The Tulsa World has a pretty good article about new businesses that have popped up in downtown Sapulpa, Okla. Three of them are on Route 66 — Al's Route 66 Cafe, Isabella's Collection and Lunch at the Brownstone.

A while back, we reported on an alleged Bigfoot sighting near the Route 66 settlement of Funks Grove, Ill.

It appears that the Chicago Reader, the Windy City's biggest alternative newspaper, has picked up on the story and has found a father and son who claim a Sasquatch sighting.

Here's an excerpt from when the Reader's reporter talked to Debbie Funk at Funks Grove Maple Sirup (well worth a visit, even without a Bigfoot sighting):

Debby Funk, who’s lived in the area for 31 years and operates the maple syrup business with her husband, Mike, a fifth-generation Funk, says if there’s a creature out there, it’s never caused them any trouble. “We’ve never seen anything here,” she says. “The only problem we’ve had is squirrels chewing on our tubing.” Marlene Leesman has been a clerk at the Dixie Truck Stop in McLean, about five miles south of Funk’s Grove, since 1960. “People are skeptical,” she says. “I’ve never heard of anything like this, and I’ve lived here all my life.” One family stuck a sign in their front yard that reads, HEY LOOK! GENUINE SASQUATCH DROPPINGS. $3 EACH, 2 FOR $5.

Sounds like the folks that are selling Sasquatch droppings are the same type who'd sell smart pills and porcupine eggs to city slickers.

Hat tip to Tim Steil.

Dave Clark, aka The Windy City Warrior, announced yesterday he would launch his book, "Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland: Journeys Through History on the Mother Road in Cook County, Illinois," at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Joliet Area History Museum.

The launch would be part of Clark's slide presentation of historic sites along Route 66. There is a $3 fee to attend, but it's free to museum association members and Illinois Route 66 Association members. Call the museum at (815) 723-5201 for more information.
Dave says:

This book is jammed with the results of new research, giving the best insight ever as to why Route 66 "began" at Jackson and Michigan Avenue, and why it was aligned in its first 16 miles on Jackson Boulevard, Adams Street, Odgen Avenue, and Joliet Road. Chapters dedicated to the history (or "biography&quot of each of these four streets alternate with detailed driving tours of the same street. The book also includes a detailed section to help visitor explore Route 66 in downtown Chicago on foot. Finally, there is a section of recommended choices for dining, tours, museums, and shops of interest to the roadie visiting the Windy City and its neighboring cities and villages along the Route 66 corridor.

The books is lavishly illustrated with period and contemporary photographs, postcard views and spotting maps. Attendees to the event on Sunday will be the first to see the book and will of course have the right to have their copies defaced by my scrawling autograph, if they so choose.

There's no information yet on how to order the book. I'll post that as soon as it's available. I've known Dave for a few years, and I'll vouch for his research and enthusiasm for Route 66 in Chicago. I'm sure the book will be essential for roadies.