April 1 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
A rough weather weekend didn’t keep all the boaters off the water. A few brave souls faced the elements for fun – and the FLW fishermen were out in force! Several days of early morning sounds like a hornets’ nest proved that the fishing tournament season is in full swing on Grand Lake. Kudos to the Grove Rotary Club for coming out in the middle of the night multiple times to help with the early FLW Tournament launch each day!
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I had more fun Saturday night that I’ve had on a bad weather evening in a long time. Thanks to Joyce & Larry Duke for bringing four fantastic comedians to Big Shots for a really fun evening of comedy fun. There’s more to come this week, too, with Hypnotist Zachary Gibson at Big Shots on Monkey Island Saturday night.
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REAL NEWS MOMENT: Speaking of Monkey Island, that portion of Grand Lake is really on the move – still. Aside from continued growth and more residential construction underway at Shangri-La Resort, the steel framing is in place and construction is moving quickly on the new Monkey Island Fire Department & Emergency Services Center. MarineMax breaks ground Thursday for a new Monkey Island Showroom; and Nichols Marine has finalized new plans for a soon-to-be-built boat sales showroom on Monkey Island, as well. The Island is on the move!
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EMBARRASSING NEWS MOMENT: No, Mexico has not been on an empire-building rampage. Fox News admitted their mistake in posting a headline announcing: Trump Cuts U.S. Aid to Three Mexican Countries. Oops.
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Orange Vanilla Coke? I’m sure you’ve seen the big news. That’s an actual thing now. I don’t know about you, but that sounds so nasty to me, I don’t have the nerve to even try it!
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If I’m ever going to go to Walt Disney World, I guess I’d better get a move on, because I’ll have to go this month! May 1, Walt Disney World is eliminating their “designated smoking areas.” It’s okay. I really didn’t want to go, anyway.
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In South Carolina, megachurch pastor John Gray has asked his congregation to dig deep and come up with an extra $250,000 to fix the roof on the church. You remember, Pastor Gray? He already dug deep in his own pockets to buy his wife a car - that $200,000 Lamborghini Urus he gave her as an anniversary gift.
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Former Mormon “gay cure” therapist David Matheson has traded teams. Matheson now says he is gay (again) and is seeking companionship. I guess the old “physician, heal thyself” adage didn’t work this time. Hypocrisy is just the best, isn’t it?
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Panama Hats originated in Ecuador.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Home sounds like a nice place until they say they’re going to put you in one.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: If you take the word “milk” and only change four letters, you get “beer.”
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Life is like a game of chess. I don’t know how to play chess.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Don’t steal from Medicare to support socialized medicine.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Major League Baseball play is underway for 2019 - the first year there is not a single active player who played MLB in the 20th Century. Oklahoma-born-and-raised singer/songwriter Hoyt Axton who wrote such hits as “Joy to the World” and “Never Been to Spain” would have been 81 years old last week. He died twenty years ago. Professional wrestling icon “Nature Boy” Ric Flair is still making the rounds, though. He is now 70 years old. Wooooooo!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Jerry Barnes, Sam Walker, Tod Sanger, Jodie Keener, Staci Burns, Gregg Compton, Stormy Ware, Brian Edwards, Joan Hess, Steve Oden, Donnie Smith, Spencer Dyer, Jr., Tiera Henry, and Devon Miller.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is a women’s prison called a penal colony?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thursday afternoon at 3:00 is groundbreaking for the new MarineMax showroom at Tera Miranda on Monkey Island. Saturday is the South Grand Lake Lions Club Grand Dam Run 5K and 10K; and Saturday night is the big “Get in Your Head” comedy/hypnotist show at Big Shots on Monkey Island (8:30).
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment coming up around the lake to kick off the new month. On Monkey Island, Saturday night is going to be an interesting night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. It’s “Inside Your Head” hypnotism/comedy night starting at 8:30. Zachary Gibson will provide the hypnotism. His subjects will undoubtedly provide the comedy. Friday night is karaoke fun and dance music at Monkey Island Pub. At the Blind Swine, Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night, and KJ Flip hosts karaoke Sunday and Tuesday. At Littlefield Corner, there’s always live music Saturday night at Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, Thursday night is Trivia Contest night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. Friday night is Karaoke Night at Michelle’s Bar & Grill at Grand Lodge in Ketchum – and there’s always live entertainment at Michelle’s on Saturday night. Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina also has Saturday night entertainment.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino-Grove features music from Lucas Gates Friday night followed by House Party Saturday. Knight & Daze will perform Friday night at Grand Lake Casino. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. The George Brothers will be on stage at Bordertown Friday night, followed by a Saturday night performance by Splinter Middleton. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, The Eddie Valen Band will be on stage Friday night at D.J. Kennedy will provide the entertainment Saturday night. Live DJ entertainment starts at 10:00 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights at Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Brett & Terri perform Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Donnie Ray Stevens Friday night and Sweet Trouble Saturday night.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including PGA Golf, NASCAR, and Final Four & NBA basketball games are the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Unicorn Store and the series premier of Quicksand are available on NETFLIX Friday. The Morning Show Mysteries series makes its debut Sunday night at 8:00 on Hallmark Movies & Mystery Channel; and The Code premiers Tuesday night at 8:00 on CBS. In the sports world, of course, NCAA Final Four games are Saturday (5:00 and 8:30) and the National Championship Game is Monday night at 8:00, all on CBS.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Shazam!, Pet Sematary and The Best of Enemies
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Well, that’s show business, Avenatti. One week you’re on the cover of ‘Time.’ The next week, you’re doing it.” - Argus Hamilton
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 13 – South Grand Lake Chamber Bootlegger’s Ball at Cherokee Yacht Club. Thursday, April 18 – The Wizard of Oz at the Coleman Theater featuring Dennis James on the organ (6:30). Friday-Sunday, April 19-21 – Open House and Boat Show at Arrowhead Yacht Club. Saturday, April 20 – 2nd Annual Langley Easter Egg Hunt (11:00). Saturday, April 27 – Old Bulldog Band at Big Shots on Monkey Island. Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 – In-Water Boat Show by Nichols Marine at Shangri-La Marina. Saturday, May 4 – Ping, Callaway, and Titleist Demo Da at Shangri-La Golf Club (9-1). Saturday, May 4 – Ladies Night “Sip & Paint” at Doc’s covered patio at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, May 4 – Burning of the Socks at Harbors View Marina – music by 5th Element. Saturday, May 18 – Ales & Tails at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita. Saturday, May 18 – Barkaritaville Party (fundraiser for 2nd Chance Pet Rescue) at The Parrot in Grove (5:30-9:00). Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1 – Toes in the Grand celebration at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Friday-Wednesday, May 31-June 5 – MLF Stage Seven Bass Pro Tour out of Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, June 8 – Camp Bandage (10-2) at Grand Lake RV Resort. Monday-Wednesday, June 17-19 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La Golf Club.
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We’re down to the last four teams in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. “The Final Four” games will be televised Saturday at 5:00 and 8:30, with the National Championship Game set for 8:00 Monday night, all on CBS.
In NBA action, the OKC Thunder are at home Friday night hosting the Detroit Pistons (7:00 on FSOK) before traveling to Minnesota for a nationally televised game Sunday afternoon at 2:30 on ABC. Tuesday night, they’re back home hosting the Houston Rockets at 8:30 in another nationally televised game (TNT).
In the world of professional golf, this is the last week before The Masters. Players are converging in San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 3:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 2:30 Saturday and 1:30 Sunday.
The second weekend of Major League Baseball is coming up. The L.A. Angels host Texas Saturday afternoon at 3:00 and the Cubs are in Milwaukee at 6:00, both on Fox Sports 1. The Rockies host the Dodgers Sunday night at 7:30 on ESPN and the Yankees are in Houston to take on the Astros for a couple of games, Monday night at 6:00 and Tuesday night at 7:00, both on ESPN. The Red Sox host Toronto Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 on ESPN.
NASCAR drivers are at Bristol this week for the Food City 500. Coverage is Sunday afternoon at 1:00 on Fox Sports 1.
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The weekend ahead of us looks a lot better than the one behind us! We’ll have some sunshine and light winds most of the weekend with highs around 70 and lows around 50. Much better! May spring is really here, after all. Of course, the weather is always perfect for indoor dining & drinking at Grand Lake. So, party on! Remember, though… be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me.
GRAND LAKE BUM
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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
Ailey’s Café in Langley
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 (Open Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
Bobbers Café in Langley
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café Italia on Monkey Island
Café Yum in Grove
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and at Littlefield Corner
Checkered Past in Grove
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)
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
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
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
Henrie’s Grill in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Hilltop Café in Grove
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
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Pappy’s Bar on Hwy 10 east of Grove
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)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Scooters in Langley (smoking)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on 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 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