June 3 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
A little high water didn’t slow down the Grand Lake fun over the past weekend. A lot of boaters had a lot of fun! They were smart and stayed on the same side of the lake as the wind direction to miss the debris. Golfers filled up the courses, the Annual World’s Largest Calf Fry in Vinita came off without a hitch, and the rain stayed away from the 2nd Annual Toes in the Grand Trop Rock Festival at Wolf Creek Park. It takes more than some extra water to slow down a Grand Lake party!
*****
I couldn’t figure out what all the people were doing on the balcony at Shangri-La’s Buffalo Bar Saturday evening, but I found the answer. Members were invited to a “Cigar, Scotch, and Martini Tasting” event – at no charge. Nothing draws a crowd on Grand Lake like spreading the news of free booze!
*****
It’s time to start celebrating more – or enjoying mimosas at Sunday brunch. A study from Reading University concludes that champagne consumption “can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” They mentioned something about three glasses a week, but I figure if a little is good for you, a lot should be REALLY good for you. The study brings new enhanced meaning to the old toast, “Here’s to your health.” My pal Suzi astutely pointed out that, if you have enough champagne on a regular basis, you’ll neither know nor care if you have dementia, anyway!
*****
An actual complaint received from a customer by Thomas Cook Vacations: "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."
*****
The Kansas Turnpike Authority has installed underground storm shelters at most of their rest stops along the turnpike, allowing travelers a safe escape if tornadoes hit while they’re on the road. The rumor is that the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, instead of building shelters, is just going to invest in some signs that notify drivers, “You’re not in Kansas, any more, Toto.”
*****
SEEN IN A CHURCH BULLETIN: The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Reverend and Mrs. Julius Belzer.
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Alice Roosevelt was banned from the White House after her father left office: once for burying a voodoo doll of William Howard Taft's wife in the yard, and another time for insulting new president Woodrow Wilson.
*****
BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: You can’t plant flowers if you haven’t botany.
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Did you know if you have five inches of fat in your body, you can stop a 9mm bullet and stop it from reaching your vital organs? I’m not fat. I’m armored!
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Welcome to Soaklahoma!
*****
TWEET OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana and now even the water is getting high.
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Sometimes someone unexpected comes into your life outta nowhere, makes your heart race – and changes your life forever. We call these people cops.
*****
HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK: Your kids would have fewer allergies if they ate dirt and licked some salt blocks like the rest of us growing up.
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: This is the week the iconic group Crosby, Stills & Nash debuted their first album – fifty years ago!
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Gerald Barry, Kim Schoppa, Dan Arnold, David Moore, Bill Pettit, Marnie Pettit, Matt Nash, and Ron Young. Congratulations, too, to Ed Crone at Grand Gateway, recipient of this year’s First National Bank Business Excellence Award. (Nice party last Friday night at Shangri-La!). A special shout-out goes to Chuck Hoskin, Jr., elected Saturday as the new Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When the sign says “Full Gospel Church,” does that mean they have no vacancies?
*****
BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It’s a HUGE weekend on Grand Lake. The American Heritage Music Festival runs Thursday-Friday (Snider’s Campground Thursday, Grove Civic Center Friday & Saturday). Saturday morning is the annual Camp Bandage (10-2) at Grand Lake RV Resort. Saturday afternoon & evening is the rescheduled “Barkaritaville” fundraising party for 2nd Chance Pet Rescue at The Parrot in Grove; and Saturday night is the Home of Hope Annual Gala at Shangri-La Resort.
*****
GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment everywhere you look around the lake this weekend. The American Heritage Music Festival begins Thursday evening at Snider’s Campground in Grove with entertainment by Prairie Breeze String Band, Festival fiddlers, Coleman Sisters, Barry “Bones” Patton and Jana Jae. Friday, the festival moves to the Grove Civic Center with performances by Barry Patton, Jana Jae, the Coleman Sisters and the Vogt Sisters. Friday evening’s concert features the 1435thArmy Concert Band at 7:00 followed by Bo Posey, Junior Marriott, Justin Branum, Tanner Marriott, and Splinter Middleton. Saturday is the National Fiddle Contest as well as a Grand Finale Concert Saturday night including Jana Jae, Barry “Bones” Patton, and Jim Paul Blair in Buddy Holly and the Legends of Rock ‘N Roll. At Honey Creek Landing Marina, Brett & Terri will perform Saturday evening at the “Barkaritaville” fundraising event for 2nd Chance Pet Rescue.
On Monkey Island, Brett & Terri entertain Thursday night at the Grand Lake Shrimp Boil on the patio at Doc’s at Shangri-La. The Hitmen will be on stage Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang is open Friday and Saturday nights for karaoke fun and there’s great dance music right across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. There is also great dance music at Monkey Island Pub. At the Blind Swine, DJ Flip entertains with karaoke Thursday night, and Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night. At Littlefield Corner, Lickitty Split performs Saturday night at Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina features acoustic music by Zene Smith Friday night followed by South of Vertical Saturday. Thursday night is Trivia Contest night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina features entertainment on the deck Friday & Saturday nights.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features music of Pumpkin Hollow Band Friday night and House Party Saturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Dead Metal Society will be on stage at Bordertown Friday night, followed by a Saturday night performance by The Whiskey River Band. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, DJ 5 Star Entertainment will be on stage both Friday and Saturday nights. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar features the music of Jesse Joice Friday night and Accidental Moguls Saturday night. Entertainment in Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge will be provided by the Scott Eastman Duo. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, there is live DJ action every Friday & Saturday night at 10:00. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Eddie Valen performs Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Phil Vaught Friday and Saturday nights.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA playoff games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Major League Baseball, PGA Golf, Women’s College World Series action and NASCAR are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: Season 3 of Designated Survivor is available on NETFLIX Friday. Deadwood: The 73rd Annual Tony Awards air live Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS. The $100,000 Pyramid returns to ABC Sunday night at 8:00. Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader returns to the airwaves Monday night at 6:00 on Nickelodeon; and the series premiere of Card Sharks airs Wednesday at 8:00 on ABC.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Secret Life of Pets 2, Late Night, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, June 13 – Grand Lake Queen riverboat christening, ribbon cutting, and first cruise. Saturday, June 15 – Splash Bash in Ketchum Cove. Saturday, June 15 – NAPA Nights celebration in Hangar 12 at South Grand Lake Regional Airport. Monday-Wednesday, June 17-19 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La Golf Club. Friday, June 21 – Grove Rotary Lobsterfest at Grove Civic Center. Saturday, June 22 – Rock the Dock in Check-In Bay beginning at noon. Friday, June 28 – Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Patricia Island. Wednesday, July 3 – Wolf Creek Celebration & Fireworks in Grove. Thursday, July 4 – Duck Creek Fireworks. Friday, July 5 – Grand Lake Fireworks at Disney. Saturday, July 6 – Summer Fun Fest at Grand Meridian RV Park. Saturday, July 6 – Monkey Island Fireworks & Family Fun Festival at Shangri-La. Saturday-Sunday, July 13-14 – SDBA Drag Boat Races in Wolf Creek. Thursday, July 18 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Big Shots on Monkey Island. Saturday, July 20 – Grand Bobber Drop. Saturday, July 20 – Aquapalooza adjacent to Grand Lake RV Resort. Friday-Saturday, July 26-27 – GLOC Performance Boat Challenge.
*****
The NBA Championship series continues this week with Toronto at Golden State Friday night at 8:00 and Golden State at Toronto Monday night at 8:00, both on ABC.
The NHL is down to two teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as well. As necessary to complete the series, St. Louis and Boston will face off Thursday, Sunday, and Wednesday at 7:00 on NBC.
PGA players are at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ontario this weekend for The RBC Canadian Open Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 2:00 Thursday & Friday, and noon Saturday & Sunday. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday and Sunday.
For horse racing fans, it’s a big weekend. The 151st running of The Belmont Stakes is Saturday. Coverage starts on NBC at 3:00 with post time at 5:35.
NASCAR drivers are in Michigan this weekend for the Firekeepers Casino 400. Coverage begins at 1:00 Sunday afternoon on Fox Sports 1.
There’s some good Major League Baseball action on the tube this week. The Yankees are at Toronto Thursday night at 6:00 (ESPN). Saturday, the Yankees are in Cleveland at 3:00 (FS1) and the Cardinals are in Chicago to face the Cubs at 6:00 (Fox).
*****
I hope Mother Nature cooperates with the American Heritage Music Festival, Barkaritaville festivities, and Camp Bandage this week. The weather forecasters say we’ll have a 50% chance it won’t rain most of the weekend (that’s not exactly how they put it, but that’s how I translated it). Sunday looks good for sure. High temperatures will be around 80 with lows in the mid-60s. Party on! Remember, though… be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me.
GRAND LAKE BUM
Want more information on advertisers you see in the Grand Lake Bum? No problem. Just click on their ad and you will be connected to their web site. If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both grandlakenewsonline.com and www.360grandlake.com, as well as Grand Times on Grand Lake, the cost is only $50 a week and the list of readers is growing. E-mail or contact grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker.
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
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 (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)
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
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