June 11 Random Observation of The Grand Lake Bum
It finally happened. There was so much happening around the lake over the past weekend, there was no way I could get to it all. We’re going to have to coordinate things a little better in the future, because I hate missing fun events. Monkey Island’s pedestrian trail “Walkin’ with the Monkeys” event overlapped the Camp Bandage gig at Grand Lake RV Park. The Home of Hope 50th Anniversary Banquet was in conflict with the Girlfriends of the Airport’s NAPA NITES party – and Jana Jae’s American Heritage Music Festival covered the entire agenda period for ALL of the other events. There was truly something for everyone – but, I couldn’t make ‘em all. I hate it when that happens.
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I thought we were going to have a particularly huge Grand Lake week this week, but it wasn’t as big as I thought. Apparently, the word has spread about how fantastic accommodations are at Shangri-La Hotel – because I read where President Trump is staying there this week. As it turns out, there is at least one more Shangri-La Hotel. The one providing accommodations for the President this week is a wannabe Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Singapore – not the “real” Shangri-La Hotel on Grand Lake’s Monkey Island. Still, though…we’ll take the publicity!
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There was other big news this week. No, I’m not talking about the G7 Summit. Nope, not the Summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. I’m talking about the format change in the Miss America Pageant. My buddy Terry Davis says that means there’s finally a Me, Too movement for guys. “With the elimination of the swimsuit competition,” he says, “many men are saying they won’t watch. Me, too!”
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Oklahoma is number one in another category. For many years, our state has pitifully incarcerated more women per capita than any other state. Last week, we finally sank to the bottom of the barrel in male incarceration, too. Normally, we’re grateful for Mississippi and Louisiana, because they seem to screw up more things than we do. Not this time, though. We finally put more men in prison per capita than Louisiana, the previous bottom feeder. Aren’t we proud? #criminaljusticereform
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Be careful with your drunk dialing. You could actually do worse than calling an old spouse or significant other. In Lyons, New York, Jesse Graham actually drunk dialed 911. I’m sure he was surprised when deputies showed up at his residence and, upon running a background check, discovered he was wanted in North Carolina for marijuana charges and being a fugitive from justice. He’s awaiting extradition now. Oops.
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Perhaps architectural students at the University of Kansas need another year or so of college. They designed a bicycle rack for the school’s first outdoor classroom, the Prairie Acre Ribbon Classroom, along with a big sign featuring the letters P-A-R-C. Unfortunately, perspective is everything, and the internet proved that, from another perspective, the sign actually read C-R-A-P. Back to the drawing board.
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Not minding your manners could prove fatal – just sayin’. In North Las Vegas, Jace Trevon Ernst refused to stop talking during the favorite TV show of his roommate, Dymund Ellis. She kept telling him to “shut up,” but he didn’t…so she shut him up permanently – with a kitchen knife. Ellis told arresting officers she had an “anger problem.” You think? That should probably serve as a fair advance warning about her TV viewing habits to her soon-to-be-roommates at whatever correctional facility she is sent to.
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In the United Kingdom, a government agency is investigating food at Tesco and Sainsbury’s after traces of turkey and pork were found in vegan and vegetarian meals. I’m guessing the scandal arose when diners discovered the vegan and vegetarian meals actually tasted good.
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GRAND LAKE BUSINESS UPDATE: Monkey Island finally has a Hardwae Store, thanks to the new branch addition by Ketchum-based Jones Hardware. The Island store opened last week.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: I hate spelling errors, You mess up two letters and your whole post is urined. (Thanks to Cari Williams for sharing this one.)
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Buy one beer for the price of two, and get a second beer ABSOLUTELY FREE!
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TWEET OF THE WEEK Dogs can’t operate MRI machines…but CATScan.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Bobby Kennedy was assassinated 50 years ago last week.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Rawhide Season 6, Episode 3, "Incident at El Crucero," aired Oct. 10, 1963, in which trail boss Gil Favor says of guest star Elizabeth Montgomery's character, "What is she, a witch?" (Nobody knew, at the time, that Montgomery would later star in her own TV series – “Bewitched!”)
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BEST OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: It seems like people have become prisoners of their phones. I guess that must be why they’re called “cell” phones.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Brooke Talley, Bri Ball, John Link, Michael Junk, Kevin Dennis, Thomas Straigis, Judy Love, Heidi Hays, Josh Russell, Mike Ward, Cory Bowker, and Lisa Wright-Arizpe – and, BTW, happy marriage to Lisa and Emilio Arizpe.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is the third hand on a watch called the “second hand”?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Friday is the biggest night of the year for the Grove Rotary Club. It’s their annual LobsterFest dinner and fundraising auction at the Grove Civic Center. Friday and Saturday are also dates for the Vinita Route 66 Festival in downtown Vinita (block party Friday night 6:00-10:00 with live music). Saturday, dig out your 10-gallon hat and your cowboy boots & chaps for the Wild West Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Monday-Wednesday next week, we might be watching some future PGA players at the Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La Golf Club.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s a lot of great entertainment around this weekend. On Monkey Island, Three Dollar Rocketentertains Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina. You are the star on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang with karaoke fun Friday and Saturday nights, and the dance floor will be hoppin’ right across the street both Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Up highway 125, Friday night is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub and their Wild West Costume Party is Saturday night. At the Blind Swine, Erin Fitzgibbon will entertain Friday night, and Christine Jude & the Gentlemen Callers will be on Stage Saturday night. At Littlefield Corner, the Road Hog Saloon also features 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.
Friday night, Mike Barham and Jacob Demend will provide the entertainment at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, followed by RPM Saturday night. There is always Friday & Saturday night entertainment & karaoke fun on the deck at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina; and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney will feature musical entertainment by Chunky Monkey Saturday night.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features RocKFiscH Friday night and the Pumpkin Hollow Band Saturday night. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Friday night is music by Liz Moriondo; and Lickitty Split entertains Saturday. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, Lucas Gates will perform Friday night. At Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, Rusty Knight & the Daze will be on stage Friday night. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Shawn Campbell & the Band Rescue perform Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Donnie Ray Stevens Friday night, and Sweet Trouble Saturday.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including PGA Golf, Major League Baseball and NASCAR are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, 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: The Season 3 premiere of Shades of Blue airs Sunday night at 9:00 on NBC. The MTV Movie and TV Awards airs live Monday night at 8:00 on MTV; and Kevin Costner makes his debut as a TV series regular portraying a rancher in the premiere of the new series Yellowstone next Wednesday night at 8:00 on the Paramount Network.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Incredibles 2, Tag, and Gotti
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The guy who invented the wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three? He was a genius.” - Sid Caesar
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 23 – 4th Annual Rock the Dock raft-up party at Check-In Bay. Friday, June 29 – Vinita Fireworks (High School Football Stadium).Friday, June 29 – Season-opening of “Damascus Road” at Picture in Scripture Amphitheater (through August 4). Saturday, June 30 – Summer Fun Fest at Grand Meridian RV, Cabin and Tiny Home Resort. Tuesday, July 3 – Grove Fireworks (Wolf Creek Park) and Grand Lake Fireworks (Disney). Wednesday, July 4 – Duck Creek Fireworks. Saturday, July 7 – Wolf Creek Nationals, Southern Drag Boat Association at Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, July 7 – Monkey Island Fireworks at Shangri-La. Monday-Wednesday, July 9-11 – Junior Sports Camp at Shangri-La Resort.
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It’s all about golf this weekend. PGA players are in Southampton, New York for one of the biggies. It’s U.S. Open time! Coverage begins Thursday morning at 8:30 on FS1, switching to Fox at 3:00. Friday morning’s FS1 coverage gets underway at 9:00 before switching to Fox at 3:00; and Saturday & Sunday coverage is all on Fox –10:00 Saturday morning and 9:00 Sunday morning.
The FIFA World Cup competition is underway. Fox and Fox Sports 1 are providing daily coverage, generally beginning at 7:00 a.m. with additional games at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Major League Baseball TV coverage this week includes Houston at Kansas City Saturday at 1:00 on ESPN+ and Boston at Seattle at 7:15 on Fox. Sunday night, the Cardinals host Chicago at 7:00 on ESPN.
There is no NASCAR racing this weekend.
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The weather for the weekend ahead looks like a perfect summer weekend at Grand Lake. Light winds, sunshine, highs in the mid-90s and lows around 70. There’s plenty of fun on the Grand Lake agenda this weekend, for sure – both outside and inside. But, remember…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