Random Observations of the Grand Lake Bum March 11
The Grove Home & Garden Show and the Grand Lake Boat Show are both in the rearview mirror now as we welcome Springtime at Grand Lake. Technically, the First Day of Spring is not until next Tuesday (March 19), but now that Daylight Saving Time has arrived, that’s close enough!
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Spring Break Week kicks off Friday, and it looks like a huge week-long celebration at Grand! The Big Meat Run kicks off Spring Break Week, complete with a return of music to the legendary Mountain Mama’s location in Tia Juana Saturday night. The Spring Break week at Shangri-La is crazy busy, including a four-day Kids Camp (Monday-Thursday), “Killer Keyz” dueling piano adult show (Tuesday), a family fun festival & hot-air balloon glow Wednesday, karaoke Thursday and live music Friday at Doc’s, and an awesome Food & Wine Festival with more live entertainment Saturday, March 23 on The Anchor Lawn; and the Bassmaster Classic will dominate the waters of the lake on the final weekend of Spring Break! Let’s hope Mother Nature cooperates with all that Spring Break fun!
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By the way, it’s not lost on me that we have a big holiday this weekend. St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve are my favorites. I’m not much for corned beef or cabbage, but I do like the idea of a day dedicated primarily to drinking!
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Speaking of drinking, I found a new favorite beverage over the weekend. I sneaked into the Members’ Private Blend Reveal & Taste Testing of “Monkey Island Maker’s,” a unique whisky blended exclusively for Shangri-La Resort by Maker’s Mark. If you weren’t lucky enough to be at the sneak preview, the new blend will be officially unveiled at the Food & Wine Festival at Shangri-La March 23.
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I know all the focus in the movie world was on the Academy Awards over the past weekend. But while the Oscars honor the best of the best, an equally important category is The Golden Raspberry Awards which honor the worst of the worst with “Razzies.” Jon Voight took home the Worst Actor Razzie for his role in Mercy. Sylvester Stallone was named Worst Supporting Actor for his part in Expend4bles. Actress Magen Fox was a double winner/loser. She was named Worst Actress for her part in Johnny & Clyde – and she was also named Worst Supporting Actress for her role in Expend4bles. The Razzie for Worst Movie of the Year went to Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Kristy Gibbs, Larry Battaglia, Clint Walker, Guy Hixenbaugh, Gary Quick, Ben Jackson, John Pellow, Candy Brasel, Linda Eller, Sheila Stogsdill, Carla Steckline, Mike Mullins, Mo Washington, and Dana Able.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. It’s Big Meat Run weekend at the off-road area at Disney Thursday-Sunday. Thursday night is Trivia Night at BOOM in Grove. It’s also Thursday Karaoke Night at Doc’s at Shangri-La. The South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business After Hours Friday at Grand Towne Center & Storage just north of Langley (5:00-6:30). Friday-Sunday is Spring Breakout Weekend at Mid-America Outdoors. Saturday evening is “Saturday Night Game Show” competition hosted by Jason Morgan at The Anchor at Shangri-La beginning at 6:00. Saturday is also a St. Patty’s Day Party at Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina (6:00 p.m.) and a special Big Meat Run Music Festival at Mountain Mama’s in Tia Juana. (6:30 p.m.) Sunday afternoon is Readers’ Theater at Grove Playmakers (2:00 p.m.). Next Tuesday is an incredible “Killer Keyz” dueling pianos show at Shangri-La Resort; and next Wednesday is a “Family Fun Festival” beginning at 6:00 followed by an awesome hot-air Balloon Glow at 7:30 on the Grand Lawn at Shangri-La Resort Hotel.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: After immigrating to France in 1920, composer Igor Stravinsky and his family lived for a while with Coco Chanel.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: After 60 years of holding the record for the most weeks in Billboard 200’s top 10, The Beatles have finally been dethroned. With 384 weeks in the top 10, Taylor Swift has taken the title from the Fab Four who previously held the record at 382.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Of the world’s 7.8 billion people, 93% never attended a college or university.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Facebook has taught me a couple of things. First, there are some incredibly brilliant people in the world. Second, they are vastly outnumbered.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Leprechauns are just Santa’s elves who got fired from the workshop for drinking on the job.
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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Don’t be part of the problem. Be committed. Be the whole problem!
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PUN OF THE WEEK: Koi fish always travel in groups of four. If attacked, Koi A, B, and C will scatter, leaving behind the D Koi.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Our fingers have “fingertips,” so why don’t our toes have “toetips”? And why can we “tiptoe” but we can’t “tipfinger”?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: The latest poll shows 50% of Americans think the other 50% have lost their minds.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I ‘m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde.” – Dolly Parton
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: I’m so old I have dialed a rotary phone, listened to music on 8-track tapes, watched a black & white TV with foil on the rabbit ear antennas, and gone through a whole day without taking a picture of myself!
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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, Scott Musick entertains live at Doc’s. Jesse Joice is live at Blind Swine Friday night followed by Wilkie Jay Saturday. Chris Kennedy hosts Rockstar Karaoke Friday night and DJ K-Bandito provides the music Saturday night at Big Shots.
On South Grand, Friday night is Karaoke Night at The Copper Penny in Ketchum. Empire entertains Saturday night at the Drunken Rooster in Cleora. It’s a big weekend at Mooney’s, too, with Casey West performing Friday night and the Barrett Lewis Duo entertaining Saturday night. In conjunction with “Big Meat Run Weekend,” music returns to the iconic Mountain Mama’s in Tia Juana Saturday night at 6:30 with Austin Dixon, Kota, and Magen Faulconer all performing at “Big Meat Music.”
In Grove, there are two upcoming nights of live music at Cherokee Casino featuring Erin Fitzgibbon Friday night, followed by Tragikly White Saturday night.
Jon Dooly starts the weekend Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by Whiskey Poet Society Friday and The Rumor Saturday. Until Now will debut their new single release in Backwoods Lounge at Buffalo Run Casino Saturday night.
Saturday night, River Bend Casino presents The Illusion: Reliving the King of Pop in the Club 60 West Event Center. In Club 60 West, Playlist will entertain Saturday followed by late night karaoke with DJ Kay.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Wednesday’s “Guest Chef” at The Shebang this week is Roland Radler. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda Resort opens for the season Friday. There is food truck service and Coconuts Bar will be open Friday-Sunday evenings this weekend for Spring Breakout at Mid-America Outdoors. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina is now open. Sunday, both Doc’s Bar & Grill and The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La feature fantastic St. Patrick’s Day special menus and drink specials.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Grey’s Anatomy returns for a new season Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC followed by Staton 19 at 9:00. The Voice airs Monday & Tuesday nights at 7:00 on NBC; and Jon Stewart hosts The Daily Show Monday night at 10:00 on Comedy Central.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Arthur the King, and Kung Fu Panda 4 are in movie theaters Friday.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 21 – Grove Chamber Business After Hours at UFFC Mortgage (5:00-6:30). Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 – Bassmaster Classic Tournament. Saturday, March 23 – Easter Festival and Egg Hunt at Marina Del Ray Resort benefiting Ketchum FFA. Saturday, March 23 – Food & Wine Festival on The Anchor Lawn at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, March 23 – Bingo Fundraiser at American Legion Post 178 in Grove benefiting America’s Boating Club Grand Lake (6:00 p.m.). Thursday, March 28 – 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.). Friday & Saturday, March 28-29 – Grove Merchants Spring Open House. Saturday, March 30 – Langley Easter Egg Hunt at Langley City Park (11:00-1:00). Friday, March 29 – Ketchum Public School’s 3rd Annual Egg Drop at South Grand Lake Regional Airport (1:00 p.m.). Saturday, March 30 – Rooster Easter Party & Egg Hunt at the Drunken Rooster. Sunday, March 31 – Easter Brunch at both Doc’s and The Summit at Shangri-La (11:00-3:00). Sunday, March 31 – Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor at Shangri-La at 2:00.
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Basketball fans are busy this week. It’s Big XII Championship Tournament time. Women’s competition is near the end. OU faces Iowa State in a semi-final at 2:30 Monday with K-State facing Texas at 4:00 in the other semi-final. The Championship game is set for 8:00 Tuesday night.
The men’s tournament starts Tuesday. OSU faces UCF in the tournament’s first game Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. If they win, they’ll face BYU Wednesday morning at 11:00. OU’s first game is Wednesday at 2:00 vs. TCU. If they win that game, they’ll face #1 seed Houston in the quarterfinals Thursday at 2:00. There are 4 quarterfinal games Thursday. Semi-finals are Friday at 6:00 and 8:30 with the Championship game Saturday at 5:00. Selection Sunday for both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Tournament is Sunday – Men’s Selection at 5:00 on CBS and Women’s Selection at 7:00 on ESPN.
In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are at home hosting Dallas Thursday in a late game (9:00) that will be nationally televised on TNT. Saturday, they’re on the road in Memphis (7:00) before returning home to host Utah next Wednesday (7:00).
The awesome OU and OSU Softball teams are in action this weekend. OU is on the road at Texas Tech this weekend for three games – Friday at 6:00, Saturday at 1:00, and Sunday at noon before returning to Love’s Field to host UT Arlington next Wednesday at 6:00. The OSU girls are at home hosting UCF for a trio of games – Friday at 6:00, Saturday at 2:00, and Sunday at noon before heading to Tulsa for a Tuesday night game at 6:00.
PGA players are at the beach this weekend – specifically Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for the 50th Anniversary of The Players Championship. Coverage is at 11:00 a.m. Thursday & Friday on the Golf Channel and noon Saturday & Sunday on NBC.
NASCAR drivers are at Bristol this weekend for the Food City 500. Coverage is on Fox Sunday afternoon at 2:30.
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Weather for the spring break kick-off weekend ahead looks almost perfect. After a chance of rain Friday morning, we’ll have sunshine for the most part with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s and lows around 40! Get out and enjoy the St. Patrick’s holiday weekend 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
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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