No soup for you (or anything else) in downtown Davenport!
Dining-out deprivation on tax day. Plus: official cat christening, a local Val Kilmer connection, and more.
Last evening, when my friend CG and I met up, we (I) declared it too windy for our walk, and that we should go somewhere indoors to catch up. But when we stepped inside The Last Picture House for a drink, we discovered a sign at the bar that said “Private Event.”
I wasn’t too thrown by this, because I was aware that the space is rentable. But as we were thinking about where to go instead, my stomach growled. We decided to find somewhere to get appetizers or split a dinner. (Single-income gals are we. And yes this is the same friend with whom I rocked the prom.)
Directly across the street, at the resurrected (from the flood of 2019) Great River Brewery, the patio door was open and music was playing. CG thought they might sell pizza, so we headed over. But as we reached the entrance, we discovered a piece of paper taped on the door: CLOSED FOR PRIVATE PARTY.
“Jeeze! What are the odds?” We laughed about it, turned back into the wind, and discussed our options, eventually deciding to head over to the Barrel House about a block away on 2nd Street/Motor Row. But when we arrived, it officially began to feel like we were being Punk’d: “CLOSED - PRIVATE EVENT.”
At this point, it would’ve made sense to call it quits and go home, but we were trying to catch up, dammit! So, we decided to round the corner and head west on River Drive toward Front Street Brewery, (even though—as I pointed out with dismay—the owners are you-know-who’ers. And yes I keep track).
But as we were approaching, I suggested that we stop at Stompbox Brewery instead. “I haven’t been there since they changed ownership,” I said. “Let’s just go there. We can see what the food is like now.”
“Great!” CG said. “It’s closer, too!”
So, a bit breathless from the wind, we popped over to the Stompbox—where, unbelievably, we encountered yet another sign with Sharpie-scrawled lettering on the door: “CLOSED FOR PRIVATE PARTY .”
“Ok, what IS this night?”
“No kidding, what are we missing?” CG said. We ran through spring events and holidays to no avail. What was on the calendar we weren’t thinking of?
“Tax day?” I said. “Maybe it’s like…a bunch of accountants? Like they’re all out celebrating because they’re done?”
CG laughed. But I’d said it in complete seriousness, because it was April 15th. And because WHY was every damn thing closed!
Just then, a group of three or four women and one man walked up and asked us for directions to Front Street. “It’s right around the corner,” I said, “but it might be closed!”
A guy I hadn’t noticed seemed to approach out of nowhere, and a couple of aspects of his outward appearance, I’ll admit, made me think he was going to try to panhandle. (He didn’t.) “It’s people from this big food packaging company, PFC,” the guy said. “They’re all in town for … some big thing.”
“So that’s it!” I said, now deeming this man an oracle.
And then the group we’d just given directions to, possibly food packaging people?, turned the corner.
CG and I ended up deciding to sit and chat inside the Raccoon Motel, although it doesn’t serve food. And thus, my supper last night (before I went home and devoured various salty carbs that come in a bag) was a Miller Lite tallboy, because it was on $3 special.
Goodbye to a great one
In other Davenport-related dining news, I was dismayed to learn last week that the delightful and delicious restaurant called Cavort will be closing its doors.
I guess I was hoping for a late April Fool’s joke when, on the 7th, they started a Facebook post with the line “Another one bites the dust.” But then they went on…
“Cavort Libations & Bites has had a wonderful 5 years in Downtown Davenport, but ultimately too many changes have led us to our decision to close.”
While it’s true that the ambiance in there could be described as …a level of darkness that forced me and my dining companions to get out cellphone flashlights and cheaters to use as menu-reading tools (and me to once ask permission to pull back the curtains!), I loved the food, the location, the flair for creative twists on classics.
The news comes after other bummer announcements (or non-) in recent months on the closure of Ruby’s Bikes & Brats, The Diner, and Chocolate Manor, (not to mention another downtown place to dine, The Garrison, that abruptly closed its doors before I’d even made it there yet).
Thankfully Cavort is giving us some time to get one last taste.
And now in other news:
CAT-CHRISTENING POLL: THE RESULTS ARE IN!
The people—all four of you—have spoken! And it was a landslide win for the names I have to admit I was pulling for, but hadn’t been sure I was ready to commit yet.
As I shared in my last post, I recently certified my status as the type of woman who keeps J.D. Vance awake at night, when I went on a visit to Books & Meows in Davenport and brought home two cats.
The elder statesman—a four-year-old whose shelter name was Patriot—shall now be known as Bernie.
The junior senator—who was on the cusp of turning six months old the day I brought him home—is now Bootie. (Actual spelling should be “Butti.”) My dad has decreed them to be Democats, and I’m jealous I didn’t think of that myself.
(This is Bernie. Bootie pic to come! I need them to sit still for a good photo opp.)
One commenter who read about my visit to the Quad Cities’ only cat lounge said she’s been meaning to go, and my post was the push she needed. That felt amazing! I hope she, like me, remembers to bring in a Kwik Star coffee and, like me, leaves with (at least) one cat.
Rock show I probably WILL roll to:
Despite some of the bummer-news I posted above, here’s something exciting! The Capitol Theatre announced on Facebook that Sierra Ferrell is coming to town!
Who’s Sierra Ferrell, you say? Well, only ...
One of country and roots music’s ‘most fascinating, and fastest-rising artists’- Rolling Stone
But should you trust Rolling Stone alone? Hell, no! Listen to me instead!
Let’s start with the fact that she is the artist behind one of my top two or three songs of the year of 2024, which is saying something because
PEOPLE, I LOVE THE SHIT OUT OF some great singing/songwriting.
Now, you have the same musical taste as me? Maybe not. But I know my shit so just go with it. Trust me when I say you should play this song:
“American Dreaming”
I should get some rest today
Then pack my bags, be on my way
But my mind's always workin' on the way it could have been
Tryin' to tow a tight rope line
Find a way to feel half fine
Without drownin' in this wine and callin' you again
To add to her incredible talent, there’s also her backstory— which, as is the case with so many of my favorite S/SWs, seems almost as vital as their art.
So, when a friend turned me on to Ferrell last year and I liked her work immediately, it was an added bonus to learn that she comes across as another “real deal.” An unmistakable talent who also happens to have lived through some shit, including “hitchhiking, train hopping and busking her way across the country for years.”Watch the CBS Sunday Morning clip here: “Singer Sierra Ferrell talks roving past and remarkable rise.”
…and finally…
Kilmer / QC Connection:
It’s likely you heard about the recent passing of actor Val Kilmer, known for a number of roles (but who I’ll always associate with The Doors.) But did you know he had family roots in Moline? I certainly didn’t, until a Quad Citizen posted this on Facebook:
On October 20 1956, Gladys Ekstadt of Moline married Eugene Dorris Kilmer of Los Angeles California. Ms. Ekstadt grew up at 144 24th Avenue, Moline. Gladys left Moline in 1951 and sought out her future in Los Angeles California. Gladys gave birth to Val Edward Kilmer on December 31, 1959.
😮 I know, right?
That’s all for now. Take care and don’t go out for dinner tonight, just in case the packaging people are still in town.
-Alison
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Wow, it doesn't take much to shut down downtown D-port, does it! I've walked around there after a show and you're right, it's slim pickins. In a thriving economy with a vibrant downtown, some of those shops could've said no to the packaging people, but that's not my experience there, so I get it.
No photos of the kitties?