Catoosa seeks grant to buy Blue Whale

The city of Catoosa, Okla., has applied for a $600,000 grant to buy the iconic Blue Whale landmark and make improvements on its grounds, according to the Claremore Daily Progress. Officials should know by February whether it receives a state Transportation Enhancement Grant to purchase the Blue Whale, enlarge its parking lot, install decorative signs, and build … Continue reading Catoosa seeks grant to buy Blue Whale

Severe storms, tornadoes strike Missouri and Illinois

Severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes lashed Missouri and Illinois roughly along the Route 66 corridor on Friday. Developments are coming fast, so here's the important stuff so far: A tornado touched down in Fort Leonard Wood near Waynesville, Mo., injuring at least three and prompting a temporary closure of the military base. A state of … Continue reading Severe storms, tornadoes strike Missouri and Illinois

Bankruptcy filing prevents foreclosure of theater

The trust that owns the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield, Mo., filed for bankruptcy late Thursday afternoon to stave off a foreclosure sale scheduled for today, reported the Springfield News-Leader today. The historic theater, on an early alignment of Route 66, faced foreclosure over nonpayment of a $3.5 million loan with Guaranty Bank.  The theater … Continue reading Bankruptcy filing prevents foreclosure of theater

Hello from Japan

This is a version of Bobby Troup's famous song by The Roosters, a Japanese rockabilly band that recorded in the late 1970s to the late 1980s. According to the YouTube listing, this is a previously unreleased song from a studio session.

Stamps of Pixar characters coming in August

Five U.S. postal stamps featuring characters from Pixar Animation Studio will be coming this summer, including Lightning McQueen and Mater from the Route 66 movie "Cars" and the upcoming "Cars 2." According to a U.S. Postal Service release: The Send a Hello stamps, which go on sale Aug. 19, are a natural outgrowth of the … Continue reading Stamps of Pixar characters coming in August

Crossroads at the crossroads

Sandy Clark, a Dine on Our Dime columnist for the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, reviewed a restaurant off old Route 66 that's flown under our radar. It's the Crossroads Restaurant, on the crossroads of Missouri Highway 96 (old Route 66) and Missouri 39, behind an old gas station. It's listed in some directories as being in … Continue reading Crossroads at the crossroads

So who wrote “Take It Easy”?

The omidog! blog, a site for dog lovers, answers two questions related to the Eagles' hit song "Take It Easy" -- who had the greater contribution to writing the song, and who does the statue on Standin' on a Corner Park in Winslow, Ariz., depict? The answer to the latter question isn't terribly thrilling. The … Continue reading So who wrote “Take It Easy”?

It’s all gute

Globe Reisefilme, based in Germany, has been posting videos on YouTube from Route 66. Here's one about the town of Seligman, Ariz., and native son Angel Delgadillo. Even with the clip's language barrier, it's pretty cool: More Globe Reisefilme videos can be found here.

Tucumcari will host video kiosks about Route 66 history

The Tucumcari Convention Center will host a couple of video kiosks that will show DVDs about the Route 66 history of Tucumcari, N.M., and the surrounding area, according to the Quay County Sun. The community development office and the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce began working with a graphic design company Janice St. Marie in Santa … Continue reading Tucumcari will host video kiosks about Route 66 history

Christmas Eve at the Wagon Wheel Motel

I finally had the chance to stay overnight at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., and am glad I did. This historic Route 66 motel has been transformed from a diamond in the rough into a gleaming jewel, thanks to the ongoing renovation efforts by new owner Connie Echols. I noted the Wagon Wheel … Continue reading Christmas Eve at the Wagon Wheel Motel