September 6 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
What an incredible Labor Day holiday on Oklahoma’s premier lake! Of course, if it’s going to rain for an hour on a holiday weekend, it’s going to be during the biggest on-the-water outdoor concert of the year. It didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowds at annual Redneck Raft Out, though – and the music couldn’t have been better. RRO wasn’t the only venue to knock it out of the park over the holiday weekend, though – and the cool front that arrived with the Saturday showers made everything better for a perfect Grand Lake weekend. There was fabulous live entertainment nightly from one end of the lake to the other – everywhere you happened to be! I learned one thing Saturday for the opening of the college football season: I’m pretty sure 90% of my football-watching this year will be in the sports bar at The Anchor at Shangri-La. What an experience. THAT’S the way to watch football! I’m pretty sure Grand Lake has now officially become “The Cultural Center of the Universe!”
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The most fantastic Grand Lake golf and boating season is now officially underway. September, October and, oftentimes, November provide the most spectacular backdrop and pleasant climate for outdoor activities – and the crowds are gone! More people are beginning to realize that Grand Lake provides a fabulous year-round lifestyle. It’s not just for summer, anymore – for SURE!
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So, with Labor Day behind us, what’s next? Planning for winter Boat Show season, of course. There’s a new show in Oklahoma this year with several dealers opting out of the historic Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show (January 31-February 6) and choosing a new venue and new show, instead. Most Grand Lake dealers will participate in a new show – the “Oklahoma Boat Expo,” scheduled for January 7-9 at Tulsa’s Cox Convention Center. Participating dealers in the new show so far include Bill’s Marine, Cross Timbers, Grand Lake Boat Sales, Indian Hills, MarineMax Oklahoma, Nichols Marine Grand Lake, Nichols Marine Tulsa, Sundown Marine, and Ugly John’s Custom Boats. Participating dealers listed at this point by the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show include Arrowhead, Blackbeard Marine, Dick Lane’s of Grand Lake, and Grove Marine.
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WOWZER! One of the best amateur golfers in the United States is a Grand Lake native! Congratulations to Jeremy Callison, the reigning Club Champion at Shangri-La Golf Club, who has qualified for the Mid-Amateur Championship Tournament to be held September 25-30 at Sankaty Head Golf Club in Siasconset, Massachusetts!
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If you have been putting off mailing that letter to your relatives, it’ll cost you more now. First Class postage stamps are now 58 cents – 3 cents more than they were last week. I hope you can find that roll of “Forever Stamps” you put someplace you would never forget.
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Friday is the Grove Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Patricia Island (1:30 Shotgun). The annual Mahogany & Chrome Classic Boat Show is at Arrowhead Yacht Club Saturday (10:00-3:00). Saturday is also the date of the South Grand Lake Chamber’s 2nd Annual Dusty Russell Car Event and South Grand Lake Lions Club Chili Cookoff in Langley at the City Park (1:00-6:30); and there’s a Second Chance Pet Rescue Benefit Carnival in Grove Saturday (11:00-3:00) at the Grove Christian Center (across from On Cue).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Canada outlawed public nudity in 1932, largely in response to the Sons of Freedom, a religious faction that protested materialism by marching naked in the streets, burning schools and destroying farm machinery.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Seven percent of Americans believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s more than 16 million people. And they vote!
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I read that, by law, you have to turn your headlights on when it’s raining in Sweden. How the hell am I supposed to know if it’s raining in Sweden?
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Pizza alone won’t fill the emptiness of your soul. You’ll also need beer.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: In retrospect, hiding all the microchips in Horse Dewormer was a stroke of genius.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: The difference between bird flu and swine flu? One requires tweetment. The other just requires oinkment. (sorry)
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do the people who are paying $300 for a colon cleanse know that Taco Bell has a $4.99 super meal?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I hear women in Texas will now be asking men for $10,000 security deposits before agreeing to have sex.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Legendary weatherman/tv personality Willard Scott died over the past weekend at age 87. We also lost “Mr. Grant,” iconic actor and activist Ed Asner. He was 91. Bee Gee Barry Gibb turned 75 years old last week. Paul McCartney’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” was the number one song on the charts this week – fifty years ago!
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We’re all ignorant, only on different subjects.” – Will Rogers
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Kate Lindley, Theresa Swift, Karla Ruth, Eddy Gibbs, Terry Weppler, Amanda Silvers, Tony Hampton, Jack McDonald, Michael Hitsman, Wes Kreie, Stevie Fernandez, Rachel Henderson, Steve Pace, Angela Bachman, Julie Rahhal, Dave Deardorff, Mary Ann Stout, Jennifer Brookby, Amy Wolfe, and Lee Cohen.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the Thursday Night Shrimp Boil and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Friday night, Mark Gibson entertains indoors at Doc’s. Torn provides the music Saturday night on the patio at Doc’s. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang provides great karaoke fun with Kerry Kimmons Friday and Saturday nights; and just across the street, DJ K-Bandito leads the cavalcade of great DJs and dance music at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine. Erin Fitzibbon will perform early Friday at the Swine. Saturday night is great dancing and singing at Monkey Island Pub - Karaoke with Tim.
