Getting there January 3, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Signs.2 comments
Construction on the new home of the historic Meadow Gold sign on Route 66 in Tulsa is progressing nicely.
According to a release from the city, the support pavilion and metal truss system are scheduled to be completed by the end of the month. Re-erection of the Meadow Gold sign’s restored neon letters will begin shortly after that.
There will be a public dedication at the site at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue, less than a mile west of its original location at 11th and Lewis, when it’s done. Also, a video documentary of the project is ongoing.
Here’s an artist’s rendering of the “new” Meadow Gold sign. The rendering is accurate except for the clocks, which have been absent for decades and won’t be re-created because of a lack of money.
New Mexico float in Rose Parade wins award January 2, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events.2 comments
The state of New Mexico’s float — featuring Wile E. Coyote chasing after Road Runner on old Route 66 — won the Bob Hope Humor Award at the 2009 Rose Parade on Thursday in Pasadena, Calif.
You can see the artist’s rendering of the float by Fiesta Parade Floats of Pasadena, which was contracted by New Mexico.
Photos images of the float can be seen here and here. The Route 66 shield on the road is visible on the first photo.
Swing set January 1, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in People.4 comments
I guess this proves that anything can be named after Route 66 these days. From the Amarillo Globe-News:
About two dozen protesters organized by Repent Amarillo spent New Year’s Eve carrying signs, singing and praying outside a business in downtown Amarillo that they claim is a swinger’s club.
A party organizer with the Route 66 Swingers Club, who declined to be identified, said the gathering at 413 S.W. Sixth Ave. was simply a New Year’s Eve party. There wasn’t going to be any sex at the party, she said. [...]
The term “swinger” is often associated with married couples who swap sexual partners. [...]
The organizer said the party involved fewer than 98 people – which is the occupancy rate allowed – coming together to have drinks, dance and celebrate the new year.
“What else could be happening?” she asked. “There’s no place to (have sex there). That’s not going to happen.”
Some people may choose to go to hotels to have sex following the party but that is a personal decision, she said.
I’m certainly not one to advocate nonmonogamous relationships. But it also appears the swingers group is not violating any laws. These are consenting adults, after all.
But you have to wonder about a group name that’s so, ahem, naked, in its purpose. You’d almost think the Route 66 Swingers Club is trying to invite trouble. Apparently the word “discreet” isn’t in its vocabulary.