November 23 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Well, I’ll say this. Governor Stitt’s new Executive Order to close all bars and restaurants at 11:00 p.m. should certainly make for a different kind of New Year’s Eve celebration this year! I guess we’ll just have to watch the ball drop in New York at celebrate with the east coasters at midnight Eastern Time! Instead of Central Standard Time, we can call it Central Covid Time and celebrate at 11:00. I can hear the bar owners in the countdown already – “5,4,3,2,1…Happy New Year. Now, get out!”

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Maybe the new 11:00 p.m. closing time for bars should cause us to re-think our drinking habits. If bars have to close three early, shouldn’t they open three hours early, as well. Most of my favorite hangouts open at 4:00. Maybe they should start opening at 1:00 p.m. so we could still drink our quota. My mama used to tell me, “Nothing much good happens after midnight.” She would sure be surprised to see us now. Nothing AT ALL happens after midnight. Nothing even happens after 11:00 p.m.

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While we’re on the subject of day-drinking, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! My favorite holidays of the year are Thanksgiving and New Year’s. No big crowds. No old friends showing up unexpectedly asking for boat rides. No one showing up unexpectedly looking for a place to crash. These are the only two holidays dedicated exclusively to eating, drinking, and watching football. Enjoy your weekend. I’m so excited, I started celebrating a weekend early! Another Grand Lake ten-day holiday!

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The weather-delayed nighttime “Glow Golf” competition at Shangri-La last weekend was too much fun. I must be good at nighttime golf, because I didn’t seem to play any worse than I do in the daytime!

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The Federal Aviation Administration has once again cleared the 737 MAX to fly again commercially. That’s the plane that was grounded for 20 months after two crashes that killed 346 passengers. Oh, well. That’s seems like a small number compared to Coronavirus deaths, I suppose. And at least the airliner returns to the skies when fewer people are flying.

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If you’re nervous about flying commercially, stop by your neighborhood Costco Store. Costco is now offering memberships in the Wheels Up jet charter service. For a mere $17,499.99, you get a Wheels Up membership, a $3,500 Costco card, a $4,000 flight credit, membership in Insparato luxury vacation rentals, and access to exclusive events. That $17,500, by the way, only includes membership in the charter service and the vacation company – not the cost of the actual flights or vacations. If you don’t want the Costco card, flight credit, or vacation membership, you can by a Wheels Up membership for the low, low price of only a couple of grand. Again, that’s just for the privilege of buying flights, not any actual flights.  The cost of the actual flights ranges from $4,000-8,000 per hour. But, you have eight seats, so….Fly Costco?

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Actually, there’s a better way to go. When I grow up, I want to be like my pal David Bendel. I noticed a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter circling around the lake Friday. It kept getting lower and lower, so I followed it to see if there was going to be a crash. Nope. It was Bendel, arriving on the Grand Lawn at Shangri-La Resort with Erin Burgess to celebrate their wedding engagement. Nicely done, David. Go big or go home, right?

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Shebang will be closed Thanksgiving Day (one of the 2 days they are closed each year); and Monkey Island Pub will be closed Thanksgiving Day. The Artichoke Restaurant will be closed Thanksgiving Day, as well as Friday and Saturday nights this week. The Summit at Shangri-La will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but Doc’s Bar & Grill will be open. Blind Swine will be open Thanksgiving evening from 6:00-11:00 p.m. – bar service only. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is extending their weekend operating schedule through December 20 (Fri 4:00-8:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-8:00 – no breakfast service). The popular “Sunday Brunch” is offered to the public at Doc’s Bar & Grill (9:00-2:00) and Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00).

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thanksgiving Dinner at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La all day Thursday. Friday, is Shangri-La Members “Black Friday Seafood Extravaganza” at The Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village Christmas display officially opens to the public Friday at Har-Ber Village. The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La. Grove Playmakers presents an exhibit highlighting the 34 shows done in the past 25 years at Playmakers in Grove Saturday & Sunday (1:00-8:00 p.m.) through December 6. Friday night is “Sip, Shop, and Sashay night at The Shebang Restaurant featuring modeling of fashions from the Den of Uniquity. Saturday night at 9:00, Blind Swine will show the Tyson-Jones fight.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Erin Fitzgibbon performs Friday night for Live Swine Friday at Blind Swine; and he’s back on stage at the Swine Tuesday. Saturday night, the Swine will present live coverage of the Tyson-Jones fight at 9:00. Terry Jordan performs at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Big Shots will feature Karaoke fun on Friday night and dancing to your favorite tunes Saturday night. Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with DJ Tim Saturday night.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Dewayne Bowman Thursday in the Echo Bar, followed by The Faulconers Friday and Thomas Martinez Saturday. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, The Brandon Butler Band will be on stage Friday night followed by Jesse Joice Saturday.

Monday night, November 30, five time Grammy Award winner Wynonna Judd will be live in concert at the Coleman Theatre in Miami.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: According to actress Julia Roberts, the hospital bill for her birth was paid by Coretta Scott King.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: You can tell the age of a Christmas tree by counting the lines of duct tape on the box.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Get your relatives speaking to one another again by sending a heartfelt Christmas card with a picture of your family with an extra child nobody knows.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Save and compare: Trojan condoms $3.25 – Huggies Diapers $22.00.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Prayer is the best way to meet God. Trespassing is the fastest.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I got thrown out of my local park after arranging the squirrels by height. They didn’t like my critter sizing. (thanks to Jon Wilson for this one)

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: When I die, I want my headstone to read, “Well, that was stupid. You can put my beer down now.”

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Remember sexy, beautiful Bo Derek in the movie “10?” She’s still sexy and beautiful, but she turned 64 last week. Rocket “Rocky” J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose were introduced to cartoon fans 61 years ago.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Dawn Cook, Steve Bruno, Linda Lippitt, J.B. Robison Jr., Reid Smith, Judy Keeton, Amanda Payne, Debi Holcomb White, Ron Miller, Amber Hopeman, Marvin Jin, Mike Ferguson, Terry Davis, Sandra Moore, Mike Vaughn, Gary Burke, Jade Piper, Diane Moll, Benjamin Gibbs, Dave Faulkner, Katrena Winter, Marty Follis, Greg Knotts, and McKayla Rutherford.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do they allow loud laughing in Hawaii, or just a low ha? (thanks to Sarah Williams for this one)

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Wonderful World of Disney Magical Holiday Celebration airs Thanksgiving night at 8:00 on ABC. The Disney Holiday Singalong airs Monday night at 7:00 followed by The CMA Country Christmas at 8:00, both on ABC. Seal Team launches next Wednesday night at 8:00 with a two-hour special on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Croods is in movie theaters this weekend. The Christmas Chronicles 2 and Mosul are available Friday on NETFLIX. Black Beauty is on Disney+ and Superintelligence is on HBO Max.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Our willingness to believe the impossible and doubt the obvious is remarkable.” – Randy Krehbiel

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, December 4 – “Gateway to Grand Lake Christmas Parade” in Ketchum (6:30). Saturday, December 5 – Cherokee Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade. Saturday, December 5 – Ugly Sweater Contest at Monkey Island Pub. Friday, December 11 – Christmas Carols at the Coleman Theatre in Miami. Saturday, December 12 – Grove Christmas Parade. Saturday, December 12 – Offroad Christmas Parade in Disney (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 12 – Big Band Christmas at the Coleman Theatre. Monday, December 14 – Electoral College votes to elect U.S. President. Saturday, December 19 – Christmas Costume Contest at Monkey Island Pub. Thursday, December 31 – Late-Night New Year’s Eve Buffet at Doc’s Bar & Grill (until 4:00 a.m.).

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SPORTS WATCH: The NFL season heads into week #12 – and Thanksgiving week is always a big one. Thursday’s traditional Thanksgiving Day games include Houston at Detroit (11:30 on CBS), Washington at Dallas (3:30 on Fox) and Baltimore at Pittsburgh (7:00 on NBC). Sunday games include Arizona at New England (noon on Fox), Cleveland at Jacksonville (noon on CBS), Kansas City at Tampa Bay (3:30 on CBS), and Chicago at Green Bay (7:00 on NBC). Monday Night Football features the Seattle Seahawks at the Philadelphia Eagles (7:00 on ESPN).

College football battles are getting really important now. OU is at West Virginia this week, OSU hosts Texas Tech, Tulsa is at Houston, Arkansas is at Missouri, Baylor hosts Kansas State and TCU travels to Kansas.

PGA golfers have the holiday week off. Next up on the Tour? The Mayakoba Golf Classic next week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

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Weather for the holiday weekend ahead starts out nice on Thanksgiving Day, then will probably slide downhill a little. Thursday’s high will be in the mid-60s with sunshine. Rain chances return Friday-Sunday with a little cooler weather. Sunday, the bottom begins to drop out with a high around 50, dipping into the upper 20s Sunday night. Plan your outdoor activities accordingly – and enjoy the holiday fun, 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 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

Henrie’s Grill 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

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

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)

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 Pouhouse 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

Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove