The Route 66 Chick

Al Capone and David Clark attracted a crowd of approximately 66 people to the Mill Museum in Lincoln, Illinois, on Saturday, July 13, for a day of events billed as "Capone and Cannoli." Al Capone, the famous mob boss, was the topic of an excellent and entertaining program presented by David Clark. Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, is an expert on Route 66 + Chicago, the city he calls home. And the cannoli? A great Italian-style meal, with cannoli, of course, completed the day's events. L to R David Clark, Geoff Ladd. All photos by Cheryl Eichar Jett. Geoff Ladd, Assistant Director of Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway and the driving force behind saving and then reopening the Mill, has been increasingly creative at holding events to support the former restaurant. This one has to top the list, at least so far. Drawing on Clark's expertise and popular programs on Capone, Ladd created an afternoon and evening of events related to the intersection of Capone, Route

The cast of Aprons Away:  Women's Work on the Mother Road salutes the audience and crew at the end of a performance at the Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center in Pontiac, Illinois, during the June 22-23, 2019, weekend. Photo by Mitchell T. Fransen, courtesy of the City of Pontiac. Aprons Away: Women's Work on the Mother Road , my stage play had its world premiere in a one-act version October 28, 2018, at Blackburn College in Carlinville, as part of the fourth annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference. But the new two-act, theatre-length version with original music and lyrics debuted in Pontiac, Illinois, on June 22-23, enjoying a successful two-day run at the Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center! The performances were sponsored by Pontiac Tourism and the Route 66 Association of Illinois. The Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center in Pontiac, Illinois. Photo by Cheryl Eichar Jett. With the tag line “The most famous highway in the world.

Every year, leading up to and during the Blue Carpet Corridor/Miners, Mobsters, and the Mother Road passport weekend, I get asked, "Why is the Blue Carpet Corridor BLUE?" It's a fair question, especially when the old saying specifies RED, as in "rolling out the red carpet." Route 66 fans that are aware of the annual Illinois Red Carpet Corridor event (which is mostly everyone) have this figured out. But for anyone new to a Route 66 addiction, not familiar with Illinois, or just wanting an explanation, here's the story! The state of Illinois can claim approximately 300 miles of Route 66, and for event and marketing purposes, it's sometimes regarded as having three distinct "corridors." Each corridor has its own local flavor. The Red Carpet Corridor in the north end of the state was once distinguished by its industrial economy, such as in Joliet and at the World War II-era munitions plant at Elwood, and by its gangster activity prevale