December 13 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
Winter weather arrived at Grand Lake just in time for the beginning of Christmas Parade season. Parades in Jay, Grove, and Spavinaw over the weekend capped off the annual Christmas Light Boat Parade out of Cherokee Yacht Club. Plenty of Christmas spirits warmed crowds at Cherokee and Arrowhead Yacht Clubs, Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina, and lots of watch parties at homes and aboard spectator boats all along the parade route. If you missed it, a condensed version will be televised later. Watch this space.
*****
I started the weekend celebration a little early myself, with Round 1 of the Pool League Tournament at Shangri-La’s Anchor Thursday followed by their Ultimate Christmas Party Friday night; and I capped it off Sunday with (I’m not sure how many) hours of celebrating at the annual Sagittarian Party at Big Shots. That was a fabulous party, to be sure, highlighted by celebrating the birthday of one of my dearest lifelong friends, Grand Lake’s legendary “Papa” Larry Duke. Happy 80th, Duke!
*****
We’re #1 at something. Nope. Not in football. Not in basketball. But, Oklahoma City is #1 in something, at least. The American Fitness Index has ranked Oklahoma City as the #1 Least Healthy of 100 American Major Cities. Cheers! Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em.
*****
Who says playing college football can’t be profitable as well as fun? Horns with Heart, a new Texas non-profit organized by lifelong Longhorn supporter Rob Blair says it will pay $50,000 per year to each Texas Longhorn offensive lineman on scholarship in exchange for rights to use their name, image, and likeness on fundraising “to support charitable causes.” Sounds like they’ve found 16 charitable causes already – the University of Texas offensive linemen on scholarships!
*****
Things that make you go “hmmmm.” It was in the news this week that David Ostrowe, Governor Stitt’s former Secretary of Digital Transformation and Administration, is suing the State of Oklahoma for $60 million. He says a bribery indictment against him by a multi-county grand jury was a result of malicious prosecution by former Attorney General Mike Hunter. The charge was later dropped. Ostrowe says the indictment damaged his reputation so much it caused him to miss out on a $60 million business opportunity. It just struck me odd. I think, if I was going to claim I wasn’t misusing my government position, I wouldn’t claim I had been using it to put together an “opportunity” to make $60 million.
*****
Shout-out to Grand Lake’s newest marina owner. Tim Kirk, owner of Tulsa Powersports among other similar businesses, is now also the proud new owner of Grand Lake’s Willow Park Marina.
*****
MORE GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Nevyle Cable, Jill Swisher, Brad Milanowski, Amber Benson, Mark Schmitz, Christie Landry, Kyle Spurlock, Mark Spechler, Katie Hutson, Tina Blackman, Zack Brown, Donald Murphy, Casey Davis, Richard Lowry, Rodney Richardson, Jana Worley, Travis Hartley, Laurie Kelly, Casey Musgrove, and Tiffany Cogle.
*****
BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It’s another crazy busy holiday week at Grand Lake. Thursday night is Round 2 of the Pool League Tournament at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00). Friday is an Open House at the South Grand Lake Chamber (10-2) and a Sip & Shop at The Dam Hotel in Disney (5:00 p.m.). Saturday is a big Ping Pong Tournament at The Anchor at Shangri-La (6:00). Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village is open Saturday night at Har-Ber Village Museum; and both the Langley-to-Disney Christmas Parade across the Pensacola Dam and an Off-Road Christmas Parade in Disney are Saturday at 5:00. Saturday night is also the huge “Evening to Remember” gala at Shangri-La Resort (6:00), the holiday “Jingle My Bells Party” at Blind Swine Monkey Island, and the annual Christmas Party and Ugly Sweater Contest at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday is Christmas Brunch with Santa at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La. If you’re looking for great Christmas light displays, check out Winter Wonderland at Pine Lodge Resort, the light display at Tera Miranda and the Park of Lights at Twin Bridges State Park.
If you need a reminder, next Tuesday (December 21) is officially the first day of winter. The good news is, we’ll start having more daylight time.
*****
RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The largest rise in life insurance payouts in a century has followed the surge in U.S. deaths from COVID-19 (The Wall Street Journal). Death-benefit payments rose 15.4 percent in 2020 to $90.43 billion, mostly due to the pandemic, according to the American Council of Life Insurers. It’s the sharpest rise since 1918.
*****
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Christmas is the only time of the year that people enjoy sitting in front of a dead tree while eating candy out of socks.
*****
BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Basically, Hallmark has made 437 Christmas movies using 17 actors, five locations, and three different plots.
*****
BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: I never finish anythi
*****
TWEET OF THE WEEK: Potatoes make French fries, chips, and vodka. It’s like the other vegetables aren’t even trying.
*****
BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Is it possible to cross an eel with an eagle? Absolutely not. It would be eeleagle.
*****
UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If paying a cashier a living wage will make prices go up, why doesn’t replacing cashiers with self-checkout make prices go down?
*****
OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: It’s been four months since I ordered the book “How to Scam People on the Internet.” I still don’t have it.
*****
FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Former OU running back, Heisman Trophy winner, and Miami, OK native Steve Owens turned 74 years old last week. Former Boston Celtics NBA superstar Larry Bird turned 65. The fabulous actress Rita Moreno, one of the few EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), who starred in both the 1961 original West Side Story as Anita – and in the 2021 remake as Valentina, turned 90 years old Saturday.
*****
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Just so we’re clear, the Grinch never really hated Christmas. He hated people, which is fair.” – Jim Carrey
*****
BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, Thursday night Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend fun at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Cory Lee performs live at Doc’s Friday night. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit. Saturday night, legendary crooner Wade Tower entertains at Shangri-La’s holiday “Evening to Remember.” Saturday night is great dancing and singing at Monkey Island Pub. Erin Fitzgibbon performs at the Blind Swine on Monkey Island Friday night, followed by karaoke; and Saturday night is Karaoke Night at Monkey Island Pub.
On South Grand Lake, Jake Flint will be on stage Saturday night at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.
In Grove, JR Neal entertains with Christmas tunes Saturday night at The Regatta.
Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Larry and Zack in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Lucas Gates Friday and Whisky Outlaws Saturday. Saturday night, George Thorogood and the Destroyers are in concert at Buffalo Run Casino’s Indoor Peoria Showplace. Thanks for Nothing entertains at Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Casino Friday night. Jesse Joice takes over Saturday night. There is live entertainment by Pony Up Friday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, with karaoke Saturday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove, Whiskey Poet Society entertains Friday night and The George Brothers take the stage Saturday night.
*****
DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: This is the last weekend of the season for the Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda (open Friday & Saturday, then closed until March). Copper’s Tea & Coffee House has re-opened in Grove. The Parrot Restaurant in Grove is closed. The Blind Swine on Monkey Island now offers weekend breakfast service Saturday & Sunday 9:00-noon. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La has expanded hours of operation and now offers breakfast 7:00-10:00 a.m. seven days a week (in addition to lunch and dinner) and Sunday Brunch specials 7:00-2:00. Doc’s also offers a Friday night weekly “Chef’s Special.” If you’re planning ahead for the holidays, Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney will be closed for annual cleaning & maintenance from December 23-31, reopening January 1.
*****
BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Voice is wrapping up another season. Finale performances will be Monday night at 7:00, followed by the final program Tuesday night at 7:00. 1883 (A Yellowstone prequel) will be available Sunday on Paramount+. Fantasy Island has a two-hour holiday special next Tuesday at 7:00 on Fox. Jim Gaffigan: Comedy Monster also airs next Tuesday on NETFLIX. The 44th Kennedy Center Honors will be televised next Wednesday at 8:00 on CBS.
****
BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Spider-Man: No Way Home and Nightmare Alley both open in movie theaters this week. Swan Song is streaming on Apple TV+. Being the Ricardos will be available this week on Prime Video; and Grumpy Christmas is available on NETFLIX.
*****
SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, December 29 – OU vs. Oregon in the Alamo Bowl (8:15). Friday, December 31 – CFP Semi-Final Watch Parties at The Anchor (Alabama-Cincinnati at 2:30, Georgia-Michigan at 6:30). Friday, December 31 - Members annual New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner at the Summit Restaurant. Friday, December 31 – Platinum Member Event – New Year’s Eve Dinner at Mulligans at Patricia Island. Friday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Prime Rib Dinner with music by Faultline at Road Hog Saloon. Saturday, January 1 – Arkansas vs. Penn State in the Outback Bowl (11:00 a.m.). Saturday, January 1 – OSU vs. Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl (noon). Tuesday, January 4 – Kansas State vs. LSU in the Texas Bowl (8:00). Thursday, January 6 – Pool League Tournament Round 3 at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 7 – CXC Aviator Flight Night at The Anchor (6:00). Friday-Sunday, January 7-9 – Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa’s Cox Convention Center. Monday, January 10 – CFP National Championship Watch Party at The Anchor (7:00). Tuesday, January 11 – Trivia Tuesday at The Anchor (7:00). Thursday, January 13 – Pool League Tournament Round 4 at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 14 – Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament Round 1 at The Anchor (6:00). Friday-Sunday, January 14-16 – OKC Boat & RV Show at the Bennett Event Center at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in OKC. Thursday, January 20 – Pool League Tournament Round 5 at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 21 – Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament Round 2 at The Anchor (6:00). Thursday, January 27 – Pool League Tournament Championship Match at The Anchor (7:00). Friday, January 28 – Winter Golf League Indoor Simulator Tournament Round 3 at The Anchor (7:00). Monday-Sunday, January 31-February 6 – Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show at Expo Square, Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
*****
SPORTS WATCH: The first of 43 College Football Bowl Games begin Friday, although you have to be a really big fan to care much about any of them until Tulsa faces Old Dominion in the Myrtle Beach Bowl Monday afternoon at 1:30. Army takes on Missouri in the Armed Forces Bowl next Wednesday (December 22) at 7:00
College basketball is well underway. OSU takes on Houston Saturday night at 6:00 and hosts USC next Tuesday night at 8:00. OU takes on UT Arlington Sunday afternoon at 2:00.
In the NFL, the Chiefs visit the L.A. Chargers to kick off the week’s action Thursday night. There are two Saturday games this week: Las Vegas at Cleveland at 3:30 and New England at Indianapolis at 7:15. Sunday, Arizona is at Detroit, Dallas is at the N.Y. Giants, and Tennessee is at Pittsburgh, all at noon. Denver hosts Cincinnati and San Francisco hosts Atlanta at 3:00; Seattle is in L.A. taking on the Rams and Green Bay is at Baltimore at 3:30, and New Orleans is at Tampa Bay at 7:00 Sunday night. Monday Night Football features the Vikings and Bears.
In the NBA, the OKC Thunder are at home for a while, hosting New Orleans Wednesday (7:00), and the Clippers Saturday (7:00). Monday night, they travel to Memphis for a rematch with the Grizzlies, then head back home to host the Nuggets next Wednesday (7:00).
PGA Tour events are done for the year, but there’s a tournament this weekend that will be even more entertaining. The father-son PNC Championship will feature Tiger & Charlie Woods, Henrik and Karl Stenson, John and “Little John” Daly, Justin and Mike Thomas, Nick and Matthew Faldo, Bubba Watson and Wayne Ball, among others. Coverage begins on The Golf Channel at 12:30 Saturday and 11:30 Sunday. NBC takes over coverage Saturday at 1:30 and Sunday at noon.
*****
Weekend weather starts out nice on Friday, then continues to deteriorate through the weekend. After Friday highs in the mid-60s, we’ll lose 10 degrees Saturday and another 10 or so Sunday. Nighttime lows Saturday & Sunday will likely be below freezing. Certainly not the parade weather we enjoyed last week! Bundle up Saturday night – especially if you’re in the boat parade! There’s a lot happening this weekend, so get out and have some fun; but no matter where you decide to party, be sure to buy a drink for the guy next to you. It could be me!
GRAND LAKE BUM
Want more information on advertisers you see in the Grand Lake Bum? No problem. Just click on their ad and you will be connected to their web site. 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 is growing. E-mail or contact 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.
Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley
Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)
Big Shots on Monkey Island (Open Friday & Saturday nights)
Blind Swine on Duck Creek at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina
Blind Swine on Monkey Island
Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor
Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)
Café at Har-Ber Village
Café Yum in Grove
Cesar’s Place in Vinita
Cesar’s Place in Langley
Checkered Past in Grove
Chickanella’s in Grove
Chicken Coop West of Langley
Clanton’s Café in Vinita
Copper Penny Bar in Ketchum
Copper’s Tea and Coffee House in Grove
Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)
Cove Club in Langley
Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Docks Bar at Harbors View Marina
Domino’s in Grove
Downstream Casino in Quapaw (smoking)
Drake’s on the Lake at Blue Bluff Harbor
Drake’s Restaurant in Grove
Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill at Grand Meridian
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)
Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove
Galley at The Anchor, Shangri-La Resort
Goodfella’s Pizza (Cleora and Grove)
Grand Lake Casino, north of Grove on Highway 10 (smoking)
Grand Lake Public House in Grove
Hatfield’s Saloon in Grove
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)
Juan Montez Restaurant & Cantina at Red Arrow Marina
La Casita de Martin in downtown Grove
Lester’s Third Street Diner in Grove
Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum
Los Garcias in Langley
Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove
Marina’s Place at Littlefield Corner
Matt’s Place in Grove
Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)
Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)
Monkey Grind at Shangri-La Resort Hotel
Monkey Island Trail Rides
Monkey Island Winery
Mulligan’s at Patricia Island Golf Club in Grove
Nu Taste Restaurant in Grove
Pappy’s Bar on Hwy 10 east of Grove
Pickles at the Lake in Langley
Pistol Pat’s on Honey Creek in Grove
Pit Stop Café in Grove
Quarterdeck Cafe at Tera Miranda Harbor (smoking on the deck)
Raggedy’s in Grove
Rancho Viejo in Grove
Riggs & Company in Langley
River Bend Casino in Wyandotte (smoking)
Road Hog Saloon at the entrance to Monkey Island (smoking...but not at lunch)
Rusty Anchor (next to the cliffs at Dripping Springs)
Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)
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 Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice
The Landings Market and Grill on Monkey Island (smoking on the patio)
The Parrot at Honey Creek Landing in Grove (Smoking on the patio)
The Pourhouse at The Regatta in Grove
The Stables Casino in Miami (smoking)
The Shebang on Monkey Island (smoking on patio and Balcony Bar)
Ugly’s Grill & Bar, Thunder Bay Marina (smoking)
VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina (smoking on deck)
Water Side Bar & Grill in Grove
Wolf Creek Diner in Grove
Comments:
Map It
