Officially Christmas Season on Grand Lake by The Grand Lake Bum
The Christmas season is officially underway in the Grand Lake area. Vinita and Miami Christmas parades are already in the rear view mirror along with a great presentation of “A Christmas Story” by the Miami Little Theater – and we’re looking ahead to the Ketchum Christmas Parade, the Polar Bear Plunge at Arrowhead, the Christmas Lights Boat Parade, and land parades both across the Pensacola Dam and in Grove this weekend. If you’re not tired of Christmas by Sunday, you’ll probably make it all the way to the actual big day!
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I’ve finished all my Christmas shopping. It’s easier when all the gifts are either money or booze. One size fits all – and I’ve never had a gift returned!
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I kicked off my own personal holiday season in style over the past weekend – swilling Friday night Christmas cocktails with my pals at Vista Towers and watching the Bedlam football game with all my buds over at my friend Bob Robert’s man cave. I learned an important thing about mixing football and Grand Lake party animals – Friday night Christmas parties followed by 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning kickoffs followed by mid-afternoon games and Saturday night parties like the big Saturday night Christmas costume party at Monkey Island Pub are very hard on the ol’ liver!
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Oklahoma is about to be in the movie spotlight, again. Come Sunday, chronicling the rise and fall of Tulsa’s Bishop Carlton Pearson will begin filming January 9. Chiwetel Ejiofor (who received an Oscar nomination for his role in 12 Years a Slave) will portray Pearson. Oral Roberts will be played by Martin Sheen. So…once again Oklahoma will undoubtedly be portrayed in the movies as ultra-religious and a little backward. If that’s not bad enough, we won’t even make in money on it in the Sooner State. The filming will be done in that great Tulsa look-alike…Atlanta.
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Have you been watching all the appointments by President-Elect Trump? If not, you should pay attention. It’s better than any movie. As far as anyone can tell, he’s the first person to appoint a Secretary of Defense – or anyone else – named “Mad Dog.” Of course the Congress will have to either change or ignore the law that bars a military retiree from becoming Secretary of Defense until they have been retired for seven years (General James “Mad Dog” Mattis has been retired for three); but he’s a very popular guy with the military. He won’t control it really, of course. I cracked up at the popular military blog calledduffelblog which wrote: “When asked how Pentagon procurement could be fixed, even God declined to answer. Instead, the Almighty referred all further questions to Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Dynamics.”
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General David Patraeus was in an even stranger circumstance. Still on probation for intentionally leaking classified information to his mistress, he had to get permission from his probation officer before going to New York to talk to the President-elect about the possibility of his appointment as Secretary of State. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, was apparently ecstatic about being considered for VA Secretary. “I love Virginia,” she exclaimed. (Okay, okay, I made that last one up, but the rest of it is all true.)
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DINING GUIDE: If you’re looking for a place to eat in Oklahoma City, MSN has just released their list of the “Best Steakhouse in Every State.” In Oklahoma, it was Cattlemen’s Café, serving patrons from the OKC Stockyards for 106 years. (Little-known trivia – Cattlemen’s T-bone was the favorite of President Bush whenever he visited OKC.) I would say the NY Strip at Junior’s, but what do I know?
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If you’re planning a cruise, Carnival and their wholly-owned subsidiary Princess Cruise lines would be good ones to avoid. They were just slapped with an unprecedented $40 million penalty by the U.S. Government for illegally dumping oily water into the ocean – off the coast of England, as well as U.S. waters from Houston to Florida and along the eastern seaboard, then falsifying records and lying to the U.S. Coast Guard to cover up the incidents. There are lots of good cruise lines. We don’t have to support those who intentionally ruin the oceans they cruise.
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FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I used the self check-out at Wal-Mart without needing assistance and they made me District Manager.
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LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK (from Michael Haggerty): If you’re going to try to hire a lawyer, you should contact him before you’re in the courtroom on the day your case is set.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (spotted at the First Baptist Church in Fairland): God is impartial, but the sign guy isn’t…Boomer Sooner!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Barb Pliler, Wayne Crouse, Jim Gray, Judy Gilstrap, Leslie Wright-Porter, Stephanie Gibbs, Sherry Mead, Erica Ware, Terri Thomas, Nikki Rowton, Karen Strimple, Dwain Richardson, Larry Duke, Kim Hudelson, Konrad Faust, Charlotte Oglesby, Rich Lawson, Kelly Mlnarik, and Laketa Langley.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do clowns wear really big socks?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It’s the big Christmas celebration kick-off weekend on Grand Lake! The parties begin Friday night with Ketchum’s “Gateway to the Lake Christmas Parade” at 6:30. Saturday is a HUGE party day beginning at 9:00 a.m. with the Second Chance Pet Rescue annual Christmas Breakfast & Dessert Auction at the Grove Community Center. At noon Saturday, gather at Arrowhead Yacht Club for the Polar Bear Plunge. Saturday evening, there are multiple choices – the Parade Across the Pensacola Dam will start at 5:00, running from Disney to Langley. The Christmas Lights Boat Parade on Grand Lake will also leave Cherokee Yacht Club 5:30ish. The Boat Parade Party starts at 4:00 at Harbors View Marina with Santa on hand for memory making photographs. This year’s delayed telecast of the boat parade will mark the reunion of a popular Grand Lake broadcasting duo. The telecast will be hosted by Grand Times on Grand Lake publisher Rusty Fleming and Shangri-La’s Mike Williams. If you’re at the other end of the lake, the Grove Christmas Parade will begin at 6:00.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great musical entertainment around the lake this weekend, including Randy Lunsford performing nightly in the Burlesque Room at the Shebang. Friday night is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub, and there’s always a great Saturday night show at the Road Hog Saloon.
Area casinos have great musical options this weekend, as well, highlighted by the Turnpike Troubadours at Buffalo Run Casino’s Showplace Friday night. Entertainment at Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill features The Sex both Friday and Saturday nights. The weekend at Downstream Casino is highlighted by Derryl Perry at Legends Sports Bar Friday night, followed by Earl & Them Saturday night. Kenny Babb will perform in Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge both nights. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by Jamie Wolfe and the Wranglers. Noisy Empire will entertain Friday night followed by FM Live Saturday night. Earl & Them will entertain Fridaynight at Wyandotte Casino’s Club 60 West. If comedy is more your style, Thursday night is Open Mic Night at the Loony Saloon at The Stables Casino. The weekend belongs to the professionals with Sophia Starr and DeMarrio Oates from Bazar Entertainment on stage both Friday & Saturday nights.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including Thunder basketball, college football & basketball, PGA golf, and NFL games are the Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina, and Hookers at Cherokee Yacht Club.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Critics’ Choice Awards are Sunday night at 7:00 on A&E. The two-part finale of The VoiceSeason 11 airs Monday night and Tuesday night at 7:00 on NBC. Booze Traveler airs Monday night at 9:00 on The Travel Channel.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Office Christmas Party, Miss Sloane, and Nocturnal Animals
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The rumor is that Garth Brooks may play for Donald Trump’s Presidential inauguration. Don’t get them confused, though. One of them has friends in low places, the other grabs friends in low places.” – Jimmy Fallon
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SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, December 18 – Christmas Brunch with Santa at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (including photos with Santa). Tuesday, December 27 – Opening of Cherokee Casino Grove. Saturday, December 31 – Wine Dinner at the Summit at Shangri-La. Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Bash at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze ($25 per couple including toast and Papa Duke’s breakfast pizza). Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Party at Road Hog Saloon featuring The Street Kings. Monday, January 30 – Opening Night for the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show (South Grand Lake Chamber buses -$35 per person including show tickets – will leave from the Grove Civic Center at 4:00 and Reasor’s in Langley at 5:00. To reserve seats, call the Chamber at 918-782-3214.)
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In the college football world, we’re wrapping up the regular season this week with the traditional Army/Navy game at 2:00Saturday on CBS. The college football bowl games begin next week - Saturday, December 17.
NFL games get underway Thursday night with a big rivalry – Kansas City at Oakland (7:30 on NBC). Sunday games include Pittsburgh at Buffalo (12:00 on CBS), Washington at Philadelphia (12:00 on Fox) and the Seattle at Green Bay (3:30 on Fox). Sunday night’s game sends the Dallas Cowboys to New York to face the Giants (7:30 on NBC) and Monday Night Football features Baltimore at New England (7:30 on ESPN).
In the NBA, Thursday night action kicks off the weekend with a double-header on TNT – Minnesota at Toronto at 6:00 and San Antonio at Chicago at 8:30. Friday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets at 7:00, just ahead of Phoenix at the Los Angeles Lakers at 9:30, both on ESPN. The Thunder are at home Sunday night at 6:00 hosting the Boston Celtics (Fox Sports Oklahoma) before traveling to Portland for a Tuesday night match-up with the Trail Blazers (9:30 on ESPN).
College basketball has plenty of action this week, too. Thursday night, Iowa State travels across the state to face Iowa (7:00on ESPN2). Saturday, Villanova is at Notre Dame (11:00 on CBS), Wichita State is at Oklahoma (3:00 on ESPN2), Tulsa hosts Oklahoma State (4:00 on CBSSN), UNLV hosts Duke (4:15 on ESPN), Utah is at Xavier (4:30 on Fox), and Texas hosts Long Beach State (5:00 on ESPN2).
The PGA Tour moves to Naples, Florida this weekend as Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker defend their title in the Franklin Templeton Shootout. Coverage begins at 1:00 Thursday & Friday on the Golf Channel. Fox picks up the final round of coverage at noon Saturday.
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Winter is arriving this week – but the weather looks nice (although Christmas-like) for all the parade action on and off the water. Low temperatures will be 30ish, with a high Friday in the upper 30s, then highs in the mid 40s Saturday & Sunday(Polar Bear Plungers should be plenty cool). At least we’ll have light winds and sunshine. Be safe, be kind, and have a great Grand Lake holiday weekend; and 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.
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 (smoking upstairs—open Friday & Saturday nights)
Bobbers Café in Langley
Book ‘ems at South Wind Marina in Bernice
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patios)
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café Italia on Monkey Island
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and on Monkey Island
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)
Hatfield’s Saloon 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
Karrie's Kaboose in Vinita (smoking)
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South
Book ‘ems Restaurant & Pub at South Wind Marina in Bernice
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
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)
Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora
Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the 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 Office on Monkey Island (smoking)
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
Wyandotte Nation Casino at Twin Bridges (smoking)