July 7 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

What a fantastic Independence Day holiday weekend at Grand Lake. Perfect weather. Perfect water. Fabulous fireworks. Awesome raft-ups. Lots of fun golf cart parades. Great music – and all with a weekend population equal to the largest city in Oklahoma. Congratulations! Everyone did themselves proud!

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There were lots of really cool things around the lake over the holiday weekend, but nothing more meaningful than the 2nd annual “Toby Keith Party” in Woodard Hollow. A big raft-up of fans played Toby’s music all afternoon as a tribute to the superstar who loved Grand Lake so much. Toby would have turned 64 on Tuesday of this week. We all miss him!

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Most everybody had a fabulous holiday weekend on Grand Lake, despite the “sky is falling” false social media posts about E Coli from people who weren’t hesitant to display their lack of knowledge. My favorite was someone so concerned about germs in the lake that they were going to make sure their kids only swam in a pool. Yeah, that’s the ticket. That’ll be better, I’m sure. The stupid rumors got so bad GRDA finally had to put out a “We have no E Coli on Grand Lake” bulletin to stop the foolishness. We’re lucky at Grand Lake, for sure. No events were canceled, no one had to close because of high water – and in this monsoon season, that made us a little unique among Oklahoma Lakes. It’s grand to be on Grand!

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In case you were too busy over the holiday weekend to catch the really big event, Joey Chestnut was reinstated as the “Nathan’s Hot Dogs Eating Champion.”  He was disqualified from competing last year due to a dispute with a sponsor, but he was back this year to win the competition for the 17th time. He ate 70.5 hot dogs in ten minutes to reclaim the title and the $10,000 prize in a runaway. Last year’s winner, Patrick Bertolette was far back in second place, downing 46.5 dogs.

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With all of the Independence Day celebrations happening, did you remember to celebrate Bobby Bonilla Day last week. It’s a day to celebrate the stupidest decision ever made by a professional sports team – and a great life for the former New York Mets baseball star. In 1999, the Mets owed Bonilla $5.9 million. For some reason, both sides agreed that, instead of getting the $5.9 million, Bobby would begin receiving $1.19 million each year for 25 years beginning 12 years after he left the Mets – July, 2011 with an 8% interest rate. So far, Bobby has received almost $18 million. By the time the Mets get him paid off in 2035, his $5.9 million will have grown to over $30 million. If you’re looking for financial advice, don’t get it from the New York Mets.

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 Good news for you guys who are spending a little late-night time in Tulsa after big concerts. Waffle House has dropped their 50-cent per egg surcharge enacted when the big egg shortage hit. The company posted a notice on X, calling it “egg-cellent news.”  Just in case you think that’s not a big impact on you…it’s a big impact on Waffle House. They sell 272 million eggs per year!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Scott Verplank, Larry Hines, Kerry Kimmons, Sonya DeArmond, AJ Pickering, Jaime Dobbins, Bob Graper, Tami Wilson, John McFerron, Kelly Aberle, Rebecca O’Leary, Kasidy Jeffers, Alan Kraft, Mindy Littlefield, Tina Whiteside, Dylan Hutson, John Moore, Jessica Moosmiller, John Williams, Melody Casper, Deborah Burns, Carolyn Frans, Judy Florida, Amanda Reed, Shana Haley, Claudia Suits, Jimmy Young, Tev Brackin, Lisa Pitts, Erik Altom, and Marquitta Jackson.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: This week, there’s another great Junior Golf Camp at Shangri-La Monday-Wednesday (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. daily). Thursday & Friday is “A Grand Adventure” youth camp at the GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center in Langley (9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). Thursday is the Junior Club Championship Tournament at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.). Friday evening is a Wolf Creek National Boat Races “Show n’ Shine” event on the Grove Community Center lawn (5:00-9:00 p.m.) followed by the Wolf Creek Nationals Boat Races at Wolf Creek Park Saturday & Sunday (8:00-5:00). Saturday & Sunday are also the dates for the Shangri-La 2025 Club Championship Tournament. Saturday afternoon is a Cobalt Splash Bash in Ketchum Cove (1:00-4:00 p.m.); and Saturday night is a Rock Star Costume Contest at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina. Next Monday & Tuesday is a Racquet Club Kids’ Tennis & Pickleball Camp at The Anchor at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.-noon).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The band Grand Funk Railroad was named for an actual railroad – Canada’s Grand Trunk Railway, a branch of which passed through the band’s hometown of Flint, Michigan.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: The first bottle of Coca-Cola from 1894 contained around 3.5 grams of cocaine. That’s probably why our grandparents could walk to and from school, uphill, both ways, in the snow, barefoot.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: On July 2, 2025, we crossed the year’s midpoint, and 2050 became closer than 2000. Let that sink in!

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Thank goodness our founding fathers didn’t declare independence in the winter!

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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: Incorrectly is the only word that, when spelled correctly, is still spelled incorrectly.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: If it’s in stock, we have it!

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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: The Swiss must have been pretty confident in their chances of victory if they included a corkscrew on their army knife.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: If you are attracted to both men and women, but neither are attracted to you, I’m afraid you are…bi-yourself.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When two vegans get in an argument, is it still called a beef?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Drinking alcohol will not fix your problems. But neither will NOT drinking alcohol.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “He who has the fastest golf cart never has a bad lie.” – Mickey Mantle

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Unpredictable Tulsa-based actor Gary Busey turned 81 years old last week. The classic western movie “The Sons of Katie Elder” was first released 60 years ago.

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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 Kevin Price performs live Friday night at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Torn will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. There’s musical Bingo fun with Sundown Entertainment Wednesday night at The Monkey Bar, Rockstar Karaoke with DJ Kennedy Friday night, live music from Lil’ Red & Sidepiece Saturday night, and an Open Jam with Becky Sparkman Sunday afternoon from 3:00-7:00.

In Grove, Phil Vaught will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Tragikly White Saturday night. Stonehorse entertains Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Borrowed Money 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, Lil’ Red and COBE will entertain at Scissortail Marina Friday night. Dillon Leggett will kick off the weekend Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by Empire Saturday night and Emily Hollingshed Sunday afternoon. Ayngel Dust starts the weekend music Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by The Bison Duo Thursday night, The Robbi Bell Duo Friday night, Reverse Reaction Saturday night, and The Smith Brothers Sunday evening. Next Wednesday, Magen Faulconer entertains early Wednesday evening (6:00 p.m.). Saturday afternoon The Wanda Watson Band will perform at the Cobalt Splash Bash in Ketchum Cove (1:00-4:00 p.m.). Quinn Peterson will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora; and Magen Faulconer will be on stage Saturday night at Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina. Lil’ Red will entertain at Blind Swine Duck Creek next Tuesday.

There are three nights and an afternoon of live music at Indigo Sky Casino this week. Jon Dooly kicks off the weekend Thursday night followed by Uncrowned Kings Friday night and the Members Only Saturday. Brad Hemphill provides the musical entertainment at Indigo Sunday from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Bobby DeGonia will entertain Saturday night at River Bend Casino’s Club 60 West.

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Relax. The holiday is behind us. Everybody is back to regular hours of operation until Labor Day Weekend! Cheers!

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The 17th season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia debuts Wednesday night at 8:00 on FXX. Big Brother returns Thursday night at 7:00 on CBS. Celebrity Family Feud airs Thursday night at 7:00 on ABC ; and Live Aid: When Rock n’ Roll Took on the World airs Sunday night at 8:00 on CNN.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Superman opens in movie theaters this weekend and Madea’s Destination Wedding is available Friday on NETFLIX.

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, July 17 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). Thursday-Sunday, July 17-20 – Oklahoma Legislative Grand Lake Getaway at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 19 – PING fitting day at Shangri-La (9:00-noon). 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.).

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The spotlight is on Wimbledon Tennis, WNBA basketball, MLB, PGA golf, NBA Summer League, and NASCAR this week.

We’re down to the serious tennis stuff at Wimbledon. The Ladies semifinals are Thursday at 11:00 and Men’s Semifinals are at 11:00 Friday morning. If you don’t want to get up early to see live coverage of the finals, there are civilized times for “encore presentations” – the Women’s Final at 2:00 Saturday and the Men’s final at 2:00 Sunday.

PGA Players are in two different continents this week. Coverage of the Genesis Scottish Open begins at 10:00 Thursday & Friday mornings and 9:00 Saturday & Sunday mornings on The Golf Channel. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 11:00 Saturday & Sunday mornings.

Folks who stay at home will play in the ISCO Championship in Louisville. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 3:00 Thursday & Friday and 4:00 Saturday & Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are in Sonoma this week as they continue the four-week “challenge.” Coverage of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 is exclusively on TNT Sports with coverage at 2:30 Sunday afternoon.

WNBA coverage is focused on the top games of the week. Minnesota is at Chicago Saturday at noon followed by Golden State at Las Vegas at 3:00. Sunday’s feature game pits Dallas against Indiana at noon. Next week, there’s more Caitlin Clark – Indiana at Connecticut Tuesday at 7:00 and Indiana at New York Wednesday at 6:30.

NBA Summer League Play starts Thursday with OKC Blue at Brooklyn (4:30). OKC hosts Indiana Saturday at 4:30 before traveling to Orlando next Tuesday at 5:30. They’re back home hosting New Orlans next Wednesday at 8:30 – all on ESPN networks.

There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week including a big cross-state rivalry with Houston hosting Texas at 6:30 Saturday.

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We may have a scattered shower or two over the upcoming weekend, but otherwise it’ll be pretty much a carbon copy of last weekend with high temperatures around 90 and lows around 70. There are plenty of really fun things happening around the lake this weekend in addition to all the Wolf Creek Nationals Boat Races; so get out and enjoy the wonder 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