June 26th Random Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
I’m not sure what event will boast the biggest crowd – the upcoming holiday weekend or last weekend’s Grand Opening of the new Shangri-La Resort Hotel. The resort crew proved the old Grand Lake adage is still true – nothing draws a crowd like free drinks and free food! Seriously, though, what an incredible event; and what an incredible venue. Grand Lake is once again a national destination point, thanks to the awesome redevelopment of Shangri-La Resort. Thanks, Eddy Gibbs!
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With the 4th of July on a Tuesday this year, lake area businesses are once again trying to figure out which is going to be the biggest weekend on the lake – the weekend before the holiday due to folks who come early and stay for the 4th – or the weekend after the holiday due to people who come on the 4th and stay the rest of the week. I recommend not making that difficult decision. Do both. Come early and stay late. It’ll give the weekenders a chance to see how full-time lakers live – and why we always have a smile on our face!
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Remember, the Official Lake Bum Holiday Rules are in effect this weekend. No fighting, no puking, no hitting on someone else’s date, no griping at over-worked servers and bartenders, no bragging about how much money you have (or your parents have), no drunk driving, no public nudity (private nudity is okay), no yelling, no discussion of religion - and especially no politics! As with all summer holiday weekends, you may have a little longer wait for a seat, a drink, or some food. Be nice. If everybody who’s coming this weekend would come every weekend, everybody could staff up for giant crowds. So, maybe you should buy a house and a boat while you’re here and come join the party all year! By the way, don’t get cranky on your attempt at Sunday morning drinking. Bars & restaurants can’t sell beer until noon and can’t sell liquor until 1:00 on Sundays. Establishments in Mayes County can’t sell liquor on Sunday at all. Don’t be mad. It’s not their fault. It’s the law. We’re still the biggest party spot in Oklahoma! Have fun and remember to leave big tips for the people who are working through the holiday so you can play!
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For some folks, I think we can go ahead and declare personal responsibility officially dead. In Youngwood, Pennsylvania, David Waugaman finally had so much to drink that he fell off the barstool and hurt himself badly enough he needed surgery. So, naturally, he’s suing Ziggy’s Hotel for selling him too much alcohol. Sheesh. Next thing you know, someone will have a GoFundMe account to help him with legal fees. You can fix drunk, but you can’t fix stupid. And you sure can’t fix drunk & stupid.
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If things get so bad you decide to kill yourself, please don’t do it anywhere near me. In Anchorage, Alaska, Victor Sibson tried to kill himself. He put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. As sometimes happens, he was not completely successful. He’s in critical condition, but he’s still alive. The bullet, however, passed completely through his head, and killed his girlfriend instead.
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An Air Asia flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur had to turn back last week due to what the crew called “a minor technical issue.” Fortunately, everybody is okay, but it turns out that “minor technical issue” is apparently Air Asia-speak for “we lost an engine.”
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Meanwhile, back in the USA, United Airline’s goof-up of the week was in Denver. An infant over-heated and suffered shortness of breath during a two-hour delay on the tarmac with passengers on board. The official United email to the media said a baby experienced a medical issue while taxiing for take-off. The pilot returned to the gate as other employees called paramedics. Yeah, well, the plane wasn’t exactly taxiing – and hadn’t been for two hours. And it was another 30 minutes before they let the woman off the plane. Her baby was zipped away by ambulance. I’m starting to feel sorry for the CEO at United. He can’t get out of his own way. Here’s some good PR advice (both for United and Air Asia): handle it the best you can, then tell the truth about what happened. When you don’t, and the truth comes out anyway, you just look worse. More often than not, the media beating is not about the event. It’s about the cover-up.
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We’re #8. We’re #8. Business Insider Magazine ranks Oklahoma City as the eighth most popular city to live in. Austin was #1. It’s nice to have something in our state ranked 8th from the top in a category instead of 8th from the bottom, for a change!
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: I wish Noah had swatted those two mosquitoes.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: I danced like no one was watching, but someone was watching, and he thought I was having a seizure and he called an ambulance.
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BEST HEADLINE SEEN THIS WEEK: Arizona psychic hit by car, says he never saw it coming
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Bobbie Owens, Jason Benson, Rob Stallings, Joe Zaloudek, Rudy Moritz, Erin Dalton, John Jameson, Mary Brewer, Grant Coston, Velma Mullen, Tom Warburton, Mac Still, Dick Seybolt, Bill Kimball, Jared Perryman, Valoyce Musgrove, and Jimbo Coleman. Thursday is also the 10thbirthday of the thing that has probably changed your life more than anything in recent years. Happy birthday to…the iPhone. And most of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If I refuse to nap, is that resisting a rest?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It’s time for the Independence Day celebration on Grand Lake. It all starts Friday morning at9:45 when the Grand Lake Sale & Power Squadron Independence Day Boat Parade leaves from Honey Creek Landing Marina. Everyone is invited to participate. Friday night, the Bob McSpadden Memorial Fireworks will be held in Vinita. Disney Fireworks and Horse Creek Fireworks are both Saturday night. Sunday night, Monkey Island Fireworks will be set off from Grand Lake Regional Airport; and Monday night is a really busy fireworks night – Duck Creek, Grove (Wolf Creek), and Miami Fireworks (Riverview Park) are all Monday night. Jay Fireworks (J.B. Earp Stadium) are Tuesday night.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake this weekend, as you might imagine. On Monkey Island, you provide a big part of the entertainment at The Balcony Bar at The Shebang, with Friday,Saturday & Sunday night karaoke. Downstairs in the Burlesque Room, Randy Lunsford provides the entertainment; and across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, enjoy five straight nights of all the best dance tunes with D.J. Deeko and D.J. $wayThursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights. Just down the highway from there, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub. A little further down the road, there’s always great live weekend entertainment at the Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, Lickitty Split will be on stage Saturday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, followed by Travis Kidd Sunday night.
Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. Lickitty Split will entertain Friday night at Grand Lake Casino. The outdoor venue will be the scene of a huge party and concert Sunday night featuring Montgomery Gentry andCharlie Daniels. In Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Friday night, Donnie Miller will be on stage. Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill will host Bo Phillips both Friday and Saturday nights. Cherokee Casino Grove will feature Thomas Martinez Friday night and both Phil Vaught and Mayday by Midnight Saturday night. At River Bend Casino in Wyandotte, Club 60 West spotlights Oreo Blue Friday night. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursdaynight with music by Georgia Coast. Friday night features the music of Stonehorse followed by Big Smitty Saturday night.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NASCAR and PGA Golf are Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The series premier of Battle of the Network Stars debuts Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC. At 9:00Thursday night, CBS unleashes season 3 of Zoo. Friday night, the 10-episode thriller of Gypsy will be available on NETFLIX.When you’re all worn out Tuesday night from all the 4th of July festivities, wrap up your night with A Capitol Fourth on PBS at7:00.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Baby Driver, Despicable Me 3, The House
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Following losses in two special congressional elections this week, one Democratic staffer reportedly said, “We have 80-year-old leaders and 90-year-old ranking members. This isn’t a party, it’s a giant assisted living center.” Even worse, the reporter then asked about the upcoming G7 summit, and several people yelled “Bingo!” – Seth Meyers
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday-Sunday, July 8-9 – SDBA Drag Boat Races at Wolf Creek. Monday-Thursday, July 10-13 – Kids Sports Camp at Shangri-La (Members’ children only). Thursday-Saturday – July 13-15 – Oklahoma Legislative Retreat on Grand Lake. Thursday-Sunday, July 13-16 – GLOC Performance Boat Challenge. Saturday, July 15 – Aquapalooza. Saturday, July 15 – Pirates & Winches Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. Saturday, July 22 – Bobber Drop. Friday-Sunday, August 18-20 – Thunder on Wolf Creek (boat races). Saturday, August 19 – Barkarita (fundraising party for Second Chance Pet Rescue) at Honey Creek Landing in Grove.
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It’s another big week on the PGA Tour – but it’s a HUGE week for the ladies. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is this week. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 11:30 Thursday & Friday, and 6:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. The PGA boys are in Maryland this weekend for the Quicken Loans National. Coverage begins at 2:30 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday& Sunday on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.
NASCAR drivers are in Daytona this weekend for the Coke Zero 400 in Saturday night prime time. Coverage starts at 6:30Saturday night on NBC.
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I think we can agree that it will be impossible to improve upon the Grand Lake weather of last weekend, but the weather for the upcoming holiday looks pretty good. We might have a shower or two Saturday morning – and some widely scattered stuffMonday & Tuesday – but, for the most part, we’ll have partly cloudy skies with highs in the upper 80s. It looks like a great weekend to play. Get out and enjoy all Grand Lake has to offer, but remember, wherever you decide to play, 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
Bobbers Café in Langley
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)
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
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)
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