Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum April 1
What a fun Easter holiday weekend at Grand Lake – for everybody, no matter what age! Between all the awesome brunches, Easter egg hunts, great boating weather, great golf weather, and NCAA Tournament action – everyone had a blast. I couldn’t believe how many people showed up on the Shangri-La Golf Course bluffs Saturday evening to try to hit their ball off the bluff and make it land on a floating dock below – and stay there! Too much fun! I couldn’t make that goal – but I did my best to set a new eating and drinking record for the event!
*****
If you used real eggs for your Easter egg hunt, I sure hope you found all of them! I learned the hard way a few years ago. There’s nothing nastier than finding an Easter egg with a bare foot two or three weeks after the holiday. That smell alone will make you not eat eggs for a few months!
*****
I can’t believe how many people are migrating to Texas next Monday because that’s supposedly the best place to see the total solar eclipse. Some places are even canceling school classes so kids can see it. All that happens is it’s dark for a minute or so. I don’t understand the big deal. It gets dark every night – and you don’t have to time it with a stopwatch or waste your vacation time traveling to find out where it happens. Very odd.
*****
How does “Seven Dollar Tree” sound to you? The store has already raised their minimum price to $1.25 – but now they’re raising their maximum price to seven dollars.
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Sam Walker, Mike Kelly, Tod Sanger, Leta Reed, Ginger Richey, Stormy Williams, Brian Edwards, Sonya Fitzgibbon, Cindy Hefner, Don Mulvane, Steve Oden, Donnie Smith, Brian Pitts, Tiera Henry, Kim Carter, and Pam Goodeyon
*****
BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Tuesday Trivia with Jason Morgan at The Anchor at Shangri-La kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Saturday is an NCAA Tournament Final Four watch party at The Anchor at Shangri-La. “National Beer Day” celebration is Sunday at Mooney’s from noon-11:00 p.m. Sunday is also an NCAA Women’s National Championship watch party at The Anchor is at 2:00 - and the Men’s Championship watch party at The Anchor is Monday night at 8:00.
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma State University fielded its first men’s basketball team for the 1907-08 season, but except for two seasons, did not have a regular basketball coach until 1929 when it hired former University of Kansas star George Rody.
*****
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Dolly Parton’s younger sister Rachel played the part of Doralee Rhodes on the “9 to 5” TV series in 1982 for 85 episodes!
*****
ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: The Australian Alps get more snow than the Swiss Alps.
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: If a bacon package isn’t resealable, it contains one serving. That’s science. I don’t make the rules.
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (at a Pizza Restaurant): Now selling medical marinara.
*****
BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: 30 days sober, folks! Not consecutively, but here and there over the years. I’m estimating.
*****
PUN OF THE WEEK: I read that the starship Enterprise was attacked by a vessel from the little-known planet Omega 3. Thankfully the damage was only super fish oil.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is it homeless or naked?
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Remember when you could actually SLAM the phone down and hang up on someone? That was SO satisfying!
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I came home one day from school after being chased by kids singing ‘Yellow Submarine,’ and I didn't understand why. It just seemed surreal: why are they singing that song to me? I came home and I freaked out on my dad: 'Why didn't you tell me you were in The Beatles?' And he said, 'Oh, sorry. Probably should have told you that.'” - Dhani Harrison (son of Beatle George Harrison)
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Music legend Celine Dion turned 56 over the past weekend. The iconic singer Diana Ross celebrated her 80th birthday. The legendary Sir Elton John is 77 years old. Journalist and social-political activist Gloria Steinem, widely acclaimed as the initiator of the feminist movement, turned 90 years old last week.
*****
BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend with Thursday Night Karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Friday night, Rockwell entertains live at Doc’s. Pullen Strings & Company will perform Friday night and Magen Faulconer will be live Saturday night at Blind Swine. DJ K-Bandito provides the musical fun Friday and Saturday night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.
On South Grand, Downbeat entertains Saturday night at the Drunken Rooster in Cleora. Clint and Frank will be on stage Saturday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.
In Grove, there are two upcoming nights of live music at Cherokee Casino featuring Reversing Radio Friday night, followed by Phil Vaught Saturday night.
Brett N’ Terri start the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by Dirty Saints Friday and Damsel Saturday.
In Club 60 West at River Bend Casino, enjoy late night karaoke with DJ Kay beginning at 11:00.
*****
DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Stuff’ns Café in Ketchum is now open from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Friday is all-you-can-eat Catfish special. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda and VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina are now open for the season.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: The final season of Star Trek: Discovery debuts Thursday on Paramount+. The 2024 CMT Music Awards air live Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS. NCISVerse: The First 1,000 airs Monday night at 8:00 on CBS. Jon Stewart hosts The Daily Show Monday night at 10:00 on Comedy Central.
****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The First Omen, Monkey Man and City of Dreams open in movie theaters Friday.
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, April 12 – Cruise Night in Grove (food trucks near City Hall). Saturday, April 13 – Boats & Burgers party at MarineMax Grand Lake (11:00 a.m.). Saturday, 13 – Grove Foundation for Excellence (GEFFE) Gala at Shangri-La Resort. Monday, April 15 – Grand Lake Skins Shootout at Shangri-La Golf Club (11:00 a.m. shotgun). Sunday, April 21 – First Responders “Thank You” Dinner on the Battlefield Patio at Shangri-La (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, April 27 – Ottawa County Arts Festival in Miami (10:00 a.m.). Sunday, April 28 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Pickleball Mixer at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La (2:00-6:00 p.m.). Friday, May 3 – Imagine Grand art display & sale on the Grove City Hall lawn. Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 – Community-wide Garage Sale Days in Grove. Saturday, May 4 – Imagine Grand art display & sale at Lendonwood Gardens. Sunday, May 5 – Battlefield 1st Anniversary Golf Scramble at The Battlefield at Shangri-La. Saturday, May 11 – South Grand Lake Chamber “Bootleggers’ Ball” at Shangri-La Resort (5:00 p.m.). Monday, May 13 – Modoc National Golf Scramble at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, May 18 – Sounds of Summer Car Show & Festival at Marina Del Rey Resort (1:00-6:00 p.m.).
*****
It’s down to the finals this week in the NCAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournaments. The Women’s Final 4 games are set for Friday at 6:00 and 8:30 with the National Championship game Sunday afternoon at 2:00. The Men’s Final Four games are back-to-back Saturday beginning at 5:00 with the National Championship game Monday night at 8:00.
In the NBA, we’re down to the final few games of the regular season – and the OKC Thunder are on a grueling final path. After back-to-back road games at Philly and Boston Tuesday & Wednesday, they’re still on the road at Indiana Friday (6:00) and Charlotte Sunday (5:00) before finally returning home to host Sacramento next Tuesday (7:00).
PGA players are in San Antonio this week for the Valero Texas Open. Coverage is at 3:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 2:30 Saturday and 1:00 Sunday.
The OU Softball Team gets a little national network coverage this week as they battle Texas. Friday’s game is on ESPNU (5:30) and Saturday’s game is on ESPN (7:00). Sunday, they’re back on ESPN+ for the 1:00 p.m. series finale. The OSU Cowgirls battle Houston this weekend, but there is no television coverage.
The UFL professional football season is underway. San Antonio faces Memphis Saturday at 11:00. Bob Stoops’ Arlington Renegades take on St. Louis at 7:00. Sunday games include Birmingham vs. Michigan (11:00) and Houston vs. D.C. (3:00).
NASCAR drivers are at Martinsville this weekend for the Cook Out 400. Coverage is at 2:00 Sunday afternoon on FS1.
*****
Weather for the weekend looks terrific! High temperatures will be in the mid-70s with lows in the mid-50s. It's the perfect weather to kick off April fun. Remember, though, wherever you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It might be me!
GRAND LAKE BUM
If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only$50 a week and the list of readers is growing. E-mail grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.
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
Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina (closed for the season)
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Casa Gutierrez in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s on Monkey Island
Chicken Coop west of Langley
Chubby’s Grill at On Target in Grove
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Cove Club in Langley
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill
E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (closed for the season)
Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek
Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Getaway Mercantile (north of Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek
Hero’s Deli 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
Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner
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 RV Resort
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney
Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Monkey Island Trail Rides
Monkey Island Winery
Mosa Hibachi and Sushi in Grove
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
Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley
Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove
Pit Stop Café in Grove
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (closed for the season)
R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove
Raggedy’s in Grove
Rancho Viejo in Grove
Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island
Royal Liquor Store in Grove
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (closed for the season)
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)
The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)
Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina (closed for the season)
VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove