Tucumcari, N.M., artists Doug and Sharon Quarles, best-known for their murals around the Route 66 town, have opened a bed-and-breakfast in a historic home at 307 E. High St. near downtown, according to the Quay County Sun. The Quarleses' original art gallery was in the downtown Sands-Dorsey Building, but it burned down last year. They … Continue reading Tucumcari artists open B&B
Category: Motels
Judge urges compromise with El Vado Motel
Here's a brief from Wednesday's Albuquerque Journal about the continuing fight to preserve El Vado Motel: A state district judge advised developer Richard Gonzales and the city of Albuquerque on Tuesday to seek a compromise in their dispute over El Vado Motel. Gonzales is seeking a demolition permit to tear down at least part of … Continue reading Judge urges compromise with El Vado Motel
El Vado Motel earns city landmark status — barely
That was a close one. The Albuquerque City Council voted 5-4 Monday night to award city landmark status to El Vado Motel, giving it some protection against being torn down to make way for luxury townhouses. The vote followed more than two hours of sometimes-disjointed discussions that Councilor Don Harris labeled "a train wreck." The … Continue reading El Vado Motel earns city landmark status — barely
Tucumcari leader Bettie Ditto dies
Bettie Ditto, the former mayor of the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., and longtime owner of the Pow Wow Inn, died at age 91 on Saturday, reports the Quay County Sun. She was so respected in the region, she was called "Mrs. Tucumcari." A former city commissioner and real estate developer, she is perhaps … Continue reading Tucumcari leader Bettie Ditto dies
Closed for the winter
This time of year, a number of Route 66 businesses reduce their hours or even close because revenues become too sluggish to justify staying open. It's also an opportunity for these owners to make repairs or get some R&R. One example is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis, which closes in January. It's common … Continue reading Closed for the winter
Councilor thinks El Vado will be preserved
The Albuquerque Tribune published a story today about the city council's meeting Monday on whether to again designate El Vado Motel a city landmark, thus protecting it from destruction. One councilor is confident the council will follow the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission's unanimous recommendation and grant the designation. Councilor Isaac Benton said he expects … Continue reading Councilor thinks El Vado will be preserved
Join discussion about El Vado
I'm a member of the Duke City Fix blog collective based in Albuquerque, and I posted the latest news about El Vado Motel. Considering it's iffy on whether El Vado can return as a motel if it's saved, I asked for suggestions on other ways El Vado can be re-used, yet keep its historic look. … Continue reading Join discussion about El Vado
City Council will decide on El Vado on Jan. 7
A few weeks ago, Albuquerque's Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission unanimously recommended that the historic El Vado Motel on Route 66 be designated a city landmark to protect it from demolition. Today, I learned the Albuquerque City Council will decide whether to officially designate El Vado as a city landmark during its Jan. 7 meeting. … Continue reading City Council will decide on El Vado on Jan. 7
The rise of the Patels
This article from Express Hospitality describes how Asian-Americans -- many of them with the Patel surname -- have become dominant players in the United States lodging industry in just a few decades. They overcame language barriers, culture differences, hurdles from banks and insurers, and old-fashioned bigotry. Now, Asian-Americans control more than 50 percent of America's … Continue reading The rise of the Patels
Book review: “The Big Book of Car Culture”
Disclosure: I'm not a big car nut. Sure, I learned during my years on the farm to change the oil, keep an eye on the gauges and how to use starter fluid into cold diesel engines. But if someone talked about a Gremlin, I'd relate to the little monsters in the Steven Spielberg film, not … Continue reading Book review: “The Big Book of Car Culture”