March 17 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
We had to go through wind, rain, and fire across the state – but we made it! This weekend is officially the first weekend of SPRING! Get those boats dewinterized.
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There was a lot happening at Grand Lake last week – but three huge events were totally OVER THE TOP. Congratulations to the South Grand Lake Foundation for their awesome Mardi Gras fundraising event to support the Backpack Program in Ketchum – and to the South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce for another incredibly fun and successful Bootleggers Ball and to the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce for another awesome Home & Garden Show. If you’re not spending your time at Grand Lake, you’re missing out – year-round! This week’s highlights include the national touring act “Killer Keyz” at Shangri-La Saturday night, the iconic Nitty Gritty Birt Band at Downstream Casino, and the Annual Big Meat Run 2025 in the Disney Off-Road area. Happy Spring Break!
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It looks like kids in Oklahoma had better start finding a new way to communicate during the day. The State Senate has passed legislation by Senator Ally Seifried (R-Claremore) banning “bell-to-bell” use of cell phones in Oklahoma schools for at least a one-year trial run. The legislation still goes to the House, of course, but folks seem to be pretty fed up with cell phone interruptions during school. Okay…adults are pretty fed up. Not the kids. There has been no study yet on how banning cell phones in schools will impact the drop-out rate.
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If you’re traveling on Southwest Airlines, I hope you get it done by Memorial Day. Beginning May 28, Southwest will no longer offer free baggage. They haven’t had great reviews for the change. Airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt summed it up quickly: “This is how you destroy a brand. Southwest, with these changes, becomes just another airline.”
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The state legislature is still hard at work, and taking away more rights of the voters is on the agenda. SB 1027 would make it harder to get enough signatures on an initiative petition to bring issues to a vote of the people. Admittedly, if legislators weren’t afraid to take positions and bring popular issues to a vote, we wouldn’t need those initiative petitions…but legislators ARE afraid. I get it. If an issue has any controversy to it, they tend to shy away so they don’t make anyone mad. That was the case with legalizing the sale of liquor-by-the-drink, for example (among many other issues). If voters hadn’t brought the issue to a vote with an initiative petition, we still wouldn’t be able to buy a cocktail in Oklahoma. The legislation being considered would make petitioners gather significant numbers of signatures in rural Oklahoma where people are both scarce and scattered. Authors of the legislation complain that petition circulators focus on metropolitcan areas. Of course they do. Duh! That’s where the majority of the people are; and we still are about majority government, aren’t we? We’ll see, I guess.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Dana Able, Bill Slepka, Brad Parish, Richard Lippitt, Rusty Fleming, Erin Fitzgibbon, Julie Londagin, Jan Smith, David Ogle, Jason Macer, Todd Segress, Helen Oden, Ryan Dalton, Donnetta Kerr, and Matt Moyer.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Grand Lake happenings get more plentiful every week! Shangri-La has a wide variety of Spring Break events Thursday-Saturday, including Kids’ Camp at The Anchor Thursday-Saturday (8:30-1:00 daily), a Fashion Show Friday in the Roosevelt Ballroom (1:00-3:00), Bucket Golf, Trivia, and a variety of other events. Thursday is also “Trivia Night” at both BOOM at The Regatta and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. The Big Meat Run at the Off-Road area at Disney is Thursday-Sunday, as is the preview opening of America’s Outdoor Adventure Park (formerly Mid-America Outdoors). Saturday is the awesome “Killer Keyz” Dueling Pianos return to Shangri-La fa or one-night show (7:00-10:00 p.m.). Saturday night is also “Free Movie Night” in the simulator bay at The Anchor – The Avengers: End of Games (6:00).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: More than 50 different musicians have performed over the past 60 years in various iterations of the band “The Grass Roots.”
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: A $50 bet in 1960 led Dr. Seuss to write “Green Eggs and Ham” using just 50 different words. His publisher, Bennett Cerf, challenged him to create a children’s story with such limited vocabulary. It became the 4th best-selling kids’ book in U.S. history.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: In case you’re worried that you’re too old to pursue your dreams…Frank Lloyd Wright completed one-third of his life’s work between the ages of 80 and 92.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: My girlfriend says I’m tight. So to prove her wrong, we went out for some tea and cookies. It was quite exciting as she had never given blood before.
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PALINDROME OF THE WEEK: “Murder for a jar of red rum” spelled backwards is still “Murder for a jar of red rum.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: WARNING: Walmart Correction Notice. The 4 for $10 price shown in our flyer for Old Dutch Chips is incorrect. The correct price is 2 for $5.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: Always check on your friends. They might be drinking without you.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: Apparently you can’t use “beefstew” as a password. It’s not stroganoff.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Have we tried naming kids after other cheeses, or did we just stop at Brie?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: School notification in 2025: “Schools will be closed and extracurricular events are canceled due to high winds.” School notification in 1987: “There are seven tornadoes in the immediate area. Get under your desk until the ‘all clear’ is given in a few minutes.”
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Life is hard. After all, it kills you.” – Katharine Hepburn
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Actor Kurt Russell turns 74 this week; and action movie legend Bruce Willis turns 70.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island Jesse Joice performs live Friday night at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Killer Keyz dueling pianos return to Shangri-La in the Roosevelt Ballroom Saturday night (7:00-10:00). DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar.
On South Grand Lake, Clint & Frank will be on stage Saturday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. The Bison will perform Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster; and Lil’ Red & Sidepiece will be at Scissortail Marina Saturday night.
In Grove, Reversing Radio starts the weekend musical fun at Cherokee Casino Friday night with Zach Glover and Vintage taking over Saturday night. The Lost Dogs perform Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 and Jon Dooly takes over 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.
Michele Warren will entertain at Indigo Sky Casino Thursday night, followed by Dino D and the D Train Band Friday. Radio Nation will perform Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar. Morgan Squared will be on stage Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West. The legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band brings their farewell tour to Downstream Casino’s Pavilion Saturday night.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: One Eyed Monkey at Copper Top Plaza at the entrance to Monkey Island is now open 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. While the bar at The Shebang restaurant is closed, Big Shots is providing bar service Monday-Thursday from 4:00-10:00 p.m. Food is available from Shebang. Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda opens for the season this weekend. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La is closed for renovations. Lunch and dinner service is offered daily with the all-new “Menu with an Italian Flair” at The Galley at The Anchor at Shangri-La. VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina has reopened for the season – not Sharky’s, just VIP.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Matlock airs Thursday night at 8:00 on CBS and Happy Face will be available Thursday on Paramount+. The Voice airs Monday night at 7:00 on NBC and March Madness gets underway this week on a variety of networks.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Duplicity will be available Thursday on Prime Video. Snow White, The Alto Knight, Bob Trevino Likes It, and Magazine Dreams all open in movie theaters this weekend.
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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 29 – GEFFE Gala at Shangri-La Resort (5:30). Friday, April 4 – First Friday Wine Share at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Grove (6:00 p.m.). Thursday, April 10 – Wine Dinner at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, April 12 – Que’n at the Lake Rib Cookoff competition at the Ketchum baseball field. Sunday, April 20 – Easter Brunch at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (11:00-5:00). Sunday, April 20 – Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor at Shangri-La (12:00 p.m.). Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4 – In-water Boat Show at Shangri-La Marina.
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College Basketball is at the forefront of the sports scene this week. Both the NIT and NCAA Tournaments are underway this week. “First Four” NCAA games are Tuesday & Wednesday with Round 1 action Thursday & Friday and second round play Saturday & Sunday.
There’s plenty of NBA action this week, too, as the regular season winds down. The OKC Thunder is at home hosting Philadelphia Wednesday (7:00) and Charlotte Friday (7:00) before heading west to face the Clippers Sunday (8:00) and the Sacramento Kings next Tuesday (9:00).
PGA golfers are in Palm Harbor, Florida this week for the Valspar Championship. Coverage begins at 1:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday & Sunday.
NASCAR drivers are in Florida this week, too. Coverage of the Straight Talk Wireless 400 from Homestead begins Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on FS1.
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Weekend weather looks excellent this week. It may be a little breezy Friday, but not compared to last week! Weekend high temperatures will be in the low 70s with lows in the mid-40s. Get out and enjoy all the things Grand Lake has to offer. Remember, though, wherever you decide to 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
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
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
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
