I've tried to glean a deeper look at the crisis in Needles, Calif., over the possible loss of its only grocery store, Bashas'. The grocer chain filed bankruptcy a few months ago, and it is set to close 10 stores in response, including Needles'. This recent story in the Mohave Daily News provides additional information … Continue reading Notes from the road
Category: Art
Here’s your sign
A few months ago, we tracked down who had painted hundreds, perhaps thousands of distinctive signs along the Route 66 corridor from the western Texas Panhandle to eastern New Mexico. It was Rudolph Gonzales, who has crafted his work along the Mother Road since the mid-1950s and is one of the last to do so … Continue reading Here’s your sign
Four-wheeled flourishes
The Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., has come up with a novel way to decorate its downtown, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph: The Pontiac City Council voted Monday to spend about $8,000 to purchase nine fiberglass models of 1957 convertibles, three of 1930s-era pickup trucks and artist supplies. The cars will be about 5½ feet … Continue reading Four-wheeled flourishes
More Route 66 in miniature
Here is Willem Bor's latest Route 66 miniature creation -- the Little Juarez diner in the ghost town of Glenrio, Texas. It is in 1/25 scale. You can read more about Bor's creations here.
Route 66 in miniature
Willem Bor of the Netherlands is a big Route 66 fan, and has decided to make models of landmarks along the Mother Road. The models are in 1/25 scale. Here's one of Lucille's near Hydro, Okla.: Here's one of the 66 Super Service Station near Alanreed, Texas: These amazingly intricate and accurate models are not … Continue reading Route 66 in miniature
Notes from the road
If you're traveling the Mother Road this week, you may have to make other plans for the midsection. As this map from the National Weather Service shows, the Route 66 corridor is under a winter storm warning all the way from about Springfield, Mo., to Gallup, N.M. -- much of it freezing rain. Authorities closed … Continue reading Notes from the road
A video farewell to Bob
Here's a video tribute to Route 66 artist and ambassador Bob Waldmire, who died about a month ago.
Notes from the road
The Pontiac Walldog Committee, which has helped beautify downtown Pontiac, Ill., with a series of murals and related festivals, now wants to open a Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum in Pontiac, according to news release from the city's tourism department. The primary purpose of the museum is to pay homage to the men and … Continue reading Notes from the road
Bob Waldmire interview to be replayed
A one-hour radio interview conducted with late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire in 2008 will be rebroadcast over the Internet on Monday afternoon on BOUNCE Talk Radio. The broadcast time is 3 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific time, Monday on the "Route 66 Radio Show." The show is hosted by Bob Moore, former executive editor of … Continue reading Bob Waldmire interview to be replayed
Double the art gallery fun
Photographer Sandi Wheaton, the woman who lost her job and took the opportunity to take a lengthy road trip to document Route 66, will have her images on display at not one, but two art galleries in Canada. The opening nights of the exhibits about car culture coincide with the nearby 2010 Detroit Auto Show. … Continue reading Double the art gallery fun