A Perfect February Weekend In Review by The Grand Lake Bum

Another beautiful February weekend is behind us, and another is right in front of us – plus, it’s Mardi Gras time! Mardi Gras parties are as good as Halloween parties.  You pick a costume with a really good mask, and you can do whatever you want.  Nobody will know who you are. Well, the cops will probably want to see I.D. of some kind but, other than that…

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The last weekend of February means NASCAR and Major League Baseball’s exhibition season are both underway, then another month will be gone. The first weekend of March is up next – and that means “Welcome Back Weekend” time on Grand Lake. It all starts with the re-opening of Arrowhead Yacht Club on Thursday, March 2 – and wraps up with a big party at Cherokee Yacht Club Saturday night, March 4 with awards from the “Ice Breaker Poker Run.” There are six stops to the poker run – and you must collect a chip from each of the six stops in order to be dealt a hand. Clubs, restaurants & shops will have special “Welcome Back” offerings all over the lake – and Morrow’s Bar & Grill will open for the season that weekend, as well, offering another accessible-by-water dining & drinking stop.

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Monkey Islanders never seem to be able to wait for “Welcome Back Weekend.” They’re staring the party this weekend with a Mardi Gras Buffet & Party at the Summit at Shangri-La, a party with street performers and vendors at Big Shots, and a costume party & contest at Monkey Island Pub – all Saturday night on the Island.

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With Easter on the horizon, Oreo is doing something really disgusting. Peeps Oreo Cookies. Yep, those Peeps. Starting this week, some Wal-Mart stores will carry packages of cookies containing Oreos stuff with that marshmallow-ish, sugary substance Peeps are made out of. Call it a combination of a thing we love most with a thing we hate most. Yuck!

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The owner of the “I Don’t Care Bar & Grill” (IDC) in Catoosa fired twelve Hispanic workers for take the day off work on last week’s “Day Without Immigrants” nationwide demonstration. Owner Bill McNally said he fired his immigrant staff for violation of his “no show/no call” policy; but he fired them all with a text message: “You and your family are fired,” the text read, “I hope you enjoyed your day off, and you can enjoy many more. Love you.” Friday, the bar & grill had job openings posted on Facebook – but I’m guess Bill probably won’t need as many employees once word gets out about what he did.

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Have you ever noticed that people can make a lot of money doing the jobs that no one else wants to do? The best recent example is a janitor in San Francisco who is responsible for cleaning restrooms for Bay Area Rapid Transit.  He’s assigned to Powell Street Station, notorious for always being a mess due to the concentration of homeless people and drug addicts in the area. Last year his base pay was $58,000 – but he also had $162,000 in overtime pay. All totaled, his base pay, overtime, and benefits ran his annual pay to a little over $271,000 for the year. That officially made Liang Zhao Zhang the highest paid janitor in America.

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In Arkansas, Adriana Salas is accused of stealing a truck in Jonesboro and driving it 260 miles to Fort Smith where he apparently couldn’t resist the urge to stop by the sheriff’s office to see if the truck had been reported stolen. It had been. Ms. Salas got a quick lesson in Miranda rights, and a room in the pokey. You can’t fix stupid.

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It seems like someone does a story every day about how little members of the U.S. Congress work. Perhaps we could take a cue from the Belgium Parliament. They have dramatic improved attendance during legislative sessions by serving free beer and wine on the floor of Parliament. I’ll bet they pass better laws, too. I know I always get a lot smarter when I’ve been drinking free drinks!

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Customs and Border agents at Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C. seized 13 pounds of horse genitals from two women arriving from Mongolia. The meat was hidden in juice boxes. I’m not sure why anyone would want 13 pounds of horse genitals badly enough to try to smuggle them into the United States, but the women said they were for medicinal purposes. It think they’re nuts.

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GRAND LAKE EATS & MEATS: The much anticipated 1909 Restaurant at 3^rd & Main in Grove is now open for lunch and dinner. Harrell Pickens is now open for business in the butcher shop at Littlefield’s Country Store. They’re serving breakfast and lunch now, as well.

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BEST FACE BOOK POST THIS WEEK: I got so drunk last night I walked across the dance floor to get another drink and won the dance contest.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK (in front of Concept Tile store): Husbands choosing tiles must have note from wife.

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LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK (from Michael Haggerty): I don’t care how exciting it may seem, life is easier if you keep your sexual performances outside the courthouse. And I don’t mean on the lawn.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Greg Hopeman, Robyn Guest, Andi McConn, Dave Hansen, Leta Carson, Winston Connor II, “Ugly John” Mullen, Bob Rush, Bryan Hendershot, Matt Jobe, Glenna Whitehead, Debbie Totty, and (heckuva deal) Don White. Oh, yeah. It’s my birthday week, too!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK:  How can you tell when it’s time to tune bagpipes?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Mardi Gras parties are on the schedule this weekend – at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (including Cajun Buffet), Big Shots (with street vendors and street performers), and at Monkey Island Pub (including costume contest).

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There are plenty of entertainment options around the lake this weekend, including Randy Lunsford performing through the weekend in the Burlesque Room at The Shebang. Friday night is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub, and there’s always great live entertainment on the weekends at the Road Hog Saloon.

Area casinos have excellent musical options this weekend, as well, highlighted by country star Daryle Singletary at Venue 655 at Grand Lake Casino Saturday night. At Downstream Casino’s Legend Sports Bar, there’s a “Throwback Thursday” free concert featuring The Crayons Thursday night. Kidd/Ray take the stage Friday night, with Derryl Perry wrapping up the weekendSaturday night. Kenny Babb will be in the Lover’s Leap Lounge both Friday & Saturday nights. The Rumor will perform atop the 1897 Bar at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar Friday night, followed by Thomas Martinez Saturday night. At Wyandotte Casino’s Club 60 West Bar, The Bobby D Band will perform Friday night – and there’s a double-header Saturday night: theUltimate Tribute to Shania Twain featuring Donna Huber at 8:00 in the Event Center, and The Bobby D Band returns to the bar. Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill features great music from Western Justice Friday night and Dead Metal Society taking over entertainment honors Saturday night. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by Torn. Friday night, The Mark Chapman Band will entertain, followed by Big SmittySaturday night. If live theater is more to your liking, check out the Grove Playmakers performance of W;T both Friday andSaturday nights at 7:30.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including NBA & college basketball, and PGA Golf are the Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, and Pickles at the Lake in Langley.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The series premiere of The Blacklist: Redemption (a spinoff of The Blacklist) is Thursday night at 9:00on NBC. Jimmy Kimmel hosts The 89^th Academy Awards Sunday, beginning (believe it or not) at 4:00 on ABC. Monday nightThe Voice returns at 7:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Lego Batman Movie, Collide and Rock Dog

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime. Teach a man to create an artificial shortage of fish, and he will eat steak.” – Jay Leno

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, March 3 – Morrows Bar & Grill opens for the season in Raper Hollow. Friday-Sunday, March 3-5– Welcome Back Weekend on Grand Lake! Thursday-Sunday, March 9-12 – Grand Lake Boat Show at Grove Civic Center.Saturday, March 11 – St. Patrick’s Party at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday, March 12 – Daylight Saving Time (Yea!). Friday & Saturday, March 24-25 – Grove Area Merchants Association Spring Open House. Friday-Sunday, March 24-26 – Long John’s Big Meat Run on the rocks at Disney. Saturday, April 1 – GEFFE Gala (Grove Education Foundation for Excellence).

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The NBA returns to regular play following the All-Star weekend. The OKC Thunder enjoy a few days at home, hosting the L.A. Lakers Friday night at 7:00, the New Orleans Pelicans Sunday evening at 6:00, and the Utah Jazz Tuesday night at 7:00 – all on Fox Sports Oklahoma. This week’s Thursday night double-header on TNT features New York at Cleveland in the early game (7:00) and the L.A. Clippers at Golden State in the late game (9:30). ESPN’s doubleheader Friday features Boston at Toronto at7:00 and San Antonio at the L.A. Clippers at 9:30. Saturday night, Chicago is at Cleveland at 7:30 on ABC. Monday night action on TNT begins at 6:00, featuring Toronto at New York, Miami at Dallas, and Indiana at Houston.

College basketball has some really good games this week. Tulsa kicks off the weekend Thursday night hosting South Florida (7:00 on ESPNEWS). Saturday afternoon, OSU hosts Texas Tech at 1:00 and OU hosts Kansas State at 5:00, both on ESPNU. Other great Saturday games include Florida at Kentucky (1:00 on CBS), Creighton at Villanova (2:00 on Fox), Duke at Miami (3:00 on CBS), and BYU at Gonzaga (9:00 on ESPN2).

On the PGA Tour, it’s off to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for the Honda Classic this weekend. Coverage begins at 1:00Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up coverage of the final two rounds at 2:00Saturday & Sunday.

It’s also time to crank up the NASCAR action again, starting with the Daytona 500 airing Sunday at 1:00 on Fox. And, yep, it’s baseball season, too! Spring training is underway and MLB exhibition games begin this week.

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The weather has spoiled us so rotten the last few weekends, that a weekend with high temperatures pushing 60 degrees sounds cool. That’s what’s ahead, though. I guess we should remember that it’s still February and thank our lucky stars! Get out and have some fun. There are lots of big Mardi Gras parties – pick a couple; but wherever you decide to play, 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

Book ‘ems at South Wind Marina in Bernice

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 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 Vinita (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

Book ‘ems Restaurant & Pub at South Wind Marina in Bernice

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

Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island (smoking...but not at lunch)

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

Wyandotte Nation Casino at Twin Bridges (smoking)