President’s executive order doesn’t mean much

I read with interest on the newswires this morning that President Bush issued an executive order that limits the federal government from seizing private property via eminent domain. The order came on the anniversary of a controversial Supreme Court decision that upheld the use of eminent domain for private development. A story about the order … Continue reading President’s executive order doesn’t mean much

More scuttlebutt

Here are more Route 66 news items I learned at the afternoon session of the Route 66 Summit in Albuquerque: -- American Road magazine is expanding its Web site on June 30, complete with podcasts from our two-lane highways. -- David Sheehan is currently traveling Route 66 to film a pilot episode about the Mother … Continue reading More scuttlebutt

Scuttlebutt from the road

I'm between sessions at the Route 66 Summit in Albuquerque, before the festival starts in earnest. The nice part is that you hear a lot of news from the movers and shakers of the Mother Road. Here's the latest tidbits: A Phillips 66 station at 10th and Military streets in Baxter Springs, Kan., has been … Continue reading Scuttlebutt from the road

Barbecue in Tulsa

Red Fork Hippie Chick here, typing with greasy fingers, in between sips of sweet tea and bites of buttermilk pie ... Wilson's BBQ ("U Need No Teeth to Eat Our Beef") is a North Tulsa institution. Ron and I ventured up to its Apache Street location in search of properly cooked pig shortly after we … Continue reading Barbecue in Tulsa

Face Route 66; don’t turn your backs on it

There is an O'Neill's Pub being built on Central Avenue, aka Route 66, in Albuquerque. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be humongous news, as the Duke City's main drag is regularly a hustle and bustle of business activity. But Chantal Foster of the Duke City Fix blog says it's a lot more significant than that. I'll let … Continue reading Face Route 66; don’t turn your backs on it

Oklahoma City’s Gold Dome finds new life

A few years ago, the geodesic "Gold Dome" on Route 66 in Oklahoma City once was slated for the wrecking ball. Now it's being used as a multicultural center and office complex, reports Preservation Online, a publication by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Gold Dome, built in 1958 as a Citizen's Bank, is … Continue reading Oklahoma City’s Gold Dome finds new life

Vega Motel needs help

Red Fork Hippie Chick here with a news bulletin and a request for help: I just became aware this morning of a situation that requires some assistance. The Vega Motel on Route 66 in Texas was forced to shut down for a while because one of the owners was seriously ill. He has recovered, thank … Continue reading Vega Motel needs help

Business moving out of Tulsa Monument building

Here's one from the "snooze, you lose" department. I had noticed a couple of weeks ago that there was a sign in front of Tulsa Monument Co. that the business had lost its lease and was moving. I had meant to follow up in an effort to get more information. The Tulsa World reported Thursday … Continue reading Business moving out of Tulsa Monument building

USA Today spotlights Gallup

Red Fork Hippie, posting for Ron this evening: This USA Today article lists New Mexico as one of the top 10 great road trips. The author is a little too enamored of the interstates for my taste, but the article itself, which focuses on some of Gallup's Route 66 attractions -- including the beautiful and … Continue reading USA Today spotlights Gallup

Coleman Theatre relights its neon

  Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog alerted me to the fact the circa-1929 Coleman Theatre in Miami, Okla., recently refurbished its vintage neon sign and had it lit for the first time Friday. Ace happened to be driving through Miami on Sunday night and saw it. The photo above is his. A volunteer at … Continue reading Coleman Theatre relights its neon