November 25 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I must admit, Thanksgiving and New Year’s are my two favorite holidays of the year. Attitude is laid back. No gifts required. No excessive amounts of freeloading friends wanting to visit because you live at the lake and you have a boat. Nothing but food, drinks, and football. It doesn’t get any better than that. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving weekend holiday! Rest up, my friends…because Christmas is on the near horizon.
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It was proven again over the past weekend – if you want to raise a lot of money for a worthwhile cause, plan a party on Monkey Island! Right on the heels of a great fundraising spaghetti dinner to gather more money for the Monkey Island Christmas fund for Delaware County kids, Islanders gathered again at Blind Swine for a Chili & Pie Cookoff to raise money for another stretch of the Monkey Island Trail. In two hours, everybody was stuffed, had plenty to drink, bought some cool auction items – and raised over $11,000 for trail extension. Another $20K – and the entire trail will be done – from Shangri-La Resort to Tera Miranda, The Reserve, and Monkey Island RV Park. Congratulations to first place Chili winner Mandy Cousins, first place pie winner Julie Morgan, and People’s Choice winner Peggy Howard. Special thanks go celebrity judges Jon Wilson, Barry Willingham, Larry Duke, Kathy Hensley, and Greg Bolton.
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Only 17% of Americans say they will talk politics at Thanksgiving Dinner. Sounds right to me. No sense ruining your appetite, right?
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For those of us who ARE discussing politics, the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination is really tough – so tough that former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick had to cancel a campaign event last Wednesday when only two people showed up. Apparently, everyone was home watching the Democratic Presidential Debate on TV – where there were 10 candidates on stage…400% more people on stage than in the crowd at Governor Patrick’s event. It’s tough out there!
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Maybe we could steal an idea from some Colorado entrepreneurs to boost the tourism traffic at Grand Lake. In Trinidad, Colorado, a couple of developers are hoping to open the very first Marijuana Mall in April. There will be five marijuana dispensaries in one location. With all the dispensaries around the Grand Lake area, perhaps we should do a little consolidation effort for one-stop shopping! If anybody pursues this, let me know. I want to open a Cheetos and chocolate chip cookie dispensary next door.
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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Doc’s Bar & Grill is open Thanksgiving Day. Blind Swine will open Thanksgiving at 6:00 p.m. (bar service only). The Shebang is closed Thanksgiving Day, but back on Friday.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The Rectigraph Company, founded by George C. Beidler in Oklahoma City around 1906, produced the world's first photographic copying machines. Rectigraph soon moved to Rochester, N.Y., where through a series of mergers and acquisitions it eventually became part of Xerox Corporation.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Do you remember, before the internet, people thought the cause of stupidity was a lack of access to information? Yeah. It wasn’t that.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (hand-written cardboard sign held by a man at a busy intersection): Not homeless. Wife in Target 2+ hours. Please help.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: In a span of 11 years, 115 people died in weightlifting accidents at gymnasiums. In the same 11 years, only one person died eating a donut. Make good choices.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Black Friday - because only in America people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: It’s too bad New England Patriots rookie N’Keal Harry is a wide receiver instead of a running back. If he were a running back, every time they handed him the ball, it would be a Harry Carry.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Ann Turner Cook, the original Gerber baby, turned 93 years old last week.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Congratulations to South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce award winners! Brent Howard was named Grand Laker of the Year. Sandye Berga received the coveted Barbara Conner Achievement Award; and Shangri-La Resort was named Grand Lake’s “Business of the Year.” Deserving recipients, for sure!
Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Amanda Payne, Michelle Payne, Reid Smith, Judy Keeton, Debi Holcomb White, Ron Miller, Amber Hopeman, Renea Walters, Marvin Jin, Mike Vaughn, Terry Davis, Sandra Knop, Gary Burke, Jade Piper, Diane Moll, Charles Richardville, Ben Gibbs, Dave Faulkner, Greg Knotts, McKayla Rutherford, Marty Follis, Alicia Hampton, Mike McCurdy, Michele Kraft, Christa Kelley, Darrel Hicks, and Ryan Blakemore.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Where can we get Spring water in the other three months?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thanksgiving is obviously the big event of the week. I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend. If you want to enjoy Thanksgiving with no cooking and no clean-up, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La will serve up traditional Thanksgiving dinner in a great buffet offering on the big day. South Grand Lake Christian Church will also serve Thanksgiving Dinner from 11:00-2:00 Thursday. Thanksgiving Night, Art & June will light up the Winter Wonderland Christmas Lights Display at Pine Lodge Resort, continuing through the end of the year. It’s worth a drive-through. Friday is the “Wild Turkey Party” at the Den of Uniquity on Monkey Island, and the Black Friday Seafood Buffet at Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake again this weekend. Saturday and Sunday nights, Terry Jordan will entertain at Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant. At the Blind Swine, KJ Flip hosts the DJ and karaoke fun Thursday night (Swine opens at 6:00 Thanksgiving for bar service only), and Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night. Sunday nights are Open Jam Sessions for musicians at the Swine. Monkey Island Pub also has great dance music every Friday & Saturday night. At Littlefield Corner, there’s great live music every weekend at the Road Hog Saloon; and every Tuesday night, Jason Morgan entertains at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La with “Trivia, Tacos & Tequila Tuesdays” from 6:00-9:00.
Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features the music of Brett & Terri Wednesday night this week, RocKFiscH Friday night, and Blake TurnerSaturday. At Bordertown Casino’s Lost Creek Saloon, you are the star at Thursday night karaoke. Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 features the music of Time Machine Friday night and karaoke fun Saturday night. At River Bend Casino, Wilkie Jay & The Heat perform Friday night in the Club 60 West Bar, and DJ 5Start Entertainment provides the music Saturday. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill there is live DJ action every Friday & Saturday night at 10:00. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar features Accidental Moguls Friday night and Eastern Heights Saturday. Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge offers entertainment by The Baked Iguanas both Friday & Saturday nights. Johnny Dale Roberts will entertain Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino’s Echo Bar followed by Free Fallin’ Friday and Jesse Joice Saturday.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action including college football, NFL football, and NBA action 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: The series premiere of Merry Happy Whatever is available this week on NETFLIX. Season 2 of Making It premieres Monday night at 10:00 on NBC, Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special airs Tuesday night at 7:00 on ABC – and The 87th Annual Christmas at the Rockefeller Center airs Wednesday night at 7:00 on NBC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Frozen 2, and Dark Waters
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. Football half-times take 12 minutes. This is not a coincidence." – Erma Bombeck
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, December 5 – Vinita Christmas Parade (7:00). Thursday, December 5 – Grand Lake Association Annual Banquet at Riverbend Casino (6:00). Saturday, December 7 – Christmas Breakfast & Dessert Auction at the Grove Community Center at 7:30 a.m. (Benefiting Second Chance Pet Rescue). Saturday, December 7 – Ladies Wine Share and Christmas Shopping at The Casitas (Noon-3:00). Saturday, December 7 – Miami Country Christmas Parade (6:00). Sunday, December 8 – Christmas Potluck at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina (2:00). Saturday, December 14 – Polar Bear Stroll beginning in the Gambino’s parking lot in Ketchum at 1:00 (benefiting South Grand Lakers Helping Children). Saturday, December 14 – Christmas Gala at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, December 14 – “Lights on the Lake Christmas Parade” in Grove (5:30). Saturday, December 14 – “A Big Band Christmas” with the Tulsa Praise Orchestra & Choir at the Coleman Theater in Miami (7:00). Saturday, December 14 – Christmas Lights Boat Parade from Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, December 14 – Christmas Parade Across the Pensacola Dam. Sunday, December 15 – Christmas Brunch with Santa at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La. Tuesday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Prime Rib Dinner at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Wednesday, January 1 – Late Night/Early Morning New Year’s Breakfast Buffet for the party animals at Doc’s Bar & Grill 1:00-4:00 a.m. Friday-Sunday, January 10-12 – OKC Boat & RV Show at the Bennett Center, State Fairgrounds.
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It’s week #14 of the college football season – and it’s BEDLAM WEEK. The OSU Cowboys host the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday night at 7:00 (Fox). Tulsa plays Saturday morning at 11:00 at ECU, but there is no television coverage of the game. There are some other great games this week, as well. West Virginia is at TCU Friday afternoon at 3:00 on ESPN; and Saturday games include Baylor at Kansas at 2:30 on ESPN, Iowa State at Kansas State at 6:00 on ESPN, Ohio State at Michigan (Fox), Clemson at South Carolina (ESPN), both at noon; Wisconsin at Minnesota (ABC) and Alabama at Auburn (CBS), both at 2:30; and Texas A&M at LSU at 6:00 on ESPN. What a week!
NFL action moves into week #13 with the traditional Thanksgiving Day game line-up included. Holiday games include Chicago at Detroit at 11:00 (Fox), Buffalo at Dallas at 3:30 (CBS) and New Orleans at Atlanta at 7:00 (NBC). Sunday games include Green Bay at the New York Giants (Fox) and Cleveland at Pittsburgh (CBS), both at noon. At 3:30, Oakland is at Kansas City (CBS); and the Sunday night game features New England at Houston (NBC). Monday Night Football sends Minnesota to Seattle to face the Seahawks (7:00 on ESPN).
The NBA schedule has the OKC Thunder facing the Pelicans in a quick home-and-away series – in Oklahoma City Friday night at 7:00 and in New Orleans Sunday afternoon at 4:00. Wednesday night the Thunder are back home hosting Indiana at 7:00. All three games will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.
PGA Players are taking the holiday weekend off. They’ll be back on the course next week on New Providence Island in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge.
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I hope you took advantage of the fantastic weather over the last few days, because we’re in for a change. The rain is slated to start Thanksgiving Day with a high temperature only in the mid-40s. It’ll warm up a little (upper 50s) Friday & Saturday, but the rain will still be hanging around. Sunday is another temperature drop – and more rain in the forecast. It sounds like the perfect weekend to enjoy football, basketball, great food, and some party time with friends & family. 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
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
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