Random Observations From The Grand Lake Bum 6-4-17
With the combination of the annual Home of Hope Banquet and the opening of the new Shangri-La Resort Hotel, we showed off our lake in style over the past weekend. Governor Fallin, Lieutenant Governor Lamb, and former Governors Nigh, Walters, Keating, and Henry were all on hand to take part in a weekend that will surely be a major waypoint on the Grand Lake history chart. It was all very impressive – but I was most impressed with the new 28-seat bar and the rooftop patio at the Shangri-La Hotel. Wowzer!
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Here’s a really important medical update you should know about. A research paper prepared by Dr. Mercedes G. Lopezat a meeting of the American Chemical Society indicates tequila may be helpful in efforts to lose weight. The spirit can help lower your blood sugar too, according to the research. I suddenly feel the urge to lose a LOT of weight! (Of course, as one observer noted, the weight loss may actually be a result of consuming too much tequila and puking your toenails up.)
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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are playing in the NBA Championship series. I ran across a couple of fun facts that might be an indication of how you “buy your way to the top.” (1) Andrew Bogut, signed as a free agent by the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers in March and expected to be a key player in the team's quest to defend its league championship, checked into his first game and played 58 seconds before crashing into a bench and breaking his leg. For that 58 seconds, the Cavs owe Bogut $383,000. (2) Jose Calderon signed as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors in March, but the NBA-leading Warriors changed their mind (for unforeseen reasons) two hours after the deal and released Calderon. For his 119 minutes as a Warrior (6:06 p.m. to 8:05 p.m.), Calderon was paid $415,000.
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Where there’s a will, there’s a way…but improvising can sometimes create some ironic results. For example, Havana winemaker Orestes Estevez doesn’t have all the fancy tools available to wineries in this country, so he tops his bottles of fermenting juice with condoms. As the fruit ferments, it releases gases which make the condoms inflate. Appropriately enough, when fermentation is done, the condoms go limp.
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I can’t believe it. There’s a State Representative (Mickey Dollens) who actually understands the Constitution, fairness, and his constituents: “The $1.50 cigarette "smoking cessation" fee was passed under the guise of a public health issue during the last week of session. I don't advocate smoking, but we need to call it like it is. SB845 is an unconstitutional sin-tax that disproportionately punishes working class adults for an activity some view unfavorably. That's not how you balance a budget.” It’s getting expensive to be one of the sinners. I wish some of the do-gooders would start picking up some of the load.
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In all fairness, just in case you think the Oklahoma legislature is the only one with some wacky ideas, look around. In a legislative battle waged since a 1979 state court decision, some North Carolinians tried once again this year to change a state law that explicitly states that once a person (almost always, of course, a "female") has "consented" to an act of sexual intercourse, that consent cannot be withdrawn -- even if the encounter turns violent. Said state Sen. Jeff Jackson, whose bill to change the law failed to even get a legislative hearing, "We're the only state in the country where 'no' doesn't mean 'no.'"
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I wonder if Kathy Griffin has the same public relations team as Tiger Woods.
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Randy Krehbiel’s Random Factoid of the Day: New York City's first speeding ticket was written in 1899, by a bicycle cop who chased down a cab going 12 miles per hour. (Sounds like driving through Bernice.)
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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La’s Resort Hotel is now open. Grand Lake now has its first restaurant/bar open from 7:00 a.m. until midnight seven days a week, 52 weeks a year – and it’s accessible by water, too!
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Nothing says “I mean business” like using a cart at the liquor store.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: You never appreciate what you have till it’s gone. Toilet paper is a good example.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: A big Happy Birthday wish goes out to former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh who turns 90 on Friday. It was great to be a participant in his celebration at Grand Lake over the weekend. Happy Birthday wishes also go out this week to Dan Arnold, Shawn Alexander, Bill Pettit, Marnie Pettit, Matt Nash, Don Davis, Jim Gray, Ron Young, Doug Ohlstrom, and Brooke Talley.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If methadone is free to addicts because they have a disease, why isn’t chemo free to cancer patients?
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BEST EVENT OF THE WEEK: Saturday is Camp Bandage at Grand Lake RV Park (10-2). *****
CANCELED EVENT: The Barkaritaville party that was supposed to be held Friday, June 2, at Honey Creek Landing Marina was postponed for the second time due to the weather forecast. It has now been rescheduled forSaturday, August 19 during the dog days of August, appropriately enough. It’s a fundraiser for Second Chance Pet Rescue. An August date should solve their rain problems!
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake this weekend. Dennis James, Terry Jordan, and Ron Young present Musica Curiosa: Livin’ the Ragtime Life at the Coleman Theater in Miami Saturday & Sunday (7:30 Sat – 2:30 matinee Sunday).
On Monkey Island, you provide your own entertainment with Friday & Saturday night karaoke in the Balcony Bar upstairs at The Shebang on Monkey Island. Downstairs in the Burlesque Room, Randy Lunsford provides the entertainment. Across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, enjoy all the best dance tunes Friday andSaturday night, as well. Just down the highway from there, Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub; and just a little further down the road, Lickitty Split will perform Saturday night at the Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, Mike Barham will be on stage Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by CMT entertainer Wayne Garner Saturday night.
Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. Cherokee Casino Grove will feature Another Alibi and Reverse Reaction Saturday night. At River Bend Casino (formerly Wyandotte Casino), Club 60 West hosts Big Smitty Friday night. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar will spotlight The Nace Brothers BandFriday night and the Scott Keeton Band Saturday night. Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill will hostWestern Justice both Friday and Saturday nights. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by Kevin Upshaw and One Night Stand. Friday night features the music of Dirt Road Daisies, followed by Diversity Saturday night.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA Championship action, NASCAR, and PGA Golf are Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The series premier of Queen of the South is Thursday night at 9:00 on USA. Season 5 ofOrange is the New Black is available Friday on NetFlix. The71st Annual Tony Awards will be televised liveSunday night at 7:00 on CBS; and So You Think You Can Dance premieres Sunday night at 7:00 on Fox.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Hero and The Mummy
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I’m going to have to have my bedroom inspected for mold. My wife gets a headache every time she goes in there.” – One of my running buddies – name withheld to protect his safety
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, June 16 – Grove Rotary Club Lobsterfest, Grove Civic Center at 5:30. Tuesday, June 20 – Men Against Violence luncheon at noon at 1st Methodist Church in Grove (D.A. Kenny Wright will speak).Friday, June 23 – formal dedication of Shangri-La’s new Resort Hotel (4:00 p.m.). Saturday, June 24 – Free Boating Safety Course at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (8-5).
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The NBA Championship series continues this week. The Warriors and Cavaliers face off Friday night in Game 4 at 8:00. If necessary, they’ll play again Monday night at 8:00. All games are on ABC.
The PGA Tour heads to Memphis and TPC Southwind this week for The FedEx St. Jude Classic. Coverage on the Golf Channel begins at 3:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Sunday. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.
NASCAR drivers are at Pocono this weekend for the Pocono 400. Coverage starts at 2:00 Sunday on FS1.
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The weather for the upcoming weekend looks absolutely perfect. We’re likely to have plenty of boaters and golfers enjoying sunshine, light winds, and high temperatures approaching 90 degrees and lows around 70! Get out and enjoy all Grand Lake has to offer, but remember, wherever you decide to play, 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
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)
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Bobbers Café in Langley
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
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
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 Langley (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
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)
Roadhouse 125 on Monkey Island (smoking deck)
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)
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