Emily has put together a slide show, with music, showing the aftermath of the fire that gutted the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla. The slide show is here.

TVShowsonDVD.com reports today that the Roxbury/Infinity DVD set, “Route 66 — The Complete First Season,” is set to be released Aug. 5.

Earlier, the first-season release of the set had reportedly been delayed to fix technical issues arising in the initial half-season releases of the original “Route 66″ television series, co-starring George Maharis and Martin Milner.

According to the link to Amazon.com, the DVD set will contain eight discs, with a suggested retail price of $49.98.

According to TVShowsonDVD:

Other details such as cost and extras appear to be unchanged. Infinity has previously indicated to us that they intend this release to resolve the various issues that buyers of the previous half-season sets had with the way episodes were presented on those discs.

This is a folk group called Sweet Wednesday, and this is a performance of its song, “Desert Flowers on Route 66.”

Guitarist David Falk says the song will appear on an album, “Escaping from the Pale Moonlight,” that will be released this fall.

Here are the lyrics, straight from the source:

It’s overcast today on Route 66
My stomach growls over the engine’s roar

Drove all night from Dallas to get away
From my boyfriend who’s just in jail
Spent my last two hundred to pay for his bail

And so I stopped at Phillips 66
When my car would go no more

Listen to my story
Before you walk out that door

“Hey Mister, I left my wallet at the last station
And I got no money for fuel

But I got friends in California
And you know we’re cool

So if you could spare just a little change
You know it will all add up

A dollar every hour
Puts some fuel in the tank
And some food in the glove,”

And so I stopped at Phillips 66
When my car would go no more

Listen to my story
Before you walk out that door

I was just a hundred miles from Orange County
When the clerk said he was on to my scam

He said, “You must leave this place
Save your sob stories
I don’t give a damn”

So I pulled over at the next rest stop
To pass the night

As the last tank of gas
Fell through engine
Like sand through an hourglass

And did you pass me on Route 66?

I was walking by the road
Picking desert flowers in the February cold

Because I’m always on Route 66
A shadow passing in the night

Yeah, I’m still out there looking for
That Violet Light

Here’s a first for the historic Odell Station (above) on old Route 66 in Odell, Ill. — a couple is using it as a place to get married.

According to the news release:

Jennifer O’Dowd and Thomas Kowaczek, from Schaumberg, Illinois, became enchanted in 2007 by the mystique of the Mother Road when they began a Route 66 journey. They can’t quite explain why, but the lure of exchanging their wedding vows on the famous road became extremely important to them. After some discussion, they pictured this momentous occasion taking place at this little, preserved gas station.

They approached representatives of the station with apprehension. But it didn’t take long for the station operators to realize this young, happy couple was very serious about their decision. The folks at the historic gas station were honored to be chosen.

The bride’s father did not share the excitement of his daughter getting married at a gas station. But, shortly after he received the news, he saw a story about the station in the Chicago Tribune newspaper. That was enough to convince dad. Since the Tribune had a photo and story of the historic station, then it was acceptable for his daughter to exchange wedding vows with Tom. [...]

Following the brief ceremony, a convoy of cars, both classic and current, and the Pontiac Trolley will travel down Route 66 to Gardner, Illinois. Here they will recite a different set of vows scripted by the mayor while the bride and groom stand side by side in separate jail cells in the famous 1906 two-cell Jail.

Their final destination will be the historic Country Mansion Restaurant complex in Dwight for a Route 66-themed reception.

The wedding takes place at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 8.

UPDATE 6/6/08: Here’s a story about the upcoming wedding by the Joliet Herald News.

(Information and photo courtesy of Lenore Weiss.)

The cause of the blaze that gutted the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., will probably remain forever a mystery, reports the Shawnee (Okla.) News-Star.

The state fire marshal’s office investigated the cause of the fire. JoAnn Sellars, operations chief, said Wednesday that investigation is now complete. She said case agents were not able to determine how the fire started, but she said the fire does not appear suspicious.

The newspaper goes on to report that owner Dawn Welch is in the process of shoring up the still-standing rock walls so she can rebuild.

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, a Broadway-style music and dance revue in Palm Springs, Calif., has chosen Route 66 as its theme for its upcoming 2008-09 season.

From the news release:

Beginning October 28, 2008, and playing through May 17, 2009, the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies will “travel” Route 66 via music, dance and comedy in its all-new show entitled Get Your Kicks!

“Here at the Follies, we’ve long celebrated the American Experience of the Early- to Mid-20th Century,” says Follies Man Riff Markowitz. “And nothing represents that era more perfectly than the legend and lore of Route 66. Whether the westward migration of Dust Bowl farmers, two young bachelors in a Corvette seeking adventure, easy riders looking for their own personal America, or Dinah telling us to ‘See the USA in your Chevrolet,’ Route 66 was the placeholder for all this and more.”

Guest stars during the production will be Freda Payne (Oct. 28 to Dec. 31), Susan Anton (Jan. 7 to March 7 and May 13-17), and John Davidson (March 10 to May 9).

Jim Conkle, general manager of the Route 66 Pulse and executive director of the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, had this to say about the Follies in an e-mail:

This is going to be a major attraction and another plus for the road. Over the next few months I will be sharing with you some of the great marketing ideas they will be using as well as the involvement with some of our authors/artists such as Bob Waldmire. They want to make the show and all merchandising/products/advertising hold true to the image of the road.

Ticket sales for the upcoming season begin in mid-July. The site to buy tickets is here.

Here’s something to chew on from the Wayneville (Mo.) Daily Guide:

High gas prices don’t seem to be hurting Pulaski County tourism, according to Tourism Bureau Executive Director Andy Thiem, and may even help local venues as vacationers choose to stay closer to home.

Speaking at Thursday evening’s meeting of the Pulaski County Tourism Board, Thiem said national surveys indicate most Americans won’t give up their summer vacations regardless of gas prices.

The tourism bureau’s primary revenue source is a transient guest tax levied on hotel and motel visitors, and that revenue stream is running about $8,000 better than budget for the month of March — the last available revenue report — and $26,000 better than budget for the first quarter. That’s not a large increase, but it does indicate there isn’t a major problem caused by rising gas prices, Thiem said. [...]

“Vacations are a non-negotiable part of contemporary life, even in challenging economic times,” Thiem said, citing the survey results.

Thiem said only 41 percent of those who responded to the survey said their vacation plans would change if gas prices continue to rise, but the greatest percentage of those — 38 percent  — would simply drive a shorter distance for their vacations. About 36 percent say they’ll take fewer trips; 30 percent will spend less on surveys and shopping, and 27 percent would spend less on meals and entertainment.

“Gas continues to be a challenge, we’ll look at that, but right now the indicators are that everybody’s still traveling. They’re alternating where they’re traveling but they are still traveling,” Thiem said.

A prominent Route 66 business owner that I chatted with a few days ago concurred with Thiem’s assessment — that Route 66 travel would be the same or even increase this summer because it would gain more local travelers. The locals won’t be able to burn as much of that higher-priced fuel, so they’ll stick closer to home for vacations and weekend getaways.

Thanks to Thiem, there are solid numbers to support that notion.

Combine that with a weak U.S. dollar that’s spurring more spending by foreign travelers, and you could have a summer in which Route 66 tourism increases, despite the rising cost of oil.

The New Mexico Racing Commission today approved the move of the Downs at Albuquerque from the New Mexico state fairgrounds to the Route 66 town of Moriarty, N.M., about 40 miles east, reports KRQE-TV.

Planned is a 500-acre, $65 million facility at Highway 41 and Interstate 40. That is very close to Highway 333, aka Route 66.

Previous reports indicate that the track could hold races as soon as 2009.

In addition to guidebooks devoted to all 2,400 miles of Route 66, a bunch of volumes have been published that are more narrowly focused by geography. Individual books have been devoted to the Mother Road in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California, in addition to the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago.

However, a publishers had long ignored the Mother Road’s third-largest city, St. Louis. The big reason, I suspect, is the Gateway City contains a baffling maze of bypasses and realignments. By my count, there are at least eight different ways in which to travel Route 66 in St. Louis.

That publishing drought has been ended with “Route 66 in St. Louis” (128 pages, $19.99), part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series. Sorting out St. Louis is Joe Sonderman, a longtime Route 66 enthusiast who’s lived in the region all his life and has written several other regionally flavored books (”St. Louis 365,” “St. Louis People 365″ and “St. Louis World’s Far 365″).

The other thing Sonderman has is his 5,000-strong postcard collection, some of which he put to use in “Route 66 in St. Louis.” Many of those images — along with photos from the Missouri Department of Transportation archives — have never before been published.

