With the razing of a century-old icehouse, city leaders in Springfield, Ill., are considering yet another site for a Route 66 visitors center, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. The long-vacant Central Illinois Power Co. icehouse at 918 E. Edwards St. (map here) is being torn down by owner Joe Chernis. Due to the site's proximity … Continue reading Springfield, Ill., considers yet another site for Route 66 museum
Hello from Italy
Nino Siragusa's singing is a bit dodgy during this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," mostly because English isn't his first language. But his picking is aces. https://youtu.be/9v9g21vyUjU
More about the Joplin murals
A few days ago, the Joplin Globe reported about a local tile company that is offering to install Route 66-related murals at Seventh and Main in Joplin, Mo., where two historic alignments of Route 66 meet. Today, the president of the Images in Tile USA, Paul Whitehill, sent more information about the project. First, here … Continue reading More about the Joplin murals
DVD review: “Route 66 RV Adventure”
https://youtu.be/pVfsdwopqmg John Holod's documentary film "Route 66 RV Adventure: Exploring the Mother Road" provides a taut, enjoyable, and fairly up-to-date look at Route 66 from behind the wheel of a recreational vehicle. Holod has produced "RV Adventure" DVDs about Alaska, Northeast Coast, Rocky Mountains, Southeast Coast, Gulf Coast, Baja, and eastern Canada. Last spring, he … Continue reading DVD review: “Route 66 RV Adventure”
Palms Grill Cafe pie-maker honored by state
Lumi Bekteshi, a pie-maker at the historic Palms Grill Cafe in downtown Atlanta, Ill., on Route 66, was honored by the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism, according to a story by Lee News Service. Bekteshi won the award in Rosemont as part of a series of “Lincoln Awards,” inspired by the Oscar-nominated Steven Spielberg film. … Continue reading Palms Grill Cafe pie-maker honored by state
It’s maple sirup time
Mark Rivera, a reporter at WAND-TV, paid a recent visit to Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup in the Route 66 town of Funks Grove, Ill. This is about the time of year that the Funk family begins its annual harvest. https://youtu.be/H2mpvQwkS_Y You can order their delicious products here. UPDATE: The Chicago Tribune also posted a … Continue reading It’s maple sirup time
A new way of seeing the Santa Monica Pier
I'll bet you've never seen the Santa Monica Pier this way before: Santa Monica Airlines from robert mcintosh on Vimeo. The video was created by Robert Macintosh, who specializes in aerial photography. When asked how he threaded the camera through the Ferris Wheel, he confessed: “I just held my breath and tried not to blink.” … Continue reading A new way of seeing the Santa Monica Pier
Rock Creek Bridge closed to traffic
The historic Rock Creek Bridge on the old Ozark Trail alignment of Route 66 in Sapulpa, Okla., was closed to traffic Thursday after a state inspection deemed it unsafe, reported the Sapulpa Daily Herald. A visit to the 1921 bridge Friday revealed that in addition to "Bridge Out" signs, large chunks of concrete laid onto … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge closed to traffic
“Route 66,” from an Albuquerque garage
Well, I'm not positive this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" was recorded in a Duke City garage. But this cover by The Monkeymen was indeed captured in low-fidelity in Albuquerque and released by a local label, QQ Records, in 1965. https://youtu.be/1LI_yh4RFdE The history of the band is obscure, but bits and pieces can be … Continue reading “Route 66,” from an Albuquerque garage
Red Oak II apparently going into the motel business
At least three vintage duplexes from Joplin, Mo., were moved to the Red Oak II property near Carthage, Mo., on Wednesday, according to several photos and posts on Red Oak II's Facebook page. The sprawling Red Oak II complex, a few miles north of Route 66, serves as a re-creation of old-time, small-town America by artist Lowell Davis. … Continue reading Red Oak II apparently going into the motel business