. Music starts at 5pm on Friday and runs all day on Saturday.

This year’s line up includes artists such as Kacey Musgraves at Saturday 8.45 pm and Hello Goodbye at Friday 10.15 pm. Visit the River Roots Live for lots of ear popping and heart throbbing music. The Junior Jam for children is sponsored by West Music and RME. There are bouncy house for kids and also a video game tent sponsored by Video Game Etc. Check out all the free stuff given away by local businesses apart from the fair food.

You can also hop on the channel cat taxi and Celebration Belle cruises or checkout the Backwater Gamblers in Rock Island. Attend these events and let me know which one you like the most and share if you find any  more interesting.:)

All About Driving License

If you are new to the USA or to the Quad cities, one thing you certainly need is the Illinois driving license. Due to the limited public transportation and the extreme weathers, the driving license has become indispensable. It also serves as a state ID apart from letting you go places. However, there are certain requirements with respect to documents, vehicle, tests, and of course certain fees for a test. Here is an overview of the requirements for obtaining a driving license.

Intersection

Documents

The DMV certainly needs to verify your documents in order to take up the written test or road test. They need to see a valid unexpired original document from four groups. They must be most recent or within 90 days from the date applying. For example:

  1. Group A: Written Signature – Cancelled check, Major credit cards, Passport, EAD Card, I-94, Green card, Social Security Card, Current Driver’s License, State ID, and so on.
  2. Group B: Date of Birth – Passport, US Visa, Green card, EAD Card, Birth Certificate (US), Social Security Award Letter, Military ID, Naturalization Certificate, and so on.
  3. Group C: Social Security Number – Social Security Award Letter, Social Security Card, Driver’s License Record, Military ID, and so on. TVDL applicants no more required to submit a No SSN Letter. They will sign a declaration at the DMV.
  4. Group D: Residency – Bank Statement, Cancelled Check (within 90 days), Utility bill, Official mail from US Federal agency, Rental or lease agreement, Credit report, Pay stub, Electronic deposit, and so  on.

One document may satisfy more than one group. Illinois DMV does not accept photocopies. They need originals. New drivers must submit one document from Groups A, B, C, and two documents for Group D.

Vehicle

Your vehicle must be running with a valid insurance card. The vehicle must be running with all indicators working and with no problems. The vehicle:

  1. Must comply according to the Illinois Secretary of State standards
  2. Must have a valid insurance which is required before the road test
  3. Must display front and rear licence plates with unexpired license sticker
  4. Must be driven to the DMV by a driver with valid license and insurance

Tests

You are required to take a written test and a road test. At the DMV, first you have to take a token for a written test. The written test is a computer based test and covers the road signs, basic rules, seat belt requirements, and so on. You can skip a question if you think it is confusing. As soon as you answer thirty-five questions the computer will inform you that you have passed the test.

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Then, you can take a token for road test. A tester from the DMV will accompany you on a short road course with real traffic. The tester will test if you are able to follow directions and instructions properly. They will grade you on certain key aspects such as uphill, downhill, backing from a driveway on to a road, yielding, lane changes, parking, and so on.

Fees

You are required to pay a fee for the computer test, written permit, and road test. The fee varies from $25 to $40 depending upon your age and type of test.

Make sure you have all original documents and take extra photocopies. Check the weather and road conditions before you go. Also, check the national holidays and working hours of the local DMV. It is better to go in the early hours so you can finish off early. You can expect two to three hours before the entire process is completed.

Training

If you are new to the USA or to the Quad cities, it is suggested to go through a trainer who will guide you through the entire process. The trainer with a valid vehicle and insurance card can guide you through the rules and regulations of the road. It is better to take four to five classes before you go for the road test.

All the best for your tests and experience at the Illinois DMV. They are here to help us if we have everything what they need. Let me know your experience through the comments section. Have fun driving and enjoy the new-found freedom. 🙂

Buffalo Bill Museum LeClaire, Iowa

The Buffalo Bill Museum is a surprise gem in LeClaire Iowa. Le Claire is known for its beauty and history which is reflected in the museum. It is a must visit to know how the local history is connected to the entire country.

