Ir'vs Burgers in print

I was pleased to read this morning that Irv's Burgers - a walk-up hamburger joint on Route 66 / Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood - has been included in Hamburger America: A State-by-State Guide to 100 Great Burger Joints.

Irv's was embroiled in a preservation battle a few years ago. Through the work of the "Burger Brigade" (with some assistance from the Route 66 community), Irv's was spared the wrecking ball. Historical and Cultural Landmark status was wonderful. Being considered one of the best 100 burgers joints in the country is outsanding. Congratulations, Sonia!

Rancho Cucamonga to see more Changes?

Could another major change come to Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga? Are we now literally at the end of an era, with the last field along 66 in the Inland Empire about to be plowed under? I'm going to guess that the City of Rancho Cucamonga will add to their ill-designed, 50's-and-fins-wannabe design along Foothill by removing the field and allowing the design of a generic, block-like building with little architectural appeal and cheap building materials and labor. In other words, a little bit of Pasadena in Rancho Cucamonga.

Small Town 66 in Los Angeles County

I found this article interesting in its discussions of what is WRONG with Old Pasadena, a view that I largely share.

Merritt interchange back to drawing board?

This article in the Stamford Advocate indicates that all parties were not adequately involved in the planning process on the Merritt Parkway / Route 7 interchange project and that residens of Silvermine "were not part of the conversation." It seems to me that there has been PLENTY of public comment period on this project by now, and that's why the Merritt Parkway Conservancy was so active in getting the DOT to redesign their initially flawed design in the first place. So, sorry Silvermine residents, but if you are so concerned about it, where were you during all of the public comment periods?

Senator Duff goes on in this article to say "When I came to the public meeting on March 18 and supported the option D ramp compromise, my assumption was that all parties had been consulted, especially residents in the Silvermine area of Norwalk." Evidently, even Duff has no idea what is going on in his own district, and did not care enough in the first place to get his own constituency involved in the discussions.

So, here's my solution for the reisdents of Silvermine and Senator Duff: file a lawsuit to block the interchange, like the Conservancy did. Let the judge again send all parties back to the drawing board, and let the interchange stay the way it currently is even longer. (Hey, the Conservancy folks won't mind letting the Parkway continue in its current historic state, will they?!)

More on the Merritt

And more notations today on the Merritt interchange resolution. On this one I've already added my two cents' worth. This one is the news story.

Get Your Kicks on Route 31!

No, it doesn't sound quite the same. But I will say that reading this article makes me sure that what I say about Route 66 is correct: the only difference between the Mother Road and the rest of the historic highways in America is that 66 was the path to Hollywood, from which authors wrote books about it, TV stars made shows and movies about it, and composers wrote songs about it. If it weren't for that, we could easily be getting our kicks on Route 31 in Michigan.

World's Best Drives

I found this via a google alert this morning. The top two "best drives" noted here are both (at least partially) in California. Pretty cool! I guess I need to hit 17-mile drive soon, since I skipped that when I went up the coast before. But as for Route 66, 10 days to do the entire journey? Really?

US-40 in St. Loius

I'm not sure what the project is that resulted in the closure of this section of US-40 in St. Louis, but this was an enjoyable read nonetheless. Having walked the Arroyo Seco Parkway in Los Angeles I completely understand the author's feelings about getting to enjoy a place that you drive regularly at a much slower pace!

Parkway Pics

My wife found this for me this morning. Interesting photos that I had not seen before. I've already added my comments there, so I do not need to post them here, too.

More Merritt - Interchange Designs

The new designs for the Merritt / Route 7 interchange are scheduled to be unveiled next month. This after more than a year of the Connecticut DOT meeting with the Merritt Parkway Conservancy to alter their original hideous designs. It sounds, though, as if the Main Avenue bridge will be altered no matter what, though. (Check this site out for some detailed images on the bridges.)

Rialto to Take Control of 66

The article in the Press Enterprise can be found here.

Guthriesville (PA) General Store

It seems that the above mentioned store is generating a little controversy in preservation circles. I found a couple of things interesting about this article. First, the Army Corps of Engineers is having a closed-door, invitation-only meeting to discuss the future of this store. I find the legality of such a meeting to be questionable, personally, and would question its intent if I were active in preservation in that area. (The store, by the way, is located here.)

Second, I noticed that the author's last name was Rittenhouse, and immediately thought of Jack Rittenhouse, the author of the "A Guidebook to Highway 66" published in 1946.

Lewis and Clark Landmark

The Great Falls Tribune reports that the Montana Historic Preservation Review Board is asking for protection of a nationally noted Lewis and Clark site to be preserved. Read more here.

LA River Bridges

Found this article in the Los Angeles Times about the preservation of the Los Angeles River bridges. I BELIEVE that the 11 includes the Buena Vista Viaduct, or Broadway Bridge, which was part of Route 66 from 1926-1936. Surprisingly, though, the article never lists what the 11 bridges are!

LA Freeways

Found this article interesting. However, I think that there are a couple of freeways east of the Mississippi River that would argue the comment that LA is "home to the first freeway ever." And let's not even comment on at least one in Germany's thoughts of that statement! More information on the proposed park plan can be found here, and includes information about a meeting on Saturday, January 26 at Selma Elementary School.

Endangered Places

Found this link about the most endangered historic places of 2007 and ways to help, and realized how nicely, quickly, and easily it ties it to Route 66. Well worth the read, including its provided links.

Tours in LA

Anyone looking for a slightly off the wall tour idea for Los ANgeles County whil in the LA area touring 66 should consider Esotouric. Their 2008 schedule can be found in this article and their website is located here.

Three LA Preservation Issues

Been a lot going on regarding the Southwest Museum on several yahoo groups lately. I'll post more on that when time permits, but the struggle to keep the museum alive is heating up.

This article talks about the halting of demolition of the Cocoanut Grove. At least for now.

And this one talks about the Los Angeles Coliseum. If the USC Trojans have their way - at least according to the most recent rhetoric - the Coliseum could be doomed, with no regular tenant to maintain the stadium.

More SWM

Just a quick note that there are a lot of pending activities with the fight to save Los Angeles oldest museum, the Southwest Museum. The SWM, which began 100 years ago in 1907, merged four years ago with the Autry National Center, which has its eyes on the prize of a priceless, extensive collection. The Autry wishes to remove the collection and move it into a new building within Griffith Park. This new building would more than double Autry's already extensive footprint in Griffith Park, and it would total more than FOUR TIMES the space occupied by the well-attended and well-known Griffith Observatory (think of the observatory used in "Rebel Without A Cause").

Furthermore, the Autry pays little more than a $1 per year monthly "rent" to the City of Los Angeles for the space that Col. Griffith G. Griffith deeded to the City with the promise that it would REMAIN GREEN / OPEN SPACE for the residents of Los Angeles. If that legal concern were not enough reason to deny the Autry its request to expand their footprint, there is also the issue that the Autry promised to maintain the Southwest Museum as a fully operational museum, but is now reneging on the promise in the hopes of creating a vague "community center" of some kind that might include "educational opportunities." In other words, not only is the Autry plan not specific enough in creating a museum, THEY ARE NOT EVEN AN ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT!

I mentioned pending activities, and there are two at this time that I can mention. For starters, the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition will be marching in the annual Northeast Los Angeles Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 2. Anyone in the Los Angeles County area who wishes to participate on our behalf can contact me.

Additionally, a benefit fund-raising dinner - and celebration of the birthdays of Ann Walnum and Dan Wright, two extremely active members of the Coalition - will be held at the Ebell Club in Highland Park on Thursday, November 29. Again, anyone requiring additional information can contact me. If you are unable to attend to the dinner but wish to make a donation, again, please contact me and I will provide you with all the necessary information.

The 11th Commandment

Yes, I'm really just looking for an excuse to post in my blog. I admit it. But today, driving home from work on a frustratingly longer-than-it-should-have-been holiday-week kind of day, I came across a guy in a white car with the license plate "KGJMESB." It took a minute, but I realized the reference to the King James Bible. The guy drove north on Arroyo Parkway (Route 66, so I can tie this into historic roads) before then heading east on Green. And all the while, he swerved around traffic a few times, sometimes suddenly and seemingly without caution, in an attempt to speed up his arrival at home. And he never really got that far in front of me.

Which made me think of a slogan I've seen in Route 66 circles before:
Leave Earlier
Drive Slower
Leave Longer

Than slogan can be, to my knowledge, attributed to Bob Waldmire, traveling artist, and a great friend that I haven't seen in far too long.

And I think that slogan should be the 11th Commandment. Especially for those that read the King James Bible and drive in Pasadena. And I hope that he reads this.

LA Cowboy: LA's Broadway Makes Wall Street Journal!

Found this LA Cowboy: LA's Broadway Makes Wall Street Journal! online today. The story became even more interesting after my post

An Open Letter to Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilmember Huizar

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Councilmember Jose Huizar
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mr. Villaraigosa and Mr. Huizar, Members of the L.A. City Council

A few weeks ago, a surprise and unpublicized press conference was held by the two of you at the Southwest Museum of the American Indian in Mount Washington. This location – once in your Council District, Mr. Mayor, and now in yours, Mr. Councilmember – has been the site of a long-going preservation struggle in Los Angeles. It is also the home of the oldest museum in Los Angeles and the largest collection of native artifacts outside of the Smithsonian. This location is not only an icon of the internationally-renown Route 66, but also a strong symbol of the history of Los Angeles and indeed all of Southern California.

Yet, at this hurried press conference, the two of you were pleased to announce how you had alienated your constituency. You were seen smiling at the announcement of how you had both ignored the people of Mount Washington, Highland Park, all of Northeast Los Angeles, and even the entire Route 66 community, as you paraded an unenforceable agreement with one employee of the Autry National Center. This “agreement” is counter to the goals of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition – which you both have publicly stated you supposedly support. It is also an agreement made with John Gray, but with no signatures from the Autry Board.

Even if the Autry’s Board of Directors had signed on to this “agreement,” it would mean nothing. There is no clearly stated plan for the Southwest Museum and related properties in Mount Washington within this agreement. Furthermore, the creation of the “blue-ribbon” committee seems a bit lacking. This committee is envisioned as a fund-raising arm for the Autry for the Southwest Museum. Yet, this committee lacks any individuals with proven fundraising capability. It lacks anyone wealthy enough to make a significant donation individually. And it even lacks ANYONE FROM THE AUTRY!

In the meantime, while the knives are being ground into the backs of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition, the Autry National Center continues dispensing its vague notions of an unnecessary “cultural center” on Mount Washington, while raping and pillaging the collection and permanently moving it to Griffith Park. Furthermore, the Autry National Center is stealing publicly owned land in Griffith Park at the rate of one dollar per year, while planning a massive expansion within the largest green space in Los Angeles County. This expansion will ensure the permanent closing of the Southwest Museum as a fully operating museum, thus creating the loss of one of Los Angeles’ longest running icons. All the while, the Autry remains unable to fund the expansion in Griffith, and unwilling to fund the continued operation of the Southwest Museum in Mount Washington, despite is proven economic feasibility, as outlined by the Autry’s own architect, Brenda Levin.

Mr. Mayor and Mr. Councilmember, I am deeply saddened by your recent actions. I had expected you, Mr. Mayor, to “yank Autry’s chain,” as you promised before being elected Mayor of Los Angeles. But, as you have said, campaign promises are meaningless, and your complete refusal to act on behalf of your constituents shows how little you care for your own city. Mr. Councilmember, after meeting with fifty representatives of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition, you promised to work with the Autry National Center to develop an agreement to keep the Southwest Museum in Mount Washington. This agreement that you have publicized is a failure, and so you have failed the residents of Council District 14.

As a resident of the Route 66 community, which has international reach, I lament your willingness to let the Southwest Museum fade away into the past. However, as a member of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition, I assure you that I will continue to fight for what belongs in Northeast Los Angeles, and what belongs alongside the Mother Road. I will continue to struggle to keep the Southwest Museum in Mount Washington. And I hope that one day in the future, you will both rejoin our ranks.

Sincerely
Scott Piotrowski
Director, 66 Productions

Merritt / Route 7 Interchange

Sounds like progress may be being made on the DOT / Merritt Parkway Conservancy battle over the Route 7 interchange. How much progress, though, one might wonder, after the DOT's original ideas to be like push and "go it alone," without taking into consideration any of the Conservancy's original recommendations and requests.

(And still more can be found here , including some discussion.)

Get Your Kicks - But Where to Sleep

Found this story in the Victorville Daily Press this morning. Interesting read and mentions a couple of nice hotels. But what if you are continuing west to the western-terminus in Downtown Los Angeles? How about staying here in Pasadena? What if your goal is Santa Monica? Try this location about 10 blocks from the western terminus on Ocean Avenue.

Councilmember Huizar Stabs Constituents' Backs

--- In nelalist@yahoogroups.com, nelalist wrote:

[posted by Daniel Wright, Pres. Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance]

INVESTIGATION BY BOULEVARD SENTINEL REVEALS MAYOR, HUIZAR, AUTRY
PRESS CONFERENCE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED TO EXCLUDE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY
MEMBERS

On Thursday, September 27, 2007, the Mayor, Councilmember Jose
Huizar, and the Autry Museum officials conducted a splashy press
conference with radio, television, and print media at the Southwest
Museum. Guards at both the bottom and top of the hill only allowed
"approved persons" up the hill to the Museum. At this event, based
supposedly on a July 2007 meeting Councilmember Huizar had with the
leaders of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition,
Councilmember Huizar claimed "tough negotiating" with Autry officials
had resulted in a "victory" for the community. Ironically, none of
the people for whom Huizar had obtained this "victory" were allowed
to attend this event in front of television cameras.

Also at this event, the Mayor announced the formation of the
"Southwest Society" a new organization to be convened by the Autry
that supposedly will raise money only for the rehabilitation of the
Southwest Museum building. This fund raising committee for the
Southwest Museum building consists of other Democratic elected
officials who appear to have been misled into agreeing to be part of
it. Unlike the fund raising committee for the restoration of the
Griffith Park Observatory, or construction of Disney Hall, the
Mayor's committee for the Southwest Museum has no wealthy people
sitting on it. It is just a list of people, most of whom are known to
be political supporters of the Mayor.

The time has come for a public discussion of how this Press
Conference was deliberately intended to mislead the Los Angeles press
to believe the Southwest Museum was being saved when in fact, the
Autry, now with the express assistance of City of Los Angeles some of
the elected officials who made election promises to keep the
Southwest Museum in the Arroyo Seco, continues its effort to steal
the collection of the Southwest Museum away to its own building in
Griffith Park.

THE BOULEVARD SENTINAL'S INVESTIGATION IS AN EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF
WHAT HAPPENED. HERE IS THE NEWSPAPER'S REPORT:

At a press event held at the Southwest Museum on Thursday, September
27, Autry officials, City officials, and carefully selected community
members announced the formation of the "Southwest Society, " a blue
ribbon committee created to help raise funds to restore and
revitalize the Southwest Museum and Casa Adobe.

Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmember Huizar and John Gray were there and
announced that, according to the Mayor, as a result of, a "very, very
tough negotiation" with the Autry by Councilmember Huizar, that the
community scored a huge victory. (more on that at the end of this
story)

Huizar said, "For years, the community and the Autry have been sizing
each other up, trying to figure out whether or not (the merging of
the Autry and the Southwest Museum) was a match that will fit. But
today marks a turning point, thankfully, in that relationship. Today
we proudly stand shoulder to shoulder ... in support of one simple
shared vision, to make the Southwest Museum and the Casa de Adobe
into a living, thriving destination."

The merging or acquisition of the Southwest Museum by the Gene Autry
Museum of the American West in 2002(?), has been accompanied by
conflict and controversy from the start. Activists in Mt. Washington
and the surrounding neighborhoods have feared that, at the worst, the
museum's vast collection of priceless Native American and
southwestern United States artifacts would be permanently taken away
and the Southwest Museum building would be razed to build
condominiums.

The Autry has made many promises as to the preservation and planned
use of the Southwest Museum site, but activists say they have gone
back on their word again and again.

Over the last five years, first, Antonio Villaraigosa, and then Jose
Huizar, were campaigning for Councilman and then Mayor, both swore
allegiances to back the community in what by then had turned into a
real fight between the community and the Autry.

Over the course of these few years, the community activists organized
themselves into the "Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition," and
boasted membership of 78 community organizations. They sometimes got
into battles in the press, occasionally a little nasty, which
prompted Mayor Villaraigosa to ask them both for a gag agreement, a
request to step back and hold the public comments for a six month
period.

In the summer of 2006, public input meetings were held to gather the
opinions and desires of people throughout the city of Los Angeles,
regarding the Southwest Museum and its collection. Early this summer,
Councilman Huizar hosted a meeting of community members representing
50 organizations in the "friends" coalition.

He says that he took these members' wishes into negotiations with the
Autry, and using them, came up with the agreement, the "huge
victory," he spoke of today.

What the Autry agreed to was to: (details removed for brevity)

* Expand and maintain the storage and public display of the Southwest
Museum's Collections in Mt. Washington.

* Preserve and protect the Southwest Collection of priceless
Artifacts.

* Preserve, rehabilitate and maintain the original historic Southwest
Museum Building and the Casa de Adobe.

* Expand the educational and programming activities of the Southwest
Museum and Casa de Adobe.

* Keep community members and stakeholders well-informed on plans and
programming at the Southwest Museum and Casa de Adobe.

* Autry National Center fundraising for the Southwest Museum and Casa
de Adobe.

The press event on this day sort of caught me by surprise, as I
received the telephone call telling me of the event only a few hours
before it was to take place. I expected to see all the local
activists, and members of the coalition that I see at all the
Southwest Museum events.

As I entered the driveway to the Southwest Museum, I was greeted by
two security guards, and saw at least two signs stating that the
location was closed for a "private" event. I told the man my name and
after he checked over his list, he sent me up the driveway. At the
top of the driveway I was again stopped by the guard who again
checked my name against a list.

As I entered the courtyard, I scanned all the attendees. The crowd
showed some definitely conspicuous gaps in representation. All the
"friends" coalition members were missing. Most of the only community
members there were the ones who had left the coalition. Let me
explain.

The very experienced and active "friends" coalition had previously
been tight knit, and completely aligned. They met and tried to
negotiate with the Autry every week for months. In June, the very
savvy and vocal chairman of the coalition resigned. That was Eliot
Sekular. He said he resigned over an "expansion" plan that remaining
members of the coalition were trying to force on the Autry. He
thought that the plan, and a last resort threat to litigate the
matter, would be counter productive to the future of negotiations.
Carol Jaques, Tony Scudellari, and Natalie Seaman evidently agreed,
as they followed suit, deciding to put 100% of their hopes for the
museum squarely on the shoulders of the Mayor and Councilman who had
promised to help. Eliot, as vice president of the Arroyo Seco
Neighborhood Council, took it before that board, recommending they
change their position to support his, instead of the coalition's.
They decided to stay with the coaltion.

But at this event, there were no coalition members there, only the
ones who had left the coalition, and decided to align with Sekular
and company.

I thought they might have been intentionally kept out of the loop. I
snuck away from the courtyard and visited the man at the top of the
driveway who had a copy of the guest list. After persuading him to
let me see it, I looked over every name. Sure enough, not one
coalition member that was still fighting the Autry was on that list.
They were not invited. If they had tried to get in, I'm sure they
would have been turned away.

I went back into the courtyard just as José asked for questions from
the press.

"José, were the critical coalition members were not on the guest
list. Were they intentionally kept out?"

"They probably took it upon themselves not to attend," he replied.

As I left I asked the security guard at the bottom of the driveway if
he had let in anyone who was not on the list.

"No," he replied with a quizzical look.

I was sure that coalition members, still critical of the Autry, were
intentionally kept out. I started calling around to double check.
Coalition founders Nicole Possert and Ann Walnum knew nothing of the
event. Highland Park Heritage Trust leaders Charlie Fisher and Ann
Marie Wozniak knew nothing of the event. Historic Highland park
Neighborhood Council President Heinrich Keiffer was kept in the dark,
too.

I believe now that this press event was intentionally a stacked deck.
It was designed to convince the press that everyone was now in
agreement, and that the fight was over. From what I have learned that
is far from true.

The latest news is that comments to the 1000 page environmental
impact report for the Autry's expansion plans in Griffith Park were
filed just in time last month by coalition members. In those pages
are statements declaring that there are no plans to use the "Arroyo
Seco Campus." Coalition leaders plan to meet next week to discuss
their options about what to do next. They still want the Southwest
Museum to be the main venue for displaying the Southwest Collection.

New Southwest Society members believe they should give the Autry a
chance to do what they promise. They think that the latest plan is
acceptable, but caution that they will protest strongly if the Autry
tries to go back on its word.

Although Mayor Antonio had stated that Councilman Huizar had come out
a winner in hard fought negotiations with the Autry, Autry personnel
did not have an answer when I asked them exactly what José had won
that was not already offered last year.

Councilman Huizar sent this answer to that same question:

"One of the best elements of the agreement I secured from the Autry
was the commitment to keep the artifacts of the Southwest Collection
on display at the Southwest Museum on a rotating basis. Over time,
the public will have the opportunity to view most of the priceless
collection. Having rotating exhibits will help ensure that visitors
will come back over and over again to this great museum to see what
is new on display.

Additionally, the Autry has now committed to being transparent with
the community as the rehabilitation of the building and the
collection progresses.

Overall, I am very pleased to have such a clear, specific vibrant
vision for the future of the Southwest Museum outlined publicly and
in writing. The dynamic of this relationship has changed and we are
now able to move forward towards our shared vision of this cherished
Museum."

I asked coalition members if the two items listed, rotating exhibits
and transparency with the rehab process was something that was a new
victory.

They said, "We don't see anything different from what the Autry's
been doing all along."

-- END OF THE BOULEVARD SENTINEL STORY --

ANALYSIS:

The press conference was substantially misleading to the press and
the public to whom the press reported the story. Leaders of the
Friends of the Southwest Museum, who represent the thousands of
people who have signed petitions demanding the City maintain the
Southwest Museum in the Arroyo Seco, were not invited to the Press
Conference because Autry did not want the truth to be known: Huizar's
"victory" is the same plan announced by Autry last year with a couple
of insignificant embellishments and the Mayor's fund raising
committee does not exist for the purpose of raising funds to keep the
Southwest Museum, as a museum, at its current location.

The corruption of the City's planning and environmental review
processes will now be graphically symbolized by the proposed
unnecessary loss of the Southwest Museum, this City's first and most
historic museum. The control of the City's planning and
environmental processes by lobbyists and moneyed institutions are so
complete that our elected officials, who expressly campaigned on
promises to retain the Southwest Museum at the Arroyo Seco site, have
been apparently offered something more enticing than the votes of
Northeast residents: political assistance and campaign contributions
to fuel their step up to the next political office.

Will our elected officials spit on the bones of their Native
southwestern ancestors housed in the Southwest Museum in exchange for
their own raw political ambition? Will the people of Los Angeles
allow the literal piracy of the Southwest Museum's collection for the
ambition of the Autry Museum? The time has come for a public
discussion of these important public issues as the Autry races to
City Hall trying to ram through its effort to expand its museum
building in Griffith Park.

Daniel Wright, President Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance

--- End forwarded message ---





In addition, it should be pointed out that the signed agreement
between Councilmember Huizar and the Autry National Center is NOT
signed by Autry's board, only by John Gray. As such, the Autry Board
of Directors can simply ignore it as it is not a legally binding
agreement.

Furthermore, in reading that details of the MEMO agreement from John
Gray to Councilmember Huizar, there is not gaurantee that the
Southwest Museum will remain as anything other than a "cultural
center" which may or may not be open to the public.

For a couple of years now, the Friends of the Southwest Museum
Coalition has enjoyed the verbal and ocassional written support of
the Route 66 family. Soon, I will be making a request for action. We
are formulating our plans for the coming months in the next step in
our struggle to preserve an important part of American history that
lies alongside the Mother Road in Los Angeles. Keep your eyes open
for this request in the next couple of days.

Two New Preservation Websites in Los Angeles

Two new websites have launched regarding historic preservation within the Los Angeles City limits. More information is here on Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (the largest one in LA encompasses Route 66 in Highland Park) and Los Angeles' drive to survey all of its historic sites.

"Father Road" To be Paved Over?

Found this article out of Canton, Ohio, about a portion of the Lincoln Highway under threat of being paved over. The original brick section might be paved over due to costs. Yet another piece of history in danger of loss.

Who Can Drive the Parkways?

Found this article about who can drive the parkways in the NYC Metropolitan area, and wondered how it compared to the weight limit and "no trucks" posted on the Arroyo Seco Parkway. Seems similarly confusing.

SW Museum Update

For more on the latest - including Councilmember Jose Huizar's complete ineptitude in understanding his own constituency and following through on their requests - go here.

Letters of malcontent can be sent to:
Councilmember Jose Huizar
200 North Spring Street
Room 465
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Please continue to encourage Huizar to understand and listen to his constituents, and even Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to explain why he has remained silent on the issue despite all of his pre-election promises.

Other Authors

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being on a panel entitled "California Dreamin'" at the West Hollywood Book Fair. Also on the panel were Elizabeth Pomeroy and Ann and Farley Olander. Elizabeth is the author of - among other things - "Lost and Found," an absolutely wonderful work based on her weekly articles of historic attractions in the San Gabriel Valley. Ann Olander wrote and Farley photographed "Call of the Mountains," about the largest mountains in Southern California, in the San Jacinto, San Bernardino, and San Gabriel Mountains.

The panel was so enjoyable for us and so successful as a group discussion, that we all agreed to hold a future presentation together where we ARE the event. No plans have been formalized yet, but stay tuned, as this is a great group to put up on stage together.

History of Los Angeles Government

I know it's not really roads related, but I saw this on the Los Angeles Times this morning and thought it would be interesting reading for some.

Merritt Parkway Update

Found this online this morning, updating the status of the Merritt Parkway / Route 7 interchange in Connecticut.

Duarte Route 66 Parade 9/22

Duarte is having its annual Route 66 Parade and City Picnic this Saturday, September 22, at 9am. I've participated in this event a couple of times, helping the California Route 66 Museum with their booth at the Picnic. Other plans will prevent me from being there this year, but this is a very nice event worth stopping in at for any Route 66 enthusiast. Nice cars and home-town feeling event.

Ridge Route Anniversary

In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the placing of the Ridge Route on the National Register of Historic Places, there will be a celebration held on 9/22. More information can be found here. Congratulations, "Scotty" and the rest of the Ridge Route crew. (Unfortunately I will not be able to attend due to other plans.)

