For over a decade, I wrote weekly music reviews for a newspaper in Illinois. In 2005, I heard a mighty buzz about folk-rocker Sufjan Stevens and his album, "Illinois." There was a lot of interest in the project, partly because Stevens has vowed to record an album inspired by each of the 50 states. Michigan … Continue reading “Chicago”
Myth-busting about scenic byways
Talk about a public service: The Meramec Journal has appropriated the theme of the Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" show and has sifted the fact from fiction regarding Missouri's scenic byways program. Route 66 is one of those byways. The newspaper contacted Monica Duncan, a scenic byway coordinator for Missouri and a resource management analyst for the … Continue reading Myth-busting about scenic byways
“Many a Long and Lonesome Highway”
Here's a song from 1990 by country-rocker Rodney Crowell. In addition to being a successful singer and songwriter, he was a former son-in-law to Johnny Cash. That had to make for interesting family gatherings.
An inside look at Meramec Caverns
An HD editor posted a short segment about Meramec Caverns, just off Route 66 in Stanton, Mo. The footage includes rooms that are seldom seen by the public.
Old gas station will be restored
Here's a scoop from the December newsletter of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association: A couple have purchased the historic "half-building" on Route 66 in Commerce, Okla., will restore it to its original filling-station look, and turn it into a gift and snack shop. The building is on the southeast corner of Commerce and Main streets … Continue reading Old gas station will be restored
Look out for the smokeys
If you're out cruising Route 66, make sure you keep your speed down. That's Junior Brown -- and his combination electric guitar and steel guitar -- providing the note of caution.
More sprucing up of 66?
After all the attention Joliet, Ill., has received lately about its tourism efforts and beautification of Route 66, nearby Countryside must have felt a little left out. According to Countryside Suburban Life, the city is considering some of its own beautification efforts for Joliet Road, aka Route 66. This, ironically, is being mulled after a … Continue reading More sprucing up of 66?
Mystery of the marker
Holy cow. I didn't even know the Los Angeles area even had one of these. The folks at Curbed LA wondered what this stone marker (photo can be seen on link) was in Pasadena. A city worker provided the answer: "You posted a while back about a 3' tall concrete marker on PCC property in … Continue reading Mystery of the marker
Popping over to POPS
The Travel section of the Dallas Morning News went to POPS convenience store and restaurant on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla. Most of it you've already read about here. But this excerpt indicates that business is still going strong after POPS opened in August: Despite its out-of-the-way location, Pops was an instant hit. About 20 … Continue reading Popping over to POPS
Should Indian Harvest Trading Post charge a fee?
In the last few days, there's been much discussion in the Route 66 yahoogroup about Indian Harvest Trading Post, located along Route 66 near Union, Mo. Indian Harvest is an arts-and-crafts business inside a tepee-shaped building near Exit 242 of Interstate 44. It's been there for 11 years, and is a member of the Route … Continue reading Should Indian Harvest Trading Post charge a fee?