May 19 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Here we are at the intersection of Spring & Summer – and the first big holiday of the season. I know we have a lot of folks coming in for the weekend who may not be familiar with my official Grand Lake Bum Holiday Rules of Behavior, so here they are again: No fighting, no puking, no hitting on someone else’s date, no griping at overworked servers and bartenders, no bragging about how much money you have (or your parents have), no drunk driving, no public nudity (private nudity is okay), no yelling, no discussion of religion - and especially no politics! 

As with all holiday weekends, you may have a little longer wait for a seat, a drink, or some food. Be nice to everyone who is working so you can play. Everyone is always understaffed for the influx of holiday weekend visitors. If everybody who’s coming to the lake over the holiday weekend would come every weekend, all the businesses could staff up for those giant crowds. If I get my drink before you do, it’s because I’m there every day all year long. Bartenders already know what I want – and they know I’ll be sitting on the same stool in December. So, maybe you should buy a house and a boat while you’re here and come join us for the party all year!

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With all the narrow, winding roads around the lake, there are special driving rules at Grand Lake, as well: 1) Use your turn signals (those are controlled in most vehicles by a little handle on the left side of your steering wheel – push up if you’re turning right, push down if you’re turning left; 2) If there is no one in front of you, but a line of cars behind you, YOU are the problem.

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So, who is more popular – pop superstar Katy Perry or the NBA Playoffs? Well, the NBA Playoffs won the battle with her, anyway. Someone at Ball Arena in Denver had scheduled Game 6 of the Thunder/Nuggets semifinal playoffs at the same place on the same night as they scheduled Katy Perry’s concert. Perry’s show has been rescheduled for July 10… and someone’s job is probably in jeopardy at the Ball Arena scheduling office!

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NCAA Softball action moves on to the Super Regionals this week. I couldn’t help but feel a little sad about all the teams nobody has ever heard of jumping up and down, screaming, and cheering because they were so excited to be included in the Regionals – and get crushed. And most of them did.

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Heads up, NFL Football fans. The most successful sports league in America has struck so many deals with so many networks and streaming services, you’ll have to monitor six different entities, in addition to regular networks, if you’re going to catch every game – Sunday Ticket, YouTube TV, Peacock, Netflix, Amazon Prime, ESPN+. Subscribing to all six of those services will cost you $1,515.40. Oh..and don’t forget to pay your cable TV bill, too!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Ellen Fleming, Edward Gibbs, Vicki Graper, Kevin Blumenthal, Michelle Hartman, Jeremy Callison, Ashton Gilmore, Kolin Williams, Todd Mlnarik, Jim Richie, Ivan Rocourt, Ann Turner, Pam Nutting, Brent Malone, Cheryl Ayer, Kelly Dyer, Mark Moore, Carla Howard, Keith Hawks, Ron Blaylock, and Brooke Fuser.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Thursday is the 3rd Annual Modoc Nation Golf Scramble at Shangri-La (9:00 a.m.) and a Grand Lake Business Networking session at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). Thursday is also Trivia Night” at both BOOM at The Regatta and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill. Friday morning is the Grove Area Chamber “State of the Region” legislative & tourism breakfast forum with Representative Josh West and Tourism Director Sterling Zearley at the Grove Community Center (7:30 a.m.). Friday morning is also the 1st Anniversary Celebration of the Legacy of Liberty WW II Memorial Park at Shangri-La (10:00 a.m.). Saturday is the Grand Lake Sailing Club’s “Peanut Regatta #3.” Saturday night, watch for Memorial Weekend Fireworks at Honey Creek Marina. Monday is a special Memorial Day Service at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Langley (10:00 a.m.).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Father Guido Sarducci, as portrayed by Don Novello, has appeared 31 times on Saturday Night Live, the most for any SNL recurring character.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: A cherished racehorse passed away in 1930, prompting the Mars family to name their new chocolate bar “Snickers” in his honor. What began as a tribute to their loss became one of the world’s top-selling candies, with billions of bars enjoyed across generations.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: When you stand at the geographic South Pole, all lines of longitude converge at that exact point, so you are literally standing in all 24 time zones. You can step from today into yesterday, and back into tomorrow.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: This morning I told my boss, “You can either expect me to work well with others, or I can pass a drug test. I can’t do both.

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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: The first 3 letters of “Sweden” and “Denmark” spell out “Sweden.” The remaining letters spell out “Denmark.”

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Vegan food ain’t that bad once you add meat and cheese to it.

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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: The fact that Keith Richards and Willie Nelson have outlived Richard Simmons has me rethinking this whole “eating right and exercise” thing.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: I finally realized that people are prisoners of their phones. That’s why they’re called “cell” phones.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who’s not buying it?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say “nothing,” it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I always feel that I have two duties to perform with a parting guest: one, to see that he doesn’t forget anything that is his; the other, to see that he doesn’t take anything that is mine.” – Alfred North Whitehead

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: I just told a 20-year-old friend  that we used to get 10 CDs for a penny in the mail. I’m not sure if she thinks I’m lying about what a CD was, what a penny is, what the mail is…or all three. Eric Burdon, the awesome British singer/songwriter who fronted for The Animals (“House of the Rising Sun”) turned 84 last week. The one and only Stevie Wonder turned 75; and this weekend, the incomparable Bob Dylan will be 84 years old.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: With the Memorial Day holiday weekend, there’s more live entertainment than usual this week. On Monkey Island, Sundown Entertainment hosts Thursday night karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.) and Scott Musick performs live Friday night at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Kevin Price will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar and the Fabulous 2-Man Band will entertain Sunday night. There is Musical Bingo Wednesday nights, and DJ Kennedy leads Rockstar Karaoke Friday night at The Monkey Bar – and Magen Faulconer will be on stage Saturday night followed by S. Willliam Tedford Sunday night. Lil’ Red and Sidepiece will provide the music Saturday night at The Roadhog Saloon.

On South Grand Lake, Lil’ Red and COBE will perform at Blind Swine on Duck Creek Friday night. Buck Wild will kick off the weekend Friday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina followed by Empire Saturday night, Jake & The Idols Sunday Night Jason & Jerod Wood of the Highway 69ers Monday afternoon at 3:00. Ryan Graham starts the weekend Thursday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney. The Hydromatics will be on stage Friday night at Mooney’s followed by The Barrett Lewis Band Saturday, The Barrett Lewis Duo Sunday, and Robbi Bell Monday. Glam R Us will perform Friday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora followed by Mixtape 918 Saturday night at The Stars Sunday night. Michael Wayne entertains Friday night at Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina.

In Grove, The Bak Beatz will provide the music Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 followed by Rangeline 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. 90 lb. The Beaty Creek Band will be the Friday night entertainment at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by Paralandra Saturday and Encore Sunday.

There are four nights of music this week at Indigo Sky Casino. Wilkie J starts the music Thursday night followed Swade Diablos Friday, KC and the Vibe Saturday, and Trenton Tanner Sunday. Dewayne Bowman & the Swingin’ West Band entertains Saturday night in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West. DC and the Night Marshals will be on stage Saturday night at Buffalo Run Casino’s Backwoods Bar. Roots & Boots featuring Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw, and Collin Raye will be on stage at The Pavilion at Downstream Casino Friday night and there are three nights of music in Downstream’s Legends Sports Bar – Funkin Gonuts Thursday night, Mayday by Midnight Friday, and Nathan Bryce and Loaded Dice Saturday. Whew! There oughta be plenty of options for you to take advantage of!

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Drunken Rooster On the Water is now open at Honey Creek Landing Marina. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina, Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina, Ugly’s Grill & Bar at Thunder Bay Marina, and Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Harbors View Marina will all have extended days of operation this weekend. Blind Swine starts weekend breakfast service this week, too. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is now on summer schedule, too, opening at 11:00 a.m. Thursday-Sunday. The Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel also now has extended summer hours – Sunday-Thursday 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – Friday & Saturday 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Juan Montez is now open until 9:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday nights.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Transplant airs Thursday night at 7:00 on NBC. The 51st American Music Awards Show airs next Monday night at 7:00 on CBS. Kevin Costner’s The West airs next Monday night at 8:00 on The History Channel.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Friendship, and Lilo & Stitch all open in movie theaters this weekend.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 30 – Grove Rotary Shrimpfest at Shangri-La (6:00 p.m.). Monday-Wednesday, June 2-4 – Junior Golf Camp at Shangri-La (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. daily). Thursday-Saturday, June 5-7 – American Heritage Music Festival (Thursday night at Snider’s Campground/Friday & Saturday at Har-Ber Village). Friday, June 6 – Barkaritaville fundraiser for Second Chance Pet Rescue at Honey Creek Barbeque at Hilltop Inn & Suites in Grove (6:30-10:00 p.m.). Saturday, June 7 – Fairy Festival at Lendonwood Gardens. Monday, June 9 – South Grand Chamber Golf Tournament at Shangri-La (11:00 a.m.). Friday-Sunday, June 13-15 – Toes in the Grand Festival at Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, June 14 – Home of Hope Annual Banquet at Hard Rock in Catoosa (5:30 p.m.). Saturday, June 21 – Rock the Dock Comeback Tour 2025 concert at Check-In Bay (12:00-5:00 p.m.).

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The biggest sports news, of course, is in the pro basketball world. It’s Conference Championship time in the NBA. We’re down to just four teams with games daily rolling into next week.  

It’s also a huge week for college softball and baseball. SEC and Big 12 Baseball tournaments are this week – SEC Tuesday-Sunday and Big 12 Wednesday-Saturday. NCAA softball moves into the Super Regional competition this week (Thursday-Sunday) to determine which teams will make it to the Women’s College World Series. WCWS begins May 29.

PGA Players are in Ft. Worth for the holiday weekend. Coverage of the Charles Schwab Challenge begins at 3 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday on The Golf Channel CBS picks up the final two rounds Saturday & Sunday at 2:00.

NASCAR drivers are in Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. Coverage is exclusively on Prime Video this week with coverage at 5:00 Sunday afternoon.

NASCAR isn’t the only racing action, of course. It’s Memorial weekend and that means it’s Indianapolis 500 time. Coverage starts at 9:00 Sunday morning on Fox, but race time is not until 11:45.

UFL football features four games this week. St. Louis is at San Antonio Friday night (7:00). Arlington is at Memphis at 11:00 Saturday morning, followed by Michigan at Birmingham at 2:00. Houston hosts DC Sunday afternoon at 3:00.  

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The upcoming weekend is the first big summer holiday – Memorial Weekend! So you won’t be the least bit surprised to know that the forecast for every single day says the same thing: “Chance of scattered thunderstorms.” Don’t be scared. It says that every year. When it’s not raining on our parade, we’ll have highs in the 70s – up to 80 by Sunday – with lows around 60. There’s plenty to do this weekend, both outdoors and indoors, so get out and have some Grand Lake fun! Remember, though, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!

If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both  Grand Lake Living and www.360grandlake.com, the cost is only$50 a week and the list of readers continues to grow.  E-mail grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker newspaper.

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 in Grove (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 on Grand (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

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