National Trust Grants for LA County

This article
http://www.preservationnation.org/about-us/press-center/press-releases/2011/nthp-lapf-3-eng.html
details all of the grants awarded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for LA County in the latest round of recipients. Of the 12 LA recipients for round three, the most noteworthy is the last on the list: North Figueroa Association, Los Angeles.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

http://www.oldla.org/aboutus.html
http://www.chickenboy.com/
http://futurestudio.typepad.com/gallery/
http://www.facebook.com/amy.inouye
The North Figueroa Association and Chicken Boy / Future Studio / Amy Inouye have been actively working to improve Highland Park's stretch of the Mother Road for several years. You may remember their efforts in a recent re-lighting of the Highland Theater sign as well.
http://arroyosecojournal.blogspot.com/2011/05/highland-theatre-sign-relighting-051711.html

And on a related sidenote, I'm proud to say that my contribution to the North Figueroa Association is earmarked to relight the "S" in "Manning's." My reason for the S? Sam and Scott on Sixty Six, of course!
http://66inlaphotos.blogspot.com/

Happy Travels everyone, and congratulations North Figueroa Association!

I long thought that the Figueroa Street tunnels were the only vehicular tunnels ever on 66. Guess I may have been wrong. Thanks Ian http://www.facebook.com/ianacbowen

Highland Park Doing It Again

Another sign along Route 66 in Highland Park, CA, is going to shine bright once again. The Manning's Coffee Shop sign on the current Las Cazuelas restaurant will begin shining brightly again this coming Tuesday, January 10!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Walking Tours Updates

We've gotten through three walking tours out of 11 so far in our efforts to walk the westernmost 66 walkable miles of Route 66. Unfortunately, tour 4 has been ripe with difficulties. The Halloween weekend was the originally scheduled date for that tour, but evidently ghosts and ghoblins scared away Mother Road travelers, so the walk was postponed to yesterday, 11/6. Rain and cold saw two walkers making the effort to brave the conditions, but after a couple of miles, the walk was halted.

So we're trying with #4 again this coming Sunday, 11/13. The current schedule for walk in November and December are as follows:

November 13, #4 - Colorado Boulevard and Allen Avenue in Pasadena to Figueroa Street and York Boulevard in Highland Park (6.1 miles)

December 4, #5 - Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena to Huntington Drive and Eastern Avenue in El Sereno (5.1 miles)

December 11, #6 - Huntington Drive and Eastern Avenue in El Sereno to Broadway and 7th Street in Downtown Los Angeles (5.7 miles)

Following the 12/11 walk, there will not be another until January 8, 2012. We will then continue with walks on 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29 and finishing our journey on 2/5 at the Santa Monica Pier.

As previously, all meet times are at 7:30am with the walk commencing at 8am. We will also try to have food (and for those interested, drinks!) at the culmination of each walk. Cost is free for participants, but anyone wishing to join us must plan on their own transportation and food / beverage.

Walking Tour #1 - It's Here

Sunday's the day. I hope that I and everyone else are ready for it. 7 miles beginning in Glendora and heading west into Monrovia. More information can be found here or by emailing me.

Update on Clifton's

The original western terminus of Route 66 will soon see some changes. Clifton's Cafeteria - located just north of that terminus - will begin a major renovation in about week. The LA Times has more details on the updates. And more information on the history of Clifton's can be found on their website. Some nice contemporary photos of Clifton's are here and a nice older photo here.

52 LA Route 66 Landmarks - #4 (La Verne)

Happy 105th Birthday to La Verne, California, a couple of days early. Yes, on August 20, 1906, La Verne was officially certified as a city not only in California, but alongside what would become the Mother Road. In its honor we will celebrate it here as Landmark #4 of 52 in our year-long exploration of Los Angeles County's Mother Road.

Currently, La Verne is probably best known as the home to the University of La Verne. Founded in 1891 by the Church of the Brethren as Lordsburg College, the school still has its primary campus south of 66 in the city alongside Arrow Highway.

Lordsburg College and the then-community of Lordsburg changed their respective names to La Verne in 1919. After the passing of community founder Isaac Wilson Lord in 1917, a fictitious wedding between “Miss Lordsburg” and “Mr. La Verne" provided a new beginning for both the community and the school.

Route 66 would hit La Verne’s northern reaches in 1926, but it was the mid-1940’s that provided the main change for both 66 and La Verne. It was at this time that the proliferation of the automobile and car culture in Southern California butted heads with a decline in the quality of the citrus groves of the San Gabriel Valley, and La Verne began to experience suburban sprawl from Los Angeles.

Some interesting contemporary photos of the La Verne area can be found here. Perhaps the best-known current location along 66 in La Verne is La Paloma, which has been there since 1966, less than a decade prior to 66’s demise in the area.

52 LA Route 66 Landmarks - #3 (Arcadia)

OK, I am sure some of you are thinking after San Dimas last week and Arcadia this week, "What the hell, we know the cities that Route 66 in Los Angeles went through. Can we have more please?" Well, I think that Arcadia this week has a lot to offer.

We are a little behind, though. Last week I used San Dimas as my point of interest because it coincided perfectly with its vote to become a city. This week I am going to discuss Arcadia because on August 5, 1903 (almost 57 years earlier than San Dimas!), Arcadia voted to become a city.

Arcadia is one San Gabriel Valley community not to be missed. It was home to one Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin, whom we will discuss in a future "episode." And Baldwin founded Santa Anita Race Track within the community's borders in 1904. Unfortunately the park would also become a reminder of the negative side of the United States when it served as an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.

Recently, Arcadia made a name for itself when the citizens justifiably stood up against Rusnak Auto to block eminent domain proceedings against Rod's Grill, a Route 66 landmark.

In addition to Rod's Grill and Santa Anita Race Track, other local landmarks of note along the Mother Road in Arcadia include an original Derby restaurant, the 100-to-1 bar, and a more recent addition, Matt Denny's Restaurant (I readily admit to being a lover of good craft brews!). It is also the home of the Los Angeles County Arboretum.

So, when you make that California trip and you are heading to where you think the end of Highway 66 may be, to hell with Winona, make sure you don't forget Arcadia!

Changes to 66 in Highland Park

Interesting read here on Figueroa Street in Highland Park.

52 LA Route 66 Landmarks - #2 (San Dimas)

Fifty-one years ago today, on August 4, 1960, the City of San Dimas was officially certified following a vote on June 28 of that year. Hence, today San Dimas is this week's Route 66 Landmark.

The decision of its citizens to finally incorporate followed several years of slow annexation of its surrounding areas by adjacent communities. Therefore, its period of historical significance is minimal to Route 66. Yet, it's small town character exemplifies the Mother Road and defies Route 66.

One portion of its significance, however, is its original name. In the early 1800's, San Dimas was known by the name Mud Springs due to the marsh-like conditions of the region. This was especially true of its northwest region, the area in which the Bypass Alignment of Route 66 would one day wind its way through.

Like many communities of the San Gabriel Valley, San Dimas once thrived on citrus groves. It is believed that the San Dimas Lemon Association was the largest packing planet in the world at one time.

Today, with the exception of the lost connection between Country Club Drive and Foothill Boulevard, the highlight of 66 in San Dimas is probably Pinnacle Peak Restaurant.

Lawsuit Filed Over Southwest Museum

(pulled from the ASNCAlert group on Yahoo)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011
http://arroyosecojournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/city-sued-over-autry-southwest-mer\
ger.html

The City of Los Angeles is being sued over its willingness to allow the Autry
National Center to absorb the Southwest Museum. A suit has been filed by the
Highland Park Heritage Trust and by the Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance.

The two Northeast Los Angeles organizations allege that the Los Angeles City
Council, in allowing a Recreation and Parks Board decision permitting the Autry
to remodel in Griffith Park, ignored city zoning law and state environmental
law.

The absorption of the Southwest by the Autry was presented to area residents in
2003 as a merger that would result in both the Autry Museum in Griffith Park and
the Southwest Museum in Mount Washington continuing to exist under one umbrella.
However, the Autry closed the Southwest and is planning on remodeling in
Griffith Park to present part of the Southwest collection there.

The community groups bringing the suit contend that city zoning law,
specifically the Northeast Los Angeles Community Plan, in essence, enshrines the
Southwest, the City's oldest museum, as a central cultural and geographic
component of Northeast L.A. and requires the City to take impacts on the
104-year old Southwest Museum and its 97-year old Mount Washington campus into
account in any land use decision.

However, at a City Council meeting on the subject of the Autry remodel,
Councilmember Tom LaBonge, who represents the Griffith Park area on the council,
declared that the Southwest Museum no longer exists.

The lawsuit takes the Autry to task for burying the Southwest Museum name and
for moving a land use from Mount Washington to Griffith Park--where new Autry
gallery and garden components will bear names and descriptions strikingly
similar to those of the Southwest Museum. The contention is that the move is a
violation of the City Plan and a violation of the 2003 merger agreement. The
lawsuit blames the City of Los Angeles for approving the actions.

The Highland Park Heritage Trust and the Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance
also contend that State environmental law needs to be taken into account.

The California Environmental Quality Act mandates that all negative impacts of
any significant action must be fully explored and disclosed before the action is
taken--a step the organizations believe the City skipped over in granting the
Autry permission to remodel on the land it leases from the City in Griffith
Park.

On the table before the City is the issue of conversion of space within the
existing footprint of the Griffith Park structure into gallery space and an
educational garden area. The Autry contends that this is the sum total of what
it has planned for the site.

The lawsuit points out, however, that "Autry's construction drawings submitted
to the Recreation and Parks Department staff in May 2010 showed Autry's total
construction project will convert tens of thousands of square feet of non-public
space (collections storage and back office space in the Autry Museum's Griffith
Park basement) into expanded new public use spaces (exhibition galleries,
special event areas for rental income, new restrooms, etc.)."

The bringers of the suit say that proposed new uses would bring corresponding
increases in visitors, traffic and parking needs, all of which mandate a
thorough review of impacts on Griffith Park and on its surrounding communities.

The case is being handled for the local organizations by the law firm of Otten &
Joyce. This is the firm that won a court decision in the well-known Lopez Canyon
Landfill case that found the City of Los Angeles to be in violation of its own
laws in authorizing a truck driving school on land that had been dedicated as
passive open space.

"Autry broke into pieces its proposal to expand the Southwest Museum land use in
its Griffith Park building," said Brigid Joyce of Otten & Joyce. "Then Autry
claimed the City had `no discretion' but to approve the move and no requirement
to review environmental impacts."

When the matter of the Autry remodel went before the City Council in June, only
Councilmembers Ed Reyes and José Huizar, who represent the neighborhoods around
the Southwest Museum, supported the contention that environmental review was
required.

"This is a classic real estate developer ploy to piecemeal a project to evade
environmental review," said Joyce, "and the City went along with a wink."

The Highland Park Heritage Trust is a nonprofit organization with a 29-year
history of advocating for the heritage and historic preservation of communities
along the Arroyo Seco in Northeast Los Angeles. The Mount Washington Homeowners
Alliance is a nonprofit residents' association with a membership of nearly 700
residents of Mount Washington.

Three City Council Members--Reyes, Huizar and Paul Koretz--voted to send the
Autry remodel back to the Recreation and Parks Board as opposed to giving it the
okay.

"Mr. Huizar, Mr. Reyes and Mr. Koretz at least took the vote for integrity,"
said Nicole Possert of the Highland Park Heritage Trust as the time.

But the three councilmembers were outnumbered by their colleagues who voted to
let the Autry move ahead.

The suit will take an estimated nine months to reach a hearing in the local
Superior Court.
Posted by Edward Rivera at 5:23 PM

52 LA Route 66 Landmarks - #1 (Mom's Tamales)

Awhile back, I decided that I should prepare the world for life along the Mother Road in Southern California prior to the 2012 International Route 66 Festival. My only real question was how best to do that. I tossed around a few ideas, and here is one of the ones that I decided to stick to: I will once a week post about something related to Route 66 in Los Angeles County for the next 52 weeks. Tonight is Volume 01.

I've been working on this list for some time, and it's still in a constant state of flux. I'm definitely open to suggestions on what to write about. But for this first installment, I felt it was important to write about something that was quintessentially Los Angeles. This particular establishment just happens to fill that category and be right on the Transitional Alignment of Route 66, Pasadena Avenue.

I started to summarize the stereotypes about Los Angeles, and then realized, why regurgitate everyone else's beliefs that have little basis in fact, when I constantly ask for the facts to be discussed in regard to the Mother Road in LA. Instead, let's get right to the tamales.

Yes, tamales. If you live in LA, you have to eat tamales. I think it is a law written into the civil code somewhere. If it isn't, it should be. I think we should require it of visitors that stay more than 3 nights as well. And Mom's Tamales is the place I will send them.

I don't remember when I first went to Mom's, but I remember loving it. Located at 3328 Pasadena Avenue in Lincoln Heights 90031, the building itself stands out for its color, but not much else. A bright orange with black security screens on its door and windows, and a brightly colored logo, this is one of those easy-to-miss places.

One of the great things about Mom's - in addition to the tamales - is its location. It's nestled just off of the National Register of Historic Places Arroyo Seco Parkway, near Figueroa Street and Broadway, and very close to a Gold Line light rail stop.

But most importantly, this place has great tamales. Good enough to make national television and more than enough blogs about food and LA living, including Yelp and Chowhound. And they have won awards at the Los Angeles Tamale Festival, too.

So to get started on your trek around Los Angeles' Mother Road, make sure your stomach is full for it's going to be a long year!

Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition

The Eastsider reported yesterday on one of the best events I have been to in my life for any non-profit. This was the epitome of bringing like-minded people together for a common cause, and to explain the virtues of that cause to those that may have had a similar interest without the knowledge of the events.

Even Patch, which, frankly, I think lacks a lot of integrity, approved of the event at Galco's Soda Pop Stop.

Photos show that I was there working, and that even Sam and Julie were having a good time. Yep, even my little guy knows a good cause when he sees it. (Why he was sitting in front of Ron Howard on Friday night at the Dodgers game I still haven't figured out.)

Centennial Near the Terminus

This past Saturday I enjoyed my first visit inside the Palace Theater very near the original western terminus of Route 66. What I was able to see was stunningly beautiful. I only wish I could have had more time to see more. Hopefully the Bringing Back Broadway initiative will continue on down the road to a better Broadway for Angelinos, and a better terminus for all 66'ers.

Old Is New Again at the Western Terminus

Changes are afoot at Clifton's Cafeteria, which sits very near the original western terminus of Route 66.

El Alisal

Some information here about Charles Fletcher Lummis' home below Mount Washington, where his Southwest Museum sits.

In related news, the Los Angeles City Council voted to overturn the Recreation and Parks decision allowing the Autry National Center to expand in Griffith Park, and will hear the issue later this year in front of the full council.

Save our Southwest Museum - Urgent Action Item

I received the below email this morning. Draft letter to follow momentarily.


URGENT REQUEST FOR YOUR ACTION TODAY TO END THE AUTRY MUSEUM
PLAN TO MOVE THE SOUTHWEST MUSEUM INTO GRIFFITH PARK

Your Coalition Steering Committee is writing to report to you a series of actions of the General Manager of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department and the Autry Museum that once again imperil the Southwest Museum.

Last Friday, the Board of Recreation and Parks Commission, after extremely limited notice to the public, quietly took up a secret Autry proposal to expand its exhibition space in Griffith Park to enable Autry replace and destroy the Southwest Museum institution.

There is a way to obtain public review and proper consideration of this item of business. Councilmembers Jose Huizar and Ed Reyes, in whose districts the Southwest Museum’s assets are located, must immediately work with Council President Eric Garcetti to put on the City Council’s meeting agenda an item to consider “assuming
jurisdiction” over the Recreation and Park Commission’s decision. Unless the Council assumes jurisdiction within five council meeting days after the Recreation and Parks Commission action, it will become final. If jurisdiction is assumed, then the Council has 21 days to consider the item and veto (or not veto) it.

It is absolutely critical that as many voters as possible contact Councilmembers Huizar and Reyes immediately. And that is where you, the supporters of the Southwest Museum, have in the past changed the outcome and you can do it again.

The most powerful thing you can do is call their offices tomorrow. Tonight and tomorrow, you can send an email expressing outrage over Autry’s attempt to sneak a scaled down version of its expansion project through the Commission without ever disclosing the existence of a revived project to any community group or the public. Then open your address book and send this Action Alert on to your friends asking
them to do the same.

Our communities across Los Angeles must object firmly and with justified outrage at this time or the Autry truly will have succeeded in walking off with $5 million of endowment, a priceless collection, and a 13-acre National Register Historic site with the museum and Casa de Adobe. Officials at City Hall told us that the Southwest Museum letters, faxes and phone calls in June 2009 was the biggest response to any issue in recent memory – including Billy the Elephant at the Zoo! As soon as you receive this alert, at a minimum, send it to your address book, post it on Facebook, Twitter your outrage at the “sleazy backroom politics of City Hall” that seeks to destroy our City’s historic sites like the Southwest.

It is time to take off the gloves and punch with all your might at the corrupt practices of the Autry and the Recreation and Parks Commission. We can do it.

HERE IS THE EMAIL LIST:

Jose.Huizar@lacity.org, Ed.Reyes@lacity.org, Ana.Cubas@lacity.org,
Paul.Habib@lacity.org, Zenay.Loera@lacity.org, Jose.Gardea@lacity.org,
Sonia.G.Jimenez@lacity.org, Eric.Garcetti@lacity.org,
katherine.hennigan@lacity.org


HERE ARE THE THREE PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL and FAX your letter:

Councilmember Huizar: (213) 473-7014 phone; (213) 847-0680 fax

Councilmember Reyes: (213) 473-7002 phone; (213) 485-8907 fax

Councilmember Garcetti: (213) 473-7013 phone; (213) 613 0819 fax

More Walking in LA

Who says "nobody walks in L.A?" Here is another example of the wonderful results that can be had from urban hiking in Los Angeles, this time along another historic highway, original US-101. And just for laughs, I thought this may be of interest to some as well.

LRS

I know that I am a seemingly endless supporter of this on my blog sometimes, and one day I will actually find the time and finances to get me there, but the Los Angeles Conservancy's Last Remaining Seats is getting close at hand again. Here is an article about this year's festivities.

Relighting Ceremony

Last night's Highland Theater relighting ceremony was a huge success for Highland Park, North Figueroa, and old Route 66. Martha Benedict has posted some photos here. The first of my photos can be found in my (revived) photography blog.

Postcard of Original Western Terminus

This came up on a google search this morning and I thought I would share this flickr page showing a postcard of the original western terminus of Route 66.

More on the Streetcar Downtown

BlogDowntown has more on the streetcar study for Downtown Los Angeles / Broadway / Route 66 today. This afternoon's meeting officially begins the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) stage of the project and will help determine where the line will go.

Bright Lights, Big City

Less than one week remains until the North Figueroa Association, National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Management Program, the City of Los Angeles, and Future Studio (and many many others) relight the Highland Theater sign along Route 66! I cannot wait!

An NY Look at LA

Enjoyed this read of a different view of LA that reinforces my insistence on taking LA one neighborhood at a time.

Street Car Named Terminus

OK, not really. But plans continue to slowly progress to start a streetcar line along Broadway, and it could include the original western terminus of Route 66. More information on the proposed project can be found at the MTA website.

New Face of 66 in Echo Park

There's a new face in town. Literally. This shouldn't come as a surprise to many as people come and go in LA all the time, but this face is a pretty big one.

Upcoming Event - May 14

The third annual Echo Park Artwalk is coming up along Route 66 on May 14. Maybe I will see some of you there

National Register along 66 in Los Angeles

I've posted my updated file listing all fifty-eight National Register of Historic Places Landmarks along Route 66 in Los Angeles County here.

Previously, in 2005, I had listed 34 National Register Landmarks along 66 in LA County when I released Finding the End of the Mother Road: Route 66 in Los Angeles County. The updates this time account for two things, an increase in the number of landmarks in Pasadena and Highland Park (primarily), and an expanded definition of "corridor" to take in landmarks within the viewshed of 66, or within a 2 block radius. I've also added a couple that are within the cultural corridor of 66, including the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena and the carousel building at the Santa Monica Pier.

Downtown LA of the 1930's

This article is quite an interesting take on a book I have seen but not yet read. I find the most telling sentence to be "But as we continued to the Central Library, to the old Edison Building at Fifth Street and Grand Avenue, and circled back to see an old mural at the Federal Building, I realized that for every landmark razed, much of old Downtown is still intact." This is a sentiment I realize every time I talk to someone about 66 in Los Angeles, and downtown LA as well.

Walking Tour #1

Still a long way away, but just wanted to post a couple of notes on the first tour. Our start part will be at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Alosta Avenue (Route 66) in Glendora, just a couple of blocks away from Flappy Jack's.

From there we will continue west along the Mother Road through Glendora, Azusa, Irwindale, and Duarte, ending at Huntington Drive and Shamrock Avenue in Monrovia. Total distance will be 7 miles. For those willing, I'm expecting to continue another five long blocks to Domenico's for drinks and a bite to eat.

Fiesta Broadway

There's an event coming up in less than a month that will close down the final stretch of original Route 66. But it's a party well worth attending!

Walking Tour Dates

The dates for the walking tours have been chosen, and paths and locations are determined as well. I'm posting below the date and approximate location for everyone now so that they can have an idea about where we will be going and when so that you can decide when to come to Los Angeles and join us for a walk!

October 9, 2011:
Starting in Glendora and heading west

October 16, 2011:
Making a loop starting and ending at the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia (this will be our longest walk at 7.2 miles).

