After the party …

Emily and I have been home for a couple of days since the Route 66 Festival ended in Litchfield, Ill. So I've had some time to reflect on our unexpected twin killings. Even when you don't count our honors, we agreed it was the best awards banquet we'd attended since we started going to these … Continue reading After the party …

Jest for fun

The three singers are the 3 J's, which are "Whispering Joe" Gnaidek, Johnny "Moo Moo" Miller and John Weiss, which formed five minutes before their performance of "Route 66" at the Route 66 Association of Illinois' Hall of Fame Banquet in Lincoln on June 6. (Courtesy of Lenore Weiss)

“Culinary zen”

Kevin Sheedy of the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle and his wife, inspired by a recent Food Network episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," went from Wichita to Stroud, Okla. Two Route 66 restaurants -- Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., and the Rock Cafe in Stroud -- were the highlights of their trip. On … Continue reading “Culinary zen”

A visit to Gay Parita

We travel the old alignment of Route 66 in west of Springfield, Mo., at least once a year. That stretch of the Mother Road is a joy to drive, but many of the old gas stations have fallen into ruin. But just a mile or so west of the spot where Missouri Highway 96 forks … Continue reading A visit to Gay Parita

Scenes from the Route 66 Festival

Here are a few shots I gathered at the Route 66 Festival on Saturday in Litchfield, Ill. More photographs by other bloggers at the festival can be seen here and here. If you know of more, send me an e-mail and let me know. UPDATE: Here's more from Denny Gibson. Here's the car show, set … Continue reading Scenes from the Route 66 Festival

Are high gas prices hurting Route 66 tourism?

The answer seems to be: No. The Pontiac Daily Leader decided to check with the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac to see whether tourism numbers are down from a year ago, when gasoline cost about a $1-a-gallon less. This May, 1,238 people visited it, a 77 percent increase over the … Continue reading Are high gas prices hurting Route 66 tourism?

R.I.P., Fillmore

On Sunday night, it was learned the comedian George Carlin died of heart failure at a Los Angeles hospital. Carlin is best-known for stand-up comedy that was biting and irreverent, yet revealed a love of the English language (even those famed "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television"). Carlin also was the voice of … Continue reading R.I.P., Fillmore

4 Women on the Route gets a surprise

It was quite a weekend for the 4 Women on the Route of Galena, Kan. First, their restaurant and gift shop, in renovated gas station, was named New Business of the Year during the Will Rogers Awards Event on Saturday in Litchfield, Ill., at the Route 66 Festival. Next, during the annual Route 66 yahoogroup … Continue reading 4 Women on the Route gets a surprise

Swa Frantzen wins top Route 66 award

Swa Frantzen (shown above), an Internet pioneer in publicizing Route 66 with his Historic66.com site, won the top honor during the Will Rogers Awards Event on Saturday night during the Route 66 Festival in Litchfield, Ill. The New Business of the Year was 4 Women on the Route in Galena, Kan. Chicago Route 66 researcher … Continue reading Swa Frantzen wins top Route 66 award

The maker of Round Barn Root Beer

KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City did a feature about Huebert Brewing Co., which makes Round Barn Root Beer for POPS on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla. The root beer is the top-seller at the business. The root beer is named after the historic Round Barn in Arcadia. (Hat tip: Rich Imrie.)