Potential Bad News

Yesterday, Jim Conkle posted on the Route 66 egroup some bad news about Potapov's in Oro Grande. This morning, I responded with this post entitled "Potential Bad News." I thought I should share it - with some links included - with the general public.


******
I have a question for all the roadies out there. Yesterday Jim Conkle reported on here and I reported on my blog about the destruction of Potapov's in Oro Grande. Everyone on this list will readily admit what a shame that is and how horrible it is that nothing was done to save it. Many of us also feel that it was partly our faults for not being more proactive.

Here is where my question comes in. How many of you have taken active steps to help preserve other landmarks? Specifically, two in my hometown that need assistance come to mind: the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway. We are in danger of completely losing the Southwest Museum, and yet the calls for support that I present on here largely go unanswered.

As for the Arroyo Seco Parkway, that first freeway west of the Mississippi River was a part of Route 66 for 25 years. Many of us have driven it (although I bet many of you have hated it for all the crazy drivers on it who can't read speed limit signs!). But has anyone stopped to actually write the National Scenic Byway program or Caltrans with any thoughts or concerns about the slow demolition of the historic nature of the road, or the complete lack of the original "parkway" design? The Arroyo Seco Parkway was named a National Scenic Byway a few years ago, yet most of the Byway signage is still not in place, and enacting and following the Corridor Management Plan has been a strenuous process.

Folks, I am actively involved in both of those issues. Could I do more? Yes, probably. Will I try to in the future, seeing the fate of Potapov's? I certainly hope so. But what I ask is what have all of you done recently to prevent the same result falling on one of your local Route 66 icons?

And no, I'm not trying to provoke the Emily's, Ron's, Jim's, Kip's, Laurel's, Rod's, and countless others on this list. We know that you are all out there every day. But what about the rest of us who SHOULD have been at Potapov's, myself included? What are WE going to do to help those that are leading the charge?

Stepping down from my soap box now.
******

Oro Grande Cottages Torn Down

And when California does make the news in terms of Route 66, it unfortunately frequently has articles such as this one.

Perhaps we need a marketer in California that stays in California, concentrates on California, loves the Mother Road, is retired, and does nothing but promote Route 66 within our state. If only we had someone like that who was willing to concentrate on the Mother Road strictly within California's bounds and who had the time to do it. Alas, until I'm retired, the cost of living in Los Angeles is just too prohibitive for that person to be me.

Historic Hotels of 66

The news about the National Trust naming all of the historic hotels along Route 66 as endangered is anything but NEWS to Route 66 afficionados by now. But, there are three things about this article that intrigued me.

First, it's from the Seattle Times. Meaning it's not even along 66.

Second, despite being in the Seattle Times, it directly and specifically references Illinois in general and Pontiac in particular. I've noticed how frequently Route 66 (and the Lincoln Highway, for that matter) in Illinois makes the news. I'm jealous of that, because obviously SOMEONE in Illinois is constantly writing press releases. Either that, or there is NOTHING else happening in Illinois, and I sincerely doubt that.

Finally, and most importantly, I rather liked this article. It does not seem to be the typical AP article that I have been reading about the historic hotels of 66, and seems to have some personal flair added to it.

Bukowski Home Due for Preservation?

Although not right on Route 66 in Los Angeles, this is only four blocks away from the Mother Road (1926-1953) in Hollywood, so potential worth a mention to Route 66 and Charles Bukowski enthusiasts.

"What I Learned in High School"

Found this online today and found it a fun read. Since I'm not sure if my comment will be posted on his blog, I thought I would re-print it here, too.


Great post, Danny. Sounds like you've never actually been able to "Get Your Kicks." Well, there's still time. You should get out there and enjoy the road now, from a nostalgic point of view, and wonder what might have been. Over 85% of the road is still traversable in an every day automobile. Historical books and guides about the road are plentiful. A magazine is devoted to it. Finding the Mother Road now is half the fun, and a trip well worth taking (I've now done it twice).

13 Favorites Along 66

Was pleased to see that someone ranks two of his 13 favorite things along Route 66 as being in Los Angeles County. Unfortunately, one of them isn't actually a part of physical 66, but I'll give him credit for it being a part of the symbollic 66.

As for me, in no particular order, I'd say my favorite 13 are:

A: The People - without them, there would be no stories to tell, and no one to hear them.
B: The Figueroa Street Tunnels - the only vehicle tunnels anywhere on 66.
C: Buena Vista Street Viaduct - the oldest still-in-use bridge anywhere on 66.
D: The Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway - the first freeway portion of 66 and the only National Scenic Byway completely contained in a metropolitan area anywhere in the country.
E: The Aztec Hotel - perhaps the crown jewel of 66 in LA County.
F: The Southwest Museum - Los Angeles' oldest museum, and the site of many a kids' field trip in the LA area. This wonderful museum is unfortunately in the midst of a preservation struggle at the moment.
G: 7th and Broadway - the original terminus of Route 66 in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles' Theater District
H: Sycamore Grove Park - site of many a State Reunion Picnic in the first half of the 20th century, this is part of the once-larger Arroyo Park system that was partially envisioned by none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
I: Mom's Tamales - best tamales in LA, and they are located on the Transitional Alignment in Lincoln Heights.
J: Chicago (all of it) - let's face it, for everything that Los Angeles has going for it at the BEGINNING OF THE ROAD, Chicago has an equal at the end!
K: Suicide Bridge - the name alone should be enough, but then when you see this curving bridge crossing the beautiful Arroyo Seco, you have to be in awe!
L: 34 National Register of Historic Places landmarks within Los Angeles County's Route 66 corridor (some of them have been listed already, but they all deserve a nod).
M: Have I mentioned the people? There are far too many to name them all!

(Links will be coming this evening when I have more time!)

West Adams Historical Tour

This Sunday is a walking tour in the West Adams Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. More information can be found here.

Although not along 66, the West Adams area of Los Angeles is definitely an historically significant portion of the city and one to not be overlooked.

Getty Helps Fund Los Angeles Preservation Study

Read this morning that the Getty has pledged $2.5 million to help fund a study in Los Angeles of all structures to help deem which are historically significant.

THANK YOU, GETTY!

Angelino Heights

Found this online this morning about a historic district bordered by two alignments of old 66 in Los Angeles, and thought it would be worth a read for everyone. Unfortunately, I question the accuracy of some of the facts presented, but it is still enlightening nonetheless, and provides further evidence that there really are separate and distinct communities within the bounds of Los Angeles, even if only separated from the next one by a street!

About Manhattan-izing Los Angeles

I've been hearing and reading a lot about this idea lately, that Downtown Los Angeles needs to grow like Manhattan, and become the huge center of the large Southern California metropolitan area. This apparently is a necessity partially to help resolve some transportation issues in Los Angeles.

But this morning I read this article that includes some information about what LA was SUPPOSED to be thirty years ago. And this is probably the most realistic vision for LA that I have heard, it's 30 years old, and never been realized. Hopefully its time has finally come.

Beer Trip

OK, this has NOTHING to do with historic roads in LA County. It might, however, end up with some old 395 and Lincoln Highway and 99 and who knows what all else included in it.

I had to cancel a planned trip to Burning Man this month because Julie has to work, so I didn't feel that I would enjoy it enough without her to go on my own. So, instead, I decided to take a beer-tasting trip. After some thought and debate, I finally had Julie pick the general direction I would go. She chose north. So her - with basic historic routes as reference points - is the planned route:

US-66 West to US-99 North
(Wolf Creek Brewing, Valencia and Oggi's Pizza and Brewing, Santa Clarita)

US-99 North to CA-178 East
(Kern River Brewing Company, Kernville)

CA-178 East to US-6 / US-395 North
(Mammoth Brewing Company, Mammoth Lakes, Mt. Tallac Brewing Company, South Lake Tahoe)

US-50 East
(Placerville Brewing Company, Placerville, Blue Frog Grog & Grill, Fairfield, and Hoptown Brewing Company, Pleasanton)

The Dreaded Superslab Southwest
(Fire House Brewery, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos Brewing, Los Gatos)

US-101 South to CA-152 East to US-99 South
(Sequoia Brewing and Full Circle Brewing, Fresno)

US-99 South
(Lengthwise Brewing Company, Bakersfield)

US-99 South to US-66 East
(Lucky Baldwin's Pub, Pasadena)



If anyone has any good road suggestions, please let me know. Same for brewery thoughts and ideas along the route I'm taking.

Kerouac Still "Kicking?"

I found this article in yesterday's Boston Globe travel section. It reminded me a bit of when I read "On the Road," and it also made me yearn for a road-trip again. Fortunately, it's less than two months until Burning Man, so I'll get a little "roading" and a pleasant break from civilization then. Until then, might be time to pull out that old Kerouac book and give it another read.

Schmap Anyone?

I've had two of my photos from Flickr selected for the short-list of "Schmap" for Los Angeles. I'd never heard of it before. I'm wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with them.

Unfortunately, both photos selected are ones that also appear in my book, so I'm hesitant to release them, especially without compensation. If anyone has any feedback on this, I would greatly appreciate