I stumbled onto this video today, posted by Casey Smalley. The description of the video: Here you can place an order for a 18 oz. bottle of my family's barbecue sauce that my grandpa, Ed Smalley, made popular through his days running the Okie Steakhouse, the world famous Rock Cafe [my emphasis -- Ed.] along … Continue reading A taste of the past?
Historic building in Joliet will be torn down
The century-old White Store in downtown Joliet, Ill., will be razed to make way for a new building being erected by Joliet Junior College, reported the Herald-News. The four-story White Store at 235 Chicago St. (on the Illinois 53 alignment of Route 66) will be demolished in about 20 days, the newspaper reported. Workers will … Continue reading Historic building in Joliet will be torn down
The fire is so delightful
Today, it's time to relax with an eggnog, with your feet propped up near a virtual Yule log fire. Music is by Sam Harris, who grew up just a few miles from Route 66 in Sand Springs, Okla.
“O Holy Night”
Route 66, a female a capella quartet based in Chicago, posted this Christmas-themed performance a few days ago. Alas, Route 66 does most of its work with sales conferences and private gatherings. So, if you notice a public performance on their schedule, catch them when you can.
Rancho’s plans for Foothill Boulevard
The City of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has just posted a computer animation video of its plans to dress up Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66), including the Pacific Electric Trail overpass. The pedestrian bridge is particularly impressive. 12/28/2010 UPDATE: The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that this project will be finished in late 2011.
Traffic report
Here's a recent TV report about the closure and detour from the westbound Bird Creek Bridge on Oklahoma 66 near Catoosa: I'm glad those rumble strips are being removed. I drove over them a few days ago, and they were incredibly bone-jarring.
He’s no tenderfoot
The Quay County Sun in Tucumcari, N.M., caught up with a Ron Zaleski, who's walking barefoot across the country -- including much of Route 66 -- for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Zaleski is walking across the United States without shoes to gather signatures for a petition calling for mandatory counseling for soldiers heading into … Continue reading He’s no tenderfoot
This is supposed to be a desert
You'd think the Mojave River, being in the middle of Southern California's harsh desert, would remain dry or see just a trickle of water, at most. But not today. Here's what the river looked like after the region was lashed with severe rainstorms. This is off Route 66 near Helendale: More storm and flood coverage … Continue reading This is supposed to be a desert
Give an inch, take a mile to save a bridge
Vicky Hartzler, the newly elected U.S. Representative in Missouri's 4th District, has e-mailed constituents and asked them to send photos of notable sights in her district so she can display them when she takes office next month. The Pulaski County Daily tells the rest of the story: At Thursday morning’s meeting of the Pulaski County … Continue reading Give an inch, take a mile to save a bridge
The roots of Taco Bell
I didn't know this, but the beginnings of the Glen Bell and his now-ubiquitous Taco Bell restaurant chain began at a corner eatery on Route 66 in San Bernardino, Calif. According to OC Weekly: This taco comes from the above restaurant, which is the exact location where Bell's Hamburgers and Hot Dogs opened in 1952: on … Continue reading The roots of Taco Bell