October 25 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I enjoyed a great Oktoberfest event over the past weekend. I couldn’t find out where everyone else was enjoying such an event, so I did what I always do. I dragged the liquor to my deck and waited patiently for others to show up. No one did, but I still had a great celebration…as nearly as I recall.

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Now, we move on to Halloween. It’s one of my favorites. You dress up in outrageous clothing, put on a mask, and do whatever you like. If you’ve planned your costume properly, no one will have any idea who you are, so you can get by with almost anything! Admittedly, Halloween seems a little redundant this year because of the Coronavirus. Most of us have been wearing masks and eating candy for a year-and-a-half!

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What a treat to enjoy great food, great friends, and UNBELIEVABLY generous Monkey Islanders last week. Jack Kern and Dan Arnold roasted a pig for a special Guest Chef event at The Shebang raising money for the Monkey Island FUNdraisers’ Kids’ Christmas fund. A lot of kids are going to have a nice Christmas because of this great annual effort. The Guest Chef event at The Shebang raised almost $10,000 – in ONE NIGHT!

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Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is now at 3.0%. Yes, employers are still struggling to fill all their staff positions, but it’s not because of unemployment compensation or laziness. It’s just the simple fact that businesses have grown faster than the population. There just are not enough people. C’mon guys & gals. Did everyone forget what causes the population to increase?

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Senator Blake “Cowboy” Stephens is heading up a legislative study on making Daylight Saving Time permanent. In an area that is so dependent on tourism, that would be a game changer. Attaboy, Cowboy! Keep up the pressure.

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In Japan, they now offer “sleeper buses.” Overnight trips from Osaka to Tokyo feature individual “nap pods” for sleepy travelers. Not to be outdone, The Spa at Shangri-La is now offering a “nap option” to their massage services. Nobody wants to hop up after a relaxing massage, so they’re now offering an optional 15 minutes of “nap time” after massages.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Thursday, Shangri-La President & CEO Barry Willingham is the featured speaker at the South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon at 11:30 at the GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley. Saturday is the Barrels, Broncs & Bulls Rodeo at Grover Round-Up Club (6:00). There are Halloween Parties for adults Saturday night at Big Shots, The Shebang, Monkey Island Pub, Road Hog Saloon, Drunken Rooster, and Blind Swine Monkey Island. There’s a costume party for kids at The Anchor at Shangri-La Saturday from 6:00-8:00. Saturday is also the Haunted Historical Hayride at Har-Ber Village (5:30). Sunday afternoon, VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina will host a Halloween celebration for the youngsters. Next Wednesday (November 3), Janice Good will be the featured Guest Chef at The Shebang.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: In 1899, Chris O'Brien started a semi-pro football team in south Chicago called the Morgan Athletic Club. It was subsequently known as the Normals, the Racine Street Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals and the Arizona Cardinals, professional football's longest continuously operating team.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Barbie did not give me a poor body image. Barbie taught me you can’t reattach a head once it has been removed from the body.  

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Some people are wise. Some are otherwise.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: You will never have abs, anyway. So, eat pizza!

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes. Now I have excellent Heinzsight.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When is the last time the OU Sooners and Grove Ridgerunners football teams were both 8-0?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Common sense is not a gift. It’s a curse because you still have to deal with everyone who doesn’t have it.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Christopher Lloyd, best known for his roles in “Taxi” and the “Back to the Future” trilogy, turned 83 years old over the weekend. Actress Carrie Fisher, best known as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” movies, died in 2016. If she were still alive, she would turn 65 this week.  

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” - Mark Twain

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Cy Elmburg, Julie Wolfe, Paul Staten, Gara Pelcher, Jeff Pelcher, Bruce Brookby, Shelly Sparks, Kaye Slepka, Cathy Barnes, Teesha Clark, Justin Morgan, Christal Lavery, Brian Usher, Michael DiPasquale, and Mitch Whitehead.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the Thursday Night Prime Rib and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La, followed by Jamey Hooper Friday night. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang provides great karaoke fun with Kerry Kimmons Friday and Saturday nights (now starting at 6:00 pm); and just across the street, DJ K-Bandito leads the cavalcade of great DJs and dance music at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Saturday night is also great dancing and singing at Monkey Island Pub’s Halloween Party with DJ Peter – The Night King. Erin Fitzgibbon performs at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island both Wednesday and Friday nights; and Tuesday is Karaoke Night at the Swine.

On South Grand Lake, Jake Flint provides the entertainment Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney, followed by True Swagger on stage for the big Halloween party Saturday night.

In Grove, there will be karaoke fun Friday night at The Regatta.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Larry & Zack in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Lucas Gates both Friday and Saturday nights. The Marshall Tucker Band will be in concert at The Indoor Peoria Showplace at Buffalo Run Casino Saturday night. Oreo Blue wraps up the October Friday Night Live Music at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655. Brent Giddens will perform Friday night at Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Casino, with Identity Crisis on stage Saturday night. Constant Chaos performs Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by D’Elegantz Saturday.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Drunken Rooster opens its doors at Grand Meridian RV Park Friday afternoon at 5:00. Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove has closed their doors. Thursday night Shrimp Boils are over for the year at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. The Thursday night Karaoke fun now moves indoors at Doc’s and the featured special is Prime Rib instead of shrimp. Doc’s has also expanded hours of operation and now offers breakfast 7:00-10:00 a.m. seven days a week (in addition to lunch and dinner). Blind Swine on Monkey Island will also begin serving breakfast on Saturdays & Sundays November 6 (9:00 a.m.). Blind Swine on Duck Creek will close for the season after this weekend. The Grill at Indian Hills has new off-season hours of operation – Thursday-Sunday from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Charlie’s Chicken in Grove has re-opened with seven-day-a-week service. The Landings Market & Grill on Monkey Island is closed for remodeling. Road Hog Saloon is now closed on Tuesdays. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill has new operating hours – open at noon daily, closed Tuesdays. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda now has reduced hours of operation – 4:00-9:00 Thursday, 11:00-9:00 Friday & Saturday, 11:00-8:00 Sunday. Stuff’ns Café in Ketchum is now closing at 2:00 p.m.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Kevin Durant-inspired series Swagger debuts Friday on Apple TV+. CBS Sunday Morning airs at 8:00 a.m.Sunday on CBS. The Voice airs Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Antlers, A Mouthful of Air, and Last Night in Soho debut in movie theaters this weekend. Dune is in theaters and on HBO Max.

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SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday-Thursday, November 3-4 – Oklahoma Marinas Association Annual Conference at Shangri-La. Saturday, November 6 – Last day of Daylight Saving Time. Saturday, November 6 – Chili Cookoff & Best Pie Contest at Blind Swine on Monkey Island (benefitting Community Crisis Center). Thursday, November 11 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Member Luncheon at Grove Civic Center. Thursday, November 18 – South Grand Chamber Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, December 11 – Grand Lake Christmas Light Boat Parade (Cherokee Yacht Club). Saturday, December 11 – Lights on the Lake Grove Christmas Parade (6:00). Monday, December 13 – Grand Lake Association Annual Banquet at Shangri-La Resort.

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SPORTS WATCH: College football is in week # 9 and Tulsa kicks off the weekend Friday night at 6:30 hosting Navy at 6:30. OU and OSU are both at home. OU hosts Texas Tech at 2:30 Saturday – and OSU hosts Kansas at 6:00. Arkansas does not play this week.

It’s finally time for the World Series beginning Tuesday night. I’m sure the TV network executives would have loved to have the Red Sox & Dodgers in the Series…but they got the Astros and Braves. Games are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. In the NFL, Green Bay is at Arizona Thursday night to get the action started. San Francisco is at Chicago, Pittsburgh is at Cleveland, and Philadelphia is at Detroit – all at noon Sunday. The Chargers host New England at 3:00 Sunday; and Denver hosts Washington while Tampa Bay travels to New Orleans, both at 3:30. Sunday night, Dallas is at Minnesota. Monday Night Football features the Giants and Chiefs in Kansas City.

NBA action includes some tough competition for the OKC Thunder. After hosting Golden State and the Lakers back-to-back, the Thunder hit the road Saturday to face Golden State again at 7:30 Sunday night and the Clippers Monday night at 9:30. All games are on Bally Sports 1.

PGA players move from Japan to Bermuda this week for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Coverage is exclusively on The Golf Channel beginning at 12:30 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are in Martinsville Sunday for the Xfinity 500. Coverage begins at 1:00 on NBC.

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At this point, the Halloween weekend weather looks outstanding – sunshine with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Enjoy all the great events this weekend; but no matter where you decide to celebrate, 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

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

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)

Gabby’s Place 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