Weekend Before Christmas in Review By The Grand Lake Bum
Just a few more days now, and we can stack the Christmas stuff on the back of the storage files and get back to good music on the radio. The big day is almost here, as the old cynical Christmas saying goes, “when we sit in our living rooms in front of a dead tree, eating candy out of our socks.” I have my stockings hung by the chimney with care, by the way. This year, I hung pantyhose. I hope Santa gets the hint. Seriously, though, as we close in on the big day, I hope your Christmas is safe, fun, filled with friends…and that it’s not icy!
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I had a fantastic time Friday night visiting with friends at the big Sagitarrian/Christmas Party at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Papa Larry Duke put on the culinary show, feeding his flock ham & beans, cornbread, and his patented rum cake. If you missed it, you missed one of the great parties of the year.
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As it turns out, it’s a good think I partied hard Friday night. The Grand Lake weather dealt us the first nasty blow of the yearSaturday night – but we sure extended perfect fall weather as long as we could – and I’m sure there’s more nice weather to come. The 2016 Winter Solstice date is 4:44 a.m. Wednesday, December 21. That means we start getting a few more minutes of sunlight each day from now until summer! We’re on the downhill slide now!
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I had a great time Saturday night watching the telecast of the Grand Lake Christmas Lights Boat Parade. All of us in the Tulsa TV viewing area got the program Saturday night. Joplin viewers will catch the boat parade Christmas Eve at 12:30 p.m.(KSNF). OKC viewers can catch the Grand Lake Christmas celebration on the water Christmas morning at 11:30 (KWTV).
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We have a new place to spend some indoor winter hours on Grand Lake. Congratulations to all involved in the development and construction of our newest area casino. Cherokee Casino Grove is now open. Enjoy. I can’t wait until Spring when we’ll add the new Shangri-La Resort Hotel to our entertainment options. I’m thinking 2017 is going to be one hell of a year for Grand Lake’s economy. We’ll all find out soon. Our best indicator is action at the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show – and that great event is just a little over a month away. Show opening is January 30 at the River Spirit Expo at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
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If you haven’t already heard, both houses of the U.S. Congress last weekend gave final approval to legislation transferring ownership of the Grand Lake Flowage Easements from the Corps of Engineers to the Grand River Dam Authority. Lots of Grand Lakers have been working with Senators Inhofe and Lankford to get this done. Thank goodness Grand Lake development will now be supervised by regulators who are actually familiar with the lake – and who actually know and care about the property owners here. Weird, huh? Something good can come out of Congress, after all! Special thanks to Senator Inhofe who personally got this important language inserted into legislation.
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As is often the case, nothing good happens without being followed immediately by something foolish. Oklahoma State Senate Majority Leader Greg Treat (R-Edmond/Deer Creek/OKC) and State Representative Leslie Osborn (R-Mustang) have called for a study of putting a band-aid on government’s sad economic state by crippling progress at Grand Lake. They have called for a study to sell the Grand River Dam Authority to a private company. I’m confused. They were both in the legislature last year when the idea raised its ugly head again and was promptly dropped when cooler, wiser heads prevailed. Let’s hope there are still a few cooler, wiser heads in the legislature. Gideon Tucker was right: “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
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Maybe we need to try a little harder if we want the rest of the world to think about us like we think about ourselves. Forbesjust published their list of “Most Reputable Countries” based on the world view of those countries. The United States did not make the Top 20. The top five (in order) were Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and Norway.
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Fortunately, if you look hard enough, you’ll find logic and integrity in the Oklahoma legislature. Here’s some from Representative David Perryman (D-Chickasha): "The Grand River Dam Authority is working like it was designed to work and its sale has the potential of rendering devastation to the economy of northeastern Oklahoma."
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FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I just ordered a Life Alert bracelet; so if I ever get a life, I’ll be notified immediately.
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PAY RAISE NEGOTIATION TIP: “I told my boss three companies were after me and I needed a raise to stay at my current job. He asked which three were interested. I said the gas. Electric. And cable.” (thanks to my pal, Garry Toomey for sharing this one)
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can’t even get into my own pants.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday wishes go out this week Terry Graham, Tiffany Green, Denise Whitson, Jessica Graham, Casey Musgrove, Scott Roberts, Will Rosebure, and Nancy Wyatt. Congratulations, too, to Grand Lake real estate broker Cari Williams who has just been named Managing Broker of the new Chinowth & Cohen Grand Lake Real Estate office. That should be handy for Cari. Her new office is right across the street from The Shebang! A super holiday shout-out goes to the hard-working, generous volunteers and donors from the Monkey Island FUNdraisers, Women’s Auxiliary Association of Monkey Island, JL’s Toy Run, and South Grand Lakers Helping Children. Hundreds of Grand Lake area kids who would otherwise have nothing, will have a wonderful Christmas this year because of these great groups!
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why didn’t Noah just swat those two mosquitoes?
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Take a little spin around the lake and enjoy the great Christmas lights. Great displays are at Pine Lodge Resort, Twin Bridges State Park, and Har-Ber Village.
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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s plenty of great musical entertainment around the lake this weekend, including Randy Lunsford performing in the Burlesque Room at the Shebang leading up to Christmas. Friday night is karaoke night at Monkey Island Pub, and there’s always great weekend fun at the Road Hog Saloon.
Area casinos have great musical options this weekend, as well, highlighted by Members Only performing Friday night at the brand new Cherokee Casino Grove. The weekend at Downstream Casino kicks off with Friday night music from The Uncrowned Kings at Legends Sports Bar. Saturday night, music will be provided by The Jason Kinney Band. Howard Gayles will perform in Downstream’s Lover’s Leap Lounge both nights. At Indigo Sky Casino, there is live entertainment in the Echo Bar starting Thursday night with music by The Brandon Butler Band. Nick Gibson will entertain Friday night followed by The Band DeLorean on Christmas Eve. The Bobby D Band will entertain Friday night at Wyandotte Casino’s Club 60 West; and Grand Lake’s own Lickitty Split will play Thursday night at the all-new Venue at Grand Lake Casino.
The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action, including college football bowl games, NBA basketball, and NFL games are the Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La, Monkey Island Pub, the Standing Room Only Bar at The Shebang, Road Hog Saloon, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Hookers at Cherokee Yacht Club.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Dreamworks’ animated series Trollhunters will be available Friday on NetFlix. The 27th Annual Grand Lake Christmas Lights Boat Parade airs Saturday afternoon at 12:30 in Joplin/Pittsburgh (KSNF) and Sundaymorning at 11:30 in Oklahoma City (KWTV-9). The 39th Annual Kennedy Centers Honors will be televised Tuesday night at 8:00 on CBS.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Fences and Silence
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Never buy flowers from a monk. Only you can prevent florist friars.” – Smokey the Bear?
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, December 30 – Johnny Lee concert at The Venue at Grand Lake Casino. Saturday, December 31 – Wine Dinner at the Summit at Shangri-La. Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Bash at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze ($25 per couple including toast and Papa Duke’s breakfast pizza). Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Party at Road Hog Saloon featuring The Street Kings. Saturday, December 31 – The Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Party at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina. Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve at Cherokee Yacht Club features dinner, dancing, champagne toast, breakfast, and entertainment by Susan Wright, Terry Jordan, Mass FX and The Fabulous Two-Man Band. Thursday, January 19 – OKC Boat and RV Show opens at the Cox Convention Center. Monday, January 30 – Opening Night for the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show (South Grand Lake Chamber buses -$35 per person including show tickets – will leave from the Grove Civic Center at 4:00 and Reasor’s in Langley at 5:00. To reserve seats, call the Chamber at918-782-3214.)
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In the college football world, there are bowl games galore virtually every day for the foreseeable future, but unless you’re really interested in whether teams like Old Dominion are better than someone called Eastern Michigan, etc., there aren’t many good ones. There are a few, though – Louisiana Tech plays Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl Friday at 3:30 (ESPN). There are no other biggies (in my mind, at least) until next Monday when North Carolina State plays Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl (4:00 on ESPN2). Better games start next Tuesday when Army and North Texas face off in the Heart of Dallas Bowl (11:00), Minnesota faces Washington State (6:00) and Boise State takes on Baylor in the Cactus Bowl (9:15), all on ESPN. Next Wednesday kicks off Big 12 play with West Virginia facing Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl at 1:00, and Texas A&M taking on Kansas State in the Texas Bowl at 8:00, both on ESPN.
NFL games have a strange schedule due to the Christmas holiday. Action gets underway Thursday night with the N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia (7:30 on NBC). There’s a rare Saturday line-up this week with the New England Patriots hosting the N.Y. Jets (CBS) and Green Bay hosting Minnesota (Fox), both at noon. At 3:30, Tampa Bay is at New Orleans (Fox). Saturday night, Cincinnati will be in Houston at 7:30 (NFL). Christmas Day, Baltimore is at Pittsburgh (3:30 on NFL) as a prelude to one of the biggest rivalries of all – Denver at Kansas City Christmas night at 7:30 on NBC. Monday night, Detroit is at Dallas (7:30on ESPN).
In the NBA, Thursday night is a Los Angeles night – the Lakers are in Miami at 7:00 and the Clippers host the Spurs at 9:30, both on TNT. Friday night, the OKC Thunder is in Boston at 6:30 (NBA and Fox Sports Oklahoma) and the Clippers host the Mavericks (9:30 on NBA). Christmas Day is a big NBA day. Boston is at New York at 11:00 (ESPN), Golden State is at Cleveland at 1:30 and Chicago is at San Antonio at 4:00, both on ABC. Christmas night, the OKC Thunder host Minnesota at7:00 and the crosstown rival Clippers and Lakers face off at 9:30, both on ESPN.
College basketball has a pair of good games Thursday – Tulsa at Stephen F. Austin at 3:30 on ESPNU, and Kansas at UNLV at 8:00 on CBSSN.
The PGA Tour is taking a holiday break. The pros will be back on the course January 5 in Maui for the Tournament of Champions.
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The Christmas weekend weather forecast for Grand Lake isn’t perfect – but it’s a whale of a lot better than last weekend. High temperatures Friday will be in the 50s. Saturday & Sunday will be a little cooler, with highs in the 40s. We might get a few showers Saturday – and maybe even a few snow flurries on Christmas Day – but at least it won’t be so cold! Be safe, be kind, have a wonderful Christmas holiday - and 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.
1909 in Downtown Grove
American Grill in Grove
Aquabar & Grill at The Landings Marina on Monkey Island (smoking on the deck)
Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (smoking upstairs—open Friday & Saturday nights)
Bobbers Café in Langley
Book ‘ems at South Wind Marina in Bernice
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patios)
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café Italia on Monkey Island
Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)
Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and on Monkey Island
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Frosty & Edna’s (west of the dam in Langley)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lodge in Ketchum (smoking)
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
High Winds Casino east of Miami (smoking)
Indigo Sky Casino west of Seneca, Mo. (smoking)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
Karrie's Kaboose in Vinita (smoking)
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lakeside Bar & Grill in Grove at Sail Boat Bridge
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Morrows Bar & Grill in Raper Hollow
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Okie Smokies Barbecue in Grove on Hwy 59 South
Book ‘ems Restaurant & Pub at South Wind Marina in Bernice
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
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island (smoking...but not at lunch)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Scooters in Langley (smoking)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
Smokin’ Spur BBQ & Trading Post at Old Towne Plaza, Cleora
Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum
Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)
Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Landings Marina (smoking on the deck)
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 Office on Monkey Island (smoking)
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
Wyandotte Nation Casino at Twin Bridges (smoking)
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