Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum March 25
I don’t know about you, but all the Grand Lake activities for Spring Break week absolutely wore me out! I thought Shangri-La was pretty gutsy scheduling outdoor venues for a hot-air balloon glow and a Food & Wine Festival in March with all it’s unpredictable weather issues, but they got lucky and entertained great crowds for a couple of new trend-setting events. The Bassmaster Classic fishermen got lucky with weather, as well (except for a really windy final day) – although Grand Lakers have seen them brave rain, snow and even ice in past events, so I’m not sure they pay much attention to the weather. They’re more focused on fat paychecks for the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing. Although a lot of the activities were in Tulsa, Grand Lake has already received tons of nationwide publicity from all the ESPN coverage of their fishing excursions on our little lake – and there will be more.
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And all of a sudden, it’s Easter week! There is no shortage of Easter Brunch specials at area restaurants – and awesome Easter Egg hunts for kids almost everywhere you look. Spring has already officially arrived, boaters are on the water in increasing numbers, outdoor dining venues are beginning to open – and there is ALWAYS something happening on Grand Lake. “Off season” has pretty much become a phrase of the past at Grand Lake.
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Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall has announced the filing of legislation to “secure the Oklahoma border.” I had no idea Texans had become such a big problem.
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Do you shop at the popular stores whose cashiers always ask, “would you like to round your payment up to the next dollar for charity?” Here’s what that question really means: “Would you like to give us money so we can make a charitable donation to pay down our corporate tax liability without using our own money?”
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Greg Brasel, Jeff Williams, Kristen McCorkle, Jerry Barnes, Mandy Cousins, Brice Long, Kathi Sikorski, Amanda Pelcher, Andy Stewart, Mikayla Callison, Bill Lopeman, Jamie Tate, Magen Faulconer, Anna Pickens, Becky Sconyers, Diana Stephens-Webre, Erin Gayer, Meagan Stewart, and Kacey Threet.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. Easter Weekend is a big one at Grand Lake. Thursday is the awesome Mardi Gras in March at the GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley sponsored by the South Grand Lake Foundation, benefiting Ketchum Backpack Program (6:00 p.m.). Grove Merchants Spring Open House is this Friday & Saturday, and Arrowhead Boat Sales has an in-water Boat Show at Cherokee Yacht Club Friday-Sunday. Friday is the Ketchum Public School’s 3rd Annual Egg Drop at South Grand Lake Regional Airport (1:00 p.m.). If you think you can hit a golf ball off of a Grand Lake bluff and make it stay on a floating dock below, Saurday afternoon is the first “Dock Shots” competition of the year at Shangri-La Golf Club (5:00 p.m.). Saturday is also the huge Langley Easter Egg Hunt at Langley City Park (11:00-1:00), the big Rooster Easter Party & Egg Hunt at the Drunken Rooster, the Easter Egg Hunt & Picnic at Cherokee Yacht Club (10:00-2:00), and the Easter Egg Hunt at Bernice State Park & Nature Center (1:00 p.m.). Sunday morning at 6:45, there will be an Easter Sunrise Service at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort. Sunday also features Easter Sunday Brunch at both Doc’s (11:00-3:00) and The Summit at Shangri-La (11:00-5:00) and the annual Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor at Shangri-La (2:00 p.m.).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Except for about 60 miles of the Darien Gap in Columbia and Panama, it is possible to drive from Tierra del Fuego National Park at the tip of South America to Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s Arctic shore, a distance of 19,000 miles.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Bo Jackson is the only professional athlete to be selected to play in both the MLB All-Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: 325 Dodge Chargers were used in the six years of production on “The Dukes of Hazzard” television show.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Cheat on your taxes and you’ll end up in one of two places – jail…or a cabinet position in Washington, D.C.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: 2 hour parking 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
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BEST FOOD LABEL SEEN THIS WEEK: Roast Beef & Criminalized Onion Relish.
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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: 3,026 years from today, life will either be really good or really bad. It’s 5050.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: A couple of steers were smoking a joint and playing cards. That’s right. The steaks were pretty high.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If a mirror reverses left and right, why doesn’t it reverse up and down?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: You know you’re getting old when your vehicle’s heated seat is no longer for warmth…but instead for back pain.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I think youngsters need to start thinking about what kind of world they are going to leave for me and Keith Richards.” – Willie Nelson
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Grace Slick, longtime lead singer for the iconic Jefferson Airplane (and later, Jefferson Starship), is 84 years old. We lost one of Oklahoma’s most famous citizens last week. General Thomas Stafford was an astronaut from Weatherford, known for commanding the Apollo 10 mission to the moon and was the first man to pilot a Lunar Module into orbit. He died last week at age 93.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend with Thursday Night Karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Friday night, R. Jay Smith entertains live at Doc’s. Randall George will be live at Blind Swine Friday night followed by James Muns Saturday. DJ K-Bandito provides the musical fun Friday and Saturday night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.
On South Grand, Glam R Us entertains Saturday night at the Drunken Rooster in Cleora.
In Grove, there are two upcoming nights of live music at Cherokee Casino featuring Brett N’ Terri Friday night, followed by Rusty Meyers Saturday night.
TJ Scarlett starts the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by Sunset Circle Friday and Diversity Saturday. Radio Nation will be on stage at Backwoods Lounge at Buffalo Run Casino Saturday night.
In Club 60 West at River Bend Casino, Blank Earth will entertain early Saturday Night followed by late night karaoke with DJ Kay beginning at 11:00.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Josh and Mandy Cousins take over the kitchen Wednesday for the final “Guest Chef” session of the year at The Shebang Restaurant. Doc’s Bar & Grill and the Summit Restaurant both feature fabulous Easter Sunday Brunch Buffets. Matt’s Place in Grove features a Prime Rib Easter Special Friday-Sunday. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda and VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina are now open for the season.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show debuts Friday night at 10:00 on HBO Max and the new series Renegade Nell is available Friday on Disney+. Steve (Martin): a documentary in 2 pieces is also available Friday on Apple TV+. The legendary Carol Burnett will be the featured guest on Sunday Today with Willie Geist Sunday morning at 7:00 on NBC. The 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards air live Monday night at 7:00 on Fox. Jon Stewart hosts The Daily Show Monday night at 10:00 on Comedy Central.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Godzilla X Kong and A Cat’s Life join Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Sleeping Dogs in movie theaters Friday.
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SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, April 2 – Tuesday Trivia with Jason Morgan at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Saturday, April 6 – NCAA Tournament Final Four Coverage watch party at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Monday, April 8 – NCAA Tournament Championship watch party at The Anchor. 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. 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. Monday, May 13 – Modoc National Golf Scramble at Shangri-La Golf Club
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In the NBA, we’re down to the final 15 games of the regular season – and the schedule is a tough one for the OKC Thunder. They host the Phoenix Suns Friday (7:00) before heading to New York to face the Knicks Sunday (6:00), then on to Philly to face the 76ers next Tuesday (6:30.
The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament action is getting serious. The men battle in the Sweet 16 games Thursday & Friday, and Elit 8 games are Saturday & Sunday. The women play Sweet 16 games Friday & Saturday, with Elite 8 games Sunday and Monday.
PGA players are in Houston this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open. Coverage is at 1:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday and Sunday.
NASCAR drivers are in Richmond this weekend for a little nighttime racing. Coverage of the Toyota Owners 400 begins Sunday at 6:00 on Fox.
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Aside from a little more wind than we would like, weather for Easter weekend looks outstanding! We’ll have sunshine with a few clouds, high temperatures in the mid-70s and lows around 60. We may have a little rain moving in Sunday evening, so get out an enjoy the festivities in the sunshine while you can. 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
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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
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