March 9 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
How about that extra daylight at the end of the day where we can actually use it?? Happy Daylight Saving Time!
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I wrapped up the end of Standard Time at an event that I was sure would be fun to watch. Rob Yanovitch at Shangri-La is always coming up with unique golf ideas – and he offered “Glow Golf” on the eve of Daylight Saving Time. I thought it would be hilarious to watch golfer play in the dark; and it was…right up until I realized most of the golfers were playing better in the dark than I play in the daylight!
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Congratulations to everyone who joined in the “Welcome Back Weekend” festivities on South Grand Lake. We had great weather for the Saturday Poker Run, and I was happy to see that most of the players took the trip by boat instead of by car.
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Instead of jamming all the Springtime fun into one weekend where it’s impossible to do everything, Monkey Islanders have planned another big event next month – mark your calendars for the “Tour d’ Island” weekend of fun April 17-19, including a glorious return of the famed “Monkey Island Pub Crawl” April 18. Complimentary transportation will be provided between Island bars & restaurants; and clubs have lined up great entertainment and some awesome drink specials. Put the dates on your calendar. It promises to be a memorable weekend, for sure. Shangri-La will also offer a late-night buffet from midnight-to-4:00 a.m. to help knock out the cobwebs. Better reserve a room while you can.
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Those years between 18 and 21 have always been confusing years, but they’re getting more so. Both the Oklahoma House and Senate followed on the heels of federal legislation making it illegal for folks under 21 to BUY tobacco. Now, the Oklahoma legislature wants to make it illegal for the same people to POSSESS tobacco or vaping products. This legislation was presented and approved, mind you, by the same folks who want government out of your life. So now, if you’re 18-20…there’s no beer, no liquor, no tobacco, no marijuana (even medical). The only legal things left are voting, serving in the military and sex. Take a guess which one of those three privileges lawmakers will come after next!
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I witnessed another step toward a “cashless society” this week. I stopped by “my mall” (Dollar General) and picked up a few things – about fifty bucks worth of stuff – and handed the clerk a $100 bill. Straight-faced and with no hesitation, he said, “We don’t take hundred-dollar bills. No one does except Wal-Mart. I don’t know why banks keep giving them out.” I resisted the urge to list the stores, bars, restaurants, marinas, hotels I had been to recently, ALL of whom accept hundred-dollar bills, of course. I just whipped out my debit card to save the argument and save him the battle of trying to figure out how to make change. Fair warning, though. At least the Monkey Island Dollar General has one form of payment they apparently don’t want – cash.
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The field of Presidential candidates is shrinking down to manageable size. After all the talk about diversity, candidates of color, younger candidates, female contenders, and more involvement by youngsters, it’s down to this. There are three white guys left in the race. That’s it. And on election day, the oldest of the three will be 79. The youngest will be 74. The country has nothing on Oklahoma, though. Senator Jim Inhofe formally kicked off his re-election campaign last week at age 85.
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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: This is a special “Guest Chef” week at The Shebang. Larry & Joyce Duke decided to make this “staycation week” – so Papa Duke himself will be the “guest” chef Wednesday evening, preparing his famous pot roast. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina is open for the season. St. Patrick’s Sunday Brunch at Doc’s this week will feature added fun with bagpiper Rick Ewing from “Plaid to the Bone.”
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Emmett Peter "Sonny" Geraci fronted two top 5 one-hit wonders with two different bands: "Time Won't Let Me" with The Outsiders in 1965-66 and "Precious and Few" with Climax in 1971.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I just want to add that you should consider washing your hands even when there’s not a global virus panic.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: To the thief who took my anti-depressants. I hope you’re happy!
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: FYI, you pee on a jellyfish sting, not a jelly stain. Again, my apologies to the lady at the Waffle House this morning.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: What can you make with baked beans and onions? Tear gas.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: PUNCTUATION COUNTS: When I said “I’m giving up drinking for a month,” it came out wrong. I meant to say, “I’m giving up. Drinking for a month.”
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FEEL OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Professional golf icon Jack Nicklaus turned 80 years old last month, as did his wife Barbara. They will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this summer. Rosalind P. Walter, the original inspiration behind “Rosie the Riveter,” died last week at the age of 95.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Dan Dillingham, Ken MacLeod, Time Langley, Carol Milanowski, Roberta Arnold, Kaleb Forkner, Myles Davidson, Kristy Gibbs, Clint Walker, Janie Gibbs, Guy Hixenbaugh, Gary Quick, John Pellow, Candy Brasel, and Linda Eller.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why are the bags inside cereal boxes not Ziploc?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thursday is the Grove Chamber Luncheon at the Grove Community Center. Friday & Saturday is the Grove & Monkey Island Merchants Open House. Saturday night is the biggest party of the year at Monkey Island Pub – the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Party. Shangri-La Resort features a special $99 room rate Friday & Saturday with complimentary transportation to and from all Monkey Island St. Paddy’s parties.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake this weekend. On Monkey Island, Jason Morgan provides the karaoke fun at Thursday Night Prime Rib & Karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill; and he is back with the trivia questions Tuesday night at Doc’s. Terry Jordan performs Saturday & Sunday nights at Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant. At the Blind Swine, Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night, the Faulconer Duo will entertain Saturday night, and KJ Flip hosts the Karaoke Contest Finals Sunday night. Monkey Island Pub hosts the biggest St. Patrick’s Party on Grand Lake Saturday night with the bagpipes & drums of the Plaid to the Bone at 6:00 and DJ Robbie at 9:00. At Littlefield Corner, the Road Hog Saloon has live entertainment every Saturday night, and the Faulconer Duo will do an early show at 5:00 Sunday. At Doc’s Bar & Grill’s Sunday Brunch, bagpiper Rick Ewing from Plaid to the Bone will entertain.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features Reverse Reaction Friday night and Jug Hill Annie Saturday night. Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 offers live music from 90lb. Wrench Friday night and Karaoke Saturday night. At River Bend Casino, DJ 5 Star Entertainment puts on the show both Friday & Saturday nights in Club 60 West Bar. In the Club 60 West Event Center, there’s a great live show Saturday night – Parrotville: A Jimmy Buffett Tribute. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, Quin Peterson will perform Friday night, and there will be DJ action Saturday night. If you would rather watch people beat each other up, there’s WFC World Fighting Championship action at Buffalo Run’s Indoor Peoria Showplace Saturday night. At Downstream Casino, there is a ton of live entertainment this week in Legends Sports Bar and in Lover’s Leap Lounge. Shotgun Billys open the week Wednesday night at Legends followed by The Who Generation: A Tribute to The Who Thursday night, Western Justice Friday night, Earl & Them Saturday night and Rosy Hips next Wednesday. In Lover’s Leap Lounge, Harley Hamm Jimmy Jamm entertains both Friday & Saturday nights. Indigo Sky Casino has three nights of great entertainment this week, starting with Thomas Martinez Acoustic Thursday. The George Brothers (Outlaw Willie) will be on stage Friday night, followed by Blank Earth Saturday.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action including PGA Golf and NBA and college basketball action and NASCAR are Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Wall returns to NBC Sunday night at 6:00 and there is another Democratic Presidential Debate (much smaller than the previous ones) Sunday night at 7:00 on CNN. The Voice airs Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00 on NBC. All Rise airs Monday night at 8:00 on CBS.
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: My Spy, Emma, Onward, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Some people are so poor, all they have is money.” – Bob Marley
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Sunday, March 27-29 – Shangri-La Oldtimers Reunion for former Shangri-La employees from over the decades past at Shangri-La Resort, Doc’s, Shebang, and Blind Swine. Saturday, April 4 – GEFFE Gala at Grove Civic Center. Friday-Sunday, April 17-19 – Tour d’ Island Weekend on Monkey Island. Saturday, April 18 – Monkey Island Pub Crawl. Saturday, April 18 – The fabulous Old Bulldog Band performs for a fundraiser at Big Shots. Saturday, April 18 – South Grand Chamber Bootleggers Ball at Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, April 25 – Monkey Island Trail “Golf Cart Poker Run” fundraiser. Friday, May 1 – Season Opening for Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina. Friday, May 8 – Grove Chamber Golf Tournament at Patricia Island.
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SPORTS WATCH: The OKC Thunder are at home this week hosting Utah Wednesday at 7:00 and Minnesota Friday at 7:00 before taking to the road for a Sunday game at Washington (5:00) and a back-to-back line-up at Memphis Tuesday night (7:00) and Atlanta next Wednesday night (6:30). All games are televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.
The Big 12 Conference Tournament takes over Kansas City this week beginning with the first game at 6:00 Wednesday and continuing with daily play through Saturday’s Big 12 Tournament Championship Game at 5:00 Saturday.
It's a big week on the PGA Tour. The top players are gathered at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for The Players Championship. Coverage will be on the Golf Channel beginning at noon Thursday & Friday. NBC picks up the final two rounds Saturday at 1:00 & Sunday at noon.
NASCAR drivers are in Atlanta this weekend for the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500. Coverage begins at 1:00 Sunday on Fox.
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The weather gets a little more encouraging every week. It may be a little damp now and then during the weekend ahead, but we’ll have high temperatures in the 60s – topping 70 on Sunday, in fact – with lows around 50. It looks like a great weekend to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Remember, though… 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
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
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