At least one Route 66 adult coloring has hit the market, and more probably will to take advantage of the craze. But they will be hard-pressed to surpass Jo Ann Kargus' newly published "Route 66 Splendor: An Adult Coloring Book." According to a report earlier by CNN and other media outlets, therapists and researchers have … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Splendor: An Adult Coloring Book”
Month: April 2017
Surprise wedding at Route 66 Neon Festival
Those who attended the Arcadia Route 66 Neon Fest headquartered last weekend at Jim Ross' house off old Route 66 near Arcadia, Oklahoma, got a surprise -- the wedding of two longtime roadies,officiated by a third longtime roadie. Ross and Shellee Graham -- both who have photographed and researched Route 66 for at least 20 … Continue reading Surprise wedding at Route 66 Neon Festival
Mother Road enthusiast forms UK Route 66 Association
Steve Bellamy, a Wales-based Route 66 aficionado known for his DrivingRoute66.com guide to the Mother Road, announced last week he is forming a UK Route 66 Association. In a text, Bellamy wrote about the genesis of the group: I'm aware that in the last couple of years there have been a few occasions where - … Continue reading Mother Road enthusiast forms UK Route 66 Association
Streetcar Diner also was target of Riviera Roadhouse fire
When a suspicious fire in 2010 burned down the historic Riviera Roadhouse restaurant in Gardner, Illinois, the arsonist also unsuccessfully targeted the nearby Streetcar Diner that night. That little-known fact was revealed in more than 200 pages of documents and dozens of photographs obtained through an open-records request for Illinois Fire Marshal's Office reports from the … Continue reading Streetcar Diner also was target of Riviera Roadhouse fire
Shea’s Route 66 Museum returning as Route 66-themed auto-repair shop
Shea's Route 66 Museum in Springfield, Illinois, which closed and its contents auctioned after the death of its longtime owner in 2013, will reopen this summer as a Route 66-themed auto-repair business. Local classic-car aficionados Randy Pickett and Jake Niewold plan to convert the vacant building to an auto-repair and maintenance shop with a Route 66 … Continue reading Shea’s Route 66 Museum returning as Route 66-themed auto-repair shop
A symbol of stupidity
A woman fell into the Arkansas River in Tulsa and was rescued Tuesday after she looked for "satanic symbols" that allegedly were on the underside of the historic 11th Street Bridge. Several Tulsa media outlets posted the story, but KJRH-TV reported the woman's bizarre reasoning for climbing the bridge. She lost her footing about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday … Continue reading A symbol of stupidity
Joplin announces “Fiddlers on the Route” music festival
Joplin, Missouri, will host a two-day "Fiddlers on the Route" music festival -- including the Nashville-based The Road Crew -- on June 30 and July 1 in the city's Landreth Park amphitheater. The Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau and Connect2Culture announced the event. Music begins both nights at 5 p.m., and the event is free. … Continue reading Joplin announces “Fiddlers on the Route” music festival
City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street
In a historic reversal, the city council of Springfield, Missouri, earlier this week voted unanimously to promote car cruising along Kearney Street -- a prominent Route 66 alignment -- on certain Friday nights this summer. The city now will encourage motorists to cruise on Kearney Street from 6 to 10 p.m. the second Friday of each … Continue reading City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street
Congressman takes road trip to promote Route 66 legislation
Illinois congressman Rodney Davis on Tuesday toured Route 66 in Illinois to drum up support for his bills for a Route 66 centennial commission and a National Historic Trail for the Mother Road. Davis and state Rep. Avery Bourne, who introduced state legislation on Route 66's centennial in 2026, made stops along Route 66. According to … Continue reading Congressman takes road trip to promote Route 66 legislation
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The famous and historic neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Illinois, recently was taken down. But don't panic -- it will be gone only a few weeks so it can be fixed and renovated so it looks new again. WBBM-TV reports that owner Patrick Rhea said he didn't look forward to his … Continue reading Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily