Eric Swanger is planning on driving the length of Route 66 in a few days. What makes his trip special is he's doing it entirely on a Vespa scooter. He starts from Chicago on May 6. He e-mailed: I am keeping a blog and posting a ton of pics. For the Route 66 segment, I'm … Continue reading A Vespa on 66 … and other notebook items
Category: Books
Building in Chicago named to National Register
This is going to be obscure except for the most rabid of Route 66 enthusiasts in the Windy City. But it was announced a couple of days ago that the International Tailoring Company Building at 847 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also known as the … Continue reading Building in Chicago named to National Register
A dining option?
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader published a review of a restaurant on Route 66 of which I was unfamiliar. It's the Rockwood Court Cafe at 2204 W. College St. in Springfield. The reviewer summed it up as: "Delicious home-style food at great prices in an eclectic atmosphere make the Rockwood Court and Café stand out on … Continue reading A dining option?
La Posada chef will publish a cookbook
John Sharpe, chef and owner of the Turquoise Room restaurant housed in La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., announced Monday that he will be publishing a cookbook in October. According to the news release: The book will be available exclusively through the restaurant or on our website. This book will be more than a cookbook. The … Continue reading La Posada chef will publish a cookbook
“Abe on 66” bookstore opens tomorrow
Remember the announcement about an "Abe on 66" bookstore in Bloomington, Ill., which specializes in items from Route 66, Abraham Lincoln and "The Wizard of Oz"? It opens Friday. It's at 402 1/2 N. Main St. (map here). However, this excerpt from the Bloomington Pantagraph's story troubled me: Initial store hours at Abe on 66 … Continue reading “Abe on 66” bookstore opens tomorrow
Virtual road trip
Andrew Wood completed a full-length trip of Route 66 a few weeks ago, and he's put his musings and adventures on a Web site here. It's chock-full of good writing and a ton of hyperlinked photos. Be prepared to spend a couple of fun hours on it. Wood, by the way, is the author of … Continue reading Virtual road trip
Upcoming book about Route 66 trip optioned for film
Michael Zadoorian has written a novel about a Route 66 trip, "The Leisure Seekers," that's not going to be published for almost another year, but it's already been optioned for film rights, says the Hollywood Reporter. The project, which has echoes of "The Bucket List" and "About Schmidt," revolves around an elderly couple who, to … Continue reading Upcoming book about Route 66 trip optioned for film
Michael Martin Murphey to perform benefit for Route 66 center
Michael Martin Murphey, best-known for his hits "What's Forever For" and "Wildfire," will perform a solo show in the historic Armory building in Chandler, Okla., at 7 p.m. Sunday, reports the Tulsa World. General admission tickets are $20 each, with reserved seating $30 each. All proceeds will go toward the Route 66 Interpretive Center, which … Continue reading Michael Martin Murphey to perform benefit for Route 66 center
Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
David King Dunaway, a professor at the University of New Mexico, has done a lot of historic research about Route 66 and helped others do the same with his oral history workshops. He also produced the excellent the "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story" for radio. We've met Dave at just about every significant … Continue reading Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
Book details Ash Fork’s history
Using the recent release of Marshall Trimble's "Images of America: Ash Fork" by Arcadia Publishing as a jumping-off point, the Prescott (Ariz.) Daily Courier also does a pretty good job of laying out the Route 66 town's history. You'd be hard-pressed to find a burg with as much bad luck as Ash Fork: But within … Continue reading Book details Ash Fork’s history