October 23, 2011:
Along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena (this will be our shortest walk at only 4.2 miles)

October 30, 2011:
Further west along Colorado almost to the heart of Highland Park

November 6, 2011:
From Old Town Pasadena to Downtown El Sereno

November 13, 2011:
From El Sereno to Downtown Los Angeles (this walk will take place two days after Route 66 turns 85!)

December 4, 2011:
From Lincoln Heights eastbound to South Pasadena

December 11, 2011:
From near the Eagle Rock through Glassell Park to Lincoln Heights

January 8, 2012:
From Chinatown to Hollywood

January 15, 2012:
From Hollywood through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills to Century City

January 22, 2012:
From Century City to the Westernmost Terminus, then on to the Pier

Walking Tour Problem discovered

I mentioned that I was planning some walking tours for this fall. When I started plotting paths and determining the breakdown of miles, I discovered one minor detail. The plan was to cover all of the westernmost 66 miles of 66 over 11 trips. However, I forgot that about 13 of those miles are freeway.

So instead of trying to walk along the Hollywood (101) Freeway and Arroyo Seco Parkway (110), I thought instead I would start 12 miles further east and pick up extra 66. So stay tuned for details of each trip in terms of locations and when they will be, but don't fret the thought of walking along a busy Los Angeles freeway!

Back on the Walking Tours

After almost completing walking 66 in LA County a couple of years ago (the Location Managers Guild of America but the ball rolling, but has failed to complete their tours and we fell one tour short when I picked it up), I am back at it again. Plans are underway to commence 11 walks of approximately 6 miles each that will cover all of the westernmost 66 miles of Route 66. Our walks will begin this fall and will go from east to west. The first walk is tentatively scheduled for October 9, 2011 and the last for January 22, 2012. All will be on Sunday mornings and will begin at 8am (with meeting times at 7:30am). All will be leisurely paced and free to anyone that wants to participate.

Perhaps of interest to non-Angelinos will be the accompanying blog posts. As the walks are about to get underway, prior to each walk I will post a brief description of something that we will be seeing on that next walk. Then on Sunday evening will be a blog post about the walk itself. So for those unable to take part, this will be as detailed of a glimpse of 66 in Los Angeles that has been put out there to date.

These blog posts will be in addition to the 52 posts I will be making prior to the 2012 festival.

66's Erotic Massage Parlors

You heard it here folks. Not first, but you heard it. It, therefore, must be true. The rumours about Los Angeles being anything but the City of Angels have been proven by the one and only Los Angeles Times.

It seems that Route 66 - at least one alignment of it - is not only the home to the most "pot shops" in Los Angeles, but is now harboring illegal immigrants as sex slaves.

I have to say, living here, I have NEVER witnessed anything that gives me the slightest indication that it is true. But either way, if you don't like what you see along 66 in Los Angeles, well, just look a little deeper.

Confluence Plaza Dedication

I was pleased to see this in my inbox this morning. Now if we can only get the powers that be to know that 3 alignments of 66 came together right here as well, including one of the only locations in the country where two alignments crossed each other perpendicularly.


Please Join
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Los Angeles City Councilmember Ed P. Reyes

At the Dedication of Confluence Plaza

Wednesday March 30, 2011
6:00 PM

For more information and to RSVP, please call (323) 221-9944, extension 181 € ¦£

Directions
Confluence Plaza is Located at
2011 North Figueroa Street,
Cypress Park, 90065

The corner of North Figueroa Street and North San Fernando Road

Signs and rangers will lead you to
parking in Home Depot lot and to event site

Oh Brother

This may not be current, but I think that those that love the road will completely understand this music. Thank you Joel and Ethan Coen.

Water and 66

Some history here that pertains to 66, the San Gabriel Valley, and Northeast Los Angeles. Definitely an interesting read for locals and 66'ers alike.

Echo Park Stairs and Jensen's Mural

For those with the time and inclination, this post on LA Observed has two separate route 66 connections worth exploring. The first is a brief discussion of the secret stairs that litter the Los Angeles hills, including many locations adjacent to or near 66. The next is about a mural being uncovered in Jensen's Recreation Center, which sits on 66 in Echo Park.

Found yet another article about Downtown Los Angeles. This one only peripherally mentions anything about Broadway / Route 66, but I thought it was interesting enough to add nonetheless.

Eagle Rock's birthday

Eagle Rock just turned 100 years old four days ago, and so far, this has been the best little blurb I have seen about it. There are plans to celebrate all year long from what I have heard.

Tourist's Perspective: Downtown Los Angeles

I am pretty much unable to describe to tourists unfamiliar with metropolitan areas what Downtown Los Angeles is like. I grew up near Cleveland, visited Chicago frequently, and even experienced Boston while growing up. So to explain that Los Angeles' downtown core is smaller than most while the overall area the city covers is far larger seems counter-intuitive. Yet, it's true.

Furthermore, unlike New York, Los Angeles sleeps. (According to singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, this may be a good thing, as that means at least we dream. But that's another story.) Sleeping pretty much means that portions of Downtown can seem horribly blighted or completely desolate at night.

My point? My difficulties giving an adequate portrayal of Los Angeles seem to have been somewhat relieved by this find in which a "tourist" (a Westsider who never heads downtown) visits Downtown Los Angeles with out-of-town guests. This is pretty much a basic first look for people wanting to see Downtown in a day.

Original Western Terminus

I've long advocated that the original western terminus of Route 66 was at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Street in the heart of Los Angeles' Theater District.

The role of entertainment in 66's history is epic. Steinbeck wrote Grapes of Wrath with the Mother Road as a central character, if you will, in the story. Henry Fonda then further immortalized the Joad family in the movie shortly after. Bobby Troup gave up writing a song about Highway 40 and instead concentrated on 66 after picking up the fabled highway in the Chicago area. And we cannot forget Martin Milner, George Maharis, and Glenn Corbett in the TV show "Route 66?" Clearly, Route 66 was placed in its role as the epitome of Americana by the people that traveled the highway to reach the entertainment capital of Los Angeles.

In 1926, that capital was not Hollywood. The Theater District on Broadway in Downtown LA was the real capital in public perception. As such, the history of the Downtown core is very closely tied to the history of the Mother Road, and it is an important place to visit on any Route 66 trip.

Being an Angelino - even if I am not native - I personally have not had much of a concern wondering the streets of the Theater District on car or foot. However, I can see how the seemingly blighted area can seem overwhelming to those not comfortable in a huge metropolitan area. Hopefully, this initiative for the Theater District will alter the 66 traveler's perception of the original western terminus in a positive manner.

Want To Get Back At It

I really want to post every day. Or at least a few times a week. But sometimes that is difficult. Especially with the little one running around now.

But when things hit home, it is time. And this blog hits my home closely - both currently and near where I was growing up. So it is most definitely worth a mention.

Pride in 66, Pride in Highland Park

I don't live in Highland Park. But I love that community. I love all of Northeast Los Angeles for that matter. And it is obvious that I love Route 66. So how can I say "no" to this:


Show Your Highland Park Pride!

We're re-lighting the 1924 HIGHLAND THEATRE rooftop sign--an exposed bulb sign that is that largest, tallest, most visible rooftop sign along Highland Park's Figueroa Street commercial district (along Historic Route 66),

and...

we're preserving and relighting the 1933 MANNING'S COFFEE STORE rooftop sign--an extremely rare example of an historic sign that features both opal glass and neon on the rooftop of Las Cazuelas restaurant.

