May 4 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
Lots of businesses opened in the Grand Lake area and across the state last week, including a lot of restaurants. At least we didn’t match Tennessee’s timing record. They opened their restaurants last week on the exact same day they had the highest number of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Don’t put me down as a “Volunteer” quite yet. New Mexico, on the other hand, is taking things in stride quite nicely. There’s a sign on the state line that reads “Do not travel to New Mexico. We’re still in Time Out and can’t have any friends over.”
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If nothing changes, bars in Oklahoma will be allowed to legally open next week (May 15). I hope the liquor stores have enjoyed their unexpected boom in business. #silverlinings.
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I couldn’t help but get tickled by all the social media questions about “social distancing rules” and “boating raft-up rules.” I’m a little confused by the people arguing about the rules. In the first place, the rules are the rules…if you don’t want to know, don’t ask. In the second place, all the people I saw complaining are people that typically don’t pay any attention to rules under normal circumstances. I don’t expect them to start now.
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DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO? I’ll feel a lot more comfortable with “reopening the economy” and putting an end to serious social distancing once they open the state capitol building, U.S. Capitol Building, reopen the state legislature and the U.S. Congress. The state lawmakers are back this week, and they are doing a “wee little” opening of the capitol – but they still don’t want you or me around them. There’s just something that doesn’t feel right about everyone who tells us it’s okay to reopen everything are the same people who haven’t reopened any of their venues. Do you think our government officials are waiting to see how it works out for the rest of us before they start taking their own advice?
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Hey, Grand Lakers…we have our own beer! The new Grand Lake Light Ale, brewed by Tulsa-based Marshall Brewing, is now on the market (although initial orders sold out almost everywhere). It’s good – and it’s a fabulous marketing tool for our little piece of paradise. Now, where are the adventurous distillers? The time has arrived for Grand Lake Bum Bourbon!
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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Shebang is open for dine-in. The Artichoke is also open with limited dine-in space (both continue to offer takeout), as are Grand Lake Public House, Cosby’s Catfish, VIP Pizza, The Parrot Steakhouse & Grill, Juan Montez, Road Hog Saloon, and Honey Creek BBQ. Arrowhead Yacht Club is open. Cherokee plans to open Friday. Monkey Island Pub is also open. She Summit at Shangri-La opens Friday (members only Mon-Sat, open to the public Sundays). Eddy’s Lakeside Bar will open May 15 for the 2020 season. Blind Swine also opens May 15. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill is open for curbside and dockside delivery Friday & Saturday noon-8:00 and Sunday noon-6:00. Quarterdeck has curbside/dockside service and plans to open for dine-in Memorial weekend. Sharky’s does not yet have a firm opening date. Popular Clanton’s Café is open for curbside pickup. Doc’s at Shangri-La is also offering curbside pickup of pizza, grocery packages and weekend “family meal” packages, but is not open for dine-in service.
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PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, originally scheduled for Friday, May 8, has been postponed until Friday, June 26. GRDA’s Rush for Brush meeting Saturday, May 9 has also been canceled. GRDA Safe Boating classes for May 9 (in Tulsa) and May 16 (in Langley) have been canceled. The Rock the Dock Raft-Up/Music Festival scheduled for June 20 at Check-In Bay has been canceled.
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thursday night, look up! That night, we’ll have a “Milk Moon, the last SuperMoon of the year. Boaters will be on the water and golfers on the course during the beautiful Grand Lake weekend ahead. The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La is open to the public Sundays beginning this weekend (reservations required) – and Terry Jordan entertains live Sunday night.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Lake Superior is so cold year round that the bacteria that causes the decomposition of human bodies is slowed or stopped altogether. This means drowning victims generally remain on the lake bottom rather than float to the surface. Hence the line from Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”: “The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead/when the skies of November turn gloomy.”
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NEW CORONAVIRUS DRINKING UPDATE: By the time we can buy a drink in bars again next week, Captain Morgan will be an Admiral.
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CORONAVIRUS PET OBSERVATION: All of our dogs think we quit our jobs to spend more time with them. All of our cats think we got fired for being the loser they always knew we were.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Alcohol prevents COVID-19. Sunlight kills it. So, if y’all see me drunk and naked outside, leave me be. Researching it.
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HOME SCHOOLING THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: If they shut down schools for too long, some mother is going to find a cure for the virus before the scientists do.
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MOST UNNECESSARY ESPN “NEWS ALERT BULLETIN:” Kansas City Chiefs pick up Mahomes option.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (written in white shoe polish on an elementary teacher’s car window): You lied! My kids are NOT a joy to have in class!
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Of all the things I learned in grade school, trying to avoid cooties was the last one I expected to use.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I have a few jokes about unemployed people; but none of them work.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I’m starting to miss people I don’t even like.
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BEST MEMORY (shared by J.B. Robison): A lady asked me what she had to do to become a Baptist. I told her she had to believe in Jesus and own a 9X13 casserole dish.
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FEEL OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Willie Nelson had a birthday last week. He turned 87.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Pam Borin, Jimmie Tramel, Tony Coatney, Kristi Wallace, Cherie Long, Donna Belt, Roger Haglund, Marc Moser, James Brock, Pam Wyrick, Curtis Landry, Robert Bailey, Roger Cook, Beverlly Funke, Renae Ryan, Darryl Gupton, Lyn Goss, T.J. Lalicker, and Lorri Dyer.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do people go to the Unemployment Office to find a job?
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The series debut of Blindspot is Thursday night at 8:00 on NBC. The Feeding America Comedy Special airs Sunday night at 6:00 on NBC featuring Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Kevin Hart, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman and lots more. Amy Schumer Learns to Cook airs next Monday night at 9:00 on the Food Network.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Valley Girl and Walkaway Joe are available this weekend on Hulu. Capone, Fantasy Island, and The Invisible Man are all available for digital purchase in the next few days..
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” – Mark Twain
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 15 – Farmer’s Market opens in Grove. Friday, June 12 – American Heritage Music Festival and National Fiddle Contest at Wolf Creek Park, Grove. Saturday-Sunday, May 23-24 – Big Smitty performs at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Friday-Sunday, June 12-14 – Toes in the Grand Summer Kickoff Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, June 14 – Thunder on Wolf Creek boat races. Friday, June 26 – Grove Chamber Golf Tournament at Patricia Island. Friday-Saturday, June 26-28 – Grand Jam Music Fest at Grand Meridian RV Park.
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SPORTS NON-WATCH: I joined other horse racing fans in fulfilling a fantasy race in lieu of last Saturday’s originally scheduled Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs hosted a “virtual Kentucky Derby,” pitting 13 Triple Crown winners against each other. If you missed it, Secretariat came from behind to take the victory over Citation and Seattle Slew. Affirmed finished 4th. The actual Kentucky Derby for 2020 has been rescheduled to September 5.
The NBA has canceled its May 14 draft lottery and combine due to the Coronavirus threat. If you’re really hard up for contact “sports,” remember – the governor of Florida has determined that WWE professional wrestling is an “essential” business. So, there’s that. And every ESPN channel is filled with games, matches, and tournaments you don’t remember. Watch ‘em again to remind yourself who won.
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The weather for the weekend ahead looks a little cooler than the one gone by, but still nice – sunshine (maybe a few showers Sunday morning), fairly light winds, highs in the mid-60s and lows around 50. If you’re heading out to a newly re-opened restaurant this weekend, buy a drink for the guy at the next table. 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
Matt’s Place 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