June 1 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
Grand Lake finally had a picture perfect weekend to wrap up the month of May (except for the debris in the water); and it looks like we’re going to have a equally good start to the month of June this week. Active Coronavirus cases are down in the single digits in the four-county Grand Lake area, and more than 90% of all venues have reopened. It’s great to see live entertain resurfacing a little at a time, too. Audiences are certainly ready for it. That was obvious Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar!
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Casinos in Las Vegas reopen this week, anticipating gamblers and travelers from all over the world again. What could possibly go wrong? I’ll bet casino owners are hoping “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” isn’t the case, anymore. May, “if it happens in Vegas, take it back home with you” would be a more appropriate slogan during this particular period in our viral history.
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Almost all of the Grand Lake area casinos are now open, but with strict COVID-19 protocol. If you’re a gambler, you’d better plan ahead. They’re taking temperatures at the door, they have half the normal machines open and all of the casinos are recommending that customers wear masks – and some of them are requiring customers to wear masks. The workers at all the casinos are required to wear masks. With my financial history at casinos, I’ve thought for years they should be wearing masks!
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It was sure fun watching the space launch Saturday and the docking at the space station Sunday morning. That’s the first time in almost a decade that American astronauts have launched from American soil. Apparently, the U.S. government couldn’t come up with the money for such an expensive venture, so Elon Musk had to do it.
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Most of our Grand Lake pals who split their time between here and Florida are back at the lake. It’s great to see everyone again. I thought they missed all their lake pals like me, but that may not be the reason they’re back. I saw a note this week from former Grand Laker Jill Kelly who moved to Florida permanently: “Wanna know what living in Florida is like? Take a hot shower. Don’t dry off. Put on all your clothes.”
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NASCAR is still running races – two in the next week, in fact. They say they’re still running without any crowds until at least June 21. From what I can tell, they’ve been pretty much running without crowds for a couple of years!
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Kellie Chauvin, the wife of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer facing unemployment, loss of pension, and murder charges for the death of George Floyd, is filing for divorce. Good for her.
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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina is only open during VIP Pizza hours as an extension of the restaurant. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney is now fully open and back to regular hours. Closed Mondays. Ugly’s Grill & Bar is open weekends now, as is Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda, Waterside Bar & Grill in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley are open. Doc’s at Shangri-La offers curbside pickup of pizza, wine and beer, but is not open for dine-in service until mid-June. FYI, The Landings Restaurant and Morrow’s Bar & Grill have no plans for opening this season.
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PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament has been postponed until Friday, September 18. The Grove Rotary Club 2020 Lobsterfest scheduled for June 19 and the Rock the Dock Raft-Up/Music Festival scheduled for June 20 at Check-In Bay have been canceled. The Grand Lake Fireworks Cliff Elliott Memorial Fireworks Show has been canceled this year – but Duck Creek, Monkey Island, and Wolf Creek scheduled fireworks shows are a “go.” Monkey Island and Wolf Creek on July 3 – Duck Creek on July 4.
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Grand Lake Queen Riverboat cruises Friday & Saturday at 6:00 and Saturday & Sunday at 2:00. The municipal pool in Grove will open Friday (at 50 percent capacity). Three’s a Job Fair Wednesday at Shangri-La Resort Hotel (1:00-5:00). Saturday is a Long Drive Challenge (7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) at Shangri-La Golf Club; and…you can drive back and forth over the new Duck Creek Bridge to celebrate the fact that it is finally open!
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Brett & Terri perform live at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Saturday night. Big Shots will feature live DJ action Friday and Saturday nights. Karaoke with Kerry on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday and Saturday. Karaoke with Tim is on the agenda Saturday night at Monkey Island Pub.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The most homicides reported in Dodge City, Kansas, during its years as a lawless Old West town were five in 1876.
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CORONAVIRUS OBSERVATION: After watching how some people wear their masks, I understand why contraception fails.
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CORONAVIRUS DRINKING UDATE: If you’re still nervous about the Coronavirus, there’s always Budweiser.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I’m pretty jealous of those two astronauts, getting off the planet right now.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: I’ll bet Canada feels like they live in the apartment above a meth lab.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: I hate it when I seem some old person, then realize we went to high school together.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Is your iPad making you fall asleep? I can help. There’s a nap for that.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Lord, give me patience; because if you give me strength, I’m going to need bail money, too.
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FEEL OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Iconic songwriter/folk singer Bob Dylan had a birthday last week. He’s 79. You know you’re getting old when “Friends with Benefits” means someone who can drive at night.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Tiana Douglas, Nick Bowers, Hank Kraft, Julie McFerron, Chris Mullen, Hal Sisco, Donna Ferguson, Sherry Wallis, Kim Schoppa, Dan Arnold, Don Davis, Marty Phillips, and David Moore; and a very special shout-out to a man who has done more to promote Grand Lake and Oklahoma Tourism than anyone in Oklahoma – past or present. Former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh will turn 93 years young next Wednesday, June 9.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why does the Coronavirus spread in bars, restaurants, and small stores – but not in Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, and Home Depot?
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: CBS will add captions with song lyrics so you can sing along in style Sunday night as you watch the classic movie Grease at 7:30. I May Destroy You airs Sunday night at 9:30 on HBO. In lieu of a new season of The Bachelor (due to Covid-19 filming shutdown), ABC will begin airing The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever Monday night at 7:00.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Dreamland and Becky are available streaming. The Last Days of American Crime is available Thursday on NETFLIX. Shirley is out Friday on Hulu.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Can’t decide. Am I just more aware or are people actually getting crazier?” – Randy Krehbiel
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, June 12 – American Heritage Music Festival and National Fiddle Contest at Wolf Creek Park, Grove. Friday-Sunday, June 12-14 – Toes in the Grand Summer Kickoff Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, June 14 – Thunder on Wolf Creek boat races. Monday-Wednesday, June 22-24 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La. Friday-Saturday, June 26-28 – Grand Jam Music Fest at Grand Meridian RV Park. Friday, July 3 – Wolf Creek Fireworks and Monkey Island Fireworks at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 4 – Duck Creek Fireworks.
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SPORTS WATCH: There’s double NASCAR action this week. Sunday, drivers will be in Atlanta for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. Coverage begins at 2:00 on Fox. Next Wednesday evening, NASCAR action moves to Martinsville and the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500. Coverage will be on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 6:00 p.m. There is no PGA Golf activity this week, but you only have one more week before Tour action returns – albeit with no crowds. The Charles Schwab Challenge is scheduled to kick off the PGA reopening next week.
And yes, horse racing fans, there will be a Triple Crown winner this year. After shuffling all the dates around in an attempt to accommodate existing big races, the New York Racing Association announced this week that the Belmont Stakes will be held June 20 – with no fans in the stands – three months before the rescheduled Kentucky Derby September 5. The Preakness will wrap up the Triple Crown races in 2020 on October 3, just one month before the Breeders’ Cup races.
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It’ll be tough to top last weekend’s beautiful weather on Grand Lake, but it looks like Mother Nature is going to try! The forecast for the weekend ahead calls for sunshine and light winds all weekend long. Highs will be pushing 90 with lows around 70. Another perfect Grand Lake weekend awaits! Remember, be sure to buy a drink for the guy six feet from 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
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
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
Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove
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
Domino’s in Grove
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 (smoking)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
Henrie’s Grill in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Honey Creek BBQ in Grove (south of Honey Creek bridge)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Matt’s Place in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrow’s Bar & Grill at Morrow’s Landing
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