May 20 Random Observations of the Grand Lake Bum
The Memorial Day holiday weekend is finally here. If you’re a regular at the lake, remember the Lake Bum official Holiday Lake Rules are in effect. If you’re new to Grand Lake, here they are: 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 to everyone who is working so you can play. The population of Grand Lake over the next few days will be equal to the population of the state’s third largest city. If everybody who’s coming to the lake this weekend would come every weekend, all the bars and restaurants could staff up for giant crowds. So, maybe you should buy a house and a boat while you’re here and come join us for the party all year!
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On a very serious note, be careful out there. If you’re boating and haven’t been paying close attention to our recent weather and water issues, please take note that the water levels are high. That means there may still be some debris to deal with in the water. Nothing ruins a big holiday boating weekend like having your prop encounter a partially submerged tree! You don’t need to be in a hurry to get the fun over with, anyway. Just take it slow – and have a great time on the water.
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Did you see the new study that indicates dinosaurs probably had bed bugs? I was shocked. Who knew dinosaurs even had beds?
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A recent survey asked whether schools in the United States should teach Arabic numerals as part of their curriculum. Fifty-six percent of respondents said “no.” Paranoia runs deep these days. In case you didn’t know, Arabic numerals look like this: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Sheesh. I hope we don’t have to switch to Roman Numerals. I can barely figure out which Super Bowl is coming up next.
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If you have friends, you’d better hang on to them. A new study by OnePoll and Evite says friends are few and far between and new ones aren’t on the horizon. The average respondent said they have 16 friends, three of which are lifelong friends, and five of whom they would feel comfortable spending one-on-one time alone. Respondents averaged eight additional friends with whom they would not be comfortable spending time alone. (I’m trying to figure out how that would be a friend.) Here’s the killer – the average American has not made a new friend in the past five years. I’m thinking no one from Grand Lake was interviewed for this study.
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DINING AND DRINKING ON GRAND LAKE: Eddy’s Lakeside Bar is now open at Shangri-La Marina. The “Wine & Beer Patio” is also now open at Monkey Island Winery Friday & Saturday until 7:00 and Sunday until 5:00. Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina delayed last week’s scheduled opening due to weather. They’re open for the season this weekend.
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SEEN IN A CHURCH BULLETIN: Weight Watchers will meet at 7:00 p.m. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, home to the Preakness Stakes, 2nd leg of Triple Crown, is named for a London tavern.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Today a clown opened a door for me. I thought, “That’s a nice jester.” (thanks to Susan Graham for sharing this one)
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Fox announced it has canceled “Empire.” I hope Jussie Smollett doesn’t beat himself up over this.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Booze: Turning shy people into stars on the Shebang Balcony Bar since 1990.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: I won $2.00 in the Mega Millions lottery. Please respect our privacy as our family decides how to move forward in this exciting and pivotal moment in time.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: When you clean out a vacuum cleaner, you become a vacuum cleaner. (thanks for Bill Howell for this one)
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BEST LINE OF THE WEEK: Give me coffee to change the things I can, and wine to accept those that I cannot. (credit to Linda Wall)
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: It seems bad news still comes in threes. Show business icon Doris Day, who died last week at the age of 87, wasn’t the only star we lost. We lost comedian Tim Conway at age 85; and Peggy Lipton, star of the old “Mod Squad” and the more recent “Twin Peaks” died last week, too. She was 72.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Congratulations to Patricia Island General Manager Andy Stewart who has been appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to serve a six-year term on the Oklahoma Tourism Commission, succeeding another Grand Laker, Chuck Perry. Good job, Chuck. Good luck, Andy! Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Edward Gibbs, Vicki Graper, Kevin Blumenthal, Ron Tipton, Jim Richie, Ann Turner, Pam Nutting, Todd Mlnarik, Cheryl Ayer, Jamie Flud, J.L. Ratcliff, Kelli Dyer, Mark Moore, and Jim Arnold.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why are the letters of the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?
