August 4 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
I hope you took advantage of the “tax-free” holiday over the past weekend to gather up all the supplies you need for back-to-school and all of your other basic needs covered by the sales tax exemption. Unfortunately, alcohol was not included in the “tax-free holiday,” but I ran across something almost as good. The energy drink Celsius issued an emergency recall because a bunch of their energy drink containers were inadvertently filled with High Noon vodka seltzer. I don’t know if anyone returned their mislabeled “energy drinks,” but I now have a few cases of Celsius that I’ve never tried before! It’s the first time I’ve gotten a “buzz” from an energy drink. I’ll bet their sales are through the roof!
*****
Heads up! If you’re traveling to or from Monkey Island, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is starting work this week on the widening of the Monkey Island causeway bridge. They’re adding another lane over the next few months. ODOT says they don’t anticipate the need to limit traffic to one lane…but, of course they also said they were going to start work on the project in April, so I guess we’ll see how it goes. You might be smarter to travel to the Island by boat.
*****
Speaking of boating, this weekend is the big Woodstock on the Water raft-up & concert in Leon Russell Cove celebrating the 85th birthday of Grand Lake. It’s the last big on-the-water concert on the schedule for this summer, so get out there and have some raft-up fun!
*****
Well, here’s something Grand Lake entrepreneurs haven’t thought of yet. There’s a new club open in Branson – Silver Seduction. It’s a strip club featuring performers aged 70 and older. Club owner Dolores McCarthy explained it this way: “People still want to have fun, no matter their age – on either side of the stage!”
*****
That big ol’ “kiss-cam” scandal from the Coldplay concert won’t go away. You remember that one, right? The big company CEO caught on camera in a romantic embrace with his company’s HR Director? Of course his wife is divorcing him, and her husband is divorcing her, but there’s another new twist. Now the HR Director is suing her former boss claiming their relationship was a violation of professional boundaries and a breach of workplace ethics. Don’t mess with HR!
*****
If you needed another reason to NOT trust “Artificial Intelligence,” here’s one. There’s a new Facebook page called “Monkey Island Oklahoma.” Just for grins, I clicked on the AI link to learn more. It said two interesting things: 1) “The area known as Monkey Island is part of Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma; and 2) “The origin of the name Monkey Island is unclear, but one story claims it came from a vendor selling monkeys at the lake in the 1960s and 70s.” Surely I don’t need to tell you that neither of those things is true. Perhaps “Artificial Intelligence” is just the new title of “Fake News.”
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Don Baxter, Kari Filson, Linda McCulla, Jaiden Jennings, JoAnn Brice, Steve Bashore, Madelyn Clogston, Nancy Gibbs, Homer Myers, Michelle Graham, Casey Smith, Carol Merciez, Margaret Erling, Aracelly Jameson, Jamie Perryman, and Heather Cole.
*****
BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: The Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo in Vinita is underway continuing through Saturday. Shangri-La’s Member-Guest Tournament Festivities fill the schedule Thursday-Saturday this week. Friday is a Women’s 5K Fun Run beginning at Raggedy’s in Grove (7:30 p.m.). The Annual Woodstock on the Water raftout and concert is in Lawhead Hollow (Leon Russell Cove Friday & Saturday (raftout Friday night, concert Saturday 1:00-5:00). Farmers Market is Saturday morning on the Downtown Square in Grove. Sunday from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Edge’d Up Barbershop and Ozark Chop Shop (414 E. 3rd in Grove) will be giving free “back to school haircuts” for kiddos.
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Eighteenth-century fashion is said to have included fake eyebrows made from mouse skins.
*****
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: A single acre of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as four acres of trees.
*****
ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: “Big Ben” is actually the name of the name of the bell itself, not the actual tower.
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: There are so many scams on the internet nowadays. Send me $19.95 and I will tell you how to avoid them.
*****
WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: For some unknown reason, “Monosyllabic” has five syllables.
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: For fast riders, we have fast horses. For slow riders, we have slow horses. For those who have never ridden, we have horses that have never been ridden.
*****
BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: You’re not drinking enough water if you need a $50 cup to keep it cold until next Tuesday.
*****
PUN OF THE WEEK: The Spaniards harvested crystals and sent them abroad by ship. It was then that it was first determined how many quartz were in a galleon.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why are all the instruments searching for intelligent life pointed away from Earth?
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Why does big pharma have a drug to treat everything…but a cure for nothing?
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “If you want to reach a large audience, appeal to idiots.” – Arthur Schopenhauer
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: NFL Star-turned-color commentator Tom Brady turned 48 this week. Film and TV legend Martin Sheen turned 85.
*****
BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Sundown Entertainment hosts Thursday night karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.) and Scott Musick performs live Friday night at Doc’s. Torn will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. There’s Music Bingo with Sundown Entertainment Wednesday night at The Monkey Bar, Rockstar Karaoke with DJ Kennedy Friday night, live music by Erin Fitzgibbon Saturday night and an Open Jam session Sunday afternoon at 3:00. Megan Faulconer will be on stage Saturday night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.
In Grove, Carl Acuff, Jr. will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Zach Glover & Vintage Saturday night. The Bak Beatz entertain Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by TJ Scarlett Saturday night. Morgan Entertainment leads the karaoke fun at Boom at The Regatta Friday night and hosts Singo competition Tuesday. There’s musical Bingo every Wednesday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon; and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar.
On South Grand Lake, Lil’ Red & COBE will kick off the weekend Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by The Downbeat Saturday night and Brent Giddens Sunday afternoon. After Wednesday night’s Open Mic Night, Ryan Graham starts the weekend music Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by The High Fidelics Friday night, The Dustin Pittsley Band Saturday night, and The Smith Brothers Sunday afternoon (4:00). Thursday night, there’s karaoke with Morgan Entertainment at Blind Swine Duck Creek. The Barrett Lewis Band will perform at Saturday afternoon’s Woodstock on the Water event in Leon Russell Cove from 1:00-5:00. Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be at Blind Swine next Tuesday evening. Glam R Us entertains Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora.
It’s rodeo week in Vinita – and Mark Chamberlain will perform Friday night at the American Legion Hall in Vinita followed by Lickitty Split Saturday night. There are three nights of live music at Indigo Sky Casino beginning with Brett & Terri Thursday night. Sunset Circle takes the stage Friday night, and Black-Eyed Jack takes over Saturday. Left of Center entertains Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar; and Diversity will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night.
*****
DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Cristobal’s Tamales food truck is now serving at The Monkey Bar Friday & Saturday nights (8:00ish). Rise-N-Dine in Ketchum is now serving dinner 5:00-10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday and until 9:00 Sunday-Tuesday. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill no longer serves brunch on Saturdays. They now open at noon; and the kitchen is now open until 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: American Prince: JFK, Jr. airs Saturday night at 9:00 on CNN. SEC Football: Any Given Saturday is available on NETFLIX.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Weapons and Freakier Friday both open in movie theaters Friday.
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, August 15 – Mary Moore Charity Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Resort. Friday-Sunday, August 15-17 – Back to School Bash Fun Run at the off-road area at Disney. Saturday, August 16 – Spirit Fair at Rustic and Rebellious in Grove (11:00-4:00). Thursday-Saturday, August 21-23 – Grove Pro Rodeo at Crosswired Cowboy Church (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, August 23 – 3rd Annual Battle of the Jeeps at the off-road area at Disney. Friday-Sunday, August 29-31 – Jana Jae Fiddle Camp. Friday-Monday, August 29-Sept. 1 – Labor Day Crawl at the off-road area at Disney. Saturday, August 30 – Bullfest at the Lake at Wolf Creek Park in Grove (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, August 30 – Grand River Dam Paddle competition below the Pensacola Dam. Monday, September 8 – Good Good Golf Battlefield Shootout at The Battlefield at Shangri-La followed by dinner with the Pros on Doc’s Patio at 7:00. Monday, September 8 – South Grand Lake Foundation “Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament at The Coves benefiting the Ketchum Warriors Backpack Program (9:00 a.m. shotgun).
*****
Are you ready for some football? The NFL Preseason is underway. The Hall of Fame Game is behind us and the official Week #1 of preseason play gets underway this week. If you have access to the NFL Network, there are plenty of televised games Thursday-Sunday. Don’t get too excited, though. There probably won’t be a lot of players you recognize – and neither the Cowboys nor the Chiefs are televised this week.
There are other options, though. The WNBA has several great games this week, including Indiana at Phoenix Thursday (9:00), Chicago at Indiana Saturday (7:00), four big televised games Sunday, and Dallas at Indiana next Tuesday (6:30).
On the PGA Tour, players are in Memphis this week for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Coverage begins Thursday & Friday at 1:00 and Saturday & Sunday at noon on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.
NASCAR drivers are at Watkins Glen, New York this week for the Go Bowling at The Glen race. Coverage is on USA Sunday afternoon at 1:00.
There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week including The Chicago Cubs at St. Louis both Saturday & Sunday at 6:00. If you’re a Cubs follower, they’ll also be at Toronto next Tuesday at 6:00.
*****
Summertime is back on Grand Lake this weekend. We’ll have highs in the mid-90s with lows in the mid-70s. It’s a perfect weekend for Woodstock on the Water. That’s not all, though. There are plenty of really fun things happening around the lake this weekend; so get out and enjoy the last weekend before school starts! Remember, though, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!
GRAND LAKE BUM
If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only$50 a week and the list of readers continues to grow. E-mail grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.
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.
Anchor Sports Bar & Activity Park at Shangri-La
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights)
Billy’s Burger Bar & More in Ketchum
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM at The Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge)
Bradford BBQ in Ketchum
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Casa Gutierrez in Gro
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanellas on Monkey Island
Chicken Coop west of Langley
Chubby’s Grill at On Target in Grove
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
Cregan’s Confections & Ice Cream (Ketchum)
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drift at the Regatta (at Sailboat Bridge in Grove)
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill (Cleora)
Drunken Rooster – on the Water (Grove)
E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina
Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek
Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort
Gambino’s Pizza in Ketchum
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Getaway Mercantile (north of Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Coffee Company in Grove
Hero’s Deli in Grove
Hero’s Deli in Langley
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)
Island Bar & Grill at The Landings Marina
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
Keagan’s Coffee at Littlefield Corner
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Legacy Eatery in Grove
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Matt’s Place in Grove
Monkey Bar on Monkey Island
Monkey Island RV Resort
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney
Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Monkey Island Trail Rides
Monkey Island Winery
Mosa Hibachi and Sushi in Grove
Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
One-Eyed Monkey at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island
Pappy’s Bar on Hwy 10 east of Grove
Pickles at the Lake in Langley
Pier 13 Liquor Store in Langley
Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove
Pit Stop Café in Grove
Poppin’ on Grand in Cleora
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor
R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove
Raggedy’s in Grove
Rancho Viejo in Grove
Rise-N-Dine, Ketchum
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island
Royal Liquor Store in Grove
Scissortail Lounge at Scissortail Marina
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina
South 125 Bar & Grill on Monkey Island
Speedy’s Chophouse in Grove
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 Artichoke Restaurant in Langley
The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)
The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)
Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina
VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove
