September 28 Observations from the Grand Lake Bum

September 28, 2026

Thank goodness for the Wolf Creek Expo! A Taste of Grand returned with a vengeance Saturday night, but it would have not been possible without the Expo. For the past few years, there has been no Taste of Grand event because there was no alternative “weather” site that could handle an event that size. Now there is – and Grand Lake restaurants filled the building with delectable delicacies to the delight of a huge crowd. A bare 1.5 points separated the top 8 competitors. Congratulations to Mulligans who ended up at the top of that tightly knitted group – winners of the “Supreme Cuisine Award.” Shawanoe Steak & Spirits at Indigo Sky took “People’s Choice” honors; and Cregan’s Confections had “Best Dessert.” This year’s event was so much fun that Prime Time Charters provided fee-free rides home to attendees who had a little too much fun. To top it off, the event raised a bunch of money for the Integris Grove Foundation. What an outstanding night!

The Oklahoma gubernatorial race is heating up! Two big events this week add a little more fuel to the fire. President Trump scheduled an appearance in Durant, Oklahoma supporting Republican candidates at the exact same time as the airing of what is probably the only General Election gubernatorial debate. OETA will continue to air the debate statewide at 7:00 Thursday night after recording the debate live-on-tape Thursday morning. I’m relatively sure Mike Mazzei is glad some folks will be distracted by the President and won’t see the debate. But, wait! OETA says, in addition to the Thursday night debate broadcast, they will replay the debate Saturday, October 3, at 5:30.

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In the meantime, Grand Lakers will be tied up this weekend with FUN! It’s Pelican Festival time at Wolf Creek Park. I will never understand how the pelicans always seem to get this event on their schedule, but they’ve begun showing up for the festival in their honor. We do love the pelicans!

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In case folks hanging around on Monkey Island are wondering about that big crane that has been at Vista Towers for a few days, there is no truth to the rumor that they have started a bungee jumping venue. AT&T has been installing a new 5G antenna on top of Vista. Sorry for the disappointment.

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Uh-oh. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told a Louisiana radio show that Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security “have to be adjusted and fixed” – and he said Republicans have a plan to do it next year. He didn’t say what the plan is, but we all know what “adjusted” means in the government world. It means “cut.” Perhaps you should talk to your U.S. Representative. On the other hand, it’s starting to look like Mike Johnson may not be Speaker of the House next year.

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Speaking of Speaker Johnson, here’s another one. “Our constituents want and need us here,” he told members of Congress in Washington. Then he sent the whole House home for seven weeks.

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If you have ever wondered how you are contributing to pollution, you oughta join the Lake O’ The Cherokees Subwatershed Association at Northeast Tech Bis in Grove Thursday beginning at 4:00. Their “Pollution Prevention for Dummies” presentation will include giveaways of native plants, complete with 3X3-foot garden enclosures. You would be surprised how the little things make a big difference. You may be surprised to find out you are one of the “dummies” contributing to pollution without even knowing it!

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Shopping is getting more confusing every day. Wal-Mart thinks I want to put up my Christmas tree and eat turkey while wearing a Halloween costume. By the time we get to Thanksgiving, they’ll probably be pushing Valentine candy!

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Grand Lake Bum Shout-Outs

OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Grand Lakers Mike Lillie, Mike Mitchell, Danny Head, Carey Head, Gary Hardman, Jim Anderson, Andy Newman, Chris Merillat, Mark Athey, Gary Nichols, Kira McDonald, Randy Wheeler, Jan Castelli, Paula Cillessen, Robert Zoellner, Thane Swisher, Susie Wilkinson, Reggie Stone, David Hastings, Tania Geradt, Cari Williams, Jared Jeffers, Angela Estep, Erik Frost, David Durrett, Alexandra Spechler, Colleen Garrett, Laurie Givens, Virgil Macaluso, Margi Avant, Kim Melton, Joe Wilburn, Nancy Saamer, Cody Springsguth, and Patty Northrup.

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Best Grand Lake Events this Week

It’s a crazy busy week at Grand Lake! It’s Pelican Festival Time – Thursday-Sunday at Wolf Creek Park. Thursday afternoon is a fun and informative “Pollution Prevention for Dummies” event – the “3X3” Challenge, hosted by the Lake O’ The Cherokees Subwatershed Association at NE Tech Bis in Grove - free plants! (4:00-6:00 p.m.). Thursday night, the Monkey Bar on Monkey Island officially kicks off the “Halloween Season” with a spooky “Midnight Margarita Night” (7:00 p.m.). Friday is the South Grand Lake Chamber Golf Tournament at The Coves Golf Club (12:00 pm shotgun). Saturday is the final “Farmers’ Market” of the year at Grove’s Downtown Square (8:00-1:00). Saturday is also the annual Long Distance Classic Sailboat Race from Grand Lake Sailing Club to the dam and back - and the 33 rd Annual Mahogany & Chrome Classic Boat Show at Cherokee Yacht Club (10:00-3:00). Buffalo Run Casino spotlights a Rides for the Run Car Show Saturday (opening at 10:00 a.m.). Saturday evening is a Laketoberfest Celebration at The Shebang and Big Shots on Monkey Island (5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.).