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BEST EVENT OF THE WEEK: The Grand Lake Queen riverboat cruises begin for the season Thursday. There’s a ribbon-cutting and christening of the refurbished vessel at 5:00 Friday at the Queen dock at Royal Bay Marina, Sailboat Bridge.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: As you might imaging, there’s a bunch of great entertainment around the lake this holiday weekend. On Monkey Island, Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina features music of RocKFiscH Saturday night and karaoke and DJ fun with AyngelSunday night. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang is open Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights for karaoke fun and there’s great dance music by the fabulous DJ $way right across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. There is also karaoke at Monkey Island Pub Friday nights and a Saturday night DJ. At the Blind Swine, Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night along with DJ Deeko, followed by Diversity Saturday night; and KJ Flip hosts karaoke Sunday and Tuesday. At Littlefield Corner, there’s great live entertainment every Saturday night at Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, there are three nights of live entertainment this weekend at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina. The Down Beat Band will be on stage Friday night followed by The Kevin Upshaw Band Saturday and The Kevin Fellenstein Band Sunday. Thursday night is Trivia Contest night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina features music of the Trailer Park Kings Friday night, John Hayes Saturday and The Barrett Lewis Quartet Sunday night.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features music of The Rusty Meyers Band Friday night and Blake Turner Saturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Dirt Road Daisies will be on stage at Bordertown Friday night, followed by a Saturday night performance by Bobby DeGonia. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, Dewayne Bowman & the Swingin’ West Band will be on stage Friday night, and D.J. Kennedy will provide the entertainment Saturday night. In the Club 60 West Event Center, there will be a special show Saturday night featuring The Free Fallin Band: Tribute to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Friday night music at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 will be provided by Jack Waters & the Unemployed. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, there is live DJ action every Friday & Saturday night at 10:00. Friday night, enjoy the music of The ShtGunBillys at Downstream Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, followed by Turn of the Century Saturday. In Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge, The Widowmakers will perform both Friday & Saturday nights. Indigo Sky Casino offers three nights of musical entertainment this week. Rackensack performs Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Oreo Blue Friday night and Dirty Saints Saturday night.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA playoff games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Major League Baseball, PGA Golf, 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.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Wednesday night, don’t miss Live in front of a Studio Audience “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” at 7:00 on CBS. Season 7 of Elementary airs Thursday night at 9:00 on CBS. The Perfection, Rim of the World and What/If are all available on NETFLIX Friday. Biography: Chris Farley – Anything for a Laugh airs Monday night at 8:00 on A&E. The Season 14 of America’s Got Talent premieres Tuesday night at 7:00 on NBC and the series premiere of Songland is Tuesday night at 9:00 on NBC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Aladdin, The Tomorrow Man and Booksmart
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Courage is knowing it might hurt, but doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. And that’s why life is hard.” – Jeremy Goldberg
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1 – Toes in the Grand celebration at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Friday-Wednesday, May 31-June 5 – MLF Stage Seven Bass Pro Tour out of Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, June 1 – Back to the Basics Short Game Clinic at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, June 1 – 40th Annual World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival & Cook-off at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita (2-9). Saturday, June 8 – Camp Bandage (10-2) at Grand Lake RV Resort. Saturday, June 8 – Home of Hope Annual Gala at Shangri-La. Saturday, June 8 – rescheduled “Barkaritaville” fundraising party for 2nd Chance Pet Rescue at The Parrot in Grove. 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. 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. 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.
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NBA Playoffs may continue, depending on the success or failure of teams in the conference championship games. Toronto and Milwaukee, depending on record, are scheduled to play game 5 Thursday, game 6 Saturday, and game 7 Monday, all on TNT. Golden State & Portland are scheduled for game 6 Friday and game 7 Sunday, if necessary, on ESPN. The NBA Championship Series starts May 30.
PGA players are headed to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth this weekend for the Charles Schwab Challenge. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 3:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday & Sunday.
If it’s Memorial Day weekend, it’s time for the Indianapolis 500. Sunday is race day. Coverage begins Sunday morning at 10:00 on NBC.
It’s a big week on the NASCAR circuit, too. Drivers are in Charlotte this week for the Coca Cola 600. Coverage begins at 5:00 Sunday afternoon on Fox.
There’s some good Major League Baseball action on the tube this week. Arizona is at San Francisco Saturday afternoon at 3:00, followed by Atlanta at St. Louis at 6:00, both on Fox Sports 1. The Braves face the Cardinals again Sunday night at 6:00 on ESPN2. There are three games on Memorial Day – Miami at Washington at noon, Cleveland at Boston at 3:00, and the Mets at the Dodgers at 7:00, all on ESPN.
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The Memorial weekend weather looks pretty good! We’ll have a chance of scattered thunderstorms here and there Saturday, a maybe a shower or two Monday, but high temperatures will be in the mid-80s with sunshine, for the most part. Lows will be around 70. Party on, kids! Remember, though… 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
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