The party begins today in unsinkable Davenport

By Times staff | Friday, July 04, 2008

Call it a victory party. The 24th annual IH Mississippi Valley Blues Fest kicks off today with a main stage just yards from where a pile of sandbags held back the Mississippi River last week.

A few blocks west, the River Bandits continue a homestand in a park that exhibits little evidence of the floodwater that surrounded it.

In between, the Bucktown Center for the Arts, the Figge Art Museum, River Music Experience and every restaurant and bar will be open for a holiday weekend party that seemed unlikely a week ago.

This amazing turnaround came together the way things tend to around here: Hard work and deep faith.

First the work.

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society turned on a dime to reinvent a festival it has run flawlessly in LeClaire Park for decades. Blues Society President Ric Burris almost gushed when describing how flood-worn Davenport leaders transformed from disaster responders to party planners.

“Let me tell you what. The city of Davenport came right up to the plate and took care of us,” he said emphatically.

He especially commended City Administrator Craig Malin for an infectious, can-do attitude.

“It was scary until we met with them. Then it was full speed ahead.”

The new setting around the RiverCenter requires some compromises, but provides some welcome upgrades, mainly lots of air-conditioned relief and flush toilets nearby.

The main stage will be at 2nd Street and Pershing Avenue, facing north. Vendors will be along 2nd Street toward the Radisson Plaza. The RiverCenter concourse will house the Blues Skool for kids and merchandise tables.

The tent stage will be in the more formal Adler Theatre, offering excellent sound and air conditioning alongside traditional beer sales.

Look to the west end of downtown for evidence of faith.

Baseball and blues haven’t always coexisted over the July 4 weekend. But the River Bandits’ new ownership sees things differently and purposefully scheduled a long homestand that coincides with the Blues Fest. Even in the aftermath of flooding the Bandits didn’t flinch. Their faith in downtown Davenport is being rewarded with record crowds and some fine baseball.

It all comes together this week under a mostly sunny forecast.

Come to downtown Davenport beginning tonight with blues, baseball and the annual Red, White and Boom fireworks display.

Make this July 4 celebration a victory party for downtown Davenport.