Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.
Showing posts with label Red Carpet Corridor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Carpet Corridor. Show all posts
Monday, May 15, 2017
Got Our Kicks on 66 This Past Weekend-- Part 3: Pontiac to Towanda
May 7, 2017, Sunday
We went to downtown Pontiac to get a Red Carpet Corridor button (all towns had a different one) but found out they had all been given out yesterday.
Drove to Chenoa and found out the same thing. No buttons. They must have been popular.
We then went to Lexington and walked on Main Street awhile, but didn't find any place with buttons. It is nice to see that the old Filling Station restaurant will be reopening as Kelly's on 66.
Last stop was Towanda where we found about a half mile of the unused old Route 66 lanes converted into a half-mile long classic car show with lots of people and cars. Sorry to see Schenk's Garage is essentially no more.
We then drove home.
Always a Great Time on the Mother Road. --RoadDog
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor This Weekend: Getting Our Kicks
We are planning on leaving shortly for a short trip down our favorite road in our favorite state. That would be Route 66 in Illinois.
We'll be starting in Joliet and make our way to Towanda, just north of Bloomington-Normal.
We went on this once before, but haven't been on it for a long time. I figure to reup my membership in the Route 66 Association of Illinois at the Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac.
Great To Be Back On the Road. --RoadDog
YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN: You get a speeding ticket when you're parked.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Cruising the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor in Illinois-- Part 3
This past Sunday, May 2nd, we spent most of the day in Towanda.
We first went to the party in the park and listened to a great local country band called Cattle Bandits who played a great variety of country songs and, of course, their version of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66."
We then went to Kicks on 66, the only business in town other than a gas station. This used to be a Route 66 gas station in an earlier life, but now is a very popular bar and grill. The place and its biergarden were packed with folks walking over from the classic car show being held on the now-closed south bound lanes of the old 66 bypass.
They are noted for their pig wings, but had run out when we go there. We had a great pulled pork and pork tenderloin sandwiches. Beer is always $2,50 a bottle for domestic.
Next, we checked out the hundred or so cars along Route 66. I especially liked a mint condition 1967 Firebird and another 1968 one.
Last and longest stop was at the Schenk's Garage. Dawn and Mark Schenk are Route 66 "Nuts" of the highest order and have converted their garage into a 66 Nirvana. They had one of the best bands we've ever seen called Hillbilly Jones. Three pieces, including a stand up base and could those guys really cook.
We'd like to thank the Schenks for inviting us when we stopped by the day before.
Drove 66 back to Gardner to pay a visit to the Riviera which we heard had reopened. It was closed, so were forced to continue into Braidwood and have a banana split at the Polka-Dot.
A really Fine Weekend. --RoadDog
OXYMORON-- If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?
We first went to the party in the park and listened to a great local country band called Cattle Bandits who played a great variety of country songs and, of course, their version of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66."
We then went to Kicks on 66, the only business in town other than a gas station. This used to be a Route 66 gas station in an earlier life, but now is a very popular bar and grill. The place and its biergarden were packed with folks walking over from the classic car show being held on the now-closed south bound lanes of the old 66 bypass.
They are noted for their pig wings, but had run out when we go there. We had a great pulled pork and pork tenderloin sandwiches. Beer is always $2,50 a bottle for domestic.
Next, we checked out the hundred or so cars along Route 66. I especially liked a mint condition 1967 Firebird and another 1968 one.
Last and longest stop was at the Schenk's Garage. Dawn and Mark Schenk are Route 66 "Nuts" of the highest order and have converted their garage into a 66 Nirvana. They had one of the best bands we've ever seen called Hillbilly Jones. Three pieces, including a stand up base and could those guys really cook.
We'd like to thank the Schenks for inviting us when we stopped by the day before.
Drove 66 back to Gardner to pay a visit to the Riviera which we heard had reopened. It was closed, so were forced to continue into Braidwood and have a banana split at the Polka-Dot.
A really Fine Weekend. --RoadDog
OXYMORON-- If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Cruising the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor in Illinois-- Part 2
Chenoa was next and we couldn't find anything at all downtown by the gazebo. Finally found Redbird Antiques and got our puzzle piece (all 12 towns had puzzle pieces you could collect) and were told it the food and entertainment had been moved to a park because a building near the Chenoa Pharmacy was in danger of collapsing into the street.
Lexington had garage sales downtown, but the main party was on Old Route 66. I finally got the pork chop sandwich I had been wanting at Chenoa along with a decent corn dog and root beer float.
Towanda had a really nice festival going on in the park with a band, food, and lots of vendors. We stopped at Schenk's Garage on the way out and Dawn told us she was having a band on Sunday and invited us.
We actually were able to follow Route 66 signage through that pesky subdivision in Normal and saw the Sprague Gas Station. Played NTN at Maguire's and Buffalo Wild Wings (where we saw the Derby). Also had a drink at Mugsy's and got a room at the Super 8. Split an order of fried onion at the nearby Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon.
A Pretty Good Day on the Road. --RoadDog
Lexington had garage sales downtown, but the main party was on Old Route 66. I finally got the pork chop sandwich I had been wanting at Chenoa along with a decent corn dog and root beer float.
Towanda had a really nice festival going on in the park with a band, food, and lots of vendors. We stopped at Schenk's Garage on the way out and Dawn told us she was having a band on Sunday and invited us.
We actually were able to follow Route 66 signage through that pesky subdivision in Normal and saw the Sprague Gas Station. Played NTN at Maguire's and Buffalo Wild Wings (where we saw the Derby). Also had a drink at Mugsy's and got a room at the Super 8. Split an order of fried onion at the nearby Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon.
A Pretty Good Day on the Road. --RoadDog
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Cruising the Route 66 Red Carpet in Illinois-- Part 1
Yesterday, Liz and I took a drive south along Illinois Highway 47 to the 4th Annual Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival taking place in four towns from Joliet to Towanda, a total of 12 communities.
We first drove around Woodstock to look at the ruins of Grace Hall, the historic square where a farmers' market was going on, and various "Groundhog Day" movie sites along with the half mile of blooming lilac bushes along Lake Street.
We arrived in Dwight, out first Route 66 town and got to go into the Becker Gas Station for the first time. It was in bad shape, but the town has since preserved it and turned it into a tourist office. It was closed when we first started 66in' and always closed the last several years.
Then, we went to the Standard station in Odell and to Pontiac where we toured the 66 Museum and had out first trip to the new Walldogs Museum on the square. There was a carnival going on in the square as well as vendors. We had our first-ever "Walking Taco" from the Pontiac Lions Club.
More to Come. --RoadDog
We first drove around Woodstock to look at the ruins of Grace Hall, the historic square where a farmers' market was going on, and various "Groundhog Day" movie sites along with the half mile of blooming lilac bushes along Lake Street.
We arrived in Dwight, out first Route 66 town and got to go into the Becker Gas Station for the first time. It was in bad shape, but the town has since preserved it and turned it into a tourist office. It was closed when we first started 66in' and always closed the last several years.
Then, we went to the Standard station in Odell and to Pontiac where we toured the 66 Museum and had out first trip to the new Walldogs Museum on the square. There was a carnival going on in the square as well as vendors. We had our first-ever "Walking Taco" from the Pontiac Lions Club.
More to Come. --RoadDog
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