Scenes from the Route 66 Blowout June 7, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Motorcycles, Vehicles.1 comment so far
The Route 66 Blowout in Sapulpa, Okla., is a dandy of a classic-car … and pickup truck … and motorcycle show. Here are photos I took from the festival on Saturday.
Believe me, there’s a lot more from where that came.
Wishing Well Motel memorabilia installed at museum June 6, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Museums, Preservation, Signs.add a comment
This week, not only is the Illinois Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame in Pontiac celebrating its fifth anniversary, but the sign and wishing well from the gone-but-not-forgotten Wishing Well Motel of Countryside, Ill., has been installed on the museum’s property.
A large Route 66 mural also has been added to the building’s south wall.
The Pontiac Daily Leader has the story.
Another long-distance walker June 6, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in People, Road trips.add a comment
Periodically, there are those who walk the full length of Route 66 for a cause or to challenge themselves.
The latest is Joe Zeno, who is walking from San Diego to New York City to raise money for the American Cancer Society. His mother has fought breast cancer for a decade.
The Tulsa World caught up with him as he was strolling through town Wednesday, which reportedly was the midpoint of his journey. His path follows Route 66 from Amarillo to St. Louis.
It’s worth reading, especially about his close call with a mountain lion near Oklahoma City.
Joe Zeno’s Web site is here.
It’s a gas, gas, gas June 6, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Gas stations, Vehicles.add a comment
If you live in northern California, here’s something for you to check out.
Route 66 enthusiast Mark Reiff converted the front yard of his Woodland, Calif., home into a virtual museum of gas-station memorabilia. And he drives a fabulous-looking tow truck, too.
You can see it all in this video by the Sacramento Bee.
Frankie Valli dines at the Ariston Cafe June 6, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music, Restaurants.add a comment
Here’s a delightful item in the A La Carte food and dining column of the Springfield (Ill.) Journal Register:
When Frankie Valli performed Wednesday at Sangamon Auditorium, he mentioned that he had eaten dinner the previous evening at the ARISTON CAFE in Litchfield. The statement prompted a round of applause.
The Four Seasons crooner said he visited Litchfield because it is the hometown of Robbie Robinson, Valli’s longtime musical director and keyboard player, who was introduced by Valli on stage.
The Ariston Cafe, established in 1924 and in its current location since 1935, is one of the oldest restaurants on Route 66.
Paul Adam, manager of the Ariston, confirmed the visit.
“He came in with his group Tuesday night and had dinner,” said Adam. “He said he wanted to get into the Ariston. We were real happy.” Adam said there were 26 to 30 people in Valli’s party. The singer ordered fried shrimp with broccoli sauteed in olive oil.
When asked if Valli was a good tipper, Adam would only say, “he was gracious.”
That’s Nick — always gracious to a fault. And the Ariston richly deserves the attention.
(Photo courtesy of the Official Frankie Valli Site)
Downtown Miami named to National Register June 6, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Preservation, Towns.add a comment
The downtown district of Miami, Okla., has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a weekly e-mail sent by the National Park Service on Friday.
The district is roughly bounded by Main Street (aka Route 66), Central Avenue and SE A Street. That includes the block where the historic Coleman Theatre sits. You can get a good feel for the district by checking out the images on Google Street View of Main Street here.
The designation was effective May 29.
“California Stars” June 5, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music, People.add a comment
Here’s a marvelous but bittersweet performance by Wilco of a Woody Guthrie poem, from about 10 years ago.
I say bittersweet because that’s former band member Jay Bennett on lead guitar, who died in his sleep two weeks ago.
And, yes, I’ve been around the block enough to remember Bennett during his Titanic Love Affair days in the late 1980s and early ’90s in Champaign, Ill.
One more traveler June 5, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in People, Road trips.add a comment
The big news Thursday in Tulsa was that Mayor Kathy Taylor unexpectedly announced that she would not be seeking re-election this fall.
A report by KRMG radio contains this little snippet:
She’s a bit coy about her plans for life after office but does say she’ll take a vacation down Route 66 with her husband after her term is up and then consider her options.
I don’t think she’s blowing smoke about the Mother Road because it passes through Tulsa, either. I met her a few years ago shortly after she got elected, and she specifically said she wanted to travel Route 66 one day.
Now, she’ll have her chance.
Exhibit explores Route 66 and U.S. 41 June 4, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Events, Signs.5 comments
For you roadies out east, the Booth Western Art Museum in the Atlanta suburb of Cartersville, Ga., soon will be hosting an exhibition by artist Chuck Middlekauff that explores Route 66 and U.S. 41, which goes from Chicago Michigan to Miami, Fla.
Middlekauff, as noted by the image of the sign of the Sands Motel on Route 66 in Grants, N.M., likes to paint old neon signs.
Some of Middlekauff’s work will be for sale at the Cartersville museum during the exhibition from Aug. 18 to Nov. 8, with an opening reception and lecture on Sept. 17.
After that, his work will be for sale and on display at the Legacy Contemporary Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., with a reception on Feb. 18.
What the Kingman association wants to do June 4, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Route 66 Associations, Signs.add a comment
Tim McDonnell, president of the newly revived Kingman Route 66 Association of Kingman, Ariz., sent an image of this vintage photo of Duke’s Packard dealership that once operated in town.
The association’s plan is to repair the neon on the sign, put it back on the original building, and paint murals on the walls and windows of the structure, which is at Route 66 and Third Street.
The association wants to preserve or restore other neon signs in town. But this one is the first on its list.
Donations for the cause are welcome, and tax-deductible. For more information, contact McDonnell at kingmanroute66association(at)gmail(dot)com .