June 16 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
FINALLY! It looks like summertime may arrive this week. It waited until the last minute, though, because the first OFFICIAL first day of summer is Friday! Mother Nature must have been waiting on the calendar – but the rain is wrapping up its two-month run and there’s nothing but sunshine, clear skies, and warm temperatures on tap for the foreseeable future! Pretty soon, we’ll be complaining because it’s hot and dry. I’m ready!
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I don’t know if you saw it or not, but I was disappointed in KJRH, Channel 2 News in Tulsa who showed up at the lake last Friday to do a story on how terrible the debris was at Grand Lake. Of course it was almost gone by then, but they tried their best to make the rapidly improving lake conditions look bad. I feel bad for the folks who were scared away by that sensationalism. They missed a great weekend of boating and parasailing. Must have been a really slow news day.
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Congratulations to the Grove Chamber of Commerce for another fabulous “Toes in the Grand Festival.” They had to deal with what I call Caribbean weather – rainy mornings giving way to warm, muggy afternoons and beautiful evenings. Fortunately, the weather cooperated for the most part and the music, the carnival, the food, fun, and boat races were fantastic! It’s another big weekend ahead – Juneteenth Thursday, the first day of Summer Friday, and our first on-the-water concert Saturday. Saturday afternoon at Check-In Bay is the return of the Rock the Dock concert. Get out and enjoy the summertime fun with a little summertime weather!
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I would normally ask if you survived Friday the 13th okay, but I guess a better question this year is, “did you survive Saturday the 14th okay?” With Flag Day, the Army’s 250th birthday, the President’s birthday, the big ol’ rainy parade in Washington (at least the marching troops didn’t have to learn to goose-step), and the simultaneous “No Kings Day” protests all across the state and country, I hope you were just boating around the lake or playing golf – something safe that nobody can criticize you for. Everybody’s always looking for someone to argue with, so if you were on either side of the Saturday events, I would just keep it to myself, if I were you. Tell everybody you spent the entire weekend having fun at the “Toes in the Grand Festival.”
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I must say, though, I get a kick out of all the social media posts that start out with “I don’t care what political party you are, or whether you’re a conservative or a liberal, you need to read this article.” Those posts are always followed by a story so biased that it obviously DOES matter.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Charlie Apperson, Josh Russell, Mike Ward, Cory Bowker, Lisa Arizpe, Sandy Busch, Gary Palu, Davis Hudiburg, John Landers, Jim Chapman, Sharie Cox, Yvonne Burns, Bob Reynolds, Jeremy Mullen, and Autumn Love.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Thursday is Trivia Night” at BOOM at The Regatta. Saturday afternoon is a great “Rock the Dock Comeback Tour 2025” on-the-water concert at Check-In Bay (12:00-5:00 p.m.). Next Monday-Wednesday is “Kids’ Camp” at The Anchor at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.). Next Tuesday is the kick-off of the five-day High School Fishing World Final and National Championship Fishing Tournament on Grand Lake. Be careful out there!
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Decades after the duel in which Aaron Burr mortally wounded Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton’s son (also named Alexander) represented Burr’s wealthy wife in a divorce proceeding that left Burr destitute.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: In New Mexico, a stretch of Route 66 plays “America the Beautiful” using road grooves that create musical notes when drivers travel over them at exactly 45 miles per hour.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: In 2007, a man who spoke broken English showed up at The Masters with his clubs. He thought that his “Practice Round” badge actually allowed him to play a practice round at Augusta National.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I hate it when cashiers feel the need to check if my money is real. If I could make counterfeit money, I wouldn’t be at the Dollar Tree, Karen.
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: It’s ironic that the two o’s in “cooperate” insist on having their own separate sounds.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: NO PHONES IN THE BATHROOM!! If you are in the bathroom for more than 10 minutes a manager will conduct a smell test and if they do not smell any number 2, you will be written up. – Management
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it “red onion” really bothers me.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: If a King sleeps on a king mattress and a Queen sleeps on a queen mattress, a Prince must sleep on an heir mattress.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why can’t we just spell it “Wensday?”
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I wonder if my recorded call has ever really been used for training or quality control purposes.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You can sway a thousand men by appealing to their prejudices quicker than you can convince one man by logic.” – Robert A. Heinlein
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FEEL-OLD MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Who is old enough to remember needing two different keys for the same car?
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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 Rockwell performs live Friday night at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Travis Kidd will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. There’s karaoke fun with Sundown Entertainment Wednesday night at The Monkey Bar, and DJ Kennedy with Rockstar Entertainment leads the singing Friday night followed by live music from Erin Fitzgibbon Saturday night.
In Grove, RocKFiscH will provide the music Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Jon Dooly Saturday night. The Brandon Butler Band will be on stage Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Runnin’ on Empty 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, J.J. Taylor & The Bourbon Highway Band will kick off the weekend Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by The Razin’ Kane Band Saturday night, and Lil’ Red & Sidepiece Sunday afternoon at 3:00. Magen Faulconer starts the weekend music Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by Jake Brake Friday night, The Barrett Lewis Band Saturday night and Ryan Graham Sunday afternoon (4:00). Robbi Bell will entertain at a special show at Mooney’s next Wednesday evening at 7:00. Lil’ Red & COBE will perform both Thursday & Friday nights at Blind Swine Duck Creek followed by Gusto Dave Saturday night. Jake & The Idols and The Barrett Lewis Band will both perform Saturday afternoon at the on-the-water “Rock the Dock” concert at Check-In Bay ((12:00-5:00 p.m.); and Downbeat will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora.
There are three nights and one afternoon of music this week at Indigo Sky Casino. Tim Nowell starts the music Thursday night followed The BakBeatz Friday, and Just Sayin’ Saturday. Trenton Tanner will entertain at Indigo Sunday from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Big Smitty entertains Saturday night in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West; and there are three nights of live entertainment at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar – Left of Center Thursday night, both Kylie Frey and Rangeline Friday night, and the Kurt Allen Band Saturday.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: South 125 Bar & Grill (formerly Blind Swine Monkey Island), Drunken Rooster on the Water in Grove, Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina, the Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda Resort, and Blind Swine Duck Creek at Harbor’s View Marina are all open for the season. Patricia Island Country Club has opened “The Eagles Nest,” a new open-to-the-public restaurant.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The new series The Waterfront premieres Thursday on NETFLIX. The Kids Choice Awards air Saturday night at 7:00 on Nickelodeon. Mariska Hargitay will be the featured guest Sunday morning on Sunday Today with Willie Geist (7:00 a.m. Sunday on NBC).
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Bride Hard, Elio, 28 Years Later, and Everything’s Going to be Great all open in movie theaters this weekend.
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SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday-Saturday, June 24-28 – High School Fishing World Final and National Championship Fishing Tournament on Grand Lake. Saturday, June 28 – Peanut Regatta from Grand Lake Sailing Club. Saturday, June 28 – Rock the Dock on-the-water concert at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina in Duck Creek (12:00-6:00 p.m.). Saturday, June 28 – Country Music Night at Big Shots (9:00 p.m.). Wednesday, July 3 – Vinita Fireworks at Craig County Fairgrounds. Thursday, July 3 – Grove Fireworks at Wolf Creek. Friday, July 4 – Duck Creek Fireworks. Friday, July 4 – Huckleberry Fireworks in Jay. Friday, July 4 – Miami Fireworks at Buffalo Run Casino. Saturday, July 5 – Monkey Island Fireworks at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 5 – Grand Lake Fireworks at Disney. Saturday, July 5 – Blue Bluff Harbor Fireworks. Saturday, July 5 – Horse Creek Fireworks near the unfinished bridge. Monday-Wednesday, July 7-9 – Junior Golf Camp at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. daily). Monday-Tuesday, July 14-15 – Racquet Club Kids’ Pickleball Camp at The Anchor at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.-noon). Thursday, July 17 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.).
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It’s time to determine the best team in college baseball. The College World Series Championship series begins with Game 1 Saturday at 6:00, Game 2 Sunday afternoon at 1:30, and Game 3, if necessary, Monday night at 6:30.
The NBA Championship series continues in OKC Monday night, back in Indiana Thursday night, if a game 7 is necessary, it’ll be back in OKC Sunday. The NHL Stanley Cup Championship also continues this week with games scheduled Tuesday and Friday, as necessary.
PGA Players are in Connecticut this week. Coverage of the Travelers Championship begins at 2:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday & Sunday.
NASCAR drivers are in Pocono this week for the Great American Getaway 400. Coverage is exclusively on Prime Video again this week with coverage at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.
There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week, too. Texas is at Pittsburgh Saturday at 3:00 followed by Kansas City at San Diego at 6:00. The Mets travel to Philadelphia Sunday night at 6:00.
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Summertime arrives both on the calendar and on the weather map this weekend. We’ll have sunshine with high temperatures pushing 90 and lows in the mid-70s. There’s an incredible line-up of really cool things happening around the lake this weekend, so get out and enjoy the first official weekend of summer! 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