The Buffalo Bill Museum is established in 1957 and is located by the Mississippi river in LeClaire Iowa. It has many artefacts and galleries which are unique. The displays are very old but neatly organized. One would be astonished by the collection. The museum is named after William F Cody who was also known as Buffalo Bill. He was born in LeClaire, Iowa in 1846 and was a frontiersman, US Army Scout, and later a showman for his show named ‘Wild West Congress’ show. The museum has a special gallery dedicated to his life.

Galleries

Here are the galleries and interesting things at the Buffalo Bill Museum:

  1. Unique paintings hand drawn – Hand drawn sketches catch your attention as soon as you enter the galleries. You will be surprised by the details the artists captured just with a pencil and paper!
  2. A chair donated by Lincoln – Lincoln gifted a chair to the donor who donated to the museum
  3. Old unique musical instruments – the instruments of Cecil Fletcher, a local musician who wrote the ‘LeClaire Song’ are on display. The visitors are cautioned not to touch the instruments but can only see them to maintain their condition.
  4. The map of USA showing the original colonies – The map is worn out but catches your attention due to its size and the years in which the states have been merged with the USA.
  5. Old washer and soaps – You will be surprised to see the original clothes washer and the Lux soap.
  6. Traditional cooking utensils – You can see the old pots and pans and the different cooking utensils and china.
  7. Civil war encampment – the display has a typical items that a soldier would carry during the civil war. You will be astonished by the minimum luggage they carried and still carry their lives.
  8. Earlier schools settings – A small school setting to display the traditional books and tools used by the earlier local students. Graduation photos of earlier LeClaire students are on display. You can try out the slate and the original black board. 🙂
  9. Lone Star Steamer – the best part of the museum. You can have an experience of a pilot and see the original cabins. The internal view of the working of the steamer is a rare experience. It is a National Historic Landmark and is free with admission. Make sure you visit all the three floors to experience the sounds and sights.
  10. Life on the Mississippi River – the gallery showcases different paintings and artefacts of the lifestyle of the river rider.
  11. Native American – See the Native American clothes, pictures, utensils and the tribe details.

Venue and Times

Buffalo Bill Museum is located at 199 N. Front St., Le Claire, Iowa 52753. It is open up to 4pm on most days and the admission charge is minimum. The museum visit will take two hours. Do enjoy the Mississippi river and its birds during the visit. Check out the free tour of the Mississippi River Distilling Company and enjoy the free wine sampling. Do visit the local restaurants and my favorite one is the Blue Iguana. 🙂

Adding Spouse to Auto Insurance

It is often a confusing question whether to add a newly driving spouse to an auto insurance. If you have a valid driving licence and auto insurance, it is mandatory to add your spouse to your insurance if you are sharing and driving the same car. In most cases, it may not increase your premium but will increase the safety of your family.

Auto Insurance

We consider a health insurance mandatory for all the family members. But, considering auto insurance, we often hesitate whether to add a spouse or not. We may fear that it may increase the premium or other apprehensions. But the law mandates that every driver must have an auto insurance not only for the safety of the driver but also for the safety of other drivers.

Every driver must have auto insurance. If you and your spouse drive the same car, you may have to add your spouse to your auto insurance. Some insurance companies such as the AAA, do not increase the premium in such cases. If your spouse drives another car, you may have to take a new insurance to secure the driver.

Steps to Add

Adding your spouse to your auto insurance is as simple as a simple phone call to your insurance company. You will need your spouse’s:

  1. Social Security number or  ITIN number
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Driving licence or TVDL number
  4. Date of getting the licence
  5. Address

Once you call the insurance company, you may have to give your insurance number and request for adding your spouse to your auto insurance. Just mention the required details and any other queries. Make sure to ask how your premium is going to change for the addition. Check how you can reduce the premium in case any increase.

One phone call can secure your family and others. 🙂

Figge Art Museum

Located in the downtown of Davenport in Iowa, the museum has some of the unique paintings. The free family event let the visitors get a glimpse of the museum’s possessions apart from fun activities for children.

Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum in Davenport is a prime venue for collecting and exhibiting art. Started in 1925, the museum has over 3000 collections of art, sculpture, and paintings. The museum moved to the current building in 2005 with glass walls to reflect the nature.

The collection includes Asian, America, Haitian, Mexican, African, and European some of which are dated back to the Colonial period. Figge Art museum has different exhibitions going on including the railroads, water views, vehicles, automobiles, and school paintings.

The museum has partnerships with local schools and colleges and displays the art exhibits from the students. The museum has classes and workshops for school children, young adults, college students, and researchers.

The art museum is open all days except for few holidays. The admission costs $7 for adults and $4 for children. Plan your visit on special events and exhibitions so that you can see more. You can obtain the membership and avail special benefits in all their events.

Free Family Event

The museum lets visitors enter the facility for free in partnership with the John Deere. Numerous activities for children and adults are arranged for families. Special videos are showcased depending upon the theme of the day. Some of the galleries and exhibits are open all day. You can visit the museum store to buy special collections from around the world.

The free family event is a best time to attain a glimpse of the museum and revisit if you are further interested. It is astonishing to see some of the arts by young children and students. 🙂

Wapsi River Environmental Education Center

Located in Dixon, the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center (WREN) offers a range of activities and opportunities to explore the nature. Schools and families can visit the center for field trips and picnics. Next Saturday, the center is hosting a free day time event for family fun and nature study.

The Wapsi Center aims at conserving the nature and developing a comprehensive educational programs. The center has an Eco center with nature study and exhibits. Environmentalists and naturalists flock the center for information and research.  The center has pool, picnic shelters, cabins, camp grounds, and beach for the visitors at an affordable price.

The center maintains trails for exploring the nature and the Wapsi river. Wildlife and grasslands can be viewed around the center which include some of the endangered ones. The center offers hunting lessons for enthusiastic learners. The different recreation and learning events hosted by the center include:

  1. Eagle watching
  2. Deer hunting
  3. Maple syruping
  4. Skiing
  5. Bird feeding
  6. Recycle crafting
  7. Nature hiking
  8. Paper making
  9. Gardening
  10. Flower preserving

Further, the Wapsi center offers community projects and partnerships for conserving nature. You can reach the center at 31555 52nd Avenue in Dixon, IA  52745. The contact number is 563 3283286. You can subscribe for their quarterly newsletter and events for more information.

Bald Eagles on the Mississippi

Every year the national bird and emblem visits the Mississippi river in January. This weekend enjoy the Bald Eagle show at the Mississippi Valley Welcome Center at LeClaire.  The free event is a perfect time for enjoying the nature apart from sighting the national bird.

The Mississippi Valley Welcome Center hosts the annual Bald Eagle Watch this Saturday 10 am and Sunday 1 pm.  The event is free and has outdoor viewing opportunities at the Lock and Dam 14. The directors and organizers will present information about the eagles and raptors. You can have indoor as well as outdoor fun apart from watching the birds.

The Center hosts trolley tours on Saturday 12 pm to 3 pm and Sunday 9 am to 12 pm. The trolley is hosted by eagle experts and the best stops where you can find bald eagles. The trolley tours cost $25 for adults and $15 for children per ticket.

The Quad City Botanical Center hosted a Bald Eagle show during the first week of January. The state bird of Illinois is the Northern Cardinal and that of Iowa is Eastern Goldfinch. January 5th being the National Bird Day, this event provides another opportunity to spot the National Bird. 🙂

Go, Cast your Vote : General Elections are Here

We have struggled a lot for right to vote, vote for women, and vote for minorities back in the past. But, it is astonishing that only 47 per cent of Americans vote. This year, the predictions are that the rates may even drop. It is the right time to go out and cast the vote.



Illinois and Iowa residents in the quad cities can find the nearest polling place. For registering your vote you need to send the form ahead. Otherwise, you can register on the election day and cast your vote. You may need the proof of address and identity. You can vote ahead or through mail in case you cannot vote on the election day.

We need not be reminded of the elections as there are a lot of advertisements and rallies going on around. We should not exclude ourselves from the duty. Each vote counts and will bring a difference in the future. In fact, in future you may have to pay fine if you do not vote.

November 2, 2010 is the voting date for quad city residents. Let’s be responsible and vote. 🙂

Family Free Day at Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa

Do not the miss the family free day at the Figge Art museum, Davenport this Saturday from 1-3pm in the afternoon. Sponsored by John Deere the event is free for all to enjoy the displays and shows.

Fall Harvest Family Free Day is on September 18th, Saturday 1 pm to 3pm. Story time, art search, 3-D Harvest Collage, pumpkin coloring and other events are planned for the entire family.

Sales Tax Holidays in Quad Cities!!

August 6th and 7th are sales tax holidays in Iowa and August 6th through 15th are sales tax holidays in Illinois. So, shoppers hurry up and rush to the stores to enjoy the benefits. Beware of the exceptions while availing the sales tax holiday benefits. 🙂

Sales Tax Holidays

Every year state government declare certain days as sales tax holidays. Businesses that are open on these are required to participate. However, the maximum cost for which the sales tax is free varies from State to State. The items for which the sales tax is exempted also vary. The sales will boost for businesses during this period at the same time, consumers can enjoy the benefit as well. Businesses can claim this exemption while filing the tax returns.

Illinois

Illinois has declared August 6th through August 15th as sales tax holidays. Five percent of the sales tax will be exempted on all school supplies, clothing, and footwear up to $100. School supplies are not subject to the $100 threshold however, if the product is not used by the student in the course of study, that item is not exempted. For example, crayons are exempted but not the paint brushes and other art supplies.

Iowa

Iowa has declared August 6th and 7th as sales tax holidays. However, the items under this exemption are clothing and footwear only up to $100. Manufacturer coupon do not reduce the sales price of an item. But, store coupon reduce. So, correspondingly tax is adjusted.

Watch out

Notice the following rules while purchasing during the sales tax holidays.

  1. The sales tax exemption is valid for goods exchanged at a later date as well. 🙂
  2. The tax exemption is valid for mail orders during that particular dates.
  3. Clothing or footwear for athletic or swimming do not receive the exemption.
  4. Returns after the tax holiday receive the corresponding tax credit, but not the new item purchased after the dates.

Iowa has complete sales tax off on clothing and footwear while Illinois has 5% sales tax off on clothing, footwear, and school supplies. Happy Shopping everybody. 🙂

Quad Cities Events – August, 2010

For Quad city residents, August is packed with full of local events which are not to be  missed. The Mississippi Valley Fair, River Roots Live Music Festival, Tug Fest are the major annual events apart from the movie in the park. These events make summer a little more exciting and worth celebrating!

Mississippi Valley Fair, 2010

The 91st annual Mississippi Valley Fair is being held at Davenport, Iowa from August 3rd to August 8th. If you have visited the Rock Island County Fair in July, you can expect this fair to be much bigger and with  more events.

The Mississippi Valley Fair has a  line up of celebrity artists from across the country performing live daily. Apart from the grand stand events, the fair is packed with shows from across the country. The animal show, carnival rides, fire guy show, diamonds show, Stiltwalker Todd Lageisse show, sculptors are some of the amazing shows in the fair.

The fair is held at 2815 West Locust street Davenport, Iowa 52804.  They can be reached on (563) 326-5338. The entry fee is $10 per head and $40 for all days with admission to the grand stand.

Tug Fest, 2010

The 24th annual Tug Fest is held across the Mississippi river between Le Claire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois. The tug-of-war across the river is held annually along with the Bike show and fire works. The show and events can be seen both the cities and are a ton of fun. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and water bottles.

The festival is held on August 12th to 14th and the entry is free. 🙂 Do not miss the annual show with lots of events for children as well as adults. The tug fest for children and the Prince/Princess contests are held for children. For adults, the parade contests, bike contests, Running, Golf tournament are the planned events. The fireworks on  Friday, August 13th are a feast and a must see!

River Roots Live Music Festival, 2010

The sixth annual River Roots Live Music Festival has artists from across the country performing for entertaining the visitors. The festival is a feast for all music lovers with a line-up of popular artists and fun.

The festival will be held in Davenport Downtown on August 20th and August 21st. The timings are from 11am till midnight. Entry is free 🙂 and the shows are held in multiple stages. The music festival is packed with rib fest for you to enjoy mouth-watering ribs. Bring your lawn chairs and water bottles.

Movie in the Park, Moline

Every Friday night in August, Moline Parks department shows a free  movie in the park at Riverside Park. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and water bottles to enjoy the cool summer and a free movie. Concessions are available at the park at an extra charge.

So, finally there are many events in August before school starts and fall begins. Enjoy to your maximum potential and let me know how it went. 🙂

West Lake Park – Davenport, Iowa

The recent get together with friends and family at the West Lake Park in Davenport, Iowa was tons of fun. The park facilities and the beach offer a unique fun experience for adults and children.

West Lake Park

West Lake Park is located by the lake. Its facilities include picnic areas, barbecues, children’s play area, rest rooms, and the beach of course! The park has all the facilities and is perfect for family get-together or birthday parties or casual picnics.

The Beach

The beach is a small area retained for children and adults to enter and play in the water. The lake water may look brown but kids will enjoy anyways. The sand by the lake allow the children to experience a beach environment right in the Quad cities. 🙂 The life guard will be watching the kids to ensure safety. Further, the younger kids get to play in a separate play area with all their personal swim toys and accessories.

Note that they charge $3 for adults and $2 for kids to enter the beach.

The Paddle Boating

This was the first time I paddled a boat. so, it was funny. My son paddled the boat too. Though it all resulted in lot of leg pain the next day, it was a good view of the trees and the lake from the boat. 🙂 The charges include $7 for half an hour and $10 for one hour. They with hold your driving licence and return when you are back.

The Annual Quad City Air Show – Davenport, Iowa

The annual Quad City Air Show is a must watch for the locals. It features top class air planes and amazing feats by the pilots.

The jets and super sonics make a colorful patterns and arrangements in the air. The bomber aircrafts fire the bombs and demonstrate their capabilities. The multiple jet synchronization and the feats are superb.

The aeroplanes twist and drop at a ninety degree angle from top to bottom and bottom to top. the expertise and skill of the pilots is commendable. I wonder how the pilots risk their lives just for the entertainment of the people.

The air show team recreate the Pearl Harbor attack which took place in 1941. In addition, the show features the American Navy Blues Angles. The dedicated top performers entertain and honor the veterans and engage the audience.

Good music and commentary along with food and drinks make a perfect afternoon for kids as well as adults. It costs $15 per head or you can just sit by the green grass by the road side and watch the aero-show.

The air show is conducted annually at the Davenport Municipal airport on the last Sunday in June. It is located at 9010 Harrison Street, Davenport, IA 52806. You can call 563-285-7469 for more information.

Public Parks – Bettendorf, Iowa

Bettendorf city in Iowa has multiple public parks which have planned amazing summer programs for the community. There are around twenty two parks out of which Veterans Memorial Park, Kiwanis Park, and Middle Park are the largest.


McManus Park is my personal best, though smaller in acreage it has all the facilities. The mulch surface playground is safer and preferable for kids. The sand surface playgrounds found in other parks are also found in this park.

Summer Programs

Veterans Memorial park airs movies every Saturday after sunset in June. It is a free family entertainment and a great time pass for children.

Bettendorf public parks offer many other programs such as  disc golf courses, swimming sessions, softball training, tennis training, baseball coaching, fitness classes and so on. Crow Creek Park has a skate park and cross country course. The cross country course is a two mile and three mile layout with rest areas in between.

The picnic shelters in the parks can be registered by calling 344-4113. The park’s summer camps can be reached at 344-4467. The camps include day camps for younger children and teen camps for young adults. Bettendorf parks have neighbourhood playground programs for children agres 6 to 12 which can be registered on 344-4131.

My best pick is movie in the park which am looking forward this Saturday. 🙂