Among the rare, vintage images:

• An interior view from 1946 of one of the rooms at the 66 Auto Court, including an embroidered “66″ on the bedspread.
• Nelson’s Cafe, part of the Park Plaza Court complex, complete with a Sealtest Ice Cream neon sign on its roof.
• The long-gone Haliner’s Cafe and Cabins, which is now the site of the sprawling Maritz complex west of the city.
• Several 1950s images of Lindbergh Boulevard and Manchester Road, with the latter showing a Tydol gas station in the background.
• And my favorite: a curve of Route 66 west of town that shows billboards touting the Red Cedar Inn, Park Plaza Courts, Manhattan Coffee, the Diamonds Restaurant, and the Mayfair and Lennox hotels.

Sonderman not only covers St. Louis proper, but devotes chapters to the metro-east in Illinois and nearby Franklin County in Missouri. The latter provides readers a lot of interesting vintage photos from Meramec Caverns in the bargain.

The many photographic gems Sonderman has unearthed, along with his compact writing, make this book well worth the money.

Sonderman reportedly is working on another book about Route 66 in St. Louis. Until a much-needed, turn-by-turn guidebook of Route 66 in St. Louis is published, Sonderman’s volume will suffice quite nicely.

Recommended.

(NOTE: Busted link to book was fixed.)

Here’s an explanation for this amazing YouTube video:

In 1948, the Osborn family loaded up their vehicle and headed for West Virginia. Their starting point was Redlands, CA. The film was shot in 1948 with an 8mm movie camera. Back in those days, Route 66 was one of the major west-east routes, thus the theme song, even though the family does travel on other routes besides Route 66. The film was in cans until 2005 when I had it digitalized in order to preserve it and provide a means for distributing the film to other members of the Osborn family.

Wonderful stuff. I hope there’s more vintage Osborn family footage ready to be posted

Music is “Route 66,” by Nat King Cole, naturally.

The Barstow Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, Calif., will mark its eighth anniversary with a special event on Saturday, June 14, reports the Desert Dispatch.

There will be a car and motorcycle show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. A registration form for those wanting to participate is here.

One of the giveaways will be a night at the Wigwam Motel in Rialto, Calif. A number of artists and authors also will be there, including Phil Yeh of the “Dinosaurs Across Route 66″ comic book.

And Albert Okura of Juan Pollo restaurants, who owns the Route 66 town of Amboy, Calif., will supply the food.

Here are the soldiers from Route 66 towns who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ILLINOIS
Chicago

• Staff Sgt. Oscar D. Vargas-Medina, died May 1, 2004
• 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, died April 5, 2003
• Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, died March 17, 2004
• Pfc. Torry D. Harris, died July 13, 2004
• Sgt. Sirlou C. Cuaresma, died June 21, 2006
• Cmdr. Adrian Basil Szwec, died April 12, 2004
• Machinist’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Bryant L. Davis, died Nov. 7, 2001
• Master Sgt. Wilberto Sabalu Jr., died May 6, 2007
• Sgt. Eric A. Lill, died July 6, 2007
• Pfc. Omar E. Torres, died Aug. 22, 2007
• Cpl. Albert Britton, died Feb. 20, 2008
• Pfc. Howard A. Jones Jr., died May 18, 2008

Countryside

• Spc. John R. Sullivan, died Nov. 15, 2003

Cicero

• Sgt. Pedro J. Colon, died Feb. 19, 2007

Dwight

• Lance Cpl. Raymond J. Holzhauer, died March 15, 2007

Lincoln

• Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham, died Feb. 24, 2005
• Spc. Francis M. Trussel Jr., died May 26, 2007

Normal

• Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, died Oct. 6, 2004

Bloomington

• Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, died March 21, 2003
• 1st Lt. Debra A. Banaszak, died Oct. 28, 2005

Springfield

• Spc. Jacob C. Palmatier, died Feb. 24, 2005

Virden

• Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper Jr., died Oct. 9, 2005

Carlinville

• Spc. Jeremiah D. Costello, died June 2, 2007

Edwardsville

• Pfc. Ryan C. Garbs, died Feb. 18, 2007

Granite City

• Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Christopher Dostie, died Dec. 30, 2005
• Sgt. Steven P. Mennemeyer, died Aug. 9, 2006

MISSOURI
Florissant

• Pvt. Lavena L. Johnson, died July 19, 2005

St. Louis

• Maj. William F. Hecker III, died Jan. 5, 2006
• Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson, died March 16, 2006
• Pfc. James F. Costello III, died April 11, 2006
• Lance Cpl. Leon Lance Deraps, died May 6, 2006
• Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Walsh, died Sept. 4, 2006
• Cpl. Jacob R. Fleisher, died Nov. 24, 2004
• Spc. Christopher M. Katzenberger, died Aug. 9, 2005
• Maj. Gloria D. Davis, died Dec. 12, 2006
• Lance Cpl. Matthew W. Clark, died Dec. 14, 2006
• Sgt. Milton A. Gist Jr., died Jan. 30, 2007
• Sgt. Brandon L. Wallace, died April 14, 2007
• Lt. Daniel P. Riordan, died June 23, 2007

Wildwood

• Spc. Peter J. Navarro, died Dec. 13, 2005

Pacific

• Cpl. Riley E. Baker, died June 22, 2006

Bourbon

• Corp. James E. Summers III, died May 28, 2007

Lebanon

• Sgt. Lawrence Parrish, died Oct. 7, 2006

Marshfield

• Spc. Michael C. Campbell, died May 19, 2004

Springfield

• Pfc. Jesse Alan Givens, died May 1, 2003
• Sgt. Timothy J. Sutton, died July 11, 2005
• Sgt. 1st Class Randall L. Lamberson, died April 10, 2006
• Spc. Jessy G. Pollard, died Aug. 22, 2007
• Staff Sgt. Ronald C. Blystone, died April 23, 2008

Carthage

• Master Sgt. Thomas A. Wallsmith, died Oct. 26, 2005

Joplin

• Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, died March 4, 2002

KANSAS
Riverton

• Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, died March 21, 2004

OKLAHOMA
Miami

• Civilian Fern L. Holland, died March 9, 2004
• Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton, died Jan. 22, 2006

Vinita

• Sgt. Justin Noyes, died July 2, 2006

Claremore

• Staff Sgt. John G. Doles, died Sept. 30, 2005

Tulsa

• Pvt. Jason M. Ward, died Oct. 22, 2003
• Spc. James E. Marshall, died May 5, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Jordan D. Winkler, died Nov. 26, 2004
• Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, died Nov. 8, 2004
• Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker, died Sept. 4, 2006
• Cpl. Derek A. Stanley, died June 5, 2006
• Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, died Aug. 4, 2007

Luther

• Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh, died July 5, 2007

Edmond

• Pfc. David J. Martin, died Oct. 31, 2005

Oklahoma City

• Spc. Sonny Gene Sampler, died July 8, 2004
• Sgt. Carl W. Lee, died Nov. 28, 2004
• Cpl. Jeffry A. Rogers, died Nov. 16, 2005
• Staff Sgt. Lance M. Chase, died Jan. 23, 2006
• Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, died April 11, 2004
• Sgt. Danton K. Seitsinger, died Jan. 29, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts, died March 24, 2007
• Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, died June 21, 2007
• Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, died June 23, 2007
• Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, died Aug. 11, 2007

TEXAS
Amarillo

• Capt. Eric Bruce Das, died April 7, 2003
• Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, died March 23, 2003
• Spc. Taylor J. Burk, died Jan. 26, 2005
• Staff Sgt. Tommy Ike Folks Jr., died Oct. 19, 2005
• Chief Warrant Officer Miles P. Henderson, died Nov. 6, 2006
• Pfc. Troy D. Cooper, died Dec. 3, 2006

NEW MEXICO
Las Vegas

• Lance Cpl. Shane P. Harris, died Sept. 3, 2006

Santa Fe

• Lance Cpl. Jonathan Walter Grant, died May 11, 2005

Albuquerque

• Pfc. Christopher Ramos, died April 5, 2004
• Pfc. Christopher S. Adlesperger, died Dec. 9, 2004
• Spc. Jeremy E. Christensen, died Nov. 27, 2004
• Spc. Christopher A. Merville, died Oct. 12, 2004
• Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Speer, died Aug. 7, 2002
• Spc. Eric Vizcaino, died Nov. 21, 2006
• Tech Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, died Feb. 18, 2007
• Spc. Clifford A. Spohn III, died April 9, 2007
• Maj. Douglas Zembiec, died May 10, 2007
• Sgt. James C. Akin, died June 3, 2007
• Capt. Thomas J. Casey, died Jan. 3, 2008

Los Lunas

• Sgt. Joel A. Dahl, died June 23, 2007

Belen

• 1st Lt. Tamara Long Archuleta, died March 23, 2003

ARIZONA
Holbrook

• Spc. Damien M. Montoya, died July 9, 2006

Winslow

• Sgt. Christopher N. Gonzalez, died May 14, 2007

Flagstaff

• Lance Cpl. Marty G. Mortenson, died April 20, 2005
• Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, died Sept. 15, 2003

Kingman

• Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, died June 26, 2003
• Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, died June 18, 2003
• Spc. Coty J. Phelps, died May 17, 2007

CALIFORNIA
Barstow

• Sgt. 1st Class James F. Hayes, died Nov. 6, 2005
• Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, died July 6, 2007

Victorville

• Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, died March 30, 2004

Hesperia

• Sgt. James K. Healy, died Jan. 7, 2008

San Bernardino

• Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, died Oct. 16, 2003
• Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, died Aug. 21, 2004
• Spc. Timothy D. Watkins, died Oct. 15, 2005
• Pfc. Alex Oceguera, died Oct. 31, 2006

Rialto

• Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molina Bautista, died May 23, 2004
• Spc. Luis D. Santos, died June 8, 2006
• Spc. Victor A. Garcia, died July 1, 2007

Azusa

• Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, died April 20, 2004

Arcadia

• Sgt. Kyle A. Colnot, died April 22, 2006

Fontana

• Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, died May 5, 2006
• Lance Corp. Fontana S. Tamayo, died Dec. 21, 2006

Glendora

• Spc. Elias Elias, died Dec. 23, 2006
• Lance Corp. Blake H. Howey, died Feb. 18, 2007
• Staff Sgt. Thomas M. McFall, died May 28, 2007

Monrovia

• Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado, died Jan. 7, 2006

Rancho Cucamonga

• Capt. Mark C. Paine, died Oct. 15, 2006
• Sgt. Lawrence J. Carter, died Dec. 29, 2006

Pomona

• Petty Officer 2nd Class Cesar O. Baez, died June 15, 2005
• Sgt. Shaker T. Guy, died Oct. 29, 2005
• Spc. Sergio Gudino, died Dec. 25, 2005

Pasadena

• Lance Cpl. Sergio H. Escobar, died Oct. 8, 2005
• Spc. Adam J. Rosema, died March 14, 2007
• Lance Cpl. Rogelio A. Ramirez, died Aug. 26, 2007

Hollywood

• Sgt. James E. Craig, died Jan. 28, 2008

Los Angeles

• Staff Sgt. Juan de Dios Garcia-Arana, April 30, 2005
• Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, died Nov. 23, 2003
• Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Gonzalez, died May 29, 2004
• Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, died April 27, 2004
• Sgt. 1st Class John Winston, Marshall, died April 8, 2003
• Pfc. Francisco Abraham Martinez-Flores, died March 27, 2003
• Cpl. Jorge Alonso Gonzalez, died March 23, 2003
• Lance Cpl. Victor R. Lu, died Nov. 13, 2004
• Sgt. Trinidad R. Martinezluis, died Nov. 28, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Luis A. Figueroa, died Nov. 18, 2004
• Spc. Omead H. Razani, died Aug. 27, 2004
• Sgt. Edgar E. Lopez, died Aug. 28, 2004
• Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Sept. 27, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, died April 2, 2006
• Lance Cpl. Salvador Guerrero, died June 9, 2006
• Cpl. Roberto Abad, died Aug. 6, 2004
• Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, died Aug. 15, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Veashna Muy, died June 23, 2005
• Cpl. Carlos Pineda, died June 24, 2005
• Lance Cpl. Dion M. Whitley, died June 15, 2005
• Sgt. Milton M. Monzon Jr., died July 24, 2005
• Sgt. Alejandro Carrillo, died Jan. 30, 2007
• Spc. Christopher D. Young, died March 2, 2007
• Spc. Romel Catalan, died June 2, 2007
• Staff Sgt. Greg P. Gagarin, died June 3, 2007
• Sgt. Robert T. Ayres III, died Sept. 29, 2007
• Staff Sgt. Joseph F. Curreri, died Oct. 27, 2007

(Sources: CNN.com, icasualties.org)

I can’t say that I’m surprised by this story from the Edmond (Okla.) Sun:

The most recent Oklahoma Tax Commission figures indicates that Arcadia’s sales tax revenue has doubled since POPS opened there last August. [...]

August to January sales tax revenue is $123,365 compared to $59,137 for those months of the previous calendar year. Murrell said the 2006 opening of the Windmill Shops also is generating business.

As a visual landmark on west Arcadia’s Route 66, POPS offers a gas station, restaurant and retail. Thousands of soda pop bottles accentuate the business owned by Aubrey McClendon, chairman and owner of Chesapeake Energy.

December was the only month for Arcadia to decline in sales tax revenue. But Murrell and POPS General Manager Marty Doepke blame the decrease in sales to December’s severe ice storm that caused power outages in Arcadia for five to eight days.

The story goes on to describe how Arcadia has become a boom town in general.

I knew that POPS would become a big windfall for the town’s coffers. It’s busy all the time, especially on weekends. Owner Aubrey McClendon’s gamble appears to have paid off big.

It’s mostly inevitable that Arcadia has become a residential hot spot. Nearby Edmond, a suburb of Oklahoma City, is now so big it’s practically a metropolis in itself. Those wanting more a quiet, small-town feel will be heading east on Route 66 to Arcadia.

Summerside Vineyards and Winery, right on Route 66 in Vinita, Okla., won the coveted Double Gold award at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in New York earlier this month, reports the High Plains Journal.

Summerside’s big winner was its cream sherry.

“We’ve always known this was a special wine,” said Marsha Butler, Summerside Vineyards and Winery owner. “Not only has it won many awards, but we often find ourselves having to maintain a waiting list due to its popularity. It is a sweet, end-of-meal treat.”

With the legendary Sherry maker Dr. Roy Mitchell as a mentor, Summerside’s Sherry solera system started in 2001. The system is designed to yield a consistent product from year to year. Comprised of several groups of barrels, each barrel is filled almost full to allow the wine to oxidize and only a small amount of the “liquid gold” is bottled each year.

An older Sherry can be intriguing, complex, and packed with years’ worth of individuality. But don’t overlook the smooth nutty palate and sublime lingering finish. Pour Summerside’s sweet Cream Sherry on the small side, and serve with soft, mature cheeses, fresh fruit and desserts.

The USA Network is about to air a new crime drama called “In Plain Sight,” with the premiere on June 1.

The gist of the story is that U.S. marshal Mary Shannon (played by Mary McCormack) is part of the Federal Witness protection program in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe, N.M., region.

Media Blvd. magazine interviewed “In Plain Sight” creator and executive producer David Maples, who had some interesting things to say about filming the show in the Land of Enchantment:

The other thing is what New Mexico brings to the table is an incredible sense of texture, an incredible feel, a blue sky that just stretches on for what seems like forever.  And I think, visually we got something that you haven’t seen on television before.

Now on the negative side, it’s a state that has a brand new film industry and so a lot of the mechanisms that we’re use to dealing with in Los Angeles, like location permits and the number of hours we can shoot in any particular locale and things like that, are still being worked out down there.  So there’re a lot of little kinks in the machinery that we would have to deal with on a daily basis.

But most of that and most of the concerns surrounding that would kind of dissolve away when we would look at the footage that we were shooting.  And we’d see the desert, and we’d see the mountains, and we’d see the ravines, and we’d see this incredible sort of architecture from the 1960s and the roadside feel of Route 66 that is still there.

And I think that the fun of — and as David said, New Mexico and Albuquerque is very much a character in the show.  And it’s a character because it’s vivid and it’s bright and it’s colorful and it’s something that I think gives us a color palate and a look that you haven’t seen. So anyway, there are pluses and minuses to Albuquerque, but I think the pluses outweigh the minuses.

This song has been echoing through my head since the Rock Cafe was destroyed by fire. The Boss often has been likened to a revival preacher at his fiery shows. But here, he truly shows his gospel side.

This is dedicated to Dawn and the rest of the Rock Cafe gang.

Here’s a short video of a bunch of skateboarders who took a trip on Route 66, looking for adventure.

At one point, you’ll see them at a certain landmark in Holbrook, Ariz.

In case the 500 or so brands of soft drinks in the coolers at POPS in Arcadia, Oka., aren’t enough, the Route 66 business is set to launch a kiosk that will allow customers to ship 700 brands of soda anywhere nationwide.

The ceremonial first order will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday by Oklahoma first lady Kim Henry, wife of Gov. Brad Henry.

The kiosk will be a touch-screen gadget. I have little doubt that some folks will use the kiosk to ship cases of Dublin Dr Pepper or Kickapoo Joy Juice their homes.

It’d also be cool if this could also be done on the POPS Web site (hint, hint).

This sort of became buried in amid all the happenings and photos in yesterday’s post about the fire that destroyed the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., but it bears repeating:

Owner Dawn Welch plans to rebuild the historic Route 66 restaurant.

According to the Daily Oklahoman:

“There’s no way I will let the Rock Cafe go down with a fire,” Welch told The Oklahoman on Wednesday, hours after watching her restaurant engulfed by flames. “This can’t be the end to the story.”

“This is my life,” said Welch, owner since 1993. “My children (Alexis, 11; and Paul, 7) have grown up there. This is what we do, but this is not the end of the Rock Cafe.”

Welch also told the Tulsa World:

Welch said she is working with her insurance company and is coming up with a plan to revive the restaurant. She said that process could take at least a year.

“It’s going to take moving mountains to be able to get that done,” she said.

The key is the namesake rock walls are still standing. Even though all that memorabilia inside is lost, much of the restaurant’s distinct appearance can be retained if it’s rebuilt, because of that stout foundation.

And plenty of historic businesses have rebuilt after devastating fires and retained their Mother Road flavor. Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita, Okla., and the Dixie Truckers Home in McLean, Ill., come to mind. Clanton’s was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1999 and continues to dish out some of Route 66’s best grub.  The Dixie was destroyed by huge blaze in 1965, but it also rose from the ashes and still serves travelers decades later. There’s no reason to believe the Rock Cafe won’t do the same.

The Rock Cafe of Stroud, Okla., which has served hungry travelers on Route 66 since the 1930s, burned to the ground late Tuesday night.

Dawn Welch, who has owned the Rock Cafe since 1993, called us late Tuesday to let us know about the blaze. As of this writing, shortly after 1 a.m., firefighters were still working to contain the fire. Only the restaurant’s stone walls were still standing.

Welch said the fire was reported about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday. Witnesses across the street, she said, said the fire was “billowing” from the structure.

The Rock Cafe had closed early that day at 3 p.m. The fire’s cause remains unknown.

Welch wasn’t sure whether she was going to rebuild. “I have no idea what’s going to happen; it’s too early,” she said. The restaurant is insured.

Mamie’s, a souvenir shop next door that is part of the Rock Cafe complex, apparently was unscathed.

Welch was the direct inspiration for Sally in the Disney-Pixar animated movie “Cars,” and the restaurant was a key stop for the film crew when it was researching Route 66. The Rock Cafe also contained a lot of “Cars” memorabilia, including a personalized letter of appreciation from director John Lasseter.

But the Rock Cafe was well-known in Mother Road circles even before Hollywood came calling. Known far and wide for its jagerschnitzel and spaetzel and other splendid diner fare, it was featured by Roadfood.com,  Gourmet magazine and the Food Network.

I’ll try to get to the scene of the fire at daybreak. More later …

UPDATE: I got to Stroud shortly after sunup Wednesday. The interior of the restaurant is gutted, and the roof has caved in.

However, the Rock Cafe’s stone walls are still standing and appear to be sound. So if the restaurant is rebuilt, it can easily retain its original look.

It appears that the Rock Cafe’s neon sign was unscathed, as was the Mamie’s souvenir shop. Those stout stone walls probably shielded them from the heat.

A firetruck was still on the scene, directing water on the smoldering ruins. A convenience store clerk across the road told me the fire re-ignited about 4 a.m.

Here’s a short video that shows what the Rock Cafe interior looks like, through the east entrance.

I ran into an older gentleman who was traveling Route 66. He expressed regret that he didn’t eat at the Rock Cafe the day before. He had decided to watch “American Idol” in his motel room instead.

The goldfish in the pond near the restaurant’s patio appeared to be fine. They swam along lazily with no apparent distress.

In their own way, they showed that life goes on.

UPDATE2: Here’s a Daily Oklahoman report on the fire.

UPDATE3: Here’s another video of the fire on late Tuesday/early Wednesday. The images are dark because it’s night, but if you look closely, you can see the smoke billowing from beneath the roof.

UPDATE4: Here’s a video by an area TV station.

Good news: The station and longtime Route 66er Shellee Graham both report that Welch plans to rebuild.