More details released about Cars Land April 13, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Movies.add a comment
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., took about 400 guests through the construction area of a $1 billion makeover at its Disney California Adventure, including the Orange County Register.
One of the new additions is Cars Land, which is inspired by the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie, “Cars,” about the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. Here are a few tidbits revealed to the Register:
- The Radiator Springs Racers ride will make up about six of the 12 acres of Cars Land.
- The ride will last about 5 1/2 minutes, going through scenes based on movie themes, including Taillight Caverns. The last third of the ride is a side-by-side race.
- A Curio Shop is inspired by the trading posts that creators saw during a Route 66 road trip to get inspiration for Cars Land.
Cars Land is scheduled to open in 2012. The “Cars” sequel, “Cars 2,” will be in theaters on June 24.
“Our Town” April 12, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Music, Photographs, Towns.5 comments
This is a collection of photos from the Route 66 town of Galena, Kan. Music is by Iris DeMent. If you haven’t seen it, keep tissues handy.
This affecting video was played at 4 Women on the Route in Galena, but disappeared from Vimeo for a time. I’m glad it’s back.
Images from America’s Southwest April 12, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Photographs, Road trips.add a comment
If you’re in northern Virginia, you may owe it to yourself to check out the work of a local woman’s photography.
Norma Woodward of Fredericksburg, Va., has a photo exhibit of her images from America’s Southwest — including Route 66 — at the Members’ Gallery at the the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts, 813 Sophia St., Fredericksburg, Va., through April 30, according to The Free Lance-Star newspaper of Fredericksburg.
With no set schedule of when or where to stop, and with no deadline to arrive for a visit to her son and grandchildren in Arizona, the 71-year-old could cruise at her leisure, avoiding interstates and cookie-cutter hotels.
Instead, she visited unique spots and attractions on Route 66, pulled over whenever the striking vistas caught her eye and planned out her trip to see places where the term “mom-and-pop” still means something. [...]
She also stopped at iconic roadside attractions such as the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., and the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz. [...]
What impressed me as much as the images in her exhibit–many of which contrast buildings of stone and sand with rich, blue Southwest skies–was the decision to just take off and experience true back roads America. [...]
“I’ve always been fascinated with Route 66 and some of the past it still shares with visitors passing through,” said Woodward, who read up on some of the best stops along the way.
Some of Woodward’s work can be seen here.
Fredericksburg is about halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond.
Pontiac plans for a Waldmire Weekend April 11, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Events, People, Towns.2 comments
Pontiac, Ill., has a variety of activities planned for the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival on May 7-8, but the big events will center around late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire.
According to a news release today by Pontiac Tourism, Waldmire’s school-bus home will be open to the public for the first time. Waldmire lived in the school bus for many years, and spent many of his final days there when he was dying of cancer in late 2009.
From the news release:
According to Pontiac Mayor Robert Russell, “The inside of the school bus is absolutely unique. Everyone who has seen it so far has been stunned by the eclectic and yet practical décor. It is truly something to see.”
Ellie Alexander, Pontiac Tourism director, provided a sneak peak of the school bus’ interior with this photograph:
Waldmire’s famed 1967 Volkswagen minibus also will be on display at the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum in town. Waldmire served as the unofficial inspiration to the character of Fillmore in the 2006 Pixar movie “Cars.”
Also, the big event that weekend will be the completion of Waldmire’s last commissioned artwork:
Bob was asked to design and paint a mural for downtown Pontiac, but his illness prevented him from completing that task. Instead, he designed the mural and agreed to have the public paint it. Bob’s 66-foot map of the entire Route 66 will be set up in the 300 block of North Main Street, next to the Daily Leader offices.
Those who participate in the mural’s painting that weekend will receive this button:
And below is a thumbnail of Waldmire’s mural, which includes an additional design of Waldmire himself by Diaz Sign Art of Pontiac, which also is overseeing the project. (Click to enlarge image.)
Other events scheduled:
- Art show near the Waldmire mural
- The autographing of a special Pontiac car hood
- Citywide garage sale
- Touch-A-Truck display for children at the Pontiac Rec Center
- Model train display at Evenglow Lodge
- Flea market at the Old Log Cabin restaurant
- Vermillion Players’ free performance of Route 66 musical revue at Chautauqua Park Pavilion
- Clearance sale by the OSF Auxiliary
- Cars that will be displayed at the future Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum
UPDATE 4/12/2011: The first part of the Waldmire mural went up Tuesday.
A unique look at the road April 11, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Photographs.5 comments
I come across quite a few photos of Route 66, but this one was too good to not share:
It was shot by Steve Vuoso with a 30-second exposure so he could capture the Milky Way across the night sky. The location is about 35 miles southeast of Barstow, Calif., in the Mojave Desert.
Steve’s Flickr stream can be found here.
Bicycle ride scheduled during Red Carpet Corridor Festival April 10, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Events.add a comment
A inaugural Red Carpet Ride along 30 miles of the Route 66 Bike Trail in northern Illinois is scheduled for May 7 — the same weekend as the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival.
Exelon Nuclear’s Braidwood Generating Station is sponsoring the event.
From the news release:
Exelon Nuclear and the ride’s organizers – the Wilmington and Braidwood Chambers of Commerce, the Godley Red Carpet Corridor Committee and the village of Braceville – invite cyclists to help christen the city of Wilmington’s new pedestrian bridge over the historic millrace, then roll through scenic countryside to Braidwood, past the nuclear station, and on to Godley. They will continue to Braceville for lunch, courtesy of Exelon, before heading back.
Riders will have opportunities to shop the flea markets and enjoy the attractions in each community along the way, with the option of checking packages for later pickup. In addition, those who don’t want to do the whole ride can enter or leave the route at any point.
The event is a fundraiser for Operation: Mom’s Cookies, which ships treats and necessities to U.S. soldiers overseas.
To sign up for the event or make a donation to Operation: Mom’s Cookies, go here.
Auto dealership can expand without affecting Rod’s Grill April 10, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Restaurants.3 comments
A Mercedes Benz dealership in Arcadia, Calif., can proceed with its long-coveted expansion without affecting the historic Rod’s Grill restaurant, reported the Pasadena Star-News.
Rusnak Arcadia had long wanted the Rod’s Grill lot for an expansion, or it threatened to move to another town. The owner of Rod’s Grill had successfully fought the dealership’s efforts to acquire his property, including eminent domain proceedings in 2006.
The Star-News reported:
Now, the city’s Redevelopment Agency has acquired the last parcel of a 2-acre site it intends to sell to Rusnak, part of a development deal that would enable the dealership to expand while adding Santa Anita Avenue frontage – sans the diner’s lot.
“I feel satisfied with how everything turned out,” Manny Romero, owner of Rod’s Grill, said this past week.
“I got to stay in my business….It’s good to see that Rusnak motors is operating and doing good… And for Dahlgren’s and other properties, if (the owners) sell, that’s their choice. It’s good to know that they were not forced to sell.” [...]
Meanwhile, Richard Coombes of Pasadena, a regular customer of Rod’s Grill for “30-some years,” said he was pleased the restaurant has been able to keep its prime location even as Rusnak readies to grow. In fact, he said, he often sees the dealership’s employees eating lunch at the diner.
“There is no reason why these two businesses can’t coexist,” said Coombes. “You can’t tell me that you’re going to put one man out of business just so another place can expand.”
The situation got so acrimonious that Arcadia voters agreed to strip eminent-domain powers away from the city’s development authority in 2007. Romero also lobbied for a referendum that would have outlawed auto sales on his block, but voters rejected that by a wide margin.
Although I generally hold a dim view to eminent domain, it should remain an option for municipalities that wish to protect properties on the state or National Register of Historic Places. Cities should have the option to shield those properties from ignorant or greedy developers.