May 17 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Things are kicking off in a major way on Grand Lake these days. Virtually all seasonal venues are open, bands are lined up virtually everywhere you look, the weather is getting warmer and Shangri-La is preparing to open its new $12 million indoor/outdoor activity park – The Anchor. We’re at the last weekend before the Memorial Day holiday – so make sure your boat is ready, your guest room has clean sheets, and you’re in “Summertime on Grand Lake” mode. We’re underway!

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The peak season is officially here. I can tell by the roar of speeding ATVs everywhere. Sheesh. I had forgotten how irritating those things are.

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I saw a news story last week that took me back to my youth: “Wichita Police Crack Down on Street Racing.” Honestly, I had no idea such a throwback to the muscle car days even existed any more. Apparently it’s a thing, though. Wichita authorities say there have been injuries – even deaths relating to whose car goes faster. I guess some silliness is forever.

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I’ve never seen so much confusion over inappropriately named legislation in my life. The new Cocktails to Go law is not what it sounds like – and it is not yet in effect. It does not mean you can walk into a bar, get a regular cocktail and take it with you. The “Cocktail to Go” must be in a sealed container – you know, like the stuff you get at the liquor store – or the beer and wine you get at a grocery store. The single-serve cocktail has to be in a sealed container and kept in the trunk or back seat of your car unopened. Most clubs won’t even offer them because they’d rather sell you two or three drinks at the bar than sell you one to take home. The biggest confusion (thanks Channel 8) is two-fold: the law is not a one-year law, since there’s no such thing. It is a permanent law – BUT the biggest misconception is that the law is now in effect. It’s not. News coverage has indicated the bill contained an “Emergency Clause” making it immediately effective once receiving the Governor’s signature. It did not contain such a vclause. It was removed by the Senate on April 15. The new law, such as it is, won’t take effect until late August – 90 days after the legislature adjourns. And even then, it won’t allow what you probably think it would allow judging from it’s unfortunate name: Cocktails to Go. Nope. Not so much.

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You still can’t buy booze AT Sonic, but you can now buy booze BY Sonic. Sonic Hard Seltzers are now on the market at most major grocery stores.

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Former President George W. Bush is brushing up his pitching skills. He’ll be at Oklahoma State University Thursday night to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the dedication of Oklahoma State’s new O’Brate Stadium.  Now that he’s 74 years old, we’ll see if he still has the stuff he used to fire a strike in his opening pitch at Game 3 of the 2001 World Series – twenty years ago.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Cosby’s Catfish has begun summer hours – now open until 10:00 p.m. The Patio Bar at Roadhog Saloon is now open 2:00-8:00 Thursday-Sunday. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, and the new Blind Swine on Duck Creek (at Harbors View Marina) are all open for the season. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is now open full-time (Thursday-Sunday), including breakfast service Saturday & Sunday mornings. Both the Balcony Bar at The Shebang and Big Shots Rhythm & Booze are now open for the season every Friday & Saturday night. Brunch is served to the public both Saturday and Sunday mornings at Doc’s Bar & Grill (9:00-2:00) and Sunday Brunch is available at Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00).

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GRAND LAKE BUSINESS UPDATE: Port Carlos Marina is officially now Scissortail Marina – and the new real estate development unveiled there is Marina del Ray.

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce will host Business After Hours at The Regatta Thursday evening. Friday is the South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Shangri-La. Saturday is the Mad Dog 2021 Critter Run bar crawl scavenger hunt on Monkey Island, as well as the Grand Opening Celebration at Marina Del Ray Resort (6:30). Monday evening from 6:00-8:00 is Grove Chamber Trivia Night at The Regatta.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Thursday Night Shrimp Boil and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La this week. Friday night, Jacob Clark provides the live entertainment at Doc’s. After Party kicks off the summer entertainment series Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang provides great karaoke fun with Kerry Kimmons every Friday & Saturday night; and there’s dancing to great music across the street at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.  KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine. Erin Fitzgibbon entertains early Friday night (6:00) followed by The Downbeat late. Saturday night, The Trailer Park Kings entertain at the Swine, and KJ Flip will be back with Cocktails & Karaoke Sunday night. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit at Shangri-La; and Saturday night is Karaoke with Tim at Monkey Island Pub.

In Grove, Brett & Terri entertain at The Regatta Thursday night, followed by KJ Flip Friday night; and Gage Lawson provides the tunes Saturday night.

On South Grand, The Absher, Martin & White Trio will provide the music at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney Friday night. John Hamilton and Prime Time Karaoke will be at Sharky’s Bar at Hammerhead Marina Friday night.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents a Sweet Trouble Acoustic Show in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Donnie Ray Stephens Friday and the full Sweet Trouble band Saturday. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar features music of Taria Lee & Friends Friday night and Jesse Joice Saturday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar, Morgan Squared will be performing Friday night followed by Encore Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Golf's Walker Cup is named for George Herbert Walker, grandfather of President George Herbert Walker Bush and great grandfather of President George W. Bush.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: And you think YOU are having trouble getting a full staff!! Amazon is trying to hire 75,000 new employees. The sale & shipping giant hired 500,000 people in the last year alone. They now have 1.2 million employees, making them the nation’s largest private employer – right behind Wal-Mart.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: With the price of gas, I am glad I have a Tow Boat US membership. When it gets warmer, I’m just gonna call them and have them tow me to VIP pizza and then to Woodard for a bit. When I’m done I’ll have them tow me back to the marina. (post in Grand Lake Boaters by Mike Mallatt)

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: My wife is singing in the house. I’m sitting outside so my neighbors don’t think I’m hitting her.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: It’s only a five-minute walk from my house to the bar; but it’s a 35-minute walk from the bar to my house. The difference is staggering!

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Whenever I try to eat healthy, a chocolate bar looks at me and Snickers.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The Three Dog Night classic “Joy to the World” was the number one hit in America fifty years ago this week! Actor George Clooney turned 60 years old this month, and actress/comedienne/writer/producer/director Tina Fey turns 51 this week.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Randy Hess, Debbie Hess, Julie Meshri, Marilyn Conner, Paula Silzer, James Torchia, Edward Gibbs, Vicki Graper, Kevin Blumenthal, Michelle Hartman, Kolin Williams, Ron Tipton, Mel Martin, Phil Bethel, Don Oden, Ann Turner, Pam Nutting, Todd Mlnarik, Jamie Flud, and Cheryl Ayer.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do people only sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” when they are already at the ball game?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything will be available Friday on Apply TV+. The Billboard Music Awards will be presented live Sunday night at 7:00 on NBC. Master of None returns to NETFLIX Sunday, as well. Things are getting down to the finals on The Voice, airing Monday at 7:00 on NBC; and Crime Scene Kitchen makes its debut next Wednesday night at 8:00 on Fox.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Dry will be released on a limited basis in movie theaters nationwide this week; and Four Good Days is available digitally for rent.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 28 – Grove Chamber Eggs & Issues Breakfast at Episcopal Church (8:00-9:15 a.m.). Saturday, May 29 – First Farmers Market of the Year at Grove Community Center. Friday, June 4 – Summer’s first “Block Party” with Food Trucks in Grove. Saturday, June 5 – Camp Bandage at Grand Lake RV Resort (noon-4:00). Monday-Wednesday, June 7-9 – Youth Tennis Camp at Shangri-La. Wednesday-Thursday, June 9-10 – SLWGA Shangri-La Tee Da Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Golf Club. Thursday-Sunday, June 10-13 – Toes in the Grand Festival at Sniders Campground and Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, June 12 – Daisy Dukes of Hazzard Party at Sharky’s. Saturday, June 12 – Kyle Williams Safe Boating Class at GRDA Ecosystems Building. Friday, June 18 – Grove Rotary Club Lobsterfest at Grove Civic Center.  Saturday, June 19 – Rock the Dock Concert at Check-In Bay (noon-5:00). Saturday, June 19 – Kyle Williams Safe Boating Class at GRDA Ecosystems Building. Monday-Wednesday, June 21-23 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La. Friday-Saturday, June 25-26 – Grand Jam Music Festival at Grand Meridian RV Park. Monday-Wednesday, June 28-30 – Youth Pickleball Camp at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 3 – Monkey Island Fireworks at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 3 – July 3^rd Fireworks Celebration at Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, July 3 – Grand Lake Fireworks at Disney. Sunday, July 4 – Duck Creek Fireworks. Sunday, July 4 – Miami Fireworks at Riverside Park.

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SPORTS WATCH: For Oklahoma City Thunder fans, the 2020-2021 season mercifully came to an end Sunday night – but the Playoffs begin Saturday – without the Thunder.

 The PGA Tour is at Kiawah Island, South Carolina this week for one of the biggies. It’s PGA Championship week. Coverage begins on ESPN at noon Thursday & Friday and 9:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. CBS picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 1:00.

With red-hot OU and OSU in the mix, college softball is a major sport this weekend as regional games are scheduled Friday-Sunday in the Women’s College World Series.

NASCAR drivers are in Austin this week for a little Grand Prix action. Coverage of the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix begins at 1:30 Sunday afternoon on FS1.

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The weather is FINALLY starting to warm up to seasonal temperature norms. Since it’s May, we might have an isolated thundershower or two this weekend, but weather will generally be awesome – with high temperatures around 80 degrees and lows only in the mid-60s. There’s a lot happening this weekend Enjoy all the fun stuff; but remember, 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.

Ailey’s Café in Langley

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)

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

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 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

Red’s Buffet & Ice Cream in Disney

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)

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