A Soggy Grand Lake Weekend In Review by The Grand Lake Bum
The rapid rise of Grand Lake due to 15 inches of rain in recent weeks has given the shoreline a new look and has added new debris that floated our way from Kansas. Be careful out there. At least we finally have a sunny, warm, not-so-windy weekend in sight – and it couldn’t come at a better time! I’ve never seen the Shangri-La golf course like it was over the past weekend. It looked more like a water park than a golf course. I’ve heard of water hazards, but sheesh – everything but the tee boxes and greens was a water hazard. I suppose we’ll be wishing for rain in August; but we’ve certainly had enough now! I’m ready for the weekend ahead.
*****
I had a great time Saturday night reminiscing with some oldies performed perfectly by The Old Bulldog Band at Big Shots. There’s nothing more fun that watching a crowd of fifty-and-sixty-somethings taking in enough old tunes and liquor to believe they are once again twenty-somethings. Not only could the crowd understand the words to the songs – they already all the words to every song, anyway. It looked like a giant sing-along dance! Equally important is the fact that the event raised almost $10,000 for the continuation of the Monkey Island Pedestrian and Golf Cart Trail. Nicely done, Islanders – and Old Bulldogs!
*****
A couple more seasonal operations are opening this weekend, GRDA is officially launching the season with their Lake Launch Grand Fiesta Friday night, Saturday we’re burning socks; and the lake’s biggest boat dealers are having in-water shows all weekend long. It’s a great time to be a Grand Laker!
*****
If you’re looking for a career, you might want to consider becoming a cop in St. Louis. Cops with the rank of Captain or higher are allowed to take their police vehicles home for personal use. However, it turns out department policy is silent on the issue of driving the vehicles after drinking. They are prohibited from drinking “while operating a motor vehicle.” As it turns out, according to the city Personnel Director – “perhaps we need some clarification of the definition of “while.”
*****
By the way, drunks aren’t the ultimate bad guys on the road, anymore. According to new statistics on fatality accidents, the biggest problem is no longer alcohol…it’s drugs. My guess is that even drugs will soon be surpassed by “texting” as the biggest cause of accidents.
*****
Poor United Airlines can’t seem to get out of its own way. On the very day they settled the “dragging him down the aisle unconscious” incident with Dr. Dao, more news emerged about Donna Weigel’s incident on a plane scheduled to travel from Baltimore to Chicago. She was seated near a cat, but asked that the cat be moved somewhere else because of her severe allergy to felines. Instead, the United crew moved Donna… right off the plane. The cat, on the other hand, made it to Chicago on time.
*****
Speaking of cats, there’s a cat in North Carolina that has been labeled a hero after alerting a family about carbon monoxide in the house. Apparently the cat didn’t want any competition suffocating the family in their sleep.
*****
According to Fark, Russian beauties are being urged to rack up support for Vladimir Putin by busting out revealing shirts emblazoned with his image. Think of it as his war chest.
*****
Beef producers are now giving florists a run for their money. SayItWithBeef.com is now offering a bouquet of beef jerky shaped to look like roses (or daisies, if you prefer). Chief selling point: fresh-cut flowers die quickly, but jerky is forever.
*****
The Oklahoma House of Representatives designated last Wednesday, April 26, as Denim Day in recognition of the importance of reporting sexual violence. Believe it or not, Denim Day originated in response to a 1998 Italian Supreme Court ruling overturning a rape conviction. The idiot justices determined that, since the victim was wearing really tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove the jeans, thereby implying consent. Sheesh. I suppose if the rapist had cut the jeans off of her, the justices would have said, “Well… you know, she did have those scissors in her apartment, so….” You can’t fix stupid – even on the Supreme Court!
*****
“If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren’t people from Holland called Holes?” – Steven Wright
*****
GRAND LAKE DINING AND DRINKING BY WATER UPDATE: Increased demand and the opening of new venues has resulted in Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant and Buffalo Bar now being open exclusively to Members & their guests, and resort guests – but, as one venue closes to the public, another opens! Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina opens this weekend - and Sharky’s Bar at Hammerhead Marina opens, as well. It’s nice to see the accessible-by-water bars opening. Boating was starting to be a downright thirsty sport!
*****
Weird fact of the week: According to the Science of Nature Journal, the global spider population consumes about 400 million tons of prey each year. If you need a comparison for consumption by the hungry spiders, that’s about the same amount, by weight, of the total consumption of meat and fish by the entire human population!
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: National Sarcasm Society – like we need your support!
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: In just a few years, 1990 will be thirty years ago. When I think about “thirty years ago,” I still think 1970.
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Michael Garner, Josh Goff, Grant Oden, Dean Strimple, Alex Swisher, Madison Miller, Paula Sanford, Charlie Franczyk, Jimmie Tramel, Pam Borin, Tony Coatney, John Dillingham, Cherie Long, Donna Belt, and Stephanie Gragg.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do children in China grab the toy out of their McDonald’s Happy Meals and say, “Hey, I made this!”
*****
BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: There’s plenty to choose from this weekend, for sure! There are boat shows all over the lake this weekend – Arrowhead Boat Sales, Cedar Port Marina, Dick Lane’s of Grand Lake, Grand Lake Boat Sales at Hi-Lift Marina, MarineMax at Harbors View Marina, Nichols Marine at Shangri-La Marina, and Ugly John’s at Thunder Bay. Friday is the season opening day for the all-new Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina. Friday night at 6:00 is the GRDA Lake Launch featuring a Grand Fiesta at the Ecosystems Center in Langley. Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:00, it’s the annual Burning of the Socks at Harbors View Marina.
*****
GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There are lots of entertainment options around the lake this weekend, including Randy Lunsford performing through the weekend in the Burlesque Room and Clint Walker in the Back Stage Room at The Shebang on Monkey Island. Across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, enjoy all the best dance tunes Friday &Saturday nights. Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub.
On South Grand Lake, Lickitty Split will perform at Sharky’s Bar at Hammerhead Marina Friday night – and Reverse Reactionwill take over entertainment duties Saturday night.
Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. At River Bend Casino (formerly Wyandotte Casino), Club 60 West will feature music from The Bobby D Band Friday night. Friday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Showplace, Casey Donahew will be on stage. At Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, there’s great music both Friday and Saturday night withWestern Justice. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by Joe Giles & the Homewreckers. Friday and Saturday nights, Aces Wild will entertain.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA playoff action, NASCAR, PGA Golf, and the Kentucky Derby are Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: Chris Gethard: Career Suicide is Saturday night at 9:00 on HBO; and The MTV Movie and TV Awards Show is Sunday night at 7:00 on MTV.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: The Lovers and Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “William Henry Harrison had a better first 100 days, and he was dead for 69 of them.”
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 12 – first Friday Night Shrimp Boil of the season at Harbors View Marina. Saturday, May 13 – first Saturday Night Fajita Night of the season at Harbors View Marina. Sunday, May 14 – Mother’s Day. Monday, May 15 – Official Pool Opening at Monkey Island RV Park. Friday, May 19 – Quarterdeck Waterfront Café at Tera Miranda opens for the season. Friday-Monday, May 26-29 – Memorial Weekend on Grand Lake! Saturday, June 3 – Home of Hope Admirals Banquet at Shangri-La Resort Hotel. Monday-Thursday, June 5-8 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La Golf Club.
*****
It’s Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs this week. Thursday and Friday night games are on ESPN this week. Saturday games are on ESPN and ABC. Sunday games are on ABC and TNT.
The PGA Tour heads for North Carolina this week and the Wells Fargo Championship. Coverage begins at 1:00 Thursday &Friday, and 12:00 Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sundayat 2:00.
It’s a big weekend for horse racing fans. Saturday is the 143rd running of The Kentucky Derby. Coverage begins at 1:30 on NBC – but actual post time for the Derby is 5:34.
NASCAR drivers are running in Talladega this weekend (The Geico 500). Coverage begins at 1:00 Sunday on Fox.
*****
Weather for the weekend ahead looks just perfect for In-Water Boat Shows, opening of Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, GRDA’s Grand Fiesta Lake Launch event, and burning of the socks. Highs will be in the mid-to-upper 70s with sunshine and light winds. There’s a lot to do this weekend – and perfect weather to do it! Remember, though, wherever you decide to play, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me.
GRAND LAKE BUM
Want more information on advertisers you see in the Grand Lake Bum? No problem. Just click on their ad and you will be connected to their web site. If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both grandlakenewsonline.com and www.360grandlake.com, as well as Grand Times on Grand Lake, the cost is only $50 a week and the list of readers is growing. E-mail or contact grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up.
Looking for places to go, things to do, services to use or property to buy in the Grand Lake area? Here’s a starter kit listing of “open to the public” fun places to spend time at Grand Lake.
1909 in Downtown Grove
American Grill in Grove
Aquabar & Grill at The Landings Marina on Monkey Island (smoking on the deck)
Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (smoking upstairs—open Friday & Saturday nights)
Bobbers Café in Langley
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patios)
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café Italia on Monkey Island
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and on Monkey Island
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Coffee Shelter in Ketchum
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s on the Lake at Blue Bluff Harbor
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina
Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
Karrie's Kaboose in Langley (smoking)
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South
Pickles at the Lake in Langley
Pit Stop Café in Grove
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (smoking on the deck)
Raggedy’s in Grove
Rancho Viejo in Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island (smoking...but not at lunch)
Roadhouse 125 on Monkey Island (smoking deck)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Scooters in Langley (smoking)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora
Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Landings Marina (smoking on the deck)
The Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)
The Office on Monkey Island (smoking)
The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)
The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)
Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina (smoking)
VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)
Water Side Bar & Grill in Grove
Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove