December 5 Random Observation Of The Grand Lake Bum

 

What a GRAND kick-off to the month of December – Christmas tree lightings, opening of several drive-thru Christmas light displays, conference football championship watch parties, newfound fans for FIFA World Cup soccer, growing trivia competition at The Anchor and Mooney’s, and the opening of the brand new ice skating rink in Grove. If you thought the holiday season kick-off looked busy last week, just wait until this weekend. We have a variety of parades on both the land and the water this weekend – and Shangri-La is hosting special Sunday afternoon Christmas carol sing-along fun with Terry Jordan both this Sunday and next. If you can’t find a way to enjoy the celebration of the holidays at Grand Lake, you’re not looking!

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Oklahoma State Senator Blake “Cowboy” Stephens has once again introduced legislation calling for Oklahoma to permanently remain on Daylight Saving Time. Good for him!!! If his legislation passes, Oklahoma would automatically stay on DST if and when the U.S. House of Representatives ever gets around to passing the “Sunshine Protection Act” that would allow states to take such action. What’s the deal with the U.S. House, by the way? The U.S. Senate passed the bill last spring – unanimously. If it starts getting dark any earlier, we won’t even have to get up at all.

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Kim Kardashian has a new revenue stream. I’m sure you’ll be relieved to learn that divorce settlement negotiations have concluded between her an “Ye” (the artist formerly known as Kanye West). She’ll get child support payments totaling $200,000….per month.

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Steve Martin and Martin Short will co-host Saturday Night Live this week (Saturday at 10:30 on NBC). The last time they co-hosted the legendary program was 36 years ago.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Jim Gray, Barbara Pliler, Randy Williams, Gina Gibbs, Wayne Crouse, Chris Byrd, Stephanie Gibbs, James Andrews, Leslie Ann Wright-Porter, Erica Ware, Gina Holloway, Janie Cunningham, Sherry Kern, Janee Odle, Karen Strimple, Allison Timberlake, Candace Kahle, Terri Thomas, Niki Rowton, Doug Smith, Charlotte Oglesby, Kim Hudelson, Molly Harrell, Barbara Callison, Debbie McCurdy, Spencer Dyer, George Blair, Dwain Richardson, Larry Duke, Jessica DeRose, Amy Redus, and Sonny Hefley.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK: It’s another busy, busy holiday season weekend in the Grand Lake area. Wednesday is the Annual Sagittarian Party at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze featuring Sagittarian Larry Duke as Guest Chef. The new ice skating rink is open in Grove at City Hall. Public skating times are Friday & Saturday 4:00-9:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m. Friday is the “Jingle & Mingle” Moon Soups-sponsored Chili Cookoff at Journey Home Décor in Grove (4:00-7:00 p.m.). Friday is the Gateway to Grand Lake Christmas Parade in Ketchum (6:30). Thursday is “Trivia Night” at Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (6:30). Friday & Saturday is the Last Minute Lakers Merchants’ Open House in Grove and Monkey Island. Saturday morning is the 2^nd Chance Pet Rescue annual Breakfast & Dessert Auction at the Grove Community Center (9:00 a.m.); and the Fairland Christmas Parade is at noon. Celebrate the season by land or by Grand Saturday night at either the Grove Christmas Lights Parade (6:00) or the Grand Lake Christmas Lights Boat Parade from Cherokee Yacht Club (4:00 p.m.). Saturday night is also “A Big Band Christmas” at The Coleman Theater in Miami (7:00). Sunday afternoon, enjoy “A Monkey Island Christmas Card” musical sing-along with entertainer Terry Jordan in the lobby of Shangri-La Resort Hotel (2:00-5:00 p.m.). Next Tuesday is the Grand Lake Newcomers Club Christmas Brunch & Gift Exchange at Grove Christian Center (10:00 a.m.). Tuesday night is also “Tuesday Trivia” competition at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00). If you’re looking for great drive-through Christmas light displays, check out the display at either Twin Bridges State Park or Pine Lodge Resort.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: For centuries, pilgrims to Vercelli in northern Italy paid homage to a hippopotamus tooth they believed to be the last known remains of St. Christopher.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: A leopard can drag something twice its weight up a tree. A cougar can drag someone half her age into bed.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I accidentally used the dog’s shampoo. Now I’m feeling like such a good boy!

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Running feels great. Unless you compare it to not running.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: Don’t blame lazy people. They didn’t do anything.

 

BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Freddie Mercury, Venus Williams and Bruno Mars walk into a bar. They didn’t planet that way.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When is the Employee Christmas Party for self-checkers at Walmart?

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: I don’t watch soccer. If I wanted to watch somebody struggle to score for 90 minutes, I’d take my friends out to a bar.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Bob Stoops was named head football coach at OU during this week – 24 years ago. The late, great comedian Richard Pryor would have turned 82 years old this week. Johnny Carson retired from “The Tonight Show” during this week – 30 years ago; and Willie Nelson made his debut at The Grand Ol’ Oprey during this week 58 years ago.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.” – Richard Feynman

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the Thursday night fun is back at Doc’s with an Italian Buffet and Jason Morgan leading the karaoke fun. Ryan Graham performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night and Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday at the Summit Restaurant. DJ K-Bandito hosts the late-night fun at Big Saturday at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze; and Saturday is also Rockstar Karaoke night with DJ Chris Kennedy at Monkey Island Pub. Sunday afternoon (2:00-5:00) Terry Jordan leads the musical fun presenting “A Christmas Card for Monkey Island” in the lobby of Shangri-La Resort Hotel.

In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music by Out for a Ride Friday night, and more karaoke Saturday. Borrowed Money entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove followed by The Blaine Bailey Band Saturday night.

Jon Dooly starts the musical fun Thursday night at Indigo Sky Casino, followed by Three Brent Giddens Friday night and Uncrowned Kings Saturday. Morgan Squared entertains Saturday night at Club 60 West at River Bend Casino. Matt Stell takes the stage Saturday night at Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Casino.

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Guest Chef fun moves from The Shebang to Big Shots Wednesday with Larry Duke as the guest chef for the annual Sagittarian Birthday Bash. The new Banquet Room is complete and ready for private bookings at The Cove Club in Langley. Blind Swine on Monkey Island is now closed Sunday-Wednesday for the remainder of the year – open Thursday-Saturday 4:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Bailey’s Bistro at The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island is now open from 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The CMA Country Christmas airs Thursday night at 8:00 on ABC. The National Christmas Tree Lighting is live Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS. Baking It: Celebrity Holiday Special airs Monday night at 9:00 on NBC. The 2022 People Choice Awards will air next Tuesday at 8:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Emancipation opens in movie theaters and on Apple TV+ this week. Burning Patience will be available on NETFLIX Thursday. Night at the Museum: Kakmunrah Rises Again is on Disney+ and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is on NETFLIX, both available Friday.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, December 16 – Christmas Party with Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Anchor at Shangri-La (7:00-10:00 p.m.). Friday, December 16 – Inaugural Christmas Party at The Legacy in Grove (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 17 – Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village. Saturday, December 17 – Christmas Parade in Disney (5:00). December 18 – Christmas Brunch with Santa at The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La (10:00-2:00). Sunday, December 18 - “A Monkey Island Christmas Card” musical sing-along with entertainer Terry Jordan in the lobby of Shangri-La Resort Hotel (2:00-5:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve party and college football semi-final games watch party at The Anchor at Shangri-La. New Year’s Eve dance party extravaganza at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. Saturday, December 31 – Red Carpet at the Roost New Year’s Eve celebration at the Drunken Rooster. Saturday, December 31 – NYE Prime Rib Dinner & Dance at Road Hog Saloon. Friday-Sunday, January 6-8 – Oklahoma Boat Expo at Tulsa Convention Center. Monday, January 9 – National College Football Championship Watch Party at The Anchor at Shangri-La. Friday-Sunday, January 13-15 – OKC Boat & RV Show at Bennett Center, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Saturday, January 21 – Winter Gala at Shangri-La Resort. Monday-Sunday, January 30-February 5 – Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show at SageNet Expo, Tulsa State Fairgrounds.

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There’s only one college football game this week before we all start drinking out of a college football bowl game fire hose next week. Army hosts Navy Saturday afternoon at 2:00.

NFL action begins Thursday night with the L.A. Rams hosting Las Vegas. Sunday games include the N.Y. Jets at Buffalo and Houston at Dallas (both at noon), Kansas City at Denver at 3:00, Tampa Bay at San Francisco at 3:30, and Miami at the L.A. Chargers at 7:00. Monday Night Football features New England at Arizona.

The NBA season is well underway. The OKC Thunder have a tough road schedule this week – Saturday at Cleveland (6:30) and Monday in Dallas (7:30) before returning home to host the Miami Heat next Wednesday (7:00). All games are televised on Bally Sports Oklahoma.

FIFA World Cup soccer competition continues as the field continues to narrow. The Quarterfinal games are Friday & Saturday with Semifinals next Tuesday and Wednesday.

There are some great college basketball games in the area this week. The Crimson & Cardinal Classic featuring OU and Arkansas will be at the BOK Center in Tulsa at noon Saturday, televised on ESPN2. Kansas takes on Missouri at 4:00 Saturday, and OSU faces Virginia Tech Sunday at 1:00 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational in Brooklyn.

PGA Players are busy this weekend, for sure. The QBE Shootout is Friday-Sunday in Naples, Florida. Coverage begