I received word this morning that Tokyo photographer Hiroshi Hanamura is traveling Route 66 again. He met up with a bunch of Illinois roadies at the Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Ill., on Tuesday night. Illinois Route 66 Association President Catherine Stevanovich wrote: Mr. Hanamura starts a 2 week trip down Route 66. Hiroshi has … Continue reading On the road again
Notes from the road
The Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., has added another mural image, courtesy of local artist Doug Quarles. It's a 1953 Flxible Clipper bus. Motel owner Richard Talley also passed along this news: On another note, we just had our first celebrity guest check-in! No, it wasn't Sir Paul!!! During the annual Rattler Reunion weekend, a … Continue reading Notes from the road
More on the road with Sir Paul
NOTE: Bumped for updates below. The previous post about Paul McCartney traveling Route 66 with his girlfriend has become long, so here's a new thread to cover the new developments. McCartney and gal pal Nancy Shevell spent Wednesday night in Amarillo, Texas, at the Ambassador Hotel, according to a local NBC TV station and the … Continue reading More on the road with Sir Paul
Isaac Hayes, R.I.P.
Most of the younger set will remember Isaac Hayes for his part of Chef in "South Park" episodes. A few also might have heard his Oscar-winning soundtrack for the film "Shaft." But Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65, was so much more. He was a songwriter and producer for the Stax-Volt soul label in … Continue reading Isaac Hayes, R.I.P.
“The Business of Poverty”
This episode of the PBS-TV's "Bill Moyers Journal" begins on Albuquerque's Central Avenue, aka Route 66. In fact, the Route 66 shield can be seen in a couple of shots (one in the screen shot above). The program can be viewed online here. A podcast of "The Business of Poverty" also can be heard here: … Continue reading “The Business of Poverty”
Route 66-themed library opens
The Route 66 town of Strafford, Mo., has a possible new enticement for roadies to visit -- a new branch of the Springfield-Greene County Library system opened Saturday. From the Springfield News-Leader: The 2,500-square-foot, Route 66-themed facility features several murals and decorations that pay homage to Strafford's location along the historic driving route. Aside from … Continue reading Route 66-themed library opens
The Mill soon will regain its blades
A bunch of Illinois Route 66 volunteers recently gathered at John and Lenore Weiss' house in Wilmington to construct new windmill blades for The Mill, a landmark in Lincoln since 1929. It wasn't long ago that the shuttered Route 66 restaurant appeared to have a date with the wrecking ball. Now it's being renovated for … Continue reading The Mill soon will regain its blades
Panel to review Tucumcari racetrack petition Wednesday
Soon, we will know the date of whether Tucumcari, N.M., will receive a state license for a horse-racing track and casino, which would be on Route 66. According to the Quay County Sun, the New Mexico Racing Commission will announce Wednesday the date in which it will select the winner of the "racino" license. When … Continue reading Panel to review Tucumcari racetrack petition Wednesday
Indorock kicks
The is an Indorock group called Black Dynasty, a "supergroup" consisting of members of the Black Dynamites, the Javalins, and Rene & His Alligators. It is performing Bobby Troup's "Route 66." Indorock is a mix of Indonesian and Western music. It came blasting out of the 1950s when a bunch of Indonesia natives resettled in … Continue reading Indorock kicks
Cyrus Avery Plaza dedicated
I went on a hot Thursday morning to the dedication ceremony for the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Centennial Plaza and Memorial Bridge in Tulsa. Except for the "East Meets West" statue that will be coming later this year, the plaza complex has been finished for several weeks. You can read more about the actual ceremony … Continue reading Cyrus Avery Plaza dedicated