Story Circle

We are saddened to report the following news:

Margaret C. Kraft, 89 of Manteno, formerly of Gardner, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Miller Healthcare Center in Kankakee. She was born October 26, 1923 in Valparaiso, IN the daughter of Charles L. & Grace Cain Leffew. She married Robert L. Kraft in 1971. Margaret and Robert owned and operated the Riviera Restaurant in Gardner for 37 years. They were also members of the Route 66 Hall of Fame.

Hare it is - the big announcement we've promised! We "hop" you've enjoyed our little tease over the past few days.

We teamed up with Rich Henry of our Hall of Fame inductee, Henry's Ra66it Ranch, in Staunton, IL, to help him raise awareness of some new additions to his place. We hope you'll stop by and meet these new fellas on your Route 66 travels - they're "hopping" to greet you!

New Ra66its at the Ranch: Meet Phoenix and Little Red!

by Rich Henry

A Passport is the guidebook to fun and adventure on our annual Motor Tour; this year it takes place June 7-9. Every Motor Tour participant receives a Passport, which lists this year's stops, highlights special events planned for the weekend, provides information about the locations and suggests side trips as well. When participants arrive at a Passport stop, volunteers from our Association greet them and stamp their Passport, to indicate that they were there.

Motor Tour Passports are informative booklets which also include advertising. Anyone is welcome to place an ad in our Passport! Promote your business, organization or town; or just wish us safe and happy travels along the Mother Road...whatever message you'd like to share with Motor Tour participants.

Here are the details of our 24th Annual Motor Tour!

Motor Tour 2013 - June 7, 8 and 9.

Our annual Motor Tour is slated once again for the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of June - falling this year on June 7, 8 and 9. The Back to Our “Routes” tour is sure to surprise and delight its participants!

Thanks to Ellie Alexander, director of Pontiac Tourism, for providing this calendar of events for 2013.

Pontiac Calendar of Events, 2013

Spring is on the way and with it, the 7th annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival, coming your way May 4 and 5! Get ready for family fun along the “Red Carpet Corridor,” a 90-mile stretch of Route 66 in Illinois from Joliet to Towanda. The participating communities pull out all the stops, offering flea markets, carnivals, live bands, entertainment and special events. The weekend is sure to provide a nostalgic and authentic Route 66 experience as you explore these communities and attractions that are the heart and soul of the Mother Road.

For the third consecutive year, we are proud to announce that our annual Association Picnic will be held at Sugar Grove Nature Center! Those who have attended the picnic in previous years report that this is a superb location, featuring lovely grounds, a covered picnic area and convenient restrooms.

This year’s picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 18, from 10:30 A.M - 6:00 PM. Lunch will be served around noon.

As always, our Association supplies and pays for all food and soft drinks. Please be advised that no alcohol is permitted at the Nature Center. If you would, however, like to bring a dish to share, we would welcome your contribution to our spread!

We are reprinting the following article written by Kathy Miller as it succinctly and accurately details what is needed for nomination as a candidate to our Association's Hall of Fame.

The Route 66 Association of Illinois will begin seeking nominations for the 2013 Hall of Fame. Nominations are accepted from January 1st, to February 28, 2013.

Nominations must include accurate documentation or declaration of the Nominee’s qualities, deeds, and history on Route 66 that merit this honor.


To qualify for election to the Hall of Fame, Nominees must have made significant

Our friend and Route 66's, Bob Waldmire, passed away nearly 3 years ago on December 16. As we look back and remember Bob, his unique personality, distinctive artwork and dedication to the Mother Road, we are curious about what your memories of Bob are.

Please do us all the favor of sharing your Bob Waldmire memories here on our website. Simply leave them in the comments section of this post. It will be an incredibly moving and joyful tribute to one of Route 66's fiercest advocates. Thank you in advance for sharing your memories of Bob with all of us!

We're hungry for your recipes to include in the new edition of the Route 66 Association of Illinois Cookbook! Submit recipes for any type of dish - for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or snack.

Please help make our 3rd edition cookbook a reality. We’re waiting for your recipes - up to 5 of your personal and family favorites - to deliciously fill the pages of this mouth-watering recipe collection!

We’re willing to tip our hand to encourage you to send us recipes to complete the cookbook... Our new cookbook will include recipes from 3 iconic Illinois Route 66 restaurants:The Pig Hip, Riviera Roadhouse and Ariston Café. Now you can discover the secrets to their delectable specialties!

So sit right down and write up those recipes today! We look forward to receiving your recipes! The sooner you send them in, the sooner we can compile the cookbook and make it available for purchase.

It’s a win-win proposition: You share your delicious recipes with roadies all along Route 66 and they share theirs with you in the pages of the cookbook. Buy a copy for your own kitchen and some for tasteful gifts for friends and family to spread the deliciousness around.

All profits from the sale of our cookbooks will benefit Route 66 Preservation projects throughout Illinois.

Here’s how to get those recipes to us:

Email to: cookylady1215@yahoo.com
Important: Write "Cookbook Recipe" in the Subject line!

or

Mail to:
Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum
c/o Lori Killacky - Cookbook Recipes
110 W Howard St
Pontiac, IL 61764