Disclosure: I'm not a big car nut. Sure, I learned during my years on the farm to change the oil, keep an eye on the gauges and how to use starter fluid into cold diesel engines. But if someone talked about a Gremlin, I'd relate to the little monsters in the Steven Spielberg film, not … Continue reading Book review: “The Big Book of Car Culture”
Month: December 2007
Founder of famed Albuquerque restaurant dies
Pete Powdrell, founder of Mr. Powdrell's Barbecue, which has a longtime location on Central Avenue, aka Route 66, died on Sunday at age 86, according to the Albuquerque Tribune. He started the restaurant in 1962 just a few years after moving to Albuquerque from Texas. He used his grandfather's secret recipes, and it's been consistently … Continue reading Founder of famed Albuquerque restaurant dies
Edgewood may buy wildlife park
The Mountain View Telegraph reports that the city of Edgewood, N.M., may buy the property on which the Wildlife West Nature Park animal sanctuary sits, just off Route 66. The owner thinks having it municipally owned would mean a more stable long-term situation for the park's operations. The 122-acre park is owned by a group … Continue reading Edgewood may buy wildlife park
Cussing and discussing a sign ordinance
A while back, the city of Albuquerque was considering a strict sign ordinance that would severely curb the size, type and placement of businesses signs. Because of opposition from the business community and from a fair number of Route 66ers who fear for the fate of the neon along Central Avenue, the proposed ordinance has … Continue reading Cussing and discussing a sign ordinance
Texaco memorabilia on display in Oklahoma
Jim Conard has donated his extensive collection of Texaco memorabilia to the Dobson Museum and Library of Miami, Okla., a block off Route 66. According to the Chevron Retirees Association's newsletter, Conard, who now lives near Atlanta, had quite a personal history with Route 66 in northwestern Oklahoma: The display is in that locale because … Continue reading Texaco memorabilia on display in Oklahoma
Illinois Route 66 receives two grants
U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., announced today that a series of grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation had been awarded to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Two of the grants included: $235,000 for implementation of the Marketing Program for Historic Route 66, which includes 421 miles in Illinois from Chicago to Metro East St. … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 receives two grants
“Chicago”
For over a decade, I wrote weekly music reviews for a newspaper in Illinois. In 2005, I heard a mighty buzz about folk-rocker Sufjan Stevens and his album, "Illinois." There was a lot of interest in the project, partly because Stevens has vowed to record an album inspired by each of the 50 states. Michigan … Continue reading “Chicago”
Myth-busting about scenic byways
Talk about a public service: The Meramec Journal has appropriated the theme of the Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" show and has sifted the fact from fiction regarding Missouri's scenic byways program. Route 66 is one of those byways. The newspaper contacted Monica Duncan, a scenic byway coordinator for Missouri and a resource management analyst for the … Continue reading Myth-busting about scenic byways
“Many a Long and Lonesome Highway”
Here's a song from 1990 by country-rocker Rodney Crowell. In addition to being a successful singer and songwriter, he was a former son-in-law to Johnny Cash. That had to make for interesting family gatherings.
An inside look at Meramec Caverns
An HD editor posted a short segment about Meramec Caverns, just off Route 66 in Stanton, Mo. The footage includes rooms that are seldom seen by the public.