HighlandTheatre_Mannings

We've received a grant from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and now WE NEED YOUR HELP to raise matching and maintenance funds. Donations in any amount are needed and are tax deductible. Or you can sponsor a specific part of the project and receive recognition for your contribution.

Donations can be made by paypal to: northfigueroa@gmail.com

Or by checks made out to: NORTH FIGUEROA ASSOCIATION (our fiscal receiver and business improvement district). Checks can be mailed c/o Future Studio, 5558 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles CA 90042. You can email questions or call the NFA message line at 323-255-5030.

Please include all your contact info including an email so we can keep you posted, and if your donation is for a specific part of the project.

Download FigLightingApp_Final2LR.pdf (857.7K)
Help Re-Light the Historic Signs of Figueroa Street

DONATION LEVELS:

Highland Theatre

Sponsor a light bulb for $19.24 each

Sponsor a letter:
H (sponsored by Highland Park Heritage Trust)
I (sponsored by Highland Park Heritage Trust)
G (sponsored by UGLA, Uptown Gay & Lesbian Association)
H ($750)
L (sponsored by Sharon Lilly & Joan Potter; "L" for LOVE)
A ($750)
N ($1,000)
D ($850)

T ($500)
H ($750)
E (sponsored by the EBELL Club of Highland Park)
A ($750)
T ($500)
R ($850)
E ($850)

Manning's Coffee Store

Sponsor an opal glass letter (2 sets: COFFEE STORE, total 22 letters) for $66 each

Sponsor a neon letter (2 sets: MANNING'S, total 18 characters) for $99 each

Sponsor a neon arrow (2 arrows) for $660 each

Happy Pre-Birthday

84. I hope that I can make it to 84. But tomorrow, Route 66 will hit that landmark. Sure, back when it was young - a mere 59 - it was forced into early retirement. It looked around for something to keep it busy, but couldn't find much. Not many people seemed interested. But only a few short years into retirement, and the Mother Road found its calling once again. By the time it turned 64 it was getting back out there. No, it wasn't teaching people how to drive, per se, but it was teaching people how to ENJOY the drive. And now, on the eve of its 84th birthday, I would like to take a moment to reflect on how it has taught me to drive.

For starters, back in 1996, Route 66 taught me one of the most important messages in my life. It taught me to enjoy where I was. I didn't know it at the time, but a lot of things on that first fateful trip along 66 were precursors to who I am today.

There's that first stretch of road outside Hydro that I was on. Yes, THAT Hydro. Hydro, Oklahoma. Lucille's. I never stopped. I never went there. I never met her. And meeting Cheryl Nowka several years later, I wish I had gone to Lucille's. This is probably one of the biggest ironic disappointments in my life - that my first Route 66 experience would be near Hydro, and it would NOT involve the legendary Lucille Hammonds.

It would, however, involve the interstate and a bunch of semi-trucks though. How? Well, pushing along on the frontage road that was 66, up and down the hills, around a few curves, I realized that this road was special pretty fast. And I realized just how much I would be missing by traveling on the now-dreaded super-slab. So as a big old 18-wheeler sped by to my left, through my open window I YELLED, as loud as I could, "You fools don't know what you are missing."

I think I figured it out for myself in Flagstaff on that trip. I love that town. Still do. Don't make it back there as much as I would like, but I love that place. Quaint. Beautiful. Scenic. Good beer, too (thank you Beaver Street Brewery!). And not so far away from my adopted home.

Speaking of that adopted home, let's face it, I love Los Angeles. I live and breath it, both literally and figuratively. There is one reason I came to LA, and many reasons that I stayed. But two and half years ago, I moved actually INTO the City of Los Angeles. Northeast Los Angeles, to be exact. NELA. Glassell Park. Throughout NELA there are signs of 66's influence. The Highland Theater. Sycamore Grove Park. The Southwest Museum (damn you Jackie Autry and your cronies --- bring THAT BACK!). The Arroyo Seco Parkway. Figueroa Street Tunnels. The Eagle Rock. The Rose Bowl Motel. SODA POP STOP! Hell, I could keep going. (Soon I will.) All of these places that I have come to love are part of the Route 66 experience in Los Angeles. And the diversity that they present is amazing, and speaks of the history of our nation.

But as much as I love my home, let's face it, 66 is about ... no, not the road ... it's about THE PEOPLE. And on that first trip back in 1996, the Mother Road guiding me to her father and spokesperson, Angel Delgadillo. Know, I had NO idea who he was when I walked in there in May, 1996. And when I went back several months later AND HE REMEMBERED ME all I could do was let my jaw drop. But this guy pushed me to something that I never would have done without me. And so, to Angel, tomorrow I especially say to you, I love you, Angel, and I love that I know you will be celebrating just as much as me the birthday of our Mother Road.

Not everyone is an Angel, though. We have our black sheep. Hell, I'm one of them. I drink like a fish, and sometimes curse like a sailor. Or worse. But all of us are a community. A 2400 mile long community that stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica. It has grown together to become a family. And it is a family that I love with all of my heart. And so tomorrow, in addition to saying Happy Birthday Mother Road, I will say, I love you family, for we are all in this together.

Tomorrow, I will start the day if time permits with one of my fondest memories of Route 66 and my "family."

Steve McQueen tribute

Special thanks to Ron Warnick at Route 66 News for finding this online. Upon reading his comments here and then reading the link above, I sent the below message off to the contact listed in the press release. I would encourage everyone to email them to ask them to correct their information as well. Misinformation, intentional or otherwise, does a disservice to everyone on the road.


*****

I found this online this morning: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2010/11/prweb4750244.htm

As the author of "Finding the End of the Mother Road: Route 66 in Los Angeles County," I would like to point out the actual western termini of Route 66. Upon certification on 11/11/1926, the official western terminus was at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles' Theater District. Effective 1/1/1936, the highway was officially extended to a terminus at Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards in Santa Monica. Later the highway would be shortened to an ending in Pasadena and still later to the Arizona / California border. Saying "the intersection of Highland and Santa Monica Blvd., where Route 66 ends" is an erroneous statement, although for a period of nearly 30 years that was the intersection of US-66 and state highway 170.

Thank you, however, for the mention of the most fabled highway in the US as part of your tribute to Steve McQueen, one of the most well-known actors of all-time.

*****

"Finding the End of the Mother Road"

For those of you who do not know, the second printing of "Finding the End of the Mother Road: Route 66 in Los Angeles County" is nearly sold out. I have a passed-due order to ship to the Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum in Barstow. Once that ships, I will be down to the final 10 or so copies available. There are also a few stray copies of the first printing available.

I'm looking for a publisher for the third printing. If anyone knows of anybody that would be interested in publishing / printing the ONLY guide book to Route 66 in Los Angeles County please have them drop me a line. The book itself is worthwhile and I am interested in again expanding it, but not interested in again fronting the money for such a worthwhile endeavor.

The final 66 miles

I was thinking more about my previous post. Instead of posting once per week in the 52 weeks leading up to the Santa Monica festival, I was thinking instead of doing 66 posts leading up to that festival. That's an extra 14 posts, probably all near the end.

