September 15 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum
There’s nothing like being early for a celebration. The Pelican Festival doesn’t kick off until October 2 at Wolf Creek Park in Grove…but, in case you haven’t noticed, the pelicans have already arrived! There will be more, of course, but the early arrivals know they need to be at Grand Lake early to get a good spot!
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A beautiful thing happened over the past weekend as OK Kids Korral hosted a few days of fundraising for the charity, the favorite of the late great country music star and Grand Laker Toby Keith. The Alternate Shot Horse Race competition to kick off the weekend was won by Toby’s wife Tricia Covel and her playing partner Scott Ward. Equally beautiful, the winning team as well as the 2nd & 3rd place teams (Darla Howe & Richard Lippitt and Scott & Cheryl Brecheisen) all donated their winnings to the OK Kids Korral. The Grand Lake charitable spirit lives on!
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In case you are monitoring the continuing encroachment of artificial intelligence, there is big news this week. The country of Albania has a new Minister of Procurement. Her name is Diella. She only has one name because she is not a human. She is an AI robot, the first ever appointed to a political position of leadership in the world. Albania has had a longstanding problem of corruption in their product procurement, and officials hope appointing a non-human to the position should stop the biases and the corruption. If that works, maybe we should start lining up AI robots to run for Congress! And added benefit would be, they require no salary or benefits!
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Watching beer commercials during the weekend football games, a buddy of mine shared a great idea. Some innovative brewery should produce a new beer and name it “Responsibly,” then watch all the other beer commercials promote their new product.
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Speaking of football, there’s a rumor going around Norman about a new OU game plan for the match-up with Auburn Saturday. After linebacker Jaren Kanak was moved to offense filling a temporarily vacant receiver’s spot, he has apparently found a new home by making 14 catches for a team-high 245 yars through three games. The rumor on campus is that coach Venables may switch offensive and defensive teams this week, just to keep things interesting by running up the score.
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My longtime pal Ty Tyler pointed out this weekend that I have randomly eliminated the “random” from the weekly quotes of odd facts from my buddy Randy Krehbiel. That error has been corrected in this week’s column; and after this public display of his Virgo traits, Ty is now officially in charge of proofreading this weekly diatribe.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Hanna Heffley, Rich Lillard, Angie Drake, Jaclyn Hardison, Marcy Hill, Philip Lancaster, Rami Masri, Joyce Duke, Renee Diver, Nick Bentley, Barry Willingham, Melissa Patrick, Josh West, Josey DeSouza, Therri Wadel, Susan Schupp, Larry Bolton, Tera Northcutt, Bill Howell, Bryan Waldenville, Juli Miller, Theresa McDougall, Bryan Timberlake, DeAnne McAbee, Julie Pace, Sheryl Chinowth, Susan Jons, Jack Frost, Justin May, and Lyn Moore.
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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: Thursday is the Northeast Oklahoma Board of Realtors Golf Tournament at The Coves (9:00 a.m. shotgun start). Friday is the Grove Chamber of Commerce Fundraising Golf Tournament at Patricia Island (9:00 a.m. shotgun start). The Grove Merchants’ Fall Open House is Friday & Saturday. Friday-Sunday is the Wheeling for the Wounded event in the off-road area near Disney. Saturday, McCorkle Family Farms (Grove) opens the Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze on weekends through October 26 (10-6 Saturday, 12:30-06 Sunday). Saturday evening is the Cedar Port Marina Customer Appreciation Party at Sharky’s (6:00 p.m.).
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy," was the first a cappella recording to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Everything heard on the record is McFerrin's voice.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Interstate 70 has a mile marker 419.99 in Colorado because mile marker 420 kept getting stolen. IYKYK
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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: The largest tree in the world is in Brazil. The giant cashew tree has grown in such a way that its branches spread out, touch the ground, and take root again, creating new trunks. It now covers an area about the size of a football field.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Did you know if you hold a squirrel up to your ear, you can hear what it’s like to be attacked by a squirrel?
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WORD FUN OF THE WEEK: “Never odd or even” spelled backwards is still “never odd or even.”
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: DRIVER ALERT: Student Drop-off. No Stopping.
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BEST BLUESKY POST OF THE WEEK: If you live to be 100, you should make up some weird reason why, just to screw with people – like claim you ate a pinecone every day or something.
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PUN OF THE WEEK: I always take my problems to Tommy. Hilfiger something out.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why did we ever think it was a good idea to eat cake after someone blew all over it?
