September 27 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect weekend than the one just gone by. The weather was a perfect fit for everyone – golfers, power boaters, sailboaters, pickleballers, basketballers – and OU, OSU, Tulsa, and Arkansas all won! It was sure nice of the college football schedulers to put all those games later in the day. Judging from the traffic o the water, I’d say everyone took that opportunity to hit the water!

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Speaking of being on the water, I saw two boats run aground in the shallows around Goat Island Saturday, despite the fact GRDA has “shallow water” buoys all over the place. Pay attention, kids. Remember, the lake level is already at winter elevation – 742’. That’s two feet lower than what we’re accustomed to in the summer months. Be careful out there!

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What happened to September? It’s hard to believe we’ve wrapped up another month. We have to get re-acquainted with recognizing people with their clothes on! It sure is strange to see folks walking around the docks wearing hoodies. Before you know it, we’ll be reaching for coats!

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It’s vacation time for a lot of the folks who work so hard entertaining Grand Lake visitors during the Summer. I started looking for my pals over the weekend and found them scattered all the way from Cape Cod to San Diego – Fort Lauderdale to Seattle – Toronto to Padre Island! Just because some of our full-timers are heading elsewhere, that doesn’t mean Grand Lake isn’t continuing to grow as a tourism destination, though. I met people this week from Sarasota, Phoenix, Chicago, Omaha, New Orleans, Boston, Des Moines, and London. I can’t believe the impact the incredible development at Shangri-La Resort has had. Grand Lake has truly become a major tourism destination for the entire country. And beyond!

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: There is a Grove Merchants Open House Friday & Saturday. Saturday & Sunday is the Heart of a Lion Classic Golf Tournament Presented by Armada Distributing at Shangri-La Golf Club (4:00 p.m. Alternate Shot Horse Race Saturday, 12:30 shotgun start Sunday).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: William "Wild Bill" Donovan is best known as the founder of the Central Intelligence Agency, but he is also the only person to receive the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and the National Security Medal. He was also offered the Croix de Guerre but refused it until a Jewish soldier involved in the same action was given the same honor.

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ODDEST FACT OF THE WEEK: Norway has announced a total ban on the sale of new gasoline powered automobiles beginning in 2025.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I’ll bet aliens ride past earth and lock their doors.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Bud Light is my vacseen.   

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Last week’s weather went from 90 to 55 like it saw a State Trooper.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: If I had a nickel for every pun I’ve posted, I’d have a pun per nickel.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Where in the nursery rhyme does it say Humpty Dumpty is an egg?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I know it shouldn’t bother me. It certainly should irritate me as much as it does – but I walked through a store display of Christmas decorations last week. First we wiped out Thanksgiving. Now, we’ve wiped out Halloween, too! Watch out, Labor Day. You’re next!

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Television’s longest running game show, “The Price is Right,” is celebrating 50 years on the tube! The television series M*A*S*H made it’s debut this week – 49 years ago. Former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 97^th birthday Friday. Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs took to the tennis courts for their “Battle of the Sexes” 48 years ago.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” – H.L. Mencken

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Tim McCrary, Jack Counts, Danny Head, Dan Sitterley, Mike Lillie, Richard Boyd, Jim Anderson, Carl Fiddner, Andy Newman, Mike Mitchell, Robin Bergstrom, Gary Hardman, Chris Merillat, Mary Bulten, Mark Athey, Randy Wheeler, Jerry Lee, Gary Nichols, Thane Swisher, Sue Wilkinson, Reggie Stone, Jan Castelli, Cari Williams, Jared Jeffers, Angela Estep, Colleen Garrett, Katie Allen Thompson, David Hampton, Mickey Thompson, and Sherry Wolf.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the Thursday Night Shrimp Boil and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Friday night, Clint Ingram entertains indoors at Doc’s. 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 following the Saturday night Baylor/OSU college football party at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine. Saturday night is great dancing and singing at Monkey Island Pub -  Karaoke with Tim.

On South Grand Lake, Ronnie Pyle provides the entertainment Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney, followed by DJ Binger Saturday night.

In Grove, DJ Gragg will lead the fun at The Regatta Thursday night, followed by karaoke Friday night, and 3-Dollar Rocket on stage Saturday night.

Casey Donahew will be in concert Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino. Indigo Sky Casino this week presents The Whisky Outlaws Duo in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by The Faulconers Friday night and The Thomas Martinez Band Saturday. Brent Giddens performs Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by Lyle Parman & Sllidebar Saturday.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Landings Market & Grill on Monkey Island is closed until October 15. The Parrot Steakhouse & Grill in Grove is temporarily closed, but some of their menu items are available at Honey Creek BBQ. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill has new operating hours – open at noon daily, closed Tuesdays. Charlie’s Chicken in Grove reopens for indoor service Friday, October 1. Sharky’s Bar and Ugly’s Grill & Bar are closed for the season. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda now has reduced hours of operation – 4:00-9:00 Thursday, Friday & Monday, 11:00-9:00 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: Grey’s Anatomy starts a new season Thursday night at 8:00; and Big Sky debuts Thursday at 9:00, both on ABC. Jon Stewart returns to television on Apple TV+ this week: The Problem with Jon Stewart. A new season of Blue Bloods begins Friday night at 9:00; and the new series CSI: Vegas premieres at 9:00 next Wednesday night, both on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Addams Family 2 opens in theaters this week, along with The Guilty (also available on NETFLIX) and The Many Saints of Newark (also available on HBO Max). Diana is available on NETFLIX Friday.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Sunday, October 7-10 – Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Friday, October 8 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves Golf Club. Saturday, October 9 – Cedar Port Marina Customer Appreciation Party. Saturday, October 16 – Chuck Wagon Dinner & Dance Under the Stars at Har-Ber Village (6:00). Saturday, October 16 – the musical “Gretel” opens at Playmakers in Grove. Saturday-Sunday, October 16-17 – Members Pickleball Tournament at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Friday-Saturday, October 22-23 – Ghosts of Grove Haunted History Tours from the Grove Community Center.

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SPORTS WATCH: College football is in week #5 – and conference play continues. Tulsa kicks off the weekend Friday night at 6:30 hosting Houston (ESPN). OU is on the road at Kansas State at 2:30 Saturday (Fox) and OSU hosts Baylor at 6:00 (ESPN2). Arkansas is at Georgia at 11:00 Saturday morning (ESPN).

NFL Football is in the season’s fourth week. Jacksonville is at Cincinnati to kick off the week Thursday night at 7:00 (NFL Network). Sunday, you’ll need multiple screens at noon as Kansas City is at Philadelphia, Cleveland is at Minnesota, and Carolina is at Dallas, all at noon. The Rams host Arizona at 3:00. Baltimore is at Denver (CBS) and Pittsburgh is at Green Bay (Fox) at 3:30; and Tampa Bay is at New England Sunday night at 7:00 (NBC). Monday Night Football sends Las Vegas to L.A. to face the Chargers (7:00 on ESPN).

In the world of professional golf, it’s the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 3:00 Thursday-Sunday.

Major League Baseball wraps up the regular season this weekend. The 10-team Playoff Schedule starts next Tuesday.

NASCAR drivers are racing at Talladega Sunday continuing the Round of 12 Playoffs. Coverage of the YellaWood 500 begins at 1:00 Sunday on NBC.

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Weather for the weekend ahead looks picture perfect for outdoor activities – sunshine, light winds, and high temperatures around 80 and low of about 60. There’s plenty happening around the lake this weekend, so get out an enjoy all you can – indoors or outdoors! No matter where 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.

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)

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

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