Missouri eatery named best British restaurant

Here's something I bet you never thought you'd see -- a restaurant in Springfield, Mo., has been named the best British eatery outside United Kingdom. The Telegraph, a major newspaper in England, bestowed that honor to Farmers Gastropub. Here's what The Telegraph said about the restaurant, just south of downtown Springfield: Described by its nominator … Continue reading Missouri eatery named best British restaurant

More on the Boots Motel’s reopening

The Carthage Press today posted more information about the reopening of the historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., scheduled for May 8. The opening date was announced a few days ago. A few factoids from the article: --- New owners Pricilla Bledsaw and Deborah Harvey had planned to use the back building of the historic Route … Continue reading More on the Boots Motel’s reopening

A small fact about Whitney Houston’s death

I sorta hate to bring this up, since it's a trivial fact in light of a tragedy. But the hotel where singing superstar Whitney Houston died on Saturday -- the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. -- sits next to Route 66. A reader alerted me to this today. The hotel lists its address as 9876 … Continue reading A small fact about Whitney Houston’s death

Time-lapse road trip

If you've got time to kill, you can watch this 76-minute video by Chris Gillham using time-lapse photography of a Route 66 trip from St. Louis to Santa Monica, then St. Louis to Chicago, in a 1965 Pontiac Parisienne convertible. The camera he mounted shot an image every 10 seconds. The Route 66 trip was … Continue reading Time-lapse road trip

Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Every two years, one living and one deceased person are chosen for the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. It is that time again. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is seeking nominations for 2012. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be May 26 at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Here's what's need … Continue reading Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

The latest Route 66 Village project

The Route 66 Village in southwest Tulsa contains an old steam locomotive, several rail cars, and a gigantic replica of an oil derrick. Here's the latest project that volunteers are working on, via KOTV:

Book review: “A Route 66 Companion”

Roadies leafing through David King Dunaway's "A Route 66 Companion" (University of Texas Press, soft cover, 162 pages) may get a jolt of bittersweet nostalgia. That's because the pages are sprinkled with intricate pen-and-ink drawings of Bob Waldmire, the beloved Route 66 artist and roving hippie who died of cancer in late 2009. Waldmire's artwork … Continue reading Book review: “A Route 66 Companion”

A day at the Santa Monica Pier

This excellent video by Tony Leech uses time-lapse and tilt-shift effects to show scenes at the Santa Monica Pier, the traditional western end of Route 66: https://youtu.be/FCmtkvQ1fXE Music is "Wassup You Guys!" by M. Bison.

Survivor of Joplin hotel collapse dies

Alfred Summers, the lone survivor of a collapse in 1978 of a large motel along Route 66 in Joplin, Mo., died Friday at age 64, according to the Joplin Globe. Summers, part of demolition crew, was trapped in the rubble for more than three days before he was extricated. Two co-workers died in the unexpected … Continue reading Survivor of Joplin hotel collapse dies

Boots Motel set to reopen May 8

The historic Boots Motel, a Route 66 landmark in Carthage, Mo., that was endangered for several years, will reopen for business starting May 8, according to KODE-TV in nearby Joplin. According to the station, the motel will price its rooms for $2.50 for opening night. After that, rooms will be $66 a night. Those interested … Continue reading Boots Motel set to reopen May 8