A Great April Weekend in Review by The Grand Lake Bum

One of these days, weekenders are going to learn to stop getting distracted by the TV weather forecasts that are about as valuable as the air the TV guys & gals shoot them through. We started a little damp – but what a great weekend we ended up with. The forecast for the weekend ahead is… April. Who knows? Don’t be deterred. We’re wrapping up the month of April with some great entertainment opportunities; and the first weekend of May is packed, packed, packed. If you’re missing a weekend at Grand Lake this time of year, you’re missing out on the fun, my friend.

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I’m so excited about the Old Bulldog Band returning to Grand Lake for a fundraiser this weekend. This band is absolutely awesome! And Saturday night, they’re playing at Big Shots for a fundraiser for the Monkey Island Pedestrian and Golf Cart Trail. With the increased law enforcement presence patrolling the highways of the Island, we can’t have too much off-road golf cart path space to travel the Island while staying off the highway.

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With the residue from the Oklahoma legislature literally draining into the basement of the State Capitol Building, lawmakers are still struggling to find a way to double-fake their way out of a budget crisis. It’s a big week nationally, too, as lawmakers decide whether or not they’re going to leave the lights of American government on for a few more months. I guess if worse comes to worse, we can go ahead and move the federal government to Mar-a-Lago. Nice place, I hear. I don’t personally have the $200,000 initiation fee that it takes to see the President, but I hear it’s really nice.

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Not everything happens at Mar-a-Lago, though.  Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Sarah Palin joined Donald Trump for dinner at the White House.  I’ve got nothing. No words I can think of make the event any more bizarre than the event itself. Sounds like the beginning of a “walked into a bar” joke.

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President Trump announced last week he is planning to enact “the biggest tax cut since Ronald Reagan.” Ruh-roh. Somebody should remind him that Ronald Reagan actually raised taxes – eleven times. Let’s not do everything like Reagan did.

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Speaking of the President – Saturday night is the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington. Not only will President Trump become the first President in 93 years to skip the dinner (except one year Reagan missed after he had been shot), he has also scheduled a rally in Pennsylvania at the exact same time – so many of the White House correspondents won’t be able to attend the dinner, either. They’ll be covering the Trump event in Pennsylvania. This year’s dinner will be hosted by Hasan Minhaj, the comedic Senior Correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. That’ll be funny, no doubt – but I can’t wait to see what Samantha Bee does on TNT Saturday night hosting Not the White House Correspondents Dinner.  The President might wish he had put on his “thick skin” suit and gone to the dinner.

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I see where Bryan Baker has now been released from the Oklahoma City jail. I’m assuming he finally sobered up. He must have had a really good run, though. He was running around an AutoZone store naked from the waist down. When cops arrived, he informed them he was a vampire bat (everyone knows vampire bats don’t wear pants).  I’ve gotten a little out of hand from time to time through my years, but I believe Mr. Baker takes the cake!

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When superstar Serena Williams won the Australian Open, she was apparently 20 weeks pregnant. Do you think they’ll let her keep the title even though she was obviously playing a doubles match?

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David Jessen in Fresno, California will probably think twice before he calls the cops again. He called them when a homeless man went into his home and helped himself to some milk, and ice cream bar and half a tomato. The cops came right away, though – 50 police cars, a SWAT team, two helicopters, a crisis negotiation team and a police robot. By the time the episode was over, windows, walls, and wrought-iron doors were destroyed, tear gas filled the house and a “flash bomb” had been set off resulting in over $150,000 damage to his home. The homeless man, by the way, was unarmed and no one was hurt.

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Here’s a unique method of attempting to get out of a DUI ticket, although it didn’t work for Paul Perry when he was caught “napping” at 6 a.m. behind the wheel of his car with the engine running. Apparently he wasn’t thinking totally clearly quite yet when officers tried to arrest him. He offered to “thumb wrestle” the officer to demonstrate his dexterity. Uh…no.

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Think hard about the future possibilities before you make the decision to get a pet. In Chicago, a father and son decided to settle the dispute over who should walk the dog with a gunfight. Both received multiple wounds. The son died. The father is in critical condition – and we still don’t know who walked the dog. Perhaps they should have thumb wrestled.

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GRAND LAKE DINING AND DRINKING BY WATER UPDATE: Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina is now open for the season Friday-Sunday.

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DEEP THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Dear Algebra, Please stop asking us to find your X. She’s never coming back – and don’t ask Y.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (at the Road Hog Saloon): Husband day care. Leave your husband here. You only pay for his drinks.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST THIS WEEK: Will glass coffins be a success? Remains to be seen.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Nina Landers, John Lewis, Mike Burnett, Judi Barber, Jari Askins, Charlotte Lindley, Nancy Brandwein, David Jones, Julie Morgan, Alicia Moritz, Robin Markwell, Dick Lane, Lori Stanphill, Cale DeLozier and Gregg Lorimor. A special shout-out to Jay Cranke, newly named Executive Director of the Grand Lake Association. Good luck!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK:  If work is really such a good thing, why do they have to pay you to do it?

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BEST EVENT OF THE WEEK: Old Bulldog Band performs at Big Shots Saturday night at 7:30. Tickets ($30) go to benefit the Monkey Island Pedestrian and Golf Cart Trail.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There are lots of entertainment options around the lake this weekend, including Randy Lunsford performing through the weekend in the Burlesque Room and Clint Walker in the Back Stage Room at The Shebang on Monkey Island. Across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, enjoy all the best dance tunes Friday night – then be sure to show up Saturday night for The Old Bulldog Band. This great show is also a fundraiser for the Monkey Island Pedestrian and Golf Cart Trail ($30 admission). Friday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub.

On South Grand Lake, Fishbone Gypsy will perform at Karrie’s Kaboose in Langley Saturday night.

Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well. At River Bend Casino (formerly Wyandotte Casino), Club 60 West will feature music from Southern Green Band Friday night. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, Friday night features The Bobby D Band with Harley Hamm & the Sauceboyz taking over Saturday night.  James Muns will perform atop the 1897 Bar at Cherokee Casino Friday night followed by popular Lickitty Split Saturday night. Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Showplace, it’s the $50,000 Spring Classic Double Deck Blackjack Tournament. At Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, there’s great music both Friday and Saturday night with Stowaway Gypsy; and Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 features music from Lickitty Split Friday night. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by The Jeff Fox Band. Friday night, Donnie Ray Stephens will entertain, followed by Sweet Trouble to wrap up the weekend – and the month Saturday night.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA playoff action, NASCAR, and PGA Golf are the Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La, 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: Undercover Boss moves to a new time slot Friday night at 7:00 on CBS, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction is Saturday night at 7:00 on HBO; and Not the White House Correspondents Dinner with Samantha Bee(since President Trump has declined to attend) is Saturday night at 9:00 on TBS. Hall & Oates will be spotlighted on SundayMorning on CBS at 9:00 a.m.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: The Circle

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You never realize how little self control you have until the chips and salsa are in front of you at a Mexican restaurant.”

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 5 – GRDA Lake Launch 2017 – “Grand Fiesta!” at Ecosystems Center in Langley (6:00-9:00).Friday, May 5 – Eddy’s Lakeside Bar opens at Shangri-La Marina. Friday-Sunday, May 5-7 – In-water boat shows at Nichols Marine at Shangri-La Marina, MarineMax at Harbors View Marina, Grand Lake Boat Sales at Hi-Lift Marina, Ugly John’s at Thunder Bay Marina, and Cedar Port Marina. Saturday, May 6 – Burning of the Socks at Harbors View Marina. Sunday, May 14 – Mother’s Day. Monday, May 15 – Official Pool Opening at Monkey Island RV Park. Friday, May 19 – Quarterdeck Waterfront Café at Tera Miranda opens for the season. Friday-Monday, May 26-29 – Memorial Weekend on Grand Lake!Saturday, June 3 – Home of Hope Admirals Banquet at Shangri-La Resort Hotel. Monday-Thursday, June 5-8 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La Golf Club.

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It’s still all about NBA Basketball in the sports world. Playoffs continue this weekend. TNT has Thursday’s games. Action moves to ESPN Friday, back to TNT Saturday; then ABC and TNT split the playoff schedule on Sunday.

The PGA Tour heads for the Crescent City this week and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Coverage begins at 2:30 Thursday& Friday, and 12:00 Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday &Sunday at 2:00.

NASCAR drivers are running in Richmond this weekend (The Toyota 400). Coverage begins at 1:00 Sunday on Fox.

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Weather for the weekend ahead is just what we expect in April – scattered showers now and then, interspersed by humid days & nights with highs in the low 70s. No, that does NOT mean “oh no, it’s going to rain all weekend.” Let’s get out there and have some fun! I’ll be lots of places, but I’ll be at Big Shots on Monkey Island Saturday night for sure – the Old Bulldog Band. I love those guys! Remember, though, wherever you decide to play this last weekend of April, 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)

Bobbers Café in Langley

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patios)

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)

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

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)

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the 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