February 28 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I celebrated my birthday in style last week, escaping the cold, snow, and sleet to spend a little time in the desert and mountains surrounding Phoenix. In spite of a week with nothing to do but drink, spurred on by National Margarita Day in the middle of the week, and returning home in time for a series of Grand Lake Mardi Gras parties over the weekend – I’m still alive! Who’da thunk it?

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While everybody else was stuck in the snow & sleet at the lake last week, I was stuck in Phoenix in danger of a sunburn. Southwest Airlines canceled my scheduled return flight. They said they were “proactively canceling flights to avoid the possibility of stranding passengers.” So…they stranded passengers. Including me. No problem, though. I considered it a birthday present from Southwest giving me an extra couple of days in the desert. They didn’t pay for the present they gave me, of course. I remember the good ol’ days when an airline would pay for your hotel room and give you a voucher if they screwed up your travel plans. No more. Southwest thought they were being extra generous by allowing us to book on another flight at no additional charge….two days later.

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Actually, it’s a good thing I had that week to get in condition because…LOOK! It’s March! It’s already “Welcome Back Weekend!” The Grand Lake Boat Show runs Thursday-Sunday at the Grove Civic Center. There are parties all weekend, a poker run Saturday, seasonal businesses beginning to open for the Spring, and lots of live entertainment to entice me back out to more bars for more nights. Life is good!

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This would be a good time to point out that Grand Lake has received another national honor as a key destination point. Boat U.S. Magazine has selected nine lakes across the United States as the Best Lakes for Recreational Boating. Right there in the middle of the listings of premier lakes in Arizona, California, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington…there we were: Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. What an honor! And aren’t we lucky to live here?

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Aside from the perfect boating location, we’re #1 in something else…and it’s in something besides obesity, unhealthy habits, and Covid deaths. Of course it’s college football! Associated Press has ranked all college football programs and their records since 1936. The Associated Press results named the University of Oklahoma as the “Greatest College Football Program of All Time.” OU was followed by Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan.

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The scramble is officially on with the retirement of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe. Two current Congressman, a former Speaker of the House, at least one former member of Congress, a couple of candidates who are currently running against Senator James Lankford, Senator Inhofe’s Chief of Staff, and all comers are already running to replace him. At least two Oklahoma Congressional seats (1^st and 2^nd Districts) will be up for grabs with no incumbent running. Let the games begin. It promises to be a battle to see who can fall off the right side of the earth first.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: First, a GIGANTIC shout-out to Grand Laker Don White. Sunday night, he was officially inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. “Helluva deal!” Happy birthday wishes go out this week to David Brauckmann, Mary Lou Manley, Kristin Zumwalt Woolery, Tom Workman, Jim Brown, Ross Gray, Susan Moss, Marla Lopeman, Bradley Jumper, Lisa Cookson, Tara Barnow Smith, Doug May, Debia Feldman, and Tammy Pameticky.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: What a busy weekend of fun for “Welcome Back Weekend.” There an “Icebreaker Poker Run” Saturday. Stops are Arrowhead Yacht Club, VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina, Cedar Port Marina, Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, and Cherokee Yacht Club. Turn your chips in for cards at Cherokee, and stick around for the big party Saturday night. It’s Boat Show time again, too! The Grand Lake Boat & Sport Show is this weekend at the Grove Civic Center. VIP Night Thursday night runs from 6:00-9:00. Regular show hours are 10:00-8:00 Friday, 10:00-7:00 Saturday and 10:00-3:00 Sunday. Saturday is a great WAAMI Fundraising Chili Luncheon at Monkey Island Community Center (11:00-2:00), Saturday night is “Midnight Madness Pickleball” at The Anchor at Shangri-La; and Sunday is a Fundraising Lunch & Auction to benefit great Grand Laker Retta Coats at Vinita High School Cafeteria (lunch at 11:00, auction at noon).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) recorded her first single, "Ringo, I Love You," under the name Bonnie Jo Mason.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma averages more than 3,000 sunny days per year – more than Florida, Texas, or California.  

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I tried to explain that “it’s not about how many times you fall, but about how many times you get back up.” Unfortunately, the officer said, “Yeah, that’s not how a field sobriety test works.”

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Next time I hear about ice and salt, it better be about margaritas.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Today I got gas for $1.57. Unfortunately, it was at Taco Bell.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Police have confirmed that the man who fell from the roof of a nightclub and died was not a bouncer.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What do people in China call their “good” dishes?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: The last eight-day period of February 2022 marks a fun point in history. Every day was a “palindrome date” – reading exactly the same forwards and backwards: 2-21-22, 2-22-22, 2-23-22, etc. Pretty cool mark in history.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Singer-songwriter Gary Brooker, best known for the 1967 hit “A Whiter Shade of Pale” as part of the group Procol Harum, died last week at the age of 76. On “The Flintstones” television series, Wilma had a little baby in February 1963. Pebbles Flintstone is 59 years old!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. Yet those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it.” – Tom Toro

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Thursday night Karaoke & Singo with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend fun at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Kevin Price performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. Thursday night is karaoke night at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island, and Erin Fitzgibbon entertains Friday night at the Swine. Saturday is also karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub.

On South Grand Lake, Cory Lee is on stage Friday night and House Party will provide the music Saturday night at Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill. It’s a big “Welcome Back Weekend” at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill with a Randy Steele acoustic show kicking off the weekend Thursday night, followed by Jake Flint Friday night and The Barrett Lewis Band Saturday. “Welcome Back Weekend” festivities at Cherokee Yacht Club will feature Empire Friday night and True Swagger at Saturday night’s Poker Run Party.

In Grove, Cory Lee entertains Saturday night at The Regatta. There is always Friday night live entertainment at Venue 655 at Grand Lake Casino followed by karaoke Saturday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove, Bobby DeGonia entertains Friday night, and The Brandon Butler Band takes the stage Saturday night.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Brett and Terri in the Echo Bar Thursday night. Friday night features Derryl Perry, and Blacknote Band wraps up the weekend Saturday night.

Club 60 West reopens at River Bend Casino with live music Saturday night by The Faulconer Duo.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda opens for the season this weekend with initial season service Friday-Sunday from 11:00-7:00. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina also opens for the season this weekend, open Thursday-Sunday at 11:00. The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La is open to the public Sunday nights. Blind Swine on Monkey Island will return to its regular season six-day-a-week operating schedule March 15. Bella Donna’s Italian Restaurant and Danny’s Dockside Pizza are both planned for a May 1 opening at Honey Creek Landing Marina (the former location of The Parrot).

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Star Trek: Picard debuts Thursday on Paramount + and the mini-series Joe and Carole will premier Thursday night on Peacock. If you like politics, the best bet is The Circus which returns to Showtime Sunday night at 7:00. Monday night, two big shows return to NBC – Weakest Link at 8:00 and Transplant at 9:00. The 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards will stream live Monday night on Prime Video.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Batman debuts exclusively in movie theaters this week along with Cyrano. After Yang is released this week simultaneously in theaters and on Showtime. Lucy and Desi premiers Friday on Prime Video; and West Side Story makes its streaming debut on Disney+.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 10 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Member Luncheon at Grove Civic Center. Saturday, March 12 – Boater Safety Class at GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center in Langley. Saturday, March 12 – Glow Golf (nighttime golf) at Shangri-La Golf Club (6:00). Sunday, March 13 – First Day of Daylight Saving Time. Tuesday-Thursday, March 15-17 – Spring Break Champ Camp at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Friday-Saturday, March 18-19 – John Sumner’s Big Meat Run below the Pensacola Dam in Disney. Friday-Sunday, March 18-20 – Home & Garden Show at the Grove Civic Center. Saturday, March 19 – St. Patrick’s Day Party at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday, March 20 – Open House at Spring Valley Ranch (1:00-4:00). Saturday, April 9 – InVESTment dinner to raise money for protective vests for Delaware County officers in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La Resort Hotel (6:00).

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In the sports world, PGA players are spread out this week. Top flight players will be in Orlando for the Arnold Palmer Invitational with coverage beginning on The Golf Channel at 1:00 Thursday & Friday and 11:30 Saturday and Sunday. NBC takes over Saturday & Sunday coverage at 1:30. Other players will be in Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Open. Coverage of that event will be at 9:00 Thursday & Friday mornings and 1:30 Saturday & Sunday, exclusively on the Golf Channel.

There’s great college basketball on this final week of regular season play. TCU is at Kansas Thursday night at 7:00 to kick off the weekend. Saturday is a full day – Arkansas at Tennessee at 11:00, Texas Tech at OSU at 2:00, and OU at Kansas State and Texas at Kansas, both at 3:00.  The OU women host Kansas at 2:00 Saturday. The Big XII Tournament gets underway next week – Wednesday, March 9. The Women’s Big XII Tournament begins the next day.

NBA regular season play is back in full swing. The OKC Thunder host Minnesota Friday night at 7:00 and Utah Sunday evening at 6:00, and Milwaukee next Tuesday at 7:00 before hitting the road for a re-match with Minnesota Wednesday night at 7:00.

NASCAR drivers are in Las Vegas this week for the Pennzoil 400. Coverage is on Fox beginning at 2:30 Sunday afternoon.

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What a difference a week makes. “Welcome Back Weekend” weather looks like Ma Nature is ready to give us some fun. It’ll be a little breezy, and there might be a sprinkle or two, but who cares? High temperatures Friday & Saturday will be around 70 degrees, and Sunday’s high should top 60. Low temperatures this week will be warmer than last week’s highs! Enjoy the wide variety of fun around the lake this weekend. Remember, though, no matter where you decide to 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

Cafeteria at The Layk House on Monkey Island

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum

Copper’s Tea and 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

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill at Grand Meridian

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)

Forage 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