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Randy Krehbiel’S Random Factoid of the Week

The Washington Post reports that among jobs that can pay six figures without a college degree is “nuclear reactor operator.” Finally, we find out how Homer Simplson lives in that neighborhood.

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Fun Fact of the Week

In one billion years, the sun will burn out. Do you think that means OTA will have to complete work on the Turner Turnpike in the dark?

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Odd Fact of the Week

Since the beginning of the Iran war, Oklahoma’s gasoline prices have increased by more than every state except Iowa. Oklahoma prices have increased 68.8% (Iowa’s prices increased 69.1%).

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Best Facebook Post of the Week

Sometimes if you read a person’s Facebook posts, you can tell the approximate time they switched from coffee to alcohol.

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Word Fun this Week

“Goddessship” means the character of being a goddess. It is unique to the English language because it is the only work spelled with a triple-letter sequence (s-s-s).

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Best Sign Seen this Week

Hussey’s General Store: Guns, Wedding Gowns, Cold Beer

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Best Bluesky Post of the Week

Y’all be sure to leave those Trump flags in your yard so we know who’s car to siphon gas from when it hits $8.00 a gallon.

Pun of the Week

The man who invented the zipper has been honored with a lifetime peerage. He will now be known as the Lord of the Flies.

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Unanswered Question of the Week

Have you ever noticed how many towns are named after their water tower?

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Observation of the Week

I’m saving money to buy enough Ouija Boards for everyone who attends my funeral…so we can stay in touch.

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Quote of the Week

"Trump met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. One is a far-right Republican, and the other is a Democratic Socialist – so their meeting was a fun preview of what your Thanksgiving will be like.” – Jimmy Fallon

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Feel-Old Moments of the Week

OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Legendary actor/comedian Bill Murray turned 76 years old last week. Speaking of legendary - are you still watching reruns of the “Friends” TV series? Its first show aired 32 years ago.

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Best Weekend Live Entertainment

On Monkey Island, there’s karaoke with Sundown Entertainment Friday night at The Monkey Bar followed by Erin Fitzgibbon Saturday night. Ronnie Pyle takes the stage at Doc’s Friday night at 7:00.

On South Grand Lake, Chris Hyde kicks off the week’s entertainment Wednesday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney followed by Jacob Dement Thursday. The Hype take the stage Friday night followed by The Bobby DeGonia Band Saturday night, and a special Sunday matinee performance by the great Don White (4:00 p.m.).

In Grove, Magic J will entertain Friday night at Cherokee Casino; and Brett & Terri take the stage Saturday night. Lightly Salted will perform Friday night at the Pelican Festival at Wolf Creek Park, and Guns 4 Roses (Guns N’ Roses tribute band) will entertain Saturday; and Laid-Back Larry hosts karaoke Saturday night at the Alpha Bar.

Brett & Terri start the weekend music Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino followed by Sunset Circle Friday and Mayday by Midnight Saturday . Travis Kidd will be on stage at Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar Friday night followed by Left of Center Saturday night. Revelation , a Journey Tribute Band will perform Saturday night at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Showplace, and Morgan Squared is the featured entertainer Saturday night at Riverbend’s Club 60 West.

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Dining & Drinking Update

Our House BBQ at Hilltop Inn & Suites in Grove has closed permanently. The Fire Pit Restaurant at Wildwood Cove Resort is now closed at its Drowning Creek location. They have moved to Grove (the former Speedy’s Chophouse location) with a tentative opening date at the new location Friday – but they are not yet licensed to serve alcohol. The Chicken Coop in Langley has sold to Pickles Bar. Sadly, the Coop will close in November, but it’ll probably take a while for Pickles to finish renovation & a move. Beau’s Delicatessen in Langley has new fall hours – open Monday & Tuesday at 10:00, Friday at 9:00, Saturday & Sunday at 8:00 – closed Wednesday & Thursday. Scissortail Marina Bar & Grill is now operating on Fall/Winter schedule – Open Friday-Sunday. Whitecap at The Landings has reduced hours – open at 4:00 Thursday & Friday, 9:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. Blind Swine Duck Creek is now only open three days a week - Friday 4-10, Saturday 11-10, Sunday 11-8. Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda is now closed Monday-Thursday – open Friday & Saturday 11-8 and Sunday 11-7. Ugly’s Grill & Bar is now closed for the season.

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Bum Must-See Tv

SEE TV: What will apparently be the only General Election Gubernatorial Debate with Cyndi Munson and Mike Mazzei will air Thursday night at 7:00 and again Saturday afternoon at 5:30 on OETA. A new season of Marshals debuts Sunday night at 7:30 followed by the season premiere of Tracker at 8:30, both on CBS. New seasons of FBI and CIA premier Monday night at 7:00 and 8:00 respectively, also on CBS.

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Bum Must-See Movies

SEE MOVIES: Digger, Verity, and Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother all open in theaters this week.

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Save the Date

Friday-Sunday, October 9-11 – Rocktoberfest off-road event at the offroad area below the Pensacola Dam in Disney. Saturday, October 10 – OU-Texas Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La (2:00-6:00). Thursday-Friday, October 15-16 – Fall Break: Indigenous Programming at Har-Ber Village. Friday, October 16 – Cleora School Fundraising Golf Tournament at The Coves Golf Club (10:00 a.m.). Friday-Saturday, October 16-17 – Patricia Island Country Club/Indigo Sky Casino Shootout at Patricia Island (10:00 a.m.). Saturday, October 17 – Old Time Gathering Music Festival and Contra Dance at Har-Ber Village Museum. Saturday, October 17 – Heart of Monkey Island Chili Cookoff & Auction raising money for Christmas gifts for kiddos at South 125 Bar & Grill (noon). Saturday, October 17 – Home of Hope Admiral’s Banquet at Cherokee Yacht Club (5:00-8:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 24 – Oktoberfest at Grand Towne Center north of Langley (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). Saturday & Sunday, October 24-25 – “Twilight BOOtanical Trail” walk (kids 12 and under) at Lendonwood Gardens in Grove (3:30-6:30 p.m.). Friday, October 30 – Trunk or Treat Halloween Party at Tera Miranda Resort (5:00-8:00 p.m.). Friday, October 30 – Halloween Costume Party with crafts & Games at The Anchor (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Friday-Saturday, October 30-31 – Evening walk through Haunted Village at Har-Ber Village (5:30-8:30 p.m.). Saturday, October 31 – Halloween Buffet & Costume Contest at The Summit (5:00-9:00 p.m.). Saturday, October 31 – Pickleball Tournament for men, women, and mixed doubles at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La (10:00 a.m.).

In the sports world, we can all watch games on TV Saturday because Tulsa hosts North Texas Thursday night at 8:00 – and OU and OSU both have the week off. There are some good games Saturday, though. Alabama is at Mississippi State, Minnesota hosts Michigan, West Virginia is at Iowa State, Navy faces Air Force, Ohio State is at Iowa, Florida is at Missouri, Texas A&M hosts Arkansas, Texas Tech is at Colorado, and Baylor is at Arizona State.

The NFL has some good ones this week, too. The Browns host the Steelers Thursday night. Sunday games include New England at Buffalo, Dallas at Houston, Kansas City at Las Vegas, and Detroit at Carolina.

It’s playoff time for both Major League Baseball and WNBA basketball. The MLB Wild Card games are Tuesday, Wednesday, and, if necessary, Thursday. Division Series play begins Saturday.

In the WNBA, playoffs are already underway with First Round play continuing through Friday, if necessary. Semifinal series games begin play Sunday and continue all through next week.

For PGA players, it’s off to Black Desert Resort in Utah this week. Coverage of the Bank of Utah Championship is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 4:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are in Las Vegas this week for Sunday afternoon action. Coverage of the South Point 400 starts at 4:30 Sunday afternoon on USA.

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You can certainly tell the Fall season has officially arrived at Grand Lake. We may have a shower or two Friday or Saturday, but we will also have high temperatures in the 70s and lows in the low 60s. In fact, low temperatures may start dipping into the 50s Sunday night. As is ALWAYS the case at Grand Lake, there’s a lot happening this weekend and we’ll have great autumn weather for all of it – so get out there and have 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

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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.

Alpha Bar in Grove

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 Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

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

Eagle’s Nest at Patricia Island Country Club

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

La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove

Legacy Eatery in Grove

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 Grove

Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor

Raggedy’s in Grove

Rancho Viejo in Grove

Red’s BBQ in Ketchum

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

Sugar Shack at Lee’s Grand Lake Resort

Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

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