On South Grand, Brent Giddens and Erin Fitzgibbon will both perform live Saturday afternoon at the Dusty Russell Car event and South Grand Lake Lions Club chili cookoff (1:00-6:30) at the Langley City Park. Erin Fitzgibbon entertains every Thursday night at Blind Swine on Duck Creek (at Harbors View Marina), and the Faulconer Duo will perform Saturday night at 7:30. At Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney, the Left of Center Duo will entertain Saturday night followed by an early Jake Flint show Sunday afternoon (5:00-8:00).
In Grove, KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Friday night, followed by the music of Whiskey Poet Society Saturday night.
Indigo Sky Casino this week presents The Stonehorse Duo in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Western Justice Friday night and Brent Giddens Saturday. If you like your entertainment rough, Buffalo Run Casino presents live WFC 127 world championship fights Saturday night. Audio Crush performs Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by Jacob Dement Saturday.
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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Labor Day is the last day of operation for the season at Sharky’s Bar at Hammerhead Marina. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda will remain open until December, but they now have reduced hours of operation. Call ahead. Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay will remain open until September 19. Downstream Casino has limited hours of operation and menu selections at Legends Sports Bar, Red Oak Restaurant, and Spring River Buffet. Check their website. Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now closed Sunday & Monday and Blind Swine on Duck Creek is closed on Mondays. The Cove Club in Langley is now closed on Tuesdays. Stuff’ns Café in Ketchum is now closing at 2:00 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and at 8:00 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Race Against Time: The CIA and 9/11 airs Friday night at 7:00 on CBS. 60 Minutes debuts a new season Sunday at 6:30 on CBS. The 2021 MTV Music Video Awards are Sunday at 7:00 on MTV. The new series Only Murders in the Building debuts streaming on HULU. Tuesday night at 9:00 is the debut of Karen on BET (and yes, it’s about exactly what you think it’s about).
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Queenpins and Malignant both open in theaters this week. Malignant is also available on HBO Max. Come From Away debuts on Apple TV+. Kate is available this week on NETFLIX.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Friday, September 16-17 – Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell’s “Luau on the Green” at Shangri-La Resort. Friday, September 17 – Cherokee Classic Golf Tournament at The Coves (10:00). Saturday, September 18 – REC Day Drive-Thru Event (Grove, Miami, Vinita, Pryor). Saturday, September 18 – Grand Lake Fireworks 5K Sunset Dam Run in Disney (3:00 at Cherokee State Park). Saturday, September 25 – L/C Law’s 150-Fest Showdown at the Will Rogers Rodeo Arena in Vinita (7:00). Sunday, October 3 – Heart of a Lion Classic Presented by Armada Distributing at Shangri-La Golf Club (12:30 shotgun). Thursday-Sunday, October 7-10 – Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove.
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SPORTS WATCH: What a sports week! College football is in full swing. Tulsa is at OSU Saturday morning at 11:00 on FS1. OU hosts Western Carolina, also at 11:00, but that game is only on Pay-per-View. Other Saturday games of note include Texas A&M at Colorado (2:30 on Fox), Air Force at Navy (2:30 on CBS), Iowa at Iowa State (3:30 on ABC) and Texas at Arkansas (6:00 on ESPN). The college football weekend starts Friday night, though, with Kansas at Coastal Carolina at 6:30 on ESPN2 and UTEP at Boise State at 8:30 on FS1.
NFL Football is officially underway. The big games for folks in our area are Thursday night when Tampa Bay hosts Dallas (7:00 on NBC) and Sunday afternoon at 3:30 when Kansas City hosts Cleveland (CBS). Other big Sunday games include Pittsburgh at Buffalo at noon (CBS), Green Bay at New Orleans (3:30 on Fox) and Chicago at the L.A. Rams (7:00 on NBC). Monday Night Football features Baltimore at Las Vegas (7:00 on ESPN).
It’s a big week for professional tennis as we wrap up the U.S. Open. Coverage is daily on ESPN networks beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Women’s semi-finals air Thursday at 6:00. Men’s semi-finals are Friday at 3:00. Women’s final is Saturday at 3:00 and the Men’s final is Sunday at 3:00 – all on ESPN.
There are some great MLB rivalries this week. One of the biggest is back-to-back nights of the Yankees taking on the Mets – Saturday at 6:30 on Fox and Sunday at 7:00 on ESPN.
NASCAR drivers are at Richmond for Sunday night Prime Time racing. Coverage of the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders begins at 6:30 on NBCSN.
The PGA Tour season is officially over; and it won’t start up again with the 2021-2022 season until – next week – with the Fortinet Championship in Napa and, of course, The Ryder Cup!
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The weekend weather forecast looks absolutely perfect! Mostly sunny, light winds, high temperatures in the low 90s and lows in the upper 60s. There’s plenty happening around the lake this weekend, so get out an enjoy all you can – indoors or outdoors! Remember, though, wherever you party, 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.
Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café at Har-Ber Village
Café Yum in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum
Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Cove Club in Langley
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Domino’s in Grove
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 (smoking)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Hatfield’s Saloon 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
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lester’s Third Street Diner in Grove
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Marina’s Place at Littlefield Corner
Matt’s Place in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Monkey Island Trail Rides
Monkey Island Winery
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
Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove
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)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
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 Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)
The Pourhouse at The Regatta in Grove
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
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove