September 1 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

Cooler temperatures over the holiday weekend were perfect! Tempers cooled along with temperatures; and there was every imaginable kind of event for every imaginable personality. The GLOC 2.0 Fun Run Saturday was a sight to see – with dozens of high performance boats running from Honey Creek to the Pensacola Dam and back – and all over the lake during the non-organized portion of the weekend, mixing with pleasure boaters filling the popular raft-up coves – Woodard, Dripping Springs, Party Cove – and even the less popular and less populated coves. For the cowboys & cowgirls, Saturday night’s Bullfest of Wolf Creek Park in Grove satisfied their rodeo itch; and music aficionados who didn’t get enough from awesome options all over the Grand Lake area could scratch every leftover itch from the 80s with the huge Rocklahoma concert at Pryor. On top of all that, OU, OSU, Tulsa, Kansas, Kansas State, and Arkansas all won their season-opening games while Texas and Alabama both lost; and yes, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift got engaged – so the weekend was perfect in virtually every way!

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There’s more big news for Oklahoma football fans this week. ESPN College Game Day will be live from Norman Saturday morning at 8:00 – just ahead of Saturday evening’s OU-Michigan game. Should be a big day in Norman!

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In the midst of football season, Grand Lake is all about golf this week. Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell hosts his annual “Luau on the Green” at Shangri-La Thursday night, followed by his “Pinnell Classic” golf tournament Friday – and next week is HUGE. A group of popular golf influencers from Good Good Golf will tee off Monday afternoon at 3:00 for an open-to-the-public “Battlefield Shootout” to kick of several days of play at Shangri-La. There will be repercussions of that visit for several weeks because these guys have about as many YouTube followers as the ESPN Game Day guys have TV viewers! Pretty amazing stuff!

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In the meantime, federal lawmakers will be headed back to Washington after a month off. After watching response to their time back in Oklahoma, it’s probably good that the National Guard troops are still in D.C. to protect lawmakers from their cranky constituents!

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We’re not worrying about that kind of stuff, though, because we’re focused on the beginning of Grand Lake’s best boating season – the Fall Ball! On top of that, we’re planning to enjoy even more great music – not just at Grand Lake’s popular night spots – but the upcoming Born & Raised Festival next week – September 10-13 at the Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor. Rocklahoma was for the rockers – now it’s time for Red Dirt fans to have their week in the sun. September is a fabulous month for outdoor activities for ALL Grand Lake fans. If you ended your summer season over the Labor Day weekend, you’re missing out on some of the best times of the year at the lake!

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Randall Jackson, Stephanie Hollingshead, Trevor Randall, Delana Bentley, Margo Hamsher, Mike Hamsher, Emi Baggett, Kim Shearer, Ed Trumbull, Kenton Wheatley, Julie Benge, Kate Lindley, Tena Smith, Amber Funderburk, Karla Ruth, Jack McDonald, Terry Weppler, Tony Hampton, and Eddy Gibbs.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: It’s a custom-made Grand Lake weekend focused on drinking and golf! Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell’s “Luau on the Green” event is Thursday at 7:00 at The Anchor at Shangri-La and he’ll host the Pinnell Classic Golf Tournament at Shangri-La Friday morning at 8:00. Friday is also the First Friday Wine Share at Zena Suri Alpacas (6:00 p.m.). Monday is your chance to watch some pros at work. Featured players from Good Good Golf will do battle on The Battlefield at Shangri-La including a Meet & Greet session with the pros (3:00 p.m.). Monday is also the South Grand Lake Foundation “Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament at The Coves benefiting the Ketchum Warriors Backpack Program (9:00 a.m. shotgun).

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Taylor Swift played a murder victim in a 2009 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Elephants are born weighing 250 pounds. They are the biggest babies on earth except for the people mad about male cheerleaders in the NFL.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: In order for today’s home buyers to match the home-0buying power Boomers had in the 1970s, the minimum wage would need to be $66.00 per hour.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: They say “the machines of the future” will be as smart as people. Okay, but WHICH people? Because it kinda matters.

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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK:  I just thought you should know that a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. Just in case you’re ever on Jeopardy or something.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Do twins ever realize that one of them was unplanned?

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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: I’m on my way to HR again after they found out I nick-named by coworker “C-Section” because he’s afraid of labor.

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PUN OF THE WEEK: Dogs can’t operate MRI scanners…but catscan.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If the poison expiration date is past, does that mean it’s less poisonous or more poisonous?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Don’t tell me I don’t know the difference between right and wrong. Wrong is the fun one!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I have no politics. I am for the Party that is out of Power, no matter which one it is.” – Will Rogers

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Actor Charlie Sheen turns 60 years old this week. “Beetlejuice” star Michael Keaton turns 74.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Sundown Entertainment hosts Thursday night karaoke on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.) and Jesse Joice performs live Friday night at Doc’s. Travis Kidd will provide the music Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar in the final Saturday night of the season at Eddy’s. There’s karaoke with DJ Kennedy Friday night at The Monkey Bar. DJ K-Bandito will provide the entertainment Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze.

In Grove, The Cliff Boone Band will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar. Morgan Entertainment leads the karaoke fun at Boom at The Regatta Friday night and hosts Singo competition Tuesday. There’s musical Bingo every Wednesday night at R-Bar Dance Hall & Saloon; and DJ Laidback Larry will provide the musical entertainment Saturday night at R-Bar.

On South Grand Lake, The Absher White Trio starts the weekend Thursday night, followed by Ryan Graham Friday night, Michelle Warren & Soupbone Saturday night, The Oxford Duo Sunday afternoon at 4:00, and Magen Faulconer next Wednesday evening. Thursday night, there’s karaoke with Morgan Entertainment at Blind Swine Duck Creek. Nick Sharp will be on stage at The Swine Friday evening followed by Zene Smith Saturday night. Quin Peterson entertains Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster in Cleora.

There are three nights and a midday presentation of live music at Indigo Sky Casino beginning with Brett & Terri Thursday night. The Blue Underground takes the stage Friday night, and Thomas Martinez takes over Saturday followed by a Sunday morning return performance by Thomas Martinez at 11:00. The Risky Business Band will be at Buffalo Run’s Backwoods Bar Saturday night. Stonehorse starts the music Thursday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by Ty Ellis & the Flatliners Friday night at Mixtape 918 Saturday. Almost Kiss will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night.

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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Chickanellas on Monkey Island has expanded their dinner service to include Wednesday & Thursday nights as well as Friday & Saturday. Eddy’s Lakeside Bar has an end-of-season celebration Saturday night featuring all-you-can-eat shrimp, crab, sausage, corn & potatoes from 4:00-7:00 p.m. ($40). Sunday is the last day of the season for Eddy’s. Sharky’s is closed for the season. Bradford BBQ in Ketchum has closed permanently.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Beavis & Butthead kicks off a new season Wednesday night at 9:30 on Comedy Central. NCIS: Tony & Ziva debuts Thursday on Paramount+; and the new series The The Paper also debuts Thursday night on Peacock. College Game Day is live from Norman Saturday morning at 8:00 on ESPN. Sylvester Stallone will discuss Tulsa King as the guest on Sunday Today Sunday morning at 7:00 on NBC; and The MTV Video Music Awards air Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Conjuring: Last Rites and Hamilton: An American Musical both open in theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, September 12 – Juan Montez 10th Anniversary Celebration (8:00 p.m.). Saturday, September 13 – Audubon Society 1st Year Anniversary Celebration at the Community Center on the Grove Town Square (10:30-11:30 a.m.). Saturday, September 13 – Fairland Midwest Pullers Tractor Pull at Fairland Round-up Arena (6:00 p.m.). Thursday, September 18 – Northeast Oklahoma Board of Realtors Golf Tournament at The Coves (9:00 a.m. shotgun start). Friday, September 19 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Fundraising Golf Tournament at Patricia Island (9:00 a.m. shotgun start). Friday-Saturday, September 19-20 – Grove Merchants’ Fall Open House. Friday-Sunday, September 19-21 – Wheeling for the Wounded in the off-road area near Disney. Thursday-Sunday, September 25-28 – Pioneer Days at Har-Ber Village. Friday, September 26 – Golf Tournament at the Grand Cherokee Golf Course below the Pensacola Dam benefiting the Vinita Day Center. Saturday, September 27 – Annual World’s Largest Calf Fry & BBQ Cookoff at the Craig County Fairgrounds in Vinita (11:00 a.m.). Saturday, September 27 – Progress Dinner traveling to 10 Grove businesses beginning at Rustic Rehab at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 27 – Miss Pelican Festival Scholarship Pageant at the Grove Performing Arts Center (5:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday, September 27-28 – Harvest Festival & Craft Show at McCorkle Family Farm & Pumpkin Patch (Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12:30-6:00).

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It’s a big week in college football, especially for the State of Oklahoma. The Cowboys are on the road at Oregon at 2:30 Saturday and the Sooners host Michigan Saturday night at 6:30. Other big games Saturday include Iowa at Iowa State (11:00), Kansas at Missouri (2:30), and Army at Kansas State (6:00)

The NFL regular season is underway and you won’t have to wait until Sunday to see the Chiefs of the Cowboys. Dallas is at Philadelphia Thursday night (7:20) and The Chiefs face the Chargers Friday night (7:00). Tampa Bay is at Atlanta Sunday at noon, Detroit is at Green Bay at 3:30, and the the Bills host the Ravens Sunday night.  Monday night football features Minnesota at Chicago.

It’s a big time for tennis, too, as we wrap up the U.S. Open. Semifinal matches are Thursday & Friday. Women’s finals are Saturday at 3:00 and the Men’s finals are Sunday at 1:00.

NASCAR drivers are in Illinois this week for some Sunday afternoon racing. Coverage of the Enjoy Illinois 300 is on USA Sunday at 2:00.

There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week including Minnesota at Kansas City Saturday (6:00)). Next week, the Yankees host the Tigers both Tuesday & Wednesday at 6:00.

PGA golfers are taking the weekend off and the LIV Golf season has ended.

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We’ll still enjoy unseasonably cool weather this weekend with highs around 80 (might not make it to 80 Saturday) and lows about 60 (maybe upper 50s Saturday night)! How about that for the first weekend of September? There’s a lot happening around the lake this weekend; so get out and enjoy the fun. Remember, though, wherever you party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!

GRAND LAKE BUM

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 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)

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)

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