Ryburn Place

Many years ago Bill and I were traveling Route 66 and found this business card tacked to a laundromat bulletin board. It never fails to make me laugh. You, too?

You are invited to Ryburn Place at Sprague's Super Service, 305 Pine Street in Normal. Join us 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15 for a Route 66 Centennial Parking Lot Party featuring the rockabilly stylings of Union Avenue. Ryburn Place Gifts and Gab will be open for shopping, check out our brand new Route 66 mural and grab food from Butcher Block Burger Stop Food Truck (6-8 p.m. or until the food runs out). We’ll have limited seating options, so bring a bag chair to guarantee your spot. Parking will be available on the street, so get here early and please respect our neighbors. Dance, win prizes and hear some great live music at one of McLean County’s most popular Route 66 stops! This centennial event is sponsored by a grant from Visit BN with support from the Town of Normal.

Ryburn Place will be closed for the July 4th holiday! I'll be celebrating the 250th by doing American things!

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Just a head's up: I have to close the shop tomorrow from 12:30-2:30 for a doctor's appointment. I always schedule these for my days off but sometimes my schedule is not their schedule. (I don't have anyone to watch the shop.) Sorry if this inconveniences anyone. And, please don't send messages to ask if I'm okay. I'M OKAY!

Anyone know when the Centennial Caravan will travel through Normal, Illinois, tomorrow (Wednesday)?

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T Lindsay Baker stopped by Ryburn Place at Sprague's Super Service just as my artist was taking a picture in order to create magnets for me. He asked if he could include T Lindsay's 1930 Model A in the image that he created. Of course T Lindsay was extremely gracious and every time I look at one of the magnets I will remember this kind, generous man. RIP T Lindsay. See

Get yourselves to the nearest U.S. post office immediately and buy these Route 66 stamps! The photographer is my friend, David J. Schwartz, a wonderful man and the only person I have known to have his photographs on USPO stamps. The clerk at the Normal (Illinois) Post Office says these are going fast, and with good reason. So proud to know you, David J. Schwartz, and congratulations!

Sorry to send this to everyone but Brandy contacted me about getting a passport stamp when I'm closed and somehow I'm locked out of my gmail account so can't respond to her (Me and technology--Ugh!) Brandy--I have some small pieces of paper with my stamp on them that you can pick up from my Little Free Library on the west parking lot. Or, if it's between 9-5 Monday to Saturday, you may get my stamp at the Cruisin' with Lincoln on Route 66 Visitor Center, 200 N. Main Street, Bloomington, IL. Enjoy your trip!

Look what I just got! It's the 6th edition of Jerry McClanahan's EZ 66 Guide; 100th anniversary edition. Ryburn Place at Sprague's Super Service, 305 Pine Street, Normal, IL.

MY ANNUAL PLEA: Please do not park across the street in my neighbors' parking lot! I have two parking lots next to my building but every day I see people driving cars, and sometimes giant RVs, pull over, get out of their vehicles and wander over to take photos. MY NEIGHBORS RUN BUSINESSES and you may think, "Well, I'll just be a minute." What if that is the "minute" that they need to move a car or park on their own lot? LONG AFTER YOU DRIVE AWAY, I need to remain friends with them, so I BEG YOU, please, please, please, park on my lot or on the street but not on their private property!