Word came down late Monday that rock 'n' roll legend Tom Petty died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Southern California home. He was 66. I'll let others wax poetic about his marvelous career, including one of my favorite music writers at the Chicago Tribune. But it's almost a given Tom Petty and his … Continue reading Tom Petty, R.I.P.
Book review: Charles Phoenix’s “Addicted to Americana”
If you wondered whether famed pop-culture enthusiast Charles Phoenix included Route 66 attractions in his latest book, "Addicted to Americana" (180 pages, hardcover, illustrated, Prospect Park Books), all you have to do is glance at its cover. It contains an image of the Desert Hills Motel neon sign in Tulsa and a tepee from one … Continue reading Book review: Charles Phoenix’s “Addicted to Americana”
Mother Road Marathon resumes with almost 900 runners
Nearly 900 runners participated in tri-state Mother Road Marathon, which resumed Sunday after a three-year hiatus. The 26.2-mile course went from Commerce, Oklahoma, through much of Route 66 in Kansas, and finished at Schifferdecker Park in Joplin, Missouri. A total of 300 runners competed in the full marathon. Another 400 ran a half-marathon, and 200 … Continue reading Mother Road Marathon resumes with almost 900 runners
Grand Canyon Cafe grand reopening set for next Saturday
The Grand Canyon Cafe in Flagstaff, Arizona, will hold a grand reopening celebration Saturday, Oct. 7, with free pancakes that morning and possibly free meals for a year at the historic Route 66 restaurant. Starting at 10:30 a.m. next Saturday, guests can score free pancakes in exchange for submitting their email addresses or sharing their online … Continue reading Grand Canyon Cafe grand reopening set for next Saturday
Landowner of Classen Circle plans to demolish site anyway
Oklahoma City zoning commissioners hit a stalemate Thursday on whether to rezone historic Classen Circle to allow the construction of a Braum's restaurant there, but the landowner said he planned to raze the site for redevelopment regardless of the Braum's decision. Commissioners mustered only a 3-3 tie on whether to rezone the parcel. But it … Continue reading Landowner of Classen Circle plans to demolish site anyway
Filmmaker is crowdfunding a portion of his Blue Whale movie
Tulsa-based filmmaker Jonathan Rossetti wants to make a coming-of-age independent film set at the iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, and he has set up a crowdfunding campaign to hire a casting director. Rossetti launched up his campaign this month on Seed and Spark. He hopes to raise about $10,000 within two weeks. He … Continue reading Filmmaker is crowdfunding a portion of his Blue Whale movie
Route 66 Bowl near Joplin being converted into training center
Route 66 Bowl, a facility which had served bowling fans for about a half-century near the Missouri-Kansas border, recently was purchased and is being converted into a wrestling training center and gym. KSN-TV reported Dave O'Banion, owner of Renegade Wrestling Academy in Joplin, Missouri, recently bought the facility, which also was known as Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 Bowl near Joplin being converted into training center
El Vado Motel’s lobby soon will open as beer taproom
The lobby of the historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque will open in early November as a taproom for local beers from Ponderosa Brewing Co. Redevelopment of the Route 66 landmark into a boutique motel is continuing, but Chad Rennaker of Palindrome Communities Development told the Albuquerque Journal that El Vado Taproom will open in a … Continue reading El Vado Motel’s lobby soon will open as beer taproom
Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die”
Traveling Route 66 has ended up on many people's so-called "bucket list," or "things you ought to do before you kick the bucket." Prolific author Jim Hinckley created a bucket list for Route 66 itself in his newest book, "100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die" (160 pages, soft cover, photos, Reedy … Continue reading Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die”
Restaurant inspired by Roy’s of Amboy opens in Barstow
Roy's Cafe, which features a neon sign inspired by another sign at the historic Roy's of Amboy, California, recently opened on Route 66 in Barstow, California. Here's the sign for the original Roy's, for comparison's sake: Carlos Aceves, Amboy town manager, wrote to the Route 66 yahoogroup Saturday: Roy's Cafe is now open in Barstow … Continue reading Restaurant inspired by Roy’s of Amboy opens in Barstow