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: How long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you’re on.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I am not young enough to know everything.” – Oscar Wilde
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Actress Polly Holliday, best known for her role as Flo on the sitcom “Allice” (Kiss my grits!), died last week. She was 88. Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones turns 79 this week; and legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson turns 80.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: It’s a great week on Grand for music lovers, because there is a TON of live entertainment. On Monkey Island, Magen Faulconer will perform Wednesday night at South 125 Bar & Grill. Sundown Entertainment hosts Thursday night karaoke on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La (6:00-9:00 p.m.) and Scott Musick performs live Friday night at Doc’s. There’s karaoke with Sundown Entertainment both Wednesday and Friday nights at The Monkey Bar and Megan Faulconer will be on stage Saturday night. DJ K-Bandito will provide the entertainment Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Lil Red & COBE will be live at The Shebang Friday night; and Dustin Treiber will entertain at The Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda Saturday night.
In Grove, Mixtape 918 will provide the music Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar and Carl Acuff, Jr. will take over Saturday night. RocKFiscH will be on stage at Grand Lake Casio’s Venue 655 both Friday and Saturday nights. 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 his birthday!).
On South Grand Lake, James Muns starts the weekend early Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, followed by The Smith Brothers Thursday night, Clayton Ussery Friday night, The Dustin Pittsley Band Saturday night, Ryan Graham Sunday afternoon at 4:00, and Jackson Glassby next Wednesday evening. Josh and Magan Ramsey from the Beaty Creek Band will entertain at Scissortail Marina Friday night followed by Lil’ Red and Sidepiece Saturday night; and Downbeat 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 The Todd East Trio Thursday night. Travis Kidd takes the stage Friday night, and Members Only take over Saturday followed by a Sunday morning entertainment by Michelle Warren at 11:00. The Blue Underground will be at Buffalo Run’s Backwoods Bar Saturday night. Retro Rockerz start the music Thursday night at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar followed by Encore Friday night and Mayday by Midnight Saturday. Stonehorse will provide the music in Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday night.
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DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: It’s that time of year when we have to start learning new hours of operation for all our favorite dining & drinking spots; so here we go: Chickanellas on Monkey Island has expanded their dinner service to include Wednesday & Thursday nights as well as Friday & Saturday. Shebang is now offering an Omelette Bar Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda has new fall hours – Friday-Sunday 11:00-8:00. South 125 also has new hours, now opening for lunch at 11:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. Blind Swine on Duck Creek is now open 4:00-9:00 p.m. Friday, 11:00 a.m.-9:00 pm. Saturday, and 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sunday. Cosby’s Catfish has new hours, too – open 4:30-8:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 12:30-8:00 Saturday & Sunday (Closed Wednesday).
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Morning Show returns to Apple TV+ Wednesday. A Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind, and Fire airs Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS. Brilliant Minds returns for a new season Monday night at 9:00 on NBC. The Voice returns for a new season next Monday night at 7:00 on NBC. The Paper is available on Peacock and NCIS: Tony & Ziva is available on Paramount+.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: A Big, Bold Beautiful Journey, Him and Xeno all open in theaters this week.
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SAVE THE DATE: 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 – Progressive Dinner traveling to 10 Grove businesses beginning at Rustic Rehab at 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). Thursday-Sunday, October 2-5 – Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Friday, October 3 – First Friday Wine Share at Rustic Rehab in Grove (6:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 4 – Grand Lake Sailing Club Long Distance Race (10:00-7:00). Saturday, October 4 – Mahogany & Chrome Classic Boat Show and Classic Car Show at Cherokee Yacht Club (10:00-3:00). Sunday, October 5 – Courage Under Fire Classic Golf Tournament at Shangri-La benefiting the Monkey Island Fire Department (12:30 p.m.).
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It’s a big week for college football in Oklahoma. OSU kicks off the football weekend early hosting Tulsa at 6:00 Friday night (ESPN) and OU hosts Auburn in their SEC opener Saturday afternoon at 2:30 (ABC). Other great games Saturday include South Carolina at Missouri, West Virginia at Kansas, Arkansas at Memphis, Michigan at Nebraska, SMU at TCU, and Illinois at Indiana.
The NFL kicks off Thursday night with Buffalo hosting Miami. Sunday games include the Jets at Tampa Bay (12:00), Cincinnati at Minnesota (12:00), Dallas at Chicago (3:30). The New York Giants host Kansas City Sunday night; and Detroit is at Baltimore at 7:00 for Monday Night Football.
The WNBA season is in playoff mode with games Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at 6:30 and 8:30, and Sunday at 2:00 & 4:00.
NASCAR drivers are racing Sunday afternoon in the NASCAR Cup Series Race at New Hampshire. Coverage is on USA Saturday at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.
There are some fun Major League Baseball games this week including the Yankees at Baltimore Thursday (6:00) and Seattle at Houston Sunday (6:00).
There’s no PGA Golf this week as players prepare for next week’s Ryder Cup play.
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With the official first day of Fall coming up Monday, we’ll get a little preview this weekend with a chance of a few showers here and there, and temperatures about 10 degrees lower than last weekend. High temperatures will be in the low 80s with nighttime lows in the low 60s. Grab a light jacket and hit the wide variety of Grand Lake fun spots. Remember, though, 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)
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
