On Saturday, I decided to go to a festival right on Route 66 in downtown Bristow, Okla. At first glance, it looked like many small-town festivals in Oklahoma. I saw a store offering cowboy hats. I saw a Cowboys booth -- the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, that is. I saw a barbecue stand among the … Continue reading Not just any festival
Animal farm
If you participated in last weekend's Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor event, you probably saw several outdoor sculptures of animals -- including a giraffe -- near Chenoa. The Pontiac Daily Leader tracked down the creator of those sculptures -- Kathryn Capley, who is an area artist who has pieces of her metalwork all over … Continue reading Animal farm
A road trip on Judges
Here's a new chapter of "Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible." This week's episode comes from the book of Judges. I'm not sure what's more bizarre: the muscle-man body suit, or Samson's shaky Arnold Schwarzenegger accent.
Java Stop in Dwight is closing
The Java Stop, an espresso stand on Route 66 in Dwight, Ill., that earned praise for its architectural design, is set to close by the end of the month, reports regular reader DynoDave. Via e-mail: I'm sad to report that their site says their last day of regular operation is tomorrow, Sunday the 10th. They … Continue reading Java Stop in Dwight is closing
Severe storms lash SE Kansas, SW Missouri
Severe thunderstorms blasted southeastern Kansas and southwest Missouri, including parts of the Route 66 corridor, on Friday afternoon. I'm not aware of any damage to Route 66 landmarks. However, anyone traveling through the area should be aware of downed trees and other wind-blown debris on roadways. Joplin, Mo., especially got hammered, including the local TV … Continue reading Severe storms lash SE Kansas, SW Missouri
One family’s take on the Fun Run
Here's Jeff Rucker's video and slide show from last weekend's Fun Run by the Arizona Route 66 Association. A lot of swell-looking rides are featured. A bonus is a few pictures from Roy's in Amboy, Calif.
ABC anchor tours Mother Road
ABC's "GMA Weekend" anchorwoman Kate Snow and her sister traveled old Route 66 from Clinton, Okla., to Albuquerque. A bunch of photos from the trip are here. That's one heck of a nice Ford Fairlane they're driving. I appreciate the publicity the segment is generating. But something about it also rubs me the wrong way. … Continue reading ABC anchor tours Mother Road
Palms Grill resurrected
The historic Palms Grill Cafe in the Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill., reopened last month after being shuttered for more than 30 years. I'm not sure who shot and edited this video of the Palms Grill operating again, but it's good. I hear a lot of folks complaining about how much Route 66 has … Continue reading Palms Grill resurrected
Bear killed near Route 66 in Kingman
Needless to say, this is quite unusual. From the Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner: Officers with the Kingman Police Department shot and killed a black bear in the 1700 block of Jefferson Avenue in Kingman Thursday morning, after the bear wandered into the city limits and reportedly attempted to break into residences, as well as one … Continue reading Bear killed near Route 66 in Kingman
Book review: “City Ubiquitous”
Andrew Wood is an associate professor in communication studies at San Jose State University. He's also a dyed-in-the-wool roadie. He's written two books about two-lane highways, "Motel America" and "Road Trip America." His Motel Americana site is an excellent thumbnail guide to vintage lodging. And Wood's blog, Woodland Shoppers Paradise, has become a catch-all for … Continue reading Book review: “City Ubiquitous”