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Our thanks to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac Tourism for providing the following press release from Kristen Arbogast at the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum.

World renowned airbrush artist, Tang Dongbai, from Beijing, China is currently in Pontiac, IL, developing custom works of art. Dongbai and his wife Kari traveled to Pontiac with the intent of sharing his artworks and talents through education and sales of his unique creations.

This is Dongbai’s third trip to Pontiac in the past year. He has previously hosted an “Invisible by Day; Amazing by Night” and a “UV Pretty Fashion” Art Show at the International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum. Four paintings and all five invisible fashion dresses are currently on display at the Walldog Museum.

Tang Dongbai is interested in starting an International Art School in Pontiac, IL. He will specifically focus on teaching students from the United States, China, New Zealand, and other international countries about the craft of airbrushing.

Airbrushing is Dongbai’s passion and he has great ambition to share his unique skills with others.

Dongbai plans on staying in Pontiac until at least early January. During his time in Pontiac, he is offering to create special custom art pieces for all who are interested. For $39.95, Dongbai is offering to create custom airbrush artwork on t-shirts, bags, canvases, wood, metal panels, etc. Customers bring in a picture of what they would like painted, in addition to the item they would like the picture to be painted on. He is currently taking orders at the Walldog Museum – 217 N Mill Street, Pontiac, IL. (815) 842-1848.

It is an honor for Pontiac, IL to host Tang Dongbai and his wife as he pursues his dream of educating others on the craft of airbrushing while offering his custom works of art for sale.

Tang Dongbai specializes in automobile, fashion, architectural and mural airbrush painting. More information about Tang Dongbai can be found at: www.tangdongbai.com and www.airbrush-yourlife.com.

For more information, contact Kristin Arbogast at the Pontiac Waldog Mural Museum at (815) 842-1848

Attention Illinois Route 66 Towns, Attractions and Business Members!

We'd love to do for you what we've done for Business Member, Three Roses Bed and Breakfast, in Pontiac, IL! We created a slideshow from photos of the establishment and added them to their listing in our Business Member Directory!

Check out the slideshow here!

All we need is your photos and we'll gladly augment your listing in living color! Let us help you promote your town, attraction or business - all it will cost is your time to point and shoot!

Please submit your photos to Editor Gina via email at gina@esembe.com.

We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to Old Route 66 Family Restaurant in Dwight, IL which is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary on November 5!

Join the fine folks at Old Route 66 Family Restaurant for the celebration!

The Open House celebration will feature:

• T-shirts
• Complementary coffee and donuts from 5:00 AM - 11:00 AM
• 10% off your entire bill on Saturday, November 5
• Anniversary cake
• Door Prizes

Join the Ahmedi family in this celebration of 10 years of cooking and serving up tasty meals in a cozy, homey atmosphere. They’d love to see you!

Look up! Up in the menu along the top of our website! Click on the Junior Newsletter link to see the newest page on our site! There you'll see what we're now offering for the Young Roadies - their very own online newsletter, Adventure Journal. The premier issue is ready to read now with your Young Roadies. From this page, you'll be able to access each new issue as they are created, especially with the Mother Road's youngest fans in mind.

Our thanks to Pontiac Tourism for providing the following press release for us to share from the Livingston County Historical Society:

Livingston County Historical Society
115 West Howard Street
Pontiac, Illinois 61764

********** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **********

28 October 2011

Strevell House Receives Bryne Trust Donation

(Left to Right) Thomas Ewing (Chairman – Strevell House Committee), Bob Sear (LCHS President), Louis Lyons (Bryne Trust Trustee), Donovan Gardner (Strevell House committee member)

Our thanks to Pontiac Tourism for providing the following press release for us to share.

The Livingston County Historical Society’s Catharine V. Yost Museum and Art Center Steering Committee held an Appreciation Reception for volunteers on Sunday, September 18th at the home of Tom and Connie Ewing. At the reception, the committee paid tribute to the many local volunteers who have played a role in the management of the historic home, and served as docents for the many tours given in the last twelve months.

I hope you've had a chance to check out the Pontiac Tourism statistics which we share weekly on our Facebook page. They record the visitors to their attractions and from where they hail and compile a tidy report. The numbers are amazing, especially considering that the visitors come not only from a hefty number of these United States but from many countries around the globe! It's a real testament to the worldwide interest in and appeal of Route 66. It obviously remains a destination that captures the imagination, even from the ends of the Earth.

Inspired by Pontiac's reports, I did a little statistical investigation myself today. I looked through the statistics on our website traffic and I thought I would share what I learned:

Our thanks to Ellie Alexander at Pontiac, IL Tourism for providing the following press release to us:

The City of Pontiac and the Illinois Humanities Council jointly announced today that Pontiac has been chosen as one of the select cities to receive an exhibit developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibit, which is entitled, “Journey Stories,” will be on display in Pontiac from February 23 to April 6, 2013. The exhibition focuses on stories of how we and our ancestors came to America. The exhibition will also explore our transportation history. Whether traveling across America on a vacation, a necessary trip, or to relocate to a new part of the country, Americans have always been known for their desire and freedom to move. The exhibition will attempt to tell some of those stories through images and text.

We recently received this distinct honor from RoadsideAmerica.com:

Congratulations!

The Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum has been chosen as the Sight of the Week by RoadsideAmerica.com, the travel guide to America's unique and most original attractions.

The Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum is featured as the lead attraction on the RoadsideAmerica.com home page during the week of August 14-20, 2011: http://www.roadsideamerica.com
Afterward it will have a permanent place on the RoadsideAmerica.com site here:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14537

Again, congratulations on having one of America's top attractions. Only 52 a year are chosen. You are one of the best of the best.

Ken Smith
senior editor

Sad news to report: The Coliseum Ballroom in Benld, IL has been destroyed by fire. The fire began Saturday night, July 30, 2011, while a band performed. The building currently was home to the Macoupin County Antique Mall.

The Coliseum Ballroom was built in 1923 or 1924 and is located on an old alignment of Route 66. During its heyday, the Ballroom hosted many famous musical acts of the 1920s through the 1950s.

Here are some links to sites which have covered this story, and include video and more history of the Coliseum Ballroom:

Route 66 News - Coliseum Ballroom in Benld destroyed by fire