Fordham University in New York is hosting a two-person photography exhibition, "In the City and the Mother Road: Route 66," by Doug Muir and Michael Putnam through Feb. 10. The exhibit juxtaposes urban settings with rural scenes from middle America. The Route 66 photography is by Putnam. According to a news release by the university: … Continue reading Photo exhibit features Route 66
A death in the family
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch today tells the tragic story George F. "Fred" Kiesel. Kiesel lived in one of the rooms at the Wayside Motel, one of the few surviving vintage motels along old Route 66 in the suburb of Marlborough. The Wayside is across the road from the famed Coral Court Motel, which was torn … Continue reading A death in the family
School’s street-closing request denied
The City Planning Commission of Amarillo, Texas, rejected by a 4-3 vote a request by San Jacinto Christian Academy to close two streets that adjoin the Sixth Street District, aka Route 66, reports KVII-TV. The school wanted to close Carolina and Mississippi streets between Fifth and Sixth streets to provide more safety for students. ... … Continue reading School’s street-closing request denied
Holiday season at the Bent Door
Ramona Kiewert, one of the new co-owners of the Bent Door in Adrian, Texas, sent these photos that were taken during the recent winter storm that hit the Panhandle in late December. She mentioned that the residents of Adrian complemented them on the Christmas lights hanging from the building's vigas. The folks there were probably … Continue reading Holiday season at the Bent Door
Route 66 makes Readers’ Choice Awards
Southern Living magazine cited the Mother Road during its annual Readers' Choice Awards: The Blue Ridge Parkway, in Asheville, N.C., the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tupelo, Miss., and the portions of Route 66 that run through Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas were named best scenic routes by readers, while editors picked The Bluegrass in Lexington, Ky. … Continue reading Route 66 makes Readers’ Choice Awards
Tilting at the Mill
The Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review has a good article about Geoff Ladd, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, and his efforts to save The Mill on old Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill. He was looking to promote connections and objects associated with Route 66 and his optimistic eye soon … Continue reading Tilting at the Mill
Activity in Arcadia
On Sunday, I took a drive on Route 66 to Arcadia, Okla., to check the progress of POPS, the bigger-than-life convenience store envisioned by Chesapeake Energy CEO and Route 66 fan Aubrey McClendon. The above photo is the 66-foot-tall pop bottle and straw, which will be swirled in LED tubing when it's finished. I spied … Continue reading Activity in Arcadia
Live chat with the Cancer Rider
American Road magazine is going to have a live Internet chat at 8 p.m. EST Jan. 14 with Michelle Thompson, the woman who recently cycled Route 66 to raise awareness of oral cancer and raise funds for her stricken brother. To participate or read the comments, you have to go to this site, then click … Continue reading Live chat with the Cancer Rider
Ring was lost; now it’s found
Here's a story from the Tulsa World that involves the iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., on Route 66. A woman lost her class ring at the site in the early 1970s, when the Blue Whale was still a swimming hole. She searched for it at least one time, but assumed it was gone for … Continue reading Ring was lost; now it’s found
New novel set on Route 66
Mystery novelist Carol O'Connell has written eight books featuring New York detective Kathleen Mallory. The ninth, "Find Me," takes place prominently on the Mother Road. I found out about O'Connell's book, which has been in stores for about a week, with this review in the Arizona Republic: Mallory is missing at the outset, and in … Continue reading New novel set on Route 66