January 6 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
It’s SHOWTIME! January means major boat show time, and there are two big indoor shows for you to enjoy this weekend. One is in Tulsa – The Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa’s Cox Business Convention Center. The other is in Oklahoma City at the Bennett Event Center at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Both shows feature a Thursday night VIP night, followed by three days of public exhibition Friday-Sunday. This Tulsa show is bigger. There are 15 boat dealers exhibiting at the Oklahoma Boat Expo in Tulsa, including six Grand Lake dealers. – Cigarette Midwest, Grand Lake Boat Sales, Iguana, MarineMax, Nichols Marine, and Ugly John’s. The Oklahoma City show includes displays by 11 boat dealers. Three Grand Lake dealers will also be in the Oklahoma City show – Arrowhead Boat Sales, Nichols Marine, and Ugly John’s. Nichols Marine and Ugly John’s are the only two Grand Lake dealers with exhibits at both shows this weekend. Enjoy!
*****
If you can’t make it to one of the shows this weekend, there are more upcoming options you may want to put on your calendar. There’s another boat & RV show coming up later this month in Tulsa – the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show at the fairgrounds January 27-February 2. There will be three Grand Lake dealers in that show – Arrowhead, Blackbeard, and Toons. If you’re a golfer, Shangri-La Resort has a couple of upcoming shows on their calendar in addition to the Tulsa show this weekend. They’ll be spreading the Grand Lake news at the St. Louis Golf Expo January 31-February 2 and the Kansas City Golf Show February 21-23.
*****
Dropping temperatures have finally reminded us that it is, in fact, the winter season. I’ve often said that I hate winter so much, it’s made me hate fall and spring because they touch it. I absolutely cannot wait until it’s 70 degrees at night and daylight ‘til 9:00 p.m.
*****
It could be worse. We could be in Kansas City. It’s sort of ironic for folks to have difficulty getting to Denver because of weather somewhere else..but that’s what happened to the Kansas City Chiefs. They sat on the tarmac in Kansas City for four hours waiting for the end of an ice storm before they could finally make it off the runway, arriving in Denver late Saturday night for their big match-up Sunday. Weird. The things you never think about, right? Fortunately, we’re just cold. We don’t have to worry about all those other nasty weather issues…yet.
*****
GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Carol Cable, Gary Kirby, Tracie Sconyers, Morgan Grubb, Kendra McGeady, Bill Sanford, Julie Favela, Doug Schoppa, Carrie Connor, Mark Cavins, Amanda Davis, Tammy Sexton, Paul Bulten, Mickey Landers, Edward Battaglia, Jared McCorkle, Lee Hilliard, and Kristi Mullinax.
*****
BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Tuesday is “Tuesday Trivia Night with Lee Lawson” at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00 p.m.) and Thursday is “Trivia Night” at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Friday-Sunday are two big boat shows featuring Grand Lake Dealers – The Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa’s Cox Business Convention Center and the Oklahoma City Boat & RV Show at the Bennett Center at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The practice of saying a few words and clinking glasses before a drink is called a “toast” because in the 16th century, wine was often flavored with bits of toasted bread.
*****
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Hawaii is the only U.S. state composed entirely of islands. Hawaii has 137 islands, but only seven are inhabited.
*****
ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: President-elect Trump’s transition team is planning an interfaith prayer service the day before his inauguration. The cost of attending the prayer service to worship alongside Donald and Melania is $100,000. This may go down in history as the first “pay-to-pray” event.
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: The best friendships are built on a solid foundation of alcohol, sarcasm, shenanigans, and a dislike of the same people.
*****
PALINDROME OF THE WEEK: “Never odd or even” spelled backwards is still “never odd or even.”
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Free straw with every drink purchase.
*****
BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: My New Year’s resolution was to stop procrastinating. I’m not starting it until next month, though.
*****
PUN OF THE WEEK: It’s illegal to laugh loudly in Hawaii. You have to keep it to a low ha.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is it called building when it’s already built?
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: While making my lifestyle resolutions for the new year, I fortunately remembered that Keith Richards and Willie Nelson have outlived Richard Simmons.
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Did you ever notice that when homeless people ask for money, most people ignore them, but when preachers with homes ask for money, most people open their wallets and checkbooks? Why is that?” – Andy Rooney
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served for almost four decades as Director of the National Institute of Infectious Disease, turned 84 over the holidays; and golfing legend Tiger Woods turned 49.
*****
BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar.
On South Grand Lake, Magen Faulconer will perform Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by The Barrett Lewis Band Saturday night. Randall George will be on stage Saturday night at Scissortail Marina Lounge.
In Grove, Mr. & Mrs. Smith start the weekend musical fun at Cherokee Casino, followed by Travis Kidd Saturday night. There’s karaoke every Wednesday night and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon. Stonehorse will be on stage at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 Friday night followed by Dueling Pianos Saturday night.
Broken Aces will perform Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar. At River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West, there is fun karaoke Saturday night. The Buster Clifton Davis Band will entertain at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar Thursday night and Thanks for Nothing will perform Friday night. Jon Dooly will entertain at Indigo Sky Casino Thursday night, followed by Chris Hyde Friday and Encore Saturday.
*****
DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Big Shots on Monkey Island will be closed for the month of January. Scissortail Marina’s bar & grill is now closed Monday-Wednesday. Open Thursday & Friday at 4:00, Saturdays at 2:00 and Sundays 3:00-7:00. Blind Swine on Monkey Island and Bradford Barbecue in Ketchum have closed until Spring. Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill has added “Saturday Brunch” from 9:00 a.m.-11:45 every week. Grand Lake Kitchen at Har-Ber Village is open throughout the winter months. Hours are 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sunday & Monday, and 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (Closed Tuesday).
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: Shifting Gears debuts at 7:00 and Abbott Elementary returns to ABC Wednesday night at 7:30 followed by Celebrity Jeopardy at 8:00. Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test premieres at 7:00 Wednesday on Fox. Chelsea Handler hosts The 2025 Critics Choice Awards live Sunday night at 6:00 on E! and Peacock.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Den of Thieves: Pantera, Better Man, and Hard Truths open in movie theaters this weekend.
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, January 18 – An Evening with Ron Young in the Limelight-Ninety Years of the Broadway Music Man in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La Hotel (6:30 p.m.). Saturday, January 18 – The Golden Sounds of the Platters at the Grove High School Performing Arts Center (7:00 p.m.). Monday, January 20 – CFP Championship Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:30 p.m.). Saturday, January 25 – “The Kornfield Friends”-Remembering Hee Haw Original Cast Members at the Grove High School Performing Arts Center (7:00 p.m.). Wednesday, February 5 – Home of Hope Chocolate Affair at the Craig County Fairgrounds & Community Center in Vinita (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Sunday, February 9 – Super Bowl Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (5:00 p.m.).
*****
In the college football world, we’re down to the final four. CFP Semi-final games are this week. Penn State will face Notre Dame Thursday night at 6:30 – and Texas will take on Ohio State Friday evening at 6:30. The winners will face off in the National Championship Game Monday night, January 20.
The NBA has a busy schedule. The OKC Thunder on a grueling road trip. They’re at Cleveland Wednesday (6:00), New York Friday (6:30), Washington Sunday (5:00), and Philadelphia next Tuesday (6:00).
PGA players are still in Hawaii this week. Coverage of The Sony Open from Honolulu will be at 6:00 Thursday & Friday, and 5:00 Saturday & Sunday on The Golf Channel. Coverage on NBC will be at 3:00 Saturday & Sunday.
The NFL season is down to the best teams in the league this week. Wild Card Playoffs get underway this week with two games Saturday, three Sunday, and one Monday night.
*****
Weather for the weekend looks like a great reason to spend a couple of days enjoying the indoor boat show fun. Weather at Grand Lake, Tulsa, and OKC is all about the same this weekend – COLD. Highs around 40 and lows in the low 20s. I love boat show time because it always provides an excuse to spend some time partying in some cozy new spots. I recommend you do the same. Remember, though, , wherever you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It might 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
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)
Bradford BBQ in Ketchum
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Casa Gutierrez in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s 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
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill
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
Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island
Royal Liquor Store in Grove
Scissortail Bar at Scissortail Marina
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina
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
