David G. Clark, known to Route 66 enthusiasts as the Windy City Road Warrior, recently produced a one-hour video about the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, right about the time of its 150th anniversary. The fire predates Route 66 by more than 50 years, but the fire was one of the most consequential events of … Continue reading David Clark provides overview of Great Chicago Fire during its 150th anniversary
Tag: Chicago
Ed Debevic’s diner reopens at a new location in Chicago
Ed Debevic's restaurant, famous for its 1950s decor and theatrically surly waitstaff, has reopened in the Streeterville area of Chicago after its previous River North location was closed and demolished about six years ago. The old Ed Debevic's was north of Route 66 but provided such a unique experience that many Route 66 travelers included … Continue reading Ed Debevic’s diner reopens at a new location in Chicago
Chicago Cubs documentary explains how Wrigley Field was renovated
This well-produced video released last month by the Chicago Cubs baseball team, "Saving Wrigley Field," goes into considerable detail about how the century-old ballpark underwent a badly needed renovation a few years ago. If you have about an hour to kill, I commend it to your attention: https://youtu.be/xd9VrvheS-s Though the Wrigley Field project was large-scale, … Continue reading Chicago Cubs documentary explains how Wrigley Field was renovated
Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean reopens for the first time in a year
The Devil's Rope Museum in McLean, Texas, is back open to the public after being closed for a solid year because of COVID-19. That museum's reopening is another signal that the U.S. is slowly emerging from the pandemic. Vaccinations have reduced caseloads and hospitalizations in many states. KAMR-TV in nearby Amarillo reported: “We had just … Continue reading Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean reopens for the first time in a year
Former church on Chicago’s Route 66 becomes a performing arts center
The former Church of the Epiphany and its campus along Route 66 in Chicago have been converted into a performing arts center that includes a cafe and courtyard after a multimillion-dollar renovation. According to a detailed report by Block Club Chicago, the 19th-century church at 201 S. Ashland Ave. has become the Epiphany Center for … Continue reading Former church on Chicago’s Route 66 becomes a performing arts center
Time-lapse video shows Adams Street Bridge being dismantled over Kennedy Expressway in Chicago
Chicagoland Route 66 expert David Clark sent me this fascinating time-lapse video of workers demolishing the Adams Street Bridge over the Kennedy Expressway, bit by bit, to make way for the Jane Byrne Interchange. https://youtu.be/K_JajKITzOQ The entire demolition operation was completed in less than a month. The video makes it appear traffic was going under … Continue reading Time-lapse video shows Adams Street Bridge being dismantled over Kennedy Expressway in Chicago
Lou Mitchell’s, other restaurants in Illinois close indefinitely because of COVID-19
Lou Mitchell's, a traditional starting or ending point in Chicago for Route 66 travelers, and other Windy City restaurants have closed indefinitely because of restrictions imposed by the governor among an upswing of coronavirus cases there. In a Facebook post, Lou Mitchell's stated it was only its second closure in 98 years. "We hope to … Continue reading Lou Mitchell’s, other restaurants in Illinois close indefinitely because of COVID-19
Adams Street Bridge in downtown Chicago to close Monday until 2022
The Adams Street Bridge over the Kennedy Expressway in downtown Chicago will close starting Monday as part of ongoing work on the Jane Byrne Interchange project. Adams Street is part of the westbound alignment of Route 66 in the Windy City. Block Club Chicago reported: The Adams Street bridge, the last of the 11 local … Continue reading Adams Street Bridge in downtown Chicago to close Monday until 2022
David Clark will host a Zoom talk Aug. 6 about Route 66 in Chicago
David Clark, the preeminent expert on Route 66 in the Chicago area, will present a Zoom videoconference event titled, "Route 66 in Chicago: Where the Road Begins," on the night of Aug. 6. Clark, InSites To Go and Route66Chicago.com are describing it as a "virtual tour" of the Mother Road in Chicago. More from the … Continue reading David Clark will host a Zoom talk Aug. 6 about Route 66 in Chicago
Central Camera in Chicago to reopen in a storefront next door in September
Central Camera, a mainstay on Route 66 in downtown Chicago for over a century that burned during unrest in late May over the George Floyd police-brutality case, will reopen in September in a temporary store as the original is rebuilt. Block Club Chicago had the story Tuesday: The store at 228 S. Wabash Ave. will … Continue reading Central Camera in Chicago to reopen in a storefront next door in September