March 2 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
If you still believe there is such a thing as an “off-season” at Grand Lake, you’re already missing the fun. Big Shots’ season kick-off “Sh*t Show” was absolutely hilarious. Who knew there was such an abundance of “talent(?)” at Grand Lake. I can’t wait ‘til next year.
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The full season of Grand Lake fun is officially underway. This weekend is “Welcome Back Weekend” with shopping specials, lots of live entertainment, a poker run, wine share, casino night, and boat show. Ever since former Cherokee Yacht Club owner Terry Frost started this event back in the day, the “season” at Grand Lake has started the first weekend of March instead of the first weekend of May. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for having the foresight to start the summer fun early – and thanks to Joe Harwood for keeping that tradition alive!
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Speaking of fun, Fishmasters.com has released its list of the Top 30 Oklahoma Fishing Lakes. So, who was #1? If you need to ask, you haven’t fished Grand Lake. Of COURSE it was #1.
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It’s the ultimate irony. Oklahoma’s legislature approved a resolution las week to name the new proposed ACCESS Oklahoma Turnpike connecting I-44 and I-35 in Norman the “Toby Keith Expressway” in honor of the late country superstar Toby Keith who claimed both Norman and Monkey Island as residences. I say it’s ironic because Toby not only opposed the turnpike but was actually a plaintiff in a 2023 lawsuit against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and had posted signs on his property opposing the turnpike. Can you say, “embarrassingly insensitive”?
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I like the idea of the government adding a little incentive to Retirement Savings Accounts each year. I’m glad President Trump proposed it in his State of the Union address. I’m also glad President Biden already signed it into law back in 2022.
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I can’t figure out if gender has advantages, or if women are just naturally smarter. After winning Gold Medals at the Winter Olympics, the USA women’s hockey team was treated to dinner at a Michelin Guide-starred restaurant by actor Stanley Tucci and they’ll celebrate at a Las Vegas event with dinners and shows hosted by Flavor Flav. The men’s hockey team celebrated at the White House with McDonald’s hamburgers provided by President Trump.
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A televangelist from Arkansas claims Satan is engineering Taylor Swift’s marriage to Travis Kelce so she can give birth to the antichrist and launch the apocalyptic thousand-year war against Christ. Wow! Does she have to do EVERYTHING?
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With no more pennies being made, folks are hoarding the ones they have, so there is already a penny shortage. Lots of businesses are following the lead of Dairy Queen, rounding all purchases to the nearest nickel. Sure, it’s just common sense, but I’m sure it will soon be a law. Seriously. It’s pending in the legislature right now. It’s House Bill 3075. I’m glad we’re addressing all the really important stuff!
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Brent Cook, Jim Brown, Chris White, Briley Grace Tesreau, Autumn Wilhelm, Marla Lopeman, Doug May, Lisa Cookson, Tara Smith, Candace Cregan, Tammy Pameticky, Mike Schwers, Debia Feldman, Russell Perry, John Parsons, Stephanie Winslow, Jenny Lee, Kim Davenport, Beverly Jones, Becky Brock, and Ralph Richardson.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: There’s certainly no shortage of Grand Lake fun stuff to do on this “Welcome Back Weekend 2026!” Friday is Season Opening Day for Har-Ber Village. It’s also the date of the First Friday Wine Share at Blair Boutique & Consignment in Grove (6:00-7:30 p.m.), and Casino Night at MarineMax Grand Lake (5:00-8:00 p.m.). The Grand Lake Boat & Sport Show runs Friday-Sunday at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Building in Jay. Saturday is the official “Welcome Back Poker Run.” Stops include Arrowhead & Cherokee Yacht Clubs, VIP Pizza, Cedar Port Marina, and Mooney’s, plus a special wild chip stop at Arrowhead in Grove. Check-in & card dealing are at Cherokee Yacht Club’s ballroom (5:00-7:00 p.m.). The 2 Hip Chicks Roadshow is also Saturday at the Wolf Creek Expo in Grove (9:00-4:00). Daylight Saving Time returns Sunday!
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: At nearly 4 million, Los Angeles has almost three times the population of California’s second-largest city, San Diego, and almost four times more than #3 San Jose.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Female frogs fake their death to avoid mating with males they don’t like.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Derick Hall was born at just 23 weeks with no heartbeat. Doctors gave him a 1% chance to survive and said he would likely be paralyzed if he magically survived. His mom refused to turn off his life support. Today he’s a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks – and a Super Bowl Champion.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: They said I wouldn’t have kids after my vasectomy, but when I got home, they were still there!
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WORD FUN THIS WEEK: A rectangle is rectangular. A triangle is triangular. A circle is circular. Why isn’t a square….squarular?
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: At my last colonoscopy, I made sure to have my doctor write a note for my wife confirming that my head was not, in fact, up there.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: The roundest knight at King Arthur’s table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: I’ve been watching a lot of TV over the winter, and it makes me wonder…is there ever a day when there is not a big mattress sale somewhere?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I’ve reached the point in my life where “multi-tasking” has taken on a new meaning. I can still multi-task, but now it’s the ability to listen, ignore, and forget all at once.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the constitution.” – Abraham Lincoln
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The classic Eagles hit “Hotel California” was released 49 years ago this week. Did you watch professional wrestling back in the day? WWF Superstar Ric Flair turned 77 last week. Wooooooo!
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, The Monkey Bar features lots of live entertainment following Music Bingo Wednesday night. Thursday night live entertainment features Erin Fitzgibbon at The Monkey Bar followed by Karaoke with Sundown Entertainment Friday night and more live music from Dustin Treiber Saturday night and a Sunday Open Jam with Becky Sparkman.
On South Grand Lake, Dillon Leggitt performs Friday night at Pickles at The Lake in Langley. Jesse Dean will be on Stage Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by Sierra Bravo Saturday night. Lil’ Red & Sidepiece entertain Welcome Back Weekenders at Hookers at Cherokee Yacht Club Friday night starting at 5:00.
In Grove, D’ Elegantz entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar followed by Encore Saturday night.
Brett n’ Terri kick off the weekend early with a Thursday night performance at Indigo Sky Casino. MoArk Mojo takes over Friday night, and Thomas Martinez wraps up the weekend music Saturday. Travis Kidd starts the music Thursday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, followed by Coyote Claw Friday and Nathan Bryce & Loaded Dice Saturday night. Risky Business will be on stage Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar; and Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West will feature The Brad Duvall Band Saturday night.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: The One Eyed Monkey near Littlefield Corner is now open seven days a week 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m…and evening service Thursday-Saturday is coming soon. Also, watch for Los Garcias, a new Mexican Restaurant opening soon in the Ketchum Eats Food Park. Doc’s Bar & Grill reopens for the season at Shangri-La March 10. BOOM at The Regatta reopens for the season March 12. The former Artichoke in Langley will reopen under new ownership in mid-April as The Farm House.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Matlock is back, airing Thursday night at 8:00 on CBS. The new comedy Rooster debuts Sunday night at 9:00 on HBO. The Voice: Battle of Champions is back on NBC at 7:00 Monday night.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Hoppers and The Bride debut in movie theaters this week. Nuremberg is available Saturday on NETFLIX.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 12 – Mardi Gras in March at the GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley, sponsored by the South Grand Lake Foundation and benefiting the Ketchum Warriors Scholarship and Backpack programs (6:00 p.m.). Friday-Sunday, March 20-22 – Sumner’s Big Meat Run at the Disney Offroad Area. Saturday, March 21 – Killer Keyz nationally acclaimed dueling pianos act at Shangri-La Resort (7:00 p.m.). Friday-Saturday, March 27-28 – Grove Merchants Spring Open House. Saturday, March 28 – GEFFE Gala at Shangri-La Resort (5:30 p.m.). Saturday, March 28 – “Midnight on Grand Masquerade Prom” at South 125 Bar & Grill (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, March 28 – Wine Dinner at Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.).
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In the world of sports, the OKC Thunder have a homestand this week, hosting Golden State Saturday night at 7:30 and the Denver Nuggets Monday at 6:30.
There’s some good college basketball on television this week. Oklahoma State hosts Houston, and Missouri hosts Arkansas, both at 11:00 Saturday morning. Kansas hosts Kansas State at 1:00, and OU is at Texas Saturday night at 7:30.
There is excellent women’s basketball on the tube this week, too. Most women’s Conference Tournaments are this week. Both the SEC Women’s Tournament and the Big 12 Women’s Tournament will be played Wednesday-Sunday.
PGA players are still in Florida this week. Coverage of The Arnold Palmer Invitational from Orlando is on the Golf Channel beginning at 1:00 Thursday & Friday and 11:30 Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up coverage of the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 1:30. Golfers who aren’t invited to that tournament will be playing in the Puerto Rico Open. Coverage of that tournament is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday-Sunday.
NASCAR fans are in Phoenix this week for the Straight Talk Wireless 500. Coverage begins Sunday afternoon at 2:30 on FS1.
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It looks like we may have a little rain this weekend (like the rest of the week), but temperatures will be good. After Friday highs in the mid-70s, we’ll drop by about 15 degrees Saturday, but we’ll pump back up to almost 70 Sunday when the rain wraps up. Low temperatures will be in the mid-40s. It’ll all be good. We don’t let a little shower or two spoil our Welcome Back Weekend. Get out and enjoy. But remember, 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)
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
Chickanellas 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)
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)
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 Garcia’s 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
Our House BBQ in Grove
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
Roberts Bar & Restaurant in Langley
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
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
