Let it wail

A few cues are blown during this version of "Route 66," but the blues harmonica playing is so good, it's hard to resist. That's Natacha Seara of Argentina on the blues harp.

Long to-do list for Illinois State Fairgrounds

The Springfield Journal-Register has a lengthy and sometimes-depressing report about long-overdue repairs at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in town. A prominent alignment of Route 66 runs next to the grounds. Whether the repairs are done is dependent on whether the legislature adopts the governor's budget, which includes money for the fixes. In the meantime: The … Continue reading Long to-do list for Illinois State Fairgrounds

The man behind the big totem pole

The Edmond (Okla.) Sun has a story about Ed Galloway, the fellow who created Totem Pole Park near Route 66 in Foyil, Okla.

“Carefree highway, let me slip away on you …”

Here's a slideshow that goes with Gordon Lightfoot's hit, "Carefree Highway." The images aren't strictly from Route 66, but sentiment is.

Snow cone

Rick Shalander of Whites Creek, Tenn., who's been building his own version of one of the cabins from the Cozy Cone Motel in the movie "Cars," sent me this photo: Incidentally, the title of Shalander's e-mail was "Snow cone." 🙂 It's a nice likeness of a Cozy Cone cabin. Here's another photo for reference:

Fire destroys historic Albuquerque saloon

The Golden West Saloon, which was built on Albuquerque's Central Avenue in 1929, was destroyed by fire Thursday, reports the Albuquerque Journal. The fire also damaged the historic El Rey Theater next door, but the owner is optimistic it will reopen next weekend. The owner made a appeal to the community to revive the saloon, … Continue reading Fire destroys historic Albuquerque saloon

Hot-rod ambassador Boyd Coddington dies

Boyd Coddington, star of the "American Hot Rod" TV show and hot-rod ambassador, died at age 63 on Tuesday morning. The cause of death wasn't disclosed. However, Edmunds.com revealed that Coddington had been hospitalized since January after a fall at his home. Obituaries by the New York Times and Popular Hot Rodding provide a good … Continue reading Hot-rod ambassador Boyd Coddington dies

Another town receiving design help from students

A few days ago, architecture students helped the Route 66 town of Webb City, Mo., with ideas for revitalizing its downtown. Now it looks like University of Oklahoma landscaping architecture students also will provide ideas on March 7 for another Mother Road city, Miami, Okla., reports the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. “They will be looking at … Continue reading Another town receiving design help from students

Route 66 town tries to grant a final wish

Shirley Trueman greeted customers for a decade at the Bagdad Cafe on Route 66 in Newberry Springs, Calif., while her husband Bud was a chef there. The restaurant became internationally famous because of a 1988 German film by the same name. Now, the Desert Dispatch in nearby Barstow is reporting that Trueman is dying of … Continue reading Route 66 town tries to grant a final wish