July 14 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
The weekend gone by was sort of odd weather-wise, but we got enough breaks to get in most of the outdoor fun that was planned. The Wolf Creek Nationals Drag Boat Races could have easily reverted back to the name of another popular event – Thunder on Wolf Creek – only Saturday morning featured actual thunder…and lightning…and rain. But everything worked out. It was like we were all living in the Caribbean. Morning rain & thunder showers gave way to an afternoon of sunshine on both the boat racing in Wolf Creek, Championship golf tournaments at Shangri-La, and a Cobalt Splash Bash on-the-water concert in Ketchum Cove. Fortunately, the weekend ahead looks like it will be totally awash in sunshine!
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Company’s coming this week. You can tell it’s time for the Oklahoma Legislative Grand Lake Getaway because ODOT trimmed the giant weeds & bushes on the Monkey Island Causeway. Thanks to all the great sponsors and leadership from GRDA and the Grove Chamber of Commerce for putting together this great opportunity to show legislators from all over Oklahoma the incredible attractions of Grand Lake.
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Good news for airline travelers – especially those with stinky feet. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has removed the requirement for removing your shows at TSA checkpoints at airports. I’m not sure why. Maybe she is too young to remember the “shoe bomber,” or maybe it’s just about her. Maybe she’s just traveling so much she got tired of removing her thigh-high stilettos.
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There’s another new trend. Newlywed couples in increasing numbers are inviting their parents to join them on their honeymoons. Hmm. That’s a form of contraception I had never considered. I’ll be it’s effective, though.
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Apparently joining in the promotion of the new Superman movie, the White House last week released an altered version of the movie poster, replacing Superman with President Trump’s image in the iconic costume and captioning the poster “Superman Trump.” Shouldn’t someone tell the President Superman was an undocumented alien?
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Brooke Bolton, Angie Prideaux Jones, Jay Fleming, Joel McCorkle, Jason Eppler, Dan DeMier, Shine Carson, Bill Flegler, Carolyn Cavins, Robert Parker, Bobby Stem, Erin Davis, Joe Carter, Bailey Stanphill, Rene Talley, Tricia Covel, Jack Kirkpatrick, Dennis McCulla, Shawn Webb, Kent Jopling, Cindy Dunavant, and David Poindexter.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Monday & Tuesday is a Racquet Club Kids’ Tennis & Pickleball Camp at The Anchor at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.-noon). Thursday evening is the Grove Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). The annual Oklahoma Legislative Grand Lake Getaway at Shangri-La is this weekend – Thursday-Sunday. Saturday morning is Farmers’ Market on the lawn at the Grove Community Center. Saturday is a special PING club fitting day at Shangri-La (9:00-noon). Saturday morning is also a “Live Snake Program” at the Bernice State Park Nature Center (10:00 a.m.) followed by a Feeding Program at 1:00. Saturday evening is the annual Summer Glow Party poolside for Cherokee Yacht Club members (8:30 p.m.). Sunday is opening day for “Savannah Sipping Society” at Playmakers in Grove (2:00 p.m. matinee).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: One unusual element of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, is that Confederate forces initially approached the town from the north and Union troops arrived from the south.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In 1964, Paul McCartney awoke one morning with a tune in his head that he could not get rid of. He quickly wrote some lyrics to maintain his memory of the tune…”Scrambled eggs. Oh, my baby how I love your legs.” For weeks, he ran the tune past band members, friends & colleagues, thinking he must have heard the tune somewhere for it to be so dominant in his mind. He finally determined, no one else had written it, so he completed the tune. The Beatles were reluctant to record it because it was so different from any other music of the time – there’s or anyone else’s. Finally, Paul recorded it alone after fine-tuning the melody and changing the words. The song took on an entirely different meaning, though when the lyrics “Scrambled eggs. Oh, my baby how I love your legs” were changed in the final version – “Yesterday. All my troubles seemed so far away.”
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: And you thought YOUR purse was expensive! The original Birkin bag, sketched on an airsickness bag by Jane Birkin in 1984 and crafted by Hermés, sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris last week for $10.1 million.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: So “naked hiking” actually means hiking with no GPS, no map, no music, no distractions. Probably should have looked that one up first.
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: In Norwegian, the word “fart” means “speed.” The word “humper” means “bump.” So the word “farts-humper” literally means “speed bump.” I’m pretty sure I’m going to be saying that for the rest of my life.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Due to rising summer temperatures, we will NOT be accepting BOOB or SOCK money. Questionably moist bills are subject to denial.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: When I ask for directions, please don’t use words like “east.”
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PUN OF THE WEEK: When I was young, I thought rich people owned Bose systems and the rest of us has Sony products. Turns out those were just stereotypes.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How is it that hard shell tacos survive the factory, the delivery trucks, the stores…and then break as soon as you put something inside them?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Courage is knowing it might hurt and doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. That’s why life is hard.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “A great many people think they are thinking when they’re merely rearranging their prejudices.” – William James
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: I’m so old that I’ve used a pencil to fix a cassette tape, changed the channel with a knob, and called the operator to make a long-distance phone call
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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 Gavin Tucker performs live Friday night at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Kevin Price & The Closers will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. There’s karaoke with Sundown Entertainment Wednesday night at The Monkey Bar, Rockstar Karaoke with DJ Kennedy Friday night, live music from Josh & Megan (from Beaty Creek Band) Saturday night, and an Open Jam with Becky Sparkman Sunday afternoon from 3:00-7:00. Lil’ Red & COBE will provide the music Friday night at The Shebang. DJ Kyle Bandito provides the musical entertainment at Big Shots Friday & Saturday night.
In Grove, Zach Glover & Vintage will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Rusty Meyers Saturday night. Western Justice entertains Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Big Smitty Saturday night. There’s musical Bingo every Wednesday night and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, South of Vertical will kick off the weekend Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by The Travis Kidd Band Saturday night and Brent Giddens Sunday afternoon. Magen Faulconer starts the weekend music Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by Ryan Graham Thursday night, The Beaty Creek Trio Friday night, The Faulconers Saturday night, and Jackson Glasby Sunday afternoon (4:00). Thursday night, there’s karaoke with Morgan Entertainment at Blind Swine Duck Creek. Glam R Us will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora; and Mixtape 918 will provide the poolside music at Cherokee Yacht Club’s Glow Party Saturday night. Lil’ Red will be at Blind Swine next Tuesday evening.
There are three nights of live music at Indigo Sky Casino this week. Scott Eastman kicks off the weekend Thursday night followed by Diversity Friday night and the Holly Crays Band Saturday. Poison Overdose will entertain Saturday night at River Bend Casino’s Club 60 Event Center; and Until Now will provide the music in Club 60 West. RocKFiscH will entertain Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: The Monkey Grind at Shangri-La is open at 7:00 a.m. – open until 3:00 Sunday-Thursday, until 5:00 Friday & Saturday. Blind Swine Duck Creek serves breakfast beginning at 9:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The 2025 ESPY Awards air Wednesday night at 7:00 on ABC. The documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes airs Friday night at 7:00 on HBO. The new series The Hunting Wives will be available on NETFLIX next Monday.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Apocalypse in the Tropics is available on NETFLIX. I Know What You Did Last Summer, Smurfs, and Eddington all open in movie theaters Friday.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday & Friday July 24-25 (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, July 27 (2:00 p.m.) – Great live theater at Playmakers in Grove – “Savannah Sipping Society.” Friday, July 25 – Miami Route 66 Heritage Fest on Main Street Miami (9:00 a.m.). Saturday, July 26 – Cigarette 2025 Freedom Run from Hi-Lift Marina (11:00 a.m.). Sunday, July 27 – Battlefield Club Championship Tournament at The Battlefield at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.). Thursday-Saturday, August 7-9 – Member-Guest Tournament Festivities at Shangri-La Resort. Saturday, August 9 – Woodstock on the Water in Leon Russell Cove (12:00-5:00 p.m.). Saturday, August 16 – Spirit Fair at Rustic and Rebellious in Grove (11:00-4:00).
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The spotlight is on the WNBA, NBA Summer League, NASCAR, and the PGA Tour this week.
The WNBA All-Star Game, Team Clark vs. Team Collier, is Saturday at 7:30.
On the PGA Tour, players are on two continents again this week. It’s time for The (British) Open Championship in Northern Ireland. You’ll have to get up early (or stay up late) to watch it live on Peacock at 3:00 a.m. Thursday & Friday and at 6:00 a.m. Saturday and 3:00 a.m. Sunday on NBC. Replays are on The Golf Channel at 3:30 Thursday & Friday afternoons, 3:00 Saturday and 2:00 Sunday. Players who are left behind will compete in The Barracuda Championship at Lake Tahoe. Coverage is exclusively on The Golf Channel beginning at 5:00 p.m. Thursday- Sunday.
NASCAR drivers are at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week as they wrap up the four-week “challenge.” Coverage of the Brickyard 400 is exclusively on TNT Sports with coverage at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.
NBA Summer League Play wraps up this week with OKC Blue at Orlando Tuesday (5:30) before hosting New Orleans Wednesday (8:30). Consolation bracket games are Friday & Saturday with Semifinals at noon and 2:00 Saturday – and the Summer League Championship Sunday night at 6:00.
There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week including Boston at Chicago Cubs Saturday (6:00), and Detroit at Texas Sunday (6:00).
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The weekend ahead finally looks like a legit summer weekend – sunshine, light winds, highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 70s. There are plenty of really fun things happening around the lake this weekend; so get out and enjoy the wonders of Grand! Remember, though, wherever 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.
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
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
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
