Christmas Weekend In Review by The Grand Lake Bum

Christmas is behind us, a clean slate is ahead of us, there’s a little more daylight every day, and the best party weekend of the year is just ahead. The New Year’s holiday is for purists.  Oh, I realize there are a lot of amateurs attached to the rim of shot glasses, but you’ve got to appreciate a mid-winter holiday built around nothing but drinking and football. The only thing that’s better is the situation my buddies in Florida are facing…a holiday that’s only about drinking, football, and boating.  Now THAT’S the perfect holiday. Enjoy.

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Don’t you just love it on Christmas Day when a present says “from Mom and Dad” and you just know that Dad has absolutely no idea what’s inside?

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Dr. Henry Heimlich, the surgeon who invented the life-saving Heimlich maneuver, died last week. Don’t worry. He didn’t choke on anything. Heart attack.

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Let’s see how in touch you are with today’s music.  Name the highest paid musician in the past year.  If you didn’t say “Taylor Swift,” you lose. $170 million.

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Your tax dollars are hard at work in Oklahoma.  Apparently, they paid former legislative aide Hollie Bishop and her attorney $44,500 to settle her sexual harassment claim against her former boss, Tulsa State Representative Dan Kirby. I’m still trying to figure out why tax money paid her instead of Kirby paying it personally. It brings expanded meaning to the phrase fringe “benefits.” Perhaps Representative Kirby misunderstood at orientation and thought they said “friends with benefits.”

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DEFINITION OF THE WEEK – Irony: people waving confederate flags while telling other people “You lost. Get over it.”

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LEGAL TIP OF THE WEEK (from Michael Haggerty): When you appear for court and your lawyer tells you not to leave yet, but you leave anyway, things are not going to go well.

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Say it ain’t so.  Smith & Wesson stockholders have approved changing the name of the iconic company to American Outdoor Brands Corp.  I guess we’ll have to go back and edit movies like Dirty Harry IV where the bad guys ask Clint Eastwood who’s gonna stop ‘em. Somehow, “American Outdoor Brands…and me” doesn’t have the same ring to it. New signs, are in the future for a lot of redneck Okies, too. “This house protected by American Outdoor Brands.”  I dunno. Branding mistake, maybe?

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BEST CLASSIFIED AD SEEN THIS WEEK: Next month the Immigration Department will start deporting Seniors (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs. Older people are easier to catch and less likely to remember how to get back home.

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FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: All men should make coffee for their women.  It says so right in the Bible – “Hebrew.”

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DINING BY WATER TIP: Mooney’s on Grand Lake has now re-opened at Disney. Open from noon daily. Get there by land or by Grand.

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DINING OFF-WATER TIP: Hi-Way Café in Vinita was just listed last week by onlyinyourstate.com as one of the “10 Little Known Restaurants in Oklahoma that are Hard to Find, but Worth the Search.”

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Barbara Smith, Barbara Staten, Chuck Harris, Debbie Dooley, Robert Vandommelen, Judy Harris, Mark Londagin, Mary Musgrove, Reggie Wallace, Judy Barger, Steve Cornell, and Chey Cookson. And Happy New Year to everyone!

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK:  Why is the word “hyphenated” not hyphenated, but the word “non-hyphenated” is?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner at Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant (reservations required), New Year’s Eve Dinner at Cherokee Yacht Club, the New Year’s Eve Bash at Big Shots, and the Red Carpet Masquerade Party at Monkey Island Pub.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: As you might expect, there’s a boat load of great musical entertainment around the lake this holiday weekend, including Randy Lunsfordperforming in the Burlesque Room at the Shebang leading up to New Years. Saturday night’s New Year’s Eve party at Big Shots will include, not only great dance music, but party favors, champagne toast & party favors, too.  The same is true at the fabulous Red Carpet Masquerade Ball at Monkey Island Pub Saturday night. The Monkey Island live entertainment is capped off with a New Year’s Eve performance by the Street Kings at Road Hog Saloon.

On south Grand Lake, a New Year’s tradition springs back to life!  Don White will be on stage at Mooney’s on Grand Lake in Disney! Cherokee Yacht Club will feature three different entertainers throughout the evening Saturday night - Susan Wright, Terry Jordan, Mass FX and The Fabulous Two-Man Band. Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina will feature a DJ and dance tunes at their New Year’s Eve Great Gatsby Party.

Area casinos have great musical options this weekend, as well, highlighted by a New Year’s Eve show featuring Jim Belushi at the Peoria Showplace at Buffalo Run Casino. In Buffalo Run’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill, The Sex will be on stage both Friday & Saturdaynights. The big star performances start around the lake on Fridaynight with the great Johnny Lee at the new “Venue” at Grand Lake Casino. Grand Lake’s own Lickitty Split will play Saturday night at Grand Lake Casino.  The Pumpkin Hollow Band kicks off the holiday weekend Thursday night at the brand new Cherokee Casino Grove. The weekend at Downstream Casino gets underway with Friday night music from Mayday by Midnight at Legends Sports Bar. Saturday night, there are two shows at Legends – a Michael Jackson tribute early with MJ Déjà Vu starring Justin Dean (8:00-9:30) followed by a Madonna tribute, Material Girl. Kenny Babb will perform in Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge both nights. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by The Silvershakers. The Uncrowned Kings will entertain Friday night followed by Paralandra on New Year’s Eve. At Wyandotte Casino’s Club 60 West, Friday night is UFC Fight Night with a UFC 207 Watch Partyfeaturing the Nunez/Rousey fight. Saturday night, the entertainment turn musical with the Eddie Valen Band ringing in the new year with Golden Sounds of The Platters as special guests. If your taste runs more toward comedy than music, bring in the new year Saturdaynight at Loony Saloon at The Stables Casino. Julie McCullough will be on stage with special guest Brett Schmidt.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including college football bowl games, NBA basketball, and NFL games are Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Hookers at Cherokee Yacht Club.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: If you’re staying home New Year’s Eve, you have many choices for parties on television – Ryan Secrest hosts starting at 7:00 on ABC. NBC’s New Year’s coverage is hosted by Seth Myers starting at 9:00. Carson Daly takes over at 10:30. Monday, The New Celebrity Apprentice starring Arnold Schwarzenegger makes its debut at 7:00 on NBC. Tuesday night, Bones begins its final season at 8:00 on Fox or you can catch The Wall at 7:00 on Fox and Bull at 8:00 on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Fences  and Jackie

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “People will generally accept facts as truth, but only if the facts agree with what they already believe.” – The Late Andy Rooney

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, January 19 – OKC Boat and RV Show opens at the Cox Convention Center. Monday, January 30 – Opening Night for the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show (South Grand Lake Chamber buses -$35 per person including show tickets – will leave from the Grove Civic Center at 4:00 and Reasor’s in Langley at 5:00. To reserve seats, call the Chamber at 918-782-3214.) Wednesday, February 8 – Home of Hope Chocolate Affair at Craig County Fairgrounds. Saturday, February 11 – Sweetheart Dinner at The Summit at Shangri-La.

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In the college football world, we finally get some bowl games that normal fans care about this weekend – including OU, OSU, and Arkansas. Thursday afternoon, Arkansas faces Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl (4:30), just ahead of the Oklahoma State Cowboys taking on Colorado in the Alamo Bowl (8:00), both on ESPN. Friday’sgames start at 11:00 a.m. with TCU playing Georgia in the Liberty Bowl (ESPN). At 1:00, Stanford and North Carolina tee off in the Sun Bowl on CBS, while ESPN airs the Music City Bowl (2:30) with Nebraska taking on Tennessee. Friday night at 7:00, the day is topped off with the Orange Bowl (7:00 on ESPN) as Michigan faces Florida State. Saturday morning at 10:00, there are two games – LSU and Louisville in the Citrus Bowl (ABC) and Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky in the Taxslayer Bowl (ESPN), just ahead of the big semi-final playoff action – Washington and Alabama in the Peach Bowl at 2:00 and Ohio State vs. Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl at 6:00, both on ESPN.

Monday, January 2, is another big day of bowl action. The college football day starts at noon with Florida and Ohio in the Outback Bowl on ABC and Western Michigan and Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl on ESPN.  At 4:00, USC and Penn State face off in the Rose Bowl just ahead of the finale with Oklahoma and Auburn in the Sugar Bowl at 7:30, both on ESPN.

NFL action is in the final regular season week with final playoff berths to be determined.  Sunday games include Dallas at Philadelphia (Fox) and Houston at Tennessee (CBS), both at noon, followed by Kansas City at San Diego (CBS) and Seattle at San Francisco (Fox), both at 3:30.

In the NBA, the OKC Thunder kicks off Thursday night in Memphis at 7:00 (Fox Sports Oklahoma). The nationally televised Thursdaynight double-header features the Celtics in Cleveland at 7:00 and the Lakers hosting the Mavericks at 9:30, both on TNT. Friday night, Milwaukee is at Minnesota at 7:00 (NBA). Saturday night, it’s Thunder basketball again as OKC hosts the L.A. Clippers (7:00) before hitting the road again to face Milwaukee Monday night at6:00, both on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

College basketball has a pair of good games Thursday – Butler at St. Johns at 6:00 on Fox Sports 1 and Kentucky at Ole Miss at 7:00 on ESPN2. West Virginia is at Oklahoma State Friday afternoon at 3:00and Kansas is at TCU Friday evening at 8:00, both on ESPN2. Baylor is in Norman to face the Sooners Friday night at 6:00 on ESPN2. Saturday games include Louisville at Indiana (11:30 on CBS) and Connecticut at Tulsa at 1:00 on CBSSN.

The PGA Tour is taking a holiday break. The pros will be back on the course January 5 in Maui for the Tournament of Champions.

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The New Year’s weekend weather forecast for Grand Lake looks pretty darn good. We’ll have sunshine all weekend with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s and lows in the 30s! It’s a party weekend on Grand Lake, for sure! Be safe, be kind, have a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration - and 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 & Saturdaynights)

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

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)