April 2 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
Good Friday had such perfect weather at Grand Lake that it was actually GREAT Friday! But, man, it went downhill from there. Thousand-mile-an-hour wins with clouds on Saturday, and Easter Sunday’s weather was more appropriate for New Year’s Day! I hope summer doesn’t forget Grand Lake this year. If we ever get consistent warm weather, it should last until December.
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Grand Lake’s economy had a near-death experience in the Oklahoma legislature last week while lawmakers tried to sort out funding for education and teacher pay raises. Naturally, they hit us sinners, like they always do – taxes on cigarettes, beer, smokeless tobacco – and they taxed oil & tax production a little; but where the hell did the crazy idea of a $5 per hotel room tax come from. It was almost law – but a last-minute repealer canceled it. That tax would have taken Oklahoma’s hotel tax from lowest to highest in the nation (OKC would have been highest, Tulsa 3rd highest). It’s not like we don’t already have enough impediments to attracting tourism & convention business. Sheesh! Special shout-outs to Grand Lake Senator Michael Bergstrom and Representative Josh West who did yeoman work to jerk that hotel tax off the table!
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Of all the unexpected things I’ve seen over my years at Grand Lake, I was still caught off-guard Friday when I looked up to see Shangri-La owner Eddy Gibbs tooling past me in John F. Kennedy’s old speedboat. Eddy bought the historic treasure last fall. This month, it will be going on permanent display in the lobby of Shangri-La’s resort hotel.
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PARTY FOR A CAUSE NOTE: Tickets are now on sale for a few premium seats ($25) for the April 28 appearance of the fabulous Old Bulldog Band at Big Shots. Those guys always help raise great money for wonderful Grand Lake causes by scheduling some of their rare live performances at Grand Lake. This year, the money all goes to extension of the Island Pedestrian & Golf Cart Trail. Call 918-257-5569 or stop by the Den of Uniquity after 11:00 a.m. Tickets for open seating will be $20 at the door. I’ve got mine!
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Constantin Reliu is dead. And there’s nothing he can say or do to change that fact. The Romanian left his country and family back in 1992 to look for work in Turkey. In 2003, his wife still hadn’t heard from him an, assuming he died in an earthquake in Turkey, she filed for – and received – a death certificate. When Turkey deported him back to Romania in March, he tried to get the death certificate reversed, but the court denied his request, saying it had been too long. Now he can’t get government assistance or a job because he’s dead. Hmm. I wonder if he has a life insurance policy he could cash in.
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In Salem, New Hampshire, an armed robber stole money from a store while holding an employee at bay with his weapon of choice…a full hypodermic needle. As one analyst commented, “What a prick.”
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The Bassmaster Elite Series will be holding a tournament on Grand Lake April 26-29. I mention this because, unlike the Bassmaster Classic which always holds its big weigh-in events in Tulsa using Grand Lake fish, the Elite Series tournament is holding their weigh-ins at Wolfe Creek – keeping those tourism dollars at Grand Lake! Thank you.
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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING BY WATER UPDATE: Blind Swine re-opens on Monkey Island Friday (they’ve been closed for remodeling).
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BEST ACCOLADE OF THE WEEK: Thrillist.com has released their 2018 list of “The Best Small-Town Bar in Every State.” Their choice in Oklahoma? Grand Lake’s Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. How cool is that? Well deserved!
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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: If attacked by a mob of clowns, go for the juggler!
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (on at a rural vegetable stand): Zookeene, Tater & Maters, Hallopinyo, Bail Pepr
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Is it rude to toss a Xanax in someone’s mouth while they’re talking?
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FUNNIEST TRUE HEADLINE OF THE WEEK: Trump Declares April National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (honest, I didn’t make this up. It is not fake news.)
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK (by a supporter of Oklahoma teachers): If we were talking football, 50th would NEVER be okay. #fundOKeducation
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: This week is also the 50th anniversary of the release of “2001: A Space Odyssey. ”Friday was Eric Clapton’s 73rd birthday. Oscar winner Sidney Poitier turned 91; and this week, Doris Day turns 96. Que sera sera…
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MEMORY OF THE WEEK: When I was your age, Easter eggs were twice as big and came with a free pair of pantyhose inside. (Thanks to Caryl Blanchat for sharing this one.)
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Congratulations to Vinita attorney Josh Lee who was named to Oklahoma’s “40 Under 40” rising stars last week. Congratulations, also, to Grand Lakers Bob & Laurie Kelly whose daughter Tonya Hagen-Ratcliff was also named to the list of honorees! Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Stormy Ware, Brian Edwards, Tod Sanger, Tiera Henry, Jean Hess, Steve Oden, Donnie Smith, Devon Miller, and Pat Sheeler.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If time heals all wounds, how come bellybuttons don’t fill in?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Saturday is Bubba Hopkins Day in Spavinaw in honor of the World Championship victory for the Lickitty Split fiddler. The South Grand Lake Lions Club Grand Dam 5K and Fun Run is Saturday at the Pensacola Dam. The Grove Education Foundation for Excellence GEFFE Gala is Saturdaynight at the Grove Civic Center.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great entertainment around the lake this weekend. At The Shebang on Monkey Island, the talented Randy Lunsford entertains weekends. Across the street at Big Shots, dance the night away every Saturday night. Just down highway 125, Friday night is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub; and a little further down the highway, Blind Swine reopens this week with karaoke and live music from Erin Fitzgibbon. At Littlefield Corner, the Road Hog Saloon has great live entertainment every Saturday night.
On South Grand Lake, 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.
Saturday night will be a big night in Spavinaw. It’s “Bubba Hopkins Day,” honoring Lickitty Split’s fiddle player Zirl “Bubba” Hopkins following his victory in the 76th World Championship Fiddlers Festival. He has also won the Texas title eight times, the Oklahoma title twice, Colorado three times, and Mid-America eight times. Bubba and Lickitty Split will perform at the Spavinaw Event Center Saturday at 5:30.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Runnin’ on Empty will be on stage at Bordertown Friday night; and Wesley Michael Hayes provides the entertainment Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Big Smitty will performFriday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment beginning with Allen Biffle Thursday and Phil Vaught Friday night in the Echo Bar.Saturday night, music will be provided by The Jesse Joice Band.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA Basketball, PGA Golf, and NASCAR are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Monkey Island Pub, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Paterno airs Saturday night at 7:00 on HBO. The Season 2 premiere of Ransom is also Saturday night at 7:00 on CBS. The Season 7 premiere of New Girl is Tuesday night at 8:30 on Fox.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: A Quiet Place, Blockers, and You Were Never Really Here
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 14 – Free Boating Safety Course at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (8:00-5:00). Saturday, April 14 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce “Bootleggers Ball” at Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, April 21 – Ales & Tails Crawfish & Red Dirt Festival at Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Grounds in Vinita. Thursday-Sunday, April 26-29 – Bassmaster Elite Tournament out of Wolf Creek. Saturday, April 28 – Burning of the Socks at Harbors View Marina. Saturday, April 28 – Old Bulldog Band at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Friday, May 4 – GRDA Lake Launch (Grand Fiesta) at the Ecosystems Center in Langley (6:00-9:00). Friday-Sunday, May 4-6 – In-Water Boat Show at Shangri-La Marina. Friday, May 4 – Vinita Area Chamber of Commerce Classic Golf Tournament at The Coves.
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It’s the biggest weekend of the year in the world of professional golf. It’s time for The Masters. Coverage starts at 2:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday on ESPN, then moves to CBS Saturday (2:00) and Sunday (1:00).
It’s getting close to playoff time in the NBA, and the OKC Thunder has been coming on strong. They play in Saturday night prime time this week at Houston (7:30 on ABC). Monday night, they’re in Houston to face the Rockets (6:30 on FSOK) before returning home Wednesday night to host the Memphis Grizzlies (7:00 on FSOK).
NASCAR drivers are in Texas this weekend. Coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 begins at 1:00 Sunday afternoon on Fox Sports 1.
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Sure enough, it’s April. You can tell for sure, because there’s a chance of rain about every other day. The weekend ahead is no different. Maybe a little rain on Fridayand Sunday morning, and cloudy skies Saturday. High temperatures will be better, though – mid 60s Friday & Sunday and mid 50s Saturday, with lows in the 40s. It sounds like a great weekend to check out the bars & restaurants. Go for it! But…wherever you decide to party, 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
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)
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
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)
Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow
Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove
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)
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)
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