David Clark, aka Windy City Road Warrior, knows about Route 66 and other historic roads in Chicago probably more than anyone. He has written a few books about the subject, and he also gives guided tours from time to time. Clark now has started a blog. Its mission statement is thus: To wage noble campaigns … Continue reading Windy City Road Warrior starts a blog
Category: People
End of eras for two Tulsa restaurants
There was wistful news out of Tulsa Town this week regarding two Route 66 restaurants. First, the owners of Halim & Mimi's, a Lebanese restaurant on the 11th Street alignment of Route 66, are retiring after nearly 30 years in the business, reports the Tulsa World. The restaurant will reopen on Jan. 2 with new … Continue reading End of eras for two Tulsa restaurants
City wants nativity on Route 66 removed
Those who drive Route 66 in Illinois know of the Our Lady of the Highways shrine on a farm near Raymond, Ill. Many a person on the Mother Road has stopped at the well-tended landmark to pray or give it a moment of respectful silence. A second sort of shrine -- a nativity scene -- … Continue reading City wants nativity on Route 66 removed
Route 66 comic includes a tour
I received an e-mail from Phil Yeh, creator of the newly published "Dinosaurs Across Route 66" comic book. It looks like he's doing more than just publishing a salute to the Mother Road. Yeh said: I am planning to cover much of old Route 66 from January to April in 2008 and would love to … Continue reading Route 66 comic includes a tour
Victorville museum answers call for Christmas
Students at Sixth Street Preparatory, a charter school in Victorville, Calif., had a tradition for a number of years of decorating a Christmas tree at the local Amtrak station. This year, the station was unavailable because of a lack of water and power after a restaurant closed there. But on short notice, in steps the … Continue reading Victorville museum answers call for Christmas
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
Founder of famed Albuquerque restaurant dies
Pete Powdrell, founder of Mr. Powdrell's Barbecue, which has a longtime location on Central Avenue, aka Route 66, died on Sunday at age 86, according to the Albuquerque Tribune. He started the restaurant in 1962 just a few years after moving to Albuquerque from Texas. He used his grandfather's secret recipes, and it's been consistently … Continue reading Founder of famed Albuquerque restaurant dies
Michael Wallis news
I met up with author Michael Wallis and a few other longtime roadies for lunch Friday at Ollie's Station in Tulsa. Wallis had a few interesting announcements to make: His book "Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride" has been optioned for a film. It will star Haley Joel Osment, who is famed for his child … Continue reading Michael Wallis news
Square dancing on 66
The Ozark Whirlers is a square-dance club that has been based in Eldon, Mo., for 52 years, and the group still meets for dances at least twice a month, according to a feature article in the Lake Sun Leader of Camdenton, Mo. Many members are in their 70s. And the dancers must have had some … Continue reading Square dancing on 66
Putting back the neon
Dwayne of New Zealand posted a bunch of videos weeks ago from his summer Route 66 trip, but I missed this one. Here, he talks to Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., as he's about to install new neon lighting in July. The previous neon was destroyed by a severe … Continue reading Putting back the neon