Quadsville

Cover is $4, and RIBCO is at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ladymoonmusic or www.ribco.com on the Web.

For teens - The Anime Club will watch episodes from this month's featured DVD when it gathers next week. Past selections have included "Gunslinger Girl," "Solty Rei" and "Black Cat."

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, in the Junior League Program Room at the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. For more information or to suggest future anime to watch, contact John Gillette at (563) 344-4188.

For the family - Children and their families can make and play board games from countries around the world at the Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. The program is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, free with museum admission, which is $6 for those 2-59 years old, $4 for senior citizens and free for children younger than 2 as well as members.

For more information, call (563) 344-4106 or visit www.familymuseum.org on the Web.

He said what? - Blues guitarist Lil' Ed Williams, whose career has spanned more than 20 years, on vinyl versus CD:

"I loved the vinyls. I think the covers were great. Everything was huge, you could see the people better. CDs are so small and compact that you can't really get a good action shot going."

I wrote last week that I finally succumbed to peer pressure and downloaded the "Twilight" and "New Moon" audio books on iTunes.

But I waited to start listening until I had a good chunk of time to devote to the stories, as I've heard they have the power to completely consume readers, turning otherwise normal people with busy lives into hermits. Hence downloading the audio book so my life wouldn't come to a complete halt while taking in the series.

A long car ride to the Chicago suburbs last weekend seemed like the perfect time to start. But the six - hour round trip only got me halfway through "Twilight," and I spent all night listening until I couldn't stay awake any longer.

I'm about two-thirds of the way through and, spoiler alert, I can't believe how taken in I've been by the romance in which the love interests have only kissed briefly three times so far. There's no steamy love-making scenes that aren't fit for the young adults the series was intended for, but yet I'm completely enthralled by the innocent romance and constantly find myself smiling as I'm reminded of my own adolescence, such as what it was like trying to figure out the best way to introduce boys to my father in high school.

I haven't quite reached hermit status yet, but am pulling out my iPod every chance I get. I also added "Twilight" to my Netflix queue and became the 128,715th follower of @Twilight on Twitter.

What were your experiences like when you read "Twilight."

Show to see - Raised in Rockford, Ill., Ernie Hendrickson, an Americana folk singer/songwriter will have a CD release party at 10 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Oct. 29, at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island.

"Walking with Angels" is Hendrickson's second full-length solo album. Cover for the album release show is $4. For more information, visit www.ribco.com or www.erniehendrickson.com.

For teens - The "Twilight" events have already begun as fans gear up for next month's release of "New Moon," the second movie based on the popular series of vampire romance books. The Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St., will have a showing of "Twilight" at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

The event is free and open to all ages. For more information, visit www.molinelibrary.com.

For the family - Families can take advantage of pleasant fall weather and work off the calories from their Halloween candy during a bicycle tour of Arsenal Island at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. The tour will include the Colonel Davenport Home, the old Moline Lock, Arsenal Quarters One and the Confederate Cemetery.

Helmets are mandatory, and adults must accompany children younger than 12 years. Register for the free ride by calling (309) 794-5338.

He said what? - Kyle Peters, the owner of the Daiquiri Factory in The District of Rock Island, on Michael Jackson's "Thriller":

"I don't think you can have Halloween without 'Thriller.' It's one of those things. I grew up with it. At Halloween, you always heard the 'Thriller' song. You just naturally associated it with Halloween."

I've officially caught the "Twilight" fever.

Knowing that I'll likely be interviewing teenagers at movie theaters for the midnight showing of "New Moon" on Nov. 20, I finally downloaded the audiobooks for "Twilight" and "New Moon" so I can get caught up on the series that has captured the hearts of teenagers and adults alike.

I'm also attending a "New Moon" release party that a friend of mine from our book club is hosting at her house before we all head over to the movie theater on opening night. (Note: This is not your average book club. We're a group of 20-something ladies who discuss novels once a month over beer at area bars.)

The hostess is very craft-y and creative, so she made the invitations herself and wrote on the seal, "You are never too old, mature or responsible for a little Edward Cullen," referring to the vampire heartthrob of the series. I think that phrase appropriately captures the fascination people of all ages have with the love story between a vampire and a teenage girl.

We're supposed to bring a "Twilight"-inspired dish to the pre-movie party. I'm thinking cupcakes made with red velvet cake mix would be appropriate.

Libraries across the Quad-Cities also are gearing up for the next month's release of "New Moon." Click here for a link to some of the upcoming "Twilight"-related events. Is anyone else out there planning a "New Moon" or "Twilight" party?

Show to see - Indie rockers The Life and Times will perform at the Redstone Room in Davenport next week. The Life and Times frontman Allen Epley was also a member Shiner.

The show begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Cover is $10. Quad-City area band Head Held High will open the show.

For more information, visit www.redstoneroom.com or www.thelifeandtimes.com.

For the family - Families can watch "Hotel for Dogs" outdoors, play in bounce houses, scale a climbing wall, and enjoy face painting and live music at Movie in the Meadow.

The event is free and sponsored by North Ridge Community Church in Eldridge, Iowa. Activities begin at 5 p.m., with the movie starting after dusk.

For more information, visit www.northridgecc.com or call (563) 285-7819.

Check it out - The Cool Beanz Coffee House is new to Rock Island and will host a Fall Ball featuring the music of Double B, The Beat Boxcar Children, Jacob Larson and Smotz.

The all-ages show will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Cover is $5. Cool Beanz is at 1325 30th St., Rock Island.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/truelovedies.

He said what? - Brad Skistimas of Five Times August on his upcoming release, "Life As a Song," which features new recordings of old songs.

"I'm a lot more developed as a performer and singer and guitar player, and I wanted to have a chance to sing them (the old songs) with more passion and more thought and play them tighter on the guitar. Just as a whole, it's a lot more polished."