Vanishing Postcards

Despite its legend and history, like all roads, Route 66 is transitory and in a constant state of evolution. The small businesses that form its backbone face continuously steep odds and iconic sites aren't immune from decay or closure. This was deeply felt in 2015 when Shea's, a beloved gas station turned museum on the north end of Springfield, was forced to close following the death of its famed owner. Yet, legacies don't disappear overnight and thanks to the efforts of many, Shea's isn't just a memory but might be on the cusp of a rebirth. In this episode, we'll pay a visit to Springfield where we'll learn of Bill Shea from his Grandchildren, and a few passionate souls who are working to ensure his name remains far more than a memory.

Officially opened in 1949, Springfield's Cozy Dog Drive-In claims to be the home of the first batter-fried hot dog on a stick, and having born witness to over seventy years of transitions, ranks amongst Route 66's most beloved institutions. Now in its third-generation of family ownership, we'll learn of its history from past and present proprietors Buz and Josh Waldmire. Artist William Crook Jr. also joins us to pay tribute to his friend and contemporary Bob Waldmire, for whom The Cozy Dog stands as an informal living memorial. Through stories both touching and humorous, we'll learn why this seemingly low frills establishment has earned the right to be called "iconic."

The US-Mexico border is a constant fixture in today's 24 hour news cycle. But often lost amidst the noise of talking heads and pundits is any discussion of the rich culture and humanity that can be found there, and how turmoil on both sides has altered the region's social dynamics. Forgotten as well is that for decades Mexican borer towns were renowned for elegant, white tablecloth restaurants where jacketed waiters catered to a café society that transcended international boundaries. Among the most legendary was Nuevo Laredo's Cadillac Bar which famously served delicacies like frog legs and Ramos Gin Fizzes for more than eighty years until shifting dynamics forced its closure in 2010. In this episode, you're invited to join us on a trip to Laredo, where we'll retrace memories of the Cadillac through its founder's Granddaughter Wanda Garner Cash, and others who experienced it firsthand, while exploring how its influence persists on the American side through visits to such as establishments as The Border Foundry and Bar Nido. The result is a paean to the bonds that unite these cities in the face of evolving divisions.

The author and folklorist J Frank Dobie once said, "The boundaries of culture and rainfall never follow survey lines." This is certainly true of Dobie's native south Texas, which is a place shaped by both the cultures of Mexico and the American West. In this episode host Evan Stern travels below the Nueces River, to the YY Ranch where he joins the Avila Family as they convene there to roast one of this region's prized delicacies- cabrito. Amidst the revelry, the history, ethics and future of this dish of milk fed baby goat are explored through conversations with chef and culinary scholar Adan Medrano, restaurant owner Sylvia Casares, and educators and musicians Rosa Canales and Joe Perez. The resulting piece is a celebration of cross-border connections, that reveals cabrito as a symbol of the shared landscape and practices that bond South Texas and Northern Mexico.