Story Circle

Do you recognize any of the locations in this commercial for the Illinois Lottery?

Our thanks to Director of Pontiac, IL Tourism, Ellie Alexander for sharing the following press release with us. What a proud distinction for this Route 66 community (and our Museum, too)!

Ellie Alexander, Director of Pontiac Tourism, announced today that the number of visitors who came to Pontiac’s Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in 2011 exceeded all expectations. “According to the records kept by the docents at the Route 66 museum, over 19,000 guests came through their doors this past year,” Alexander noted. “That represents a 40% increase over 2010.”

Hi, Route 66 Association of Illinois fans! It’s me, website Editor Gina with a very exciting announcement. I am proud to announce that I’ve been chosen to take the reigns as Editor of the Association Newsletter, The 66 News, which you eagerly await by mail.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the previous Editors, Kathy Miller and Jim Jones for their dedication and tireless efforts for many years creating an informative and enjoyable Newsletter. I have some mighty big shoes to fill!

But fill them I will! I have some ideas I’m anxious to implement and I look forward to jumping into the process effectively immediately. Right off the bat, I’d like to invite you, one and all, to submit content for publication in the Newsletter. I want to be able to rely and depend upon all you dedicated roadies, officers, board members and Association members alike to keep the stream of information and stories from the road pouring in so I can disperse it through the 66 News. To that end, I have some plans to make that process easy and convenient. Stay tuned for details...

In the coming weeks, I’ll be calling upon you for your opinions and sharing my vision for the future of the 66 News. I look forward to making a lot of new acquaintances and friends as I assume these new responsibilities.

We recently received a newsletter from Joliet, IL about events in their city. We've put some of the events on our calendar. Click here to read about all the exciting things to do in Joliet!

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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

Thanks to Secretary of the Hall of Fame Committee, Kathy Miller, for providing the following information for us to share:

It's that time of year! Time to submit nominations for the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame!

Help us to get the word out? Please spread the word to local publications, community websites, post it on your own website if you have one, on your business/house windows and doors.

Click to learn the significance of this honor, the criteria Hall of Fame inductees must meet and the procedure for submitting a nomination.

The preliminary information about Motor Tour 2012 is in!

Motor Tour 2012
June 8, 9,10, 2012

Tour starts South this year in Edwardsville, IL
We will cross the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge at 8:15 on Saturday morning, June 9.

Featuring a BIG SECRET to be revealed on Sunday, June 10!

Stay tuned here on the website and on our Facebook page for Motor Tour details as they are finalized!

For information about the Motor Tour (and anything else Route 66 related) contact:

Marty Blitstein
blitz66@earthlink.net
708-444-1312

or

Jerry Law
thelaw1@sbcglobal.net
618-251-4892

Wondering what a Motor Tour is? Click to read, So What Is a Motor Tour Anyway?

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.

We hope you have enjoyed the two previous cookbook published by our Association's Cookbook Committee:

“We Work for Food”
and
“Recipes Along Route 66”

Our Cookbook Committee is now collecting NEW (never previously submitted) recipes to be included in our third cookbook!

Would you like your family favorites included?

Here's your chance to achieve recipe immortality - and on your way, help make our new cookbook as delicious as its predecessors!