That got me to thinking about how to do it. Which leads to today's post. I was thinking I would cover the western-most 66 miles of highway in those 66 posts. But how to measure those miles. Then it hit me. There's this book called "Finding the End of the Mother Road: Route 66 in Los Angeles County." In it are the detailed directions for driving 66 in LA County. Every alignment. Every year. Including the locations of the pre-1964 western termini, which, by the way, do NOT include the Santa Monica Pier or Santa Monica Boulevard at Ocean Avenue.

So I am going to use that book's directions and plot all of the last 66 miles. And I will find my favorite sites, the most important sites, and the most interesting stories about 66 for those 66 entries covering the 66 miles.

And I am still open to suggestions should anyone have requests.

2012 Festival in Santa Monica

It has been announced that the major annual international Route 66 festival (held in conjunction with the Will Rogers Awards Banquet) will be held in Santa Monica in 2012. This could be intriguing, particularly if the powers that be actually admit to the real termini that the road had while certified. In the meantime, I am already making some plans, too. Beginning 52 weeks before the open of the 2012 festival, I will post one blog entry per week chronicling a Route 66 item in Los Angeles County.

My goal is to discuss a lot of the lesser-known, or unknown, aspects of 66 in LA. So, fellow Angelinos, lay it on me. Tell me your thoughts about what I should talk about, and maybe why. Leave "Suicide Bridge" behind. Forget the Aztec Hotel. These are great landmarks, to be sure, but haven't we "done that" already? Let's talk about some DIFFERENT aspects of 66, like taco trucks that line the highway or the common architecture of many Los Angeles City Fire stations that line the road. (And yes, those are hints of things to come.)

66 Oranges

OK, not really. But how about Route 66 and an orange stand? I also stopped at the one on old 99 south of Chowchilla just before Caltrans, using their immense wisdom, chose to widen 99. (I still have not figured out why they are widening a highway that is not to interstate standards while simultaneously trying to gain interstate status for that highway, but that's another post.)

Our Mayor, The Liar

We all know of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's lying, cheating ways. His affairs. His promise to his own constituents not to run for Mayor. His turning of his back on the Southwest Musuem of the American Indian, allowing its pending extinction. Sure, there are countless others, too. Now for his latest.

"Photo Op" Villaraigosa's latest lie comes from his own blog. In this latest piece (dated 2/22/10 @ 4:40PM in case you look this up later), the Too-Good-For-His-Own-District Villaraigosa claims many half-truths, such as how his plan will "get thousands of cars of the road." Now, ignoring the atrocious grammar (doesn't he run a non-profit that oversees charter schools in Los Angeles?), let's look at this claim of his. He claims to get thousands of CARS off the road, and that may become partially true with the Subway to the Sea. But while Villaraigosa is supporting mass transit for the Westside, he is again burying his own Council District. Well, more accurately, he is helping to bury a freeway under it, thus allowing THOUSANDS MORE TRUCKS to pass through Northeast Los Angeles on a 710 freeway tunnel. Thousands less cars at the expense of thousands more trucks. Nice half-truth, Mayor.

That brings us to the outright lie in the same sentence: "My plan would not only get LA the transportation network it deserves sooner ..." I have to ask how EXPANDING pollution output via increased TRUCK and therefore HEAVY LOAD traffic via the 710 Expansion and Gap Closure gets us a transportation network that we deserve? Is the Mayor saying that he SUPPORTS polluting Northeast Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, and La Canada and La Crescenta so that mass transit can be brought to the Westside?

What's up with this, Mr. "Photo Op" Villraigosa? Forget the SHORT-TERM jobs that you want to bring! We don't want them. We want long-term, GREEN transportation options for ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. We do NOT want the 710 Tunnel.

Some slogans for you, Mr. Mayor:
From Our Wallet to Your Hole
No Tunnel. Nowhere.
Not Under ANYONE'S Back Yard.
Bury This Tunnel.

The New "Official" Terminus

It's been almost a week now, and I have publicly been largely quiet on the new "official" western terminus that was declared for Route 66 last week.

For those one or two of you that might have missed it, several organizations got together on the 83rd birthday of the Mother Road last week and declared a new official western terminus on the Santa Monica Pier. The groups included the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Route 66-to-Cali (a business located on the Pier), and the Route 66 Alliance (the website link I found for them seems to be inactive .... if anyone knows of one, please pass it along).

As pointed out by Bill Bauer in the Santa Monica Daily Press yesterday, this is all well and good, except that the presiding "agencies" involved have no jurisdiction over the highway's official, designated terminus. Furthermore, I add that they may have declared a new official terminus, but having not provided the routing to actually GET to the terminus, it's an interesting move. And, perhaps most importantly, I find it intriguing that they are officially creating a new terminus to a highway that was officially decertified in 1985, more than 24 years ago.

Now, despite all of the technicalities and obvious cries for publicity, and despite the creative grab for some tourist dollars at the Pier, I have to say, by and large, this could have been a relatively good move. But as in most things, semantics got in the way.

How did semantics get in the way? Well, it is pretty clear to just about everyone who travels the highway today that the symbolic ending of your end-to-end trip is at the Santa Monica Pier, much like your symbolic beginning is likely to be at Lake Michigan. Let's face it, this is a symbolic trip anyway, along a symbolic highway that does not appear on United States Highway maps. So, rather than calling it an "official" ending as the groups above did, the solution here would have been to do what the 66'ers have been saying for years: call it the symbolic terminus, as Jim Conkle of the Route 66 Alliance does here.

I'm all for that... as long as the historical accuracies of the road are preserved. And that is where the semantics come into play. By declaring a new "official" terminus, the details and clarity of the new designation on the Pier have become obscured. Essentially, what the Route 66 Alliance has done has publicly put forth a means to alter the history books. Conkle, Chairman of the Route 66 Alliance, has assured everyone that "We aren't trying to rewrite the history books." I know Jim. We have our differences. But I have every reason to suspect that he is telling the truth. He did not want to rewrite the history books. But that is what this "official" designation seems to do.

And that's why I think that this ceremony and the press release issued by the Santa Monica CVB got it wrong, and needs to be called out for it. If you want to support the businesses on the Pier and declare a symbolic ending of 66 on the Pier, and hang an "End of the Trail" sign there, I am all for it. But declaring it official is nothing but inaccurate and wrong. And anyone who truly wants to preserve Route 66 should want the historical accuracies of the highway preserved alongside the myths and the legends.

9 Days is a Lot of Travel Time

Over the last nine days since I last posted, I've spent a lot of my waking hours working on the early stages of fighting an illogical freeway tunnel. Some time in the future I'll get into more detail about this crazy idea of a Congressman from Pasadena. For now, though, I think I need to catch up to a convoy in front of me.

This convoy story, however, really starts back in 1913 with Carl Fisher and the founding of what would become the Lincoln Highway Association. It then led to Dwight D. Eisenhower's experience as Colonel taking part in a convoy in 1919 across the United States, following the Father Road. The Lincoln Highway, Yellowstone Trail, and the Good Roads Movement in general led to the creation of the United States Highway System. This, in turn, combined with Eisenhower's experiences in 1919, led to today's Dwight D. Eisenhower Interstate and Defense Highway System, our modern freeways (think those blue and red shields with white numbers and text).

All of this history, though, is being relived through one simple convoy. And nine days ago I commented about it. In the nine days since, this convoy has gone a long way.

On Sunday, June 21, they were in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

It was in Logan, Iowa on June 23.

Yesterday, Wednesday June 24, the convoy wove its way from Jefferson, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska.

From Omaha it "will make it's way through Grand Island on June 25. It is also expected to be in Ogallala on the 27th." (Which also means that today it should go through Columbus, Iowa.)

The North Platte Telegraph discusses the convoy's pending arrival tomorrow with a pretty good article.

This Saturday they will be in Laramie, Wyoming.

The convoy is being organized by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. It began on June 13 in Washington DC and is scheduled to conclude in San Francisco on July 8. (Any kind readers in the San Francisco area that can be there when the convoy rolls in, I would LOVE some good photos!)

1919 Convoy retraced

Lots of news yesterday regarding the re-creation of the convoy of 1919 that crossed the Lincoln Highway. The convoy included a young Dwight D. Eisenhower and was meant to test the durability and usability of America's roads. (They failed miserably.) The convoy was seen as a boost to the Good Roads Movement, and paved the way (pun completely intendend) for Eisenhower's role in the Interstate Highway System.

KDKA / WPCD in Pittsburgh had this on their website: "The convoy in 1919, a year after the end of World War I, was aimed at demonstrating the need for a mechanized army and better highways, and to test newly developed vehicles under arduous conditions. Officials also wanted to find out how difficult it would be to move an army across the United States in the event of an attack on the West Coast."

This in the Salem News: "That route is the famed Lincoln Highway and the convoy is being held in conjunction with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission's celebration of the 200th birthday of our 16th President in June/July 2009."

This from WYTV: "Don Elzer is the President of the East Palestine Area Chamber. He tells us, 'In 1919 East Palestine was sort of the center of the auto industry and the rubber industry.'"

And the Ada Herald says: "This means that this special convoy of antique military vehicles will cross St. Rt. 68 approximately three miles south of Arlington (or one mile north of old Rt. 30 at Williamstown) Interested individuals are invited to come out to the intersection, bringing their lawn chairs, cameras and flags to wave as the vehicles pass by."

The Van Wert Times Bulletin gives more historical information. Commenting on the original convoy in 1919 it states "The convoy started with 80 vehicles and 280 officers. The three-mile group moved so slowly that the final vehicle did not move until two hours after the first had left."




Obviously, all of this is important to me not only for its role in the Good Roads Movement, but also for following the path of the Father Road, the Lincoln Highway. Hopefully I can make a trek up to San Francisco and see the convoy at its end around July 8. More information on the convoy can be found here.

I'm Tired

I'm just really sick of hearing this one thing over and over and over. So I have to say this publicly, even though it has absolutely NOTHING to do with my blog:

John McCain has not been, is not now, and never will be, "my friend."




Bob Barr for President!

Ridge Route News

Two pieces of Ridge Route news, both found here. The first is the cleanup that is starting in about 30 minutes. Needless to say, I won't make that. But the second piece of news is a week away, and hopefully I will be able to make it up there for this:

"Dedication of the Ridge Route as a California Historic Civil Engineering Landmark 10 a.m. East Corner Parking Lot, Vista del Lago Visitor’s Center, on I-5 halfway between Gorman and Castaic. Public invited, coffee and donuts served."

Hooray for .... Echo Park?

The American Planning Association selected Los Angeles' Echo Park community as one of the 10 Greatest Places to Live in the US. A local blog about Echo Park here comments on its virtues. This blog contains some nice photos of Echo Park. And here the Earth Times has the press release.


Surprisingly (or not), there is no mention of Route 66 passing through this community, and being one of the reasons why Echo Park was able to become a "suburb" of Los Angeles. Oh well.

More Gambling on the Lincoln?

It seems that after winning the struggle against a casino outside of Gettysburg on the Lincoln Highway that perhaps now we're facing another gambling facility outside the traditional gambling areas of Atlantic City along the Lincoln.

US 80 - Dixie Highway

Nice article here about an area near Dallas along old US-80.

Yellowstone Trail / 212

Nice article here on the Yellowstone Trail.

Bush's Sewage

OK, I know that I am WAY off topic on this post, but I HAD to comment on this. An article in the LA Times discusses a plan to rename a sewage treatment plant after our current dictator-president. In it is this quote:

***
"These silly stunts provide no benefit to a city that has its share of serious problems," said Hector Barajas, a spokesman for the California Republican Party. "I don't find the humor in spending government time and money on issues of no significance. It's downright foolish."
***


I have to ask Mr. Barajas what the difference is between this and naming AND SIGNING a freeway as a "memorial highway" and that has been done literally thousands of times in California along over the last few years. So what's wrong with this?

Marine Scenic Highway?

Interesting idea in Washington includes a MARINE scenic highway.

Still Celebrating 70 Years

The Merritt Parkway just keeps showing up on the web on a daily basis. An article here discusses the Merritt's 70th Birthday and also links to an online exhibit.

Extremely Sad News

I received word today from Kevin Hansel of the California Historic Route 66 Association that his longtime love and traveling companion, Lucie McMurtie, passed away today after a long battle with cancer. Lucie was known and loved up and down the Mother Road for her positive spirits and wonderful smile. She was also a regional director for the Scoliosis Association.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Kevin and all of their family. We know that her spirit is smiling down on us from heaven tonight, watching over us all, and especially on those traveling the road less traveled.

We'll miss you, Ms. Route 66!

Even More Merritt

An article here this morning on the Merritt Parkway / Route 7 interchange. Further delays, these now caused by the local residents deciding that they do, in fact, want to be involved in the decision-making process after all. This despite the process having been ongoing for so long with so much involvement previously, including the lawsuit by the Merritt Parkway Conservancy that led to the agreed-upon cloverleaf design. While I feel for the locals who wish to minimize the design's impact on the local wetlands, environment, and community, I really wonder where they had been over the last several YEARS while this whole debate has been going on.

And another article here on the 70th birthday of the Merritt.

Interesting List

of top drives in the US. I can't agree too much on any top drives list that includes superslabs, but I guess this is why these are considered opinions.

For me, I'd have to include these as my favorites, I think:

Route 66 in Los Angeles County
Ridge Route
US-395
Lincoln Highway in Nebraska
Pacific Coast Highway in Southern Oregon

Merritt Parkway Book

Discovered this this morning, a free preview of a book about the Merritt Parkway. Looks pretty interesting.

LHA Conference report

Article here about the Lincoln Highway and the recent LHA conference.

National Scenic Byway Arroyo Seco Parkway

Wow! What an article by Peter Greenberg about the ONLY National Scenic Byway to be fully contained in a metropolitan area anywhere in the country. This article highlights a portion of the Mother Road, and a segment of 66 that I absolutely love. It is good to see that others - including internationally renowned travel authors - are seeing the same things! And congratulations to my friends Amy Inouye at Future Studios and John Nese at Soda Pop Stop for mentions in the article!

"Panning for Gold Line Funds ..."

This article in the LA Times today indicates the hurdles that extended the Gold Line east from Pasadena (the northern portion of the route) faces. It also notes Los Angeles Mayor Antonio "I'm-A-Liar" Villaraigosa's importance on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board.

The article states "His press office declined to say how he would vote on the Gold Line, although he's expressed support for the project in the past." I'd like to point out that Villaraigosa has also stated publicly the following:

He promised to serve out his entire four-year term when elected to City Council. Two years later, he left his post when elected Mayor.

He promised to hold the Autry to the fire to keep the Southwest Museum open as a museum on Mount Washington. He has since joined the Autry National Center to create a farce of a "blue-ribbon committee" called the Southwest Society, which has no fund-raising members, no Autry Board members, and no public statements of purpose or funding. In fact, there is nothing public about this "Society" and no plans or agenda from them or the Autry to keep the Southwest Museum open, let alone open as a museum.

Mayor Villaraigosa has also been caught saying "Campaign promises are not meant to be kept."

So while he has publicly supported the Gold Line extension through the San Gabriel Valley in the past, I doubt he will do so when the time actually comes, and the MTA Board will have missed another opportunity to do the right thing and expand mass transit in Southern California. Until that expansion takes place, gridlock and congestion will continue in Southern California, as few people are willing to take a mass transit system that does not get you where you want to go.

Ridge Route Presentation

Ridge Route expert Harrison Scott will be giving a presentation in September. I'm anxious to see him speak as I have not seen a presentation by him before. Information can be found here and it's a great link in that it even links to mass transit options for getting there!

Beer and 66 DO Mix

See, there is a tie between the two! And all this time so many of you thought I was crazy!

The Confluence

Found this online this morning that discusses the future of the Confluence. The Confluence is the area in Los Angeles where the Los Angeles River meets the Arroyo Seco. It is also where the Construction, Alternate, and Bypass Alignments of Route 66 all cross. It is an area that I have termed "the nest" due to its complex arrangements and rearrangements of roadway in this area.

Ambassador Foreclosure

The foreclosure crisis seems to have even reached the ultra-hip setting of Old Pasadena. Both the LA Times and Pasadena Star-News reported today that the project to redevelop part of the old Ambassador College site just at the outskirts of Old Pasadena has gone into foreclosure, AND that the adjacent senior housing development has been put on hold (it no longer even appears on Sunrise Senior Living's website!). This should have no effect on the Harvest Rock Church, however, keeping with the original religious theme of the college and allowing the Auditorium at least to continue to stand.

No worries, though. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard assures us that the urban village associated with the project will still move forward, and that "I don't see any particular critical need to develop on the property now [rather] than, say, five years from now." Of course not, Bill. It's been sitting idle for how long now? What's another five, ten, twenty years? Besides, you've got all that box development (and here and here and here [ok, I HAD to do that!]) happening in your city. Who needs character? And hey, you've got the Scientologists moving into Old Town anyway, so when Tom Cruise starts showing up, the city will have plenty more tax money coming in with all the gawking fans looking for him.

Ah yes, it's nice to be home in Glassell Park, no longer a resident of the once-resort Pasadena.

Antigua Coffee Shop to Close

I received this email this morning as part of the NELA List that I belong to. Note, it is NOT edited by me an any way:

BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE
Good Bye El Sereno

I have good news and bad news, I'll start with the bad. We are getting evicted or just simply not being granted a contract extension, why? The property owners have decided they rather lease the complex to "another" group. "You have made this place into a happy socialist center"…and I quote was one of the comments from the property team. On the bright side, at least we`re "Happy"…and for the "socialist" part I think they mean social, community and culture.

Either way, after 6 months of negotiating and shady false promises, they have decided to move along with another tenant. Really, there is nothing we can do but rant, kick and scream. I rather find solutions and respect the decision.

After all, Antigua Cultural Coffee House existed for 3 solid years and will resonate through Huntington Drive (Historic route 66) for the coming months, memories of this great community establishment will rise and shine throughout the day and night. We
became the spot, the place where students and community members escaped their daily routine and network with others. The home of hundreds of individuals who found a safe haven away from home. The perfect location to study and not fear being kick out by some maniac business owner, instead it was the place where you were acknowledged
and praise.

The organizing center for immigrant rights, resource center for community events, meeting place, campaign semi head quarters for progressive candidates.

Three student films where filmed on location and a pilot for HBO, LATV did a show here at Antigua! ... Google Antigua Coffee House you'll see our accomplishments.

Poetry nights became comedy nights, somehow the dynamics intermingled to cause such an effect. The best darn gallery in El Sereno. The best and most beautiful customer base ever!

Antigua Cultural Coffee house became a household name, it was a destination. We were voted "Best" by some of the most acclaimed news agencies in the city, the envy of the West side, the pride and joy of the East side.

We are Antigua Cultural Coffee House. We should be incredibly proud of what we have built. We are the community leader of Specialty Coffee. And, believe me when I tell you, we are just getting started.

We will overcome the difficult and humbling challenges we face, and will be stronger for it. You have my word on that.

We are the neighborhood entrepreneurial, we are the community service center, we are the conscious innovation, and we definitely reject the Status Quo.

We are the coffee that brings people together everyday to cultivate conversation and community. WE ARE…. ANTIGUA CULTURAL COFFEE HOUSE…..

On a bright note, the Cypress Park store will finally open in the summer....I'll keep you posted on the date.

For the time being, our last weeks will be full of surprises and special guest musicians... Lets celebrate the final countdown....we ask our hardcore customers to enjoy our last days and to spread the news to others. Three weeks left.....
-Yancey

END FORWARDED MESSAGE



I've been to Antigua only a couple of times. It was a wonderful little spot with some pretty darn good coffee. And I'm not easy to please with my coffee choices. It's a shame that this location has to close. Hopefully the Cypress Park location will be pretty near to Route 66. I know it will be closer to my new home, so that is promising. My best wishes to Yancey and the crew on having as much success in Cypress Park as they did in El Sereno, if not more!

Southern California Congestion

An article in the LA Times discusses our lack of transportation improvements in Souhtern California. I'd like to add that growing out instead of up has not helped our ability to use what little mass transportation is available in the area. Hopefully that will start to change now that the price of gasoline is finally coming in line with European pricing and people in this country are starting to take notice of how fuel-inefficient their Hummers are.

Braley Building - Old Pasadena

Although not on Route 66 directly, the Pasadena Star-News reports today on the Church of Scientology's lack of progress on rehabilitation and preservation of the historic Braley Building in Old Pasadena. This building sits on South Raymond, sandwiched between Arroyo Parkway and Fair Oaks, two alignments of Route 66. It is extremely close to the Castle Green, a National Register of Historic Places landmark with immediate ties to 66 in its expansive location.

I find it pretty repulsive that the "church" removed its tenants so quickly when they were providing additional pedestrian traffic and interest to an area of Old Pasadena that also includes my beloved pub, Lucky Baldwin's. Then to let the building sit vacant in a high-visibility location for so long is just a shame and a waste. But I think it will be very interesting to see how the "church" plans on incorporating their goals and tactics into a highly trendy, high-pedestrian, yet touristy area of retail establishments. (The rendition of how it will look here seems to be pretty close to what it looked like before they stopped doing upkeep on the building.)

Best Donuts

Number two on the list in LA is on Route 66 in Glendora, and another lies just off the highway on Sunset near Santa Monica Boulevard.

Southport CT - US1

Preservation issue just off US-1 in Southport, CT, noted here.

Waterman / Smithville RI Tavern

Article here about an 18th century tavern along US-44 in Rhode Island that might be torn down soon. (I hope it's not to make room for a Walgreens!)

National Road in Ohio

Good article here on the National Road in Ohio.

Save 101

Good article here about US-101 in northern San Diego County, including a reference to John Daley and the 101 Cafe.

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.