March 3 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum
Weather was awesome and participation was equally good in all the South Grand Lake “Welcome Back Weekend” festivities over the past weekend. It was great to see so many boats on the water! Speaking of boats, if you need a new one, dealers all have great inventories of new boats – and the Grand Lake Boat Show is this weekend at the Craig County Community Building in Vinita Friday-Sunday. It’s gonna be a nice weekend to get out & about and see what’s new!
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There is an even bigger event this weekend, of course. It’s the biggest & best weekend in a long time. Be sure to set your clock forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night because Daylight Saving Time arrives Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. Sunset Sunday evening will be at 7:21 p.m. I thought this day would never arrive! Springtime doesn’t officially arrive until March 20, but Daylight Saving Time certainly paves the way!
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Denny’s has announced it is joining Waffle House in the addition of a surcharge for eggs. McDonald’s said they are not going to do that. So, just in case you wanted to know which places use real eggs….
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Changing of the Guard: Mid-America Outdoors has officially sold. The new owners, Lorenzo Ayres and Michael Hyams will officially re-open the facility March 14 for a weeklong preview during the Big Meat Run. The new name is America’s Outdoor Adventure Park.
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President Trump last week suggested (ordered?) a new program for rich people to buy their way into the United States. Instead of the coveted “Green Card” for immigrants, he suggested a “Gold Card” that would give you the right to immigrate to the U.S. with no issues and have a path to citizenship. The Gold Card would cost $5 million. If someone is looking seriously at that program, I’ve always loved Belize, but I can’t afford to move there. I might be willing to sell my citizenship for $4 million.
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The tragic death of actor Gene Hackman last week served as a reminder to me that people should never give up on their dreams. Hackman was kicked out of acting school after three months for “having no talent.” He ignored the snub, and went on to appear in more than 80 movies, winning a roomful of acting honors including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Autumn Wilhelm, Marla Lopeman, Lisa Cookson, Tammy Pameticky, Mike Schwers, Tara Smith, Debia Feldman, Russell Perry, John Parsons, Stephanie Windslow, Jenny Lee, Tiffany Holbrook, Beverly Jones, Becky Brock, Ralph Richardson, Dan Dillingham, Carol Milanowski, Ken MacLeod, and Tim Langley.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Thursday is “Trivia Night” at both BOOM at The Regatta and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Friday is the First Friday Wine Share at DK Home Accents in Grove (6:00 p.m.). Friday-Sunday is the Grand Lake Boat & Sport Show at the Craig County Community Building in Vinita. Saturday afternoon is SINGO competition with Jason Morgan at The Anchor at Shangri-La (3:00-5:00). Saturday night is also “Free Movie Night” in the simulator bay at The Anchor – Spiderman: Homecoming (6:00). Next Tuesday is the Grand Lake Newcomers Club meeting & lunch at the Grove Christian Center (10:00 a.m.) and next Wednesday is C.O.W. Week’s “Grove’s Got Talent” show at the GHS Performing Arts Center (6:00 p.m.).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The heaviest recorded snowfall in a 24-hour period was 100.8 inches at Capracotta, Italy on March 5, 2015.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: If you weigh 220 pounds on earth, you only weigh 84 pounds on Mars, and 13 pounds on Pluto; so you’re not fat, you’re just on the wrong planet.
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Germany has over 1,500 different types of sausages. If you tried a new one every day, it would take you over four years to taste them all.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Back in my day there was so much toilet paper and eggs were so cheap, we threw them at people’s houses.
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PALINDROME OF THE WEEK: “Never odd or even” spelled backwards is still “Never odd or even.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: WARNING: And in the end, mankind used so much toilet paper, they wiped themselves out.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: I say “It is what is is” a lot for someone who has no idea what it is.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: Someone broke into my friend’s house and stole a dozen eggs. They also left a saucepan filled with warm water. Police believe it was poachers.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Is a clear conscience really just a sign of a bad memory?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I was watching a show for about ten minutes, and this lady was listing all of these great things to do for fun. Then I realized it was one of those religious channels and she was reading a list of sins.
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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 MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma native and actor/director/producer Ron Howard turned 71 over the past weekend; and singer/songwriter/guitarist/actor Jon Bon Jovi turned 63.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island Kevin Price performs live Friday night at The Anchor at Shangri-La. DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar. Lil’ Red and COBE entertain Friday night at Road Hog Saloon.
On South Grand Lake, Magen Faulconer will be on stage Friday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill followed by Ryan Graham Saturday night. Mixtape 918 will perform Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster.
In Grove, The Cliff Boone Band starts the weekend musical fun at Cherokee Casino Friday night with Encore taking over Saturday night. Honkytonk Renovators perform Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Lenee Warren Gowdy 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. Grass Mountain Trailhead will perform Saturday night at the Grove Middle School Auditorium as a part of the River Ridge Bluegrass Association schedule (6:00 p.m.).
Brett N’ Terri will entertain at Indigo Sky Casino Thursday night, followed by Bobby DeGonia Friday, and Dino D and the D Train Band Saturday.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina has reopened for the season – not Sharky’s, just VIP. The bar at The Shebang Restaurant is closed for renovations until mid-March, but they still have food. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La is closed for renovations until mid-March. 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.
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Amazing Race returns Wednesday night at 8:30 on CBS. Grey’s Anatomy is back Thursday night at 9:00 on ABC. American Idol is back on ABC Sunday night at 7:00; and The Voice airs Monday night at 7:00 on NBC. Ringo & Friends at the Ryman also airs Monday night at 7:00 on CBS.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Mickey 17, Rule Breakers and Night of the Zoopocalypse all open in movie theaters this weekend.
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 13 – South Grand Lake Foundation “Mardi Gras in March” at GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley benefiting Ketchum Warriors Backpack Program (6:00 p.m.). Friday-Sunday, March 14-16 – Grove Home & Garden Show at the former Whoops location. Saturday, March 15 – South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Bootleggers Ball in the Roosevelt Ballroom at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). Thursday-Sunday, March 20-23 – Big Meat Run at the Off-Road area at Disney. Saturday, March 22 – “Killer Keyz” Dueling Pianos return to Shangri-La for a one-night show. Friday, April 4 – First Friday Wine Share at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Grove (6:00 p.m.).
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There’s plenty of NBA action this week as the regular season winds down. After hosting Houston Monday night and traveling to Memphis Wednesday, the OKC Thunder are home to host Portland Friday, Denver Sunday and Monday before heading to Boston next Wednesday.
There are some great college basketball games as we close in on the NCAA Tournament time. Saturday games include Kentucky at Missouri (11:00), Iowa State at Kansas State (12:30), Alabama at Auburn (1:30), Texas A&M at LSU (3:00), Arizona at Kansas (3:30), OU at Texas (7:00) and Houston at Baylor (9:00).
PGA golfers have a couple of tournaments this week. The biggest names will be at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando. Coverage begins at 1:00 Thursday & Friday and 11:30 Saturday & Sunday on the Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds at 1:30 Saturday & Sunday. The Puerto Rico Open is also this weekend with coverage exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday & Friday and 1:30 Saturday & Sunday.
NASCAR drivers are in Phoenix this weekend. Coverage of the Shriners Children’s 500 begins Sunday afternoon at 2:30 on FS1.
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It looks like another nice weekend ahead at Grand Lake. It might be a little breezy, but we’ll have high temperatures around 60 Friday & Saturday, moving up to mid-60s on Sunday and into the 70s next week. Lows will be in the upper 30s Friday & Saturday, 40s Sunday night and 50s early next week. Get out an enjoy some fabulous spring preview days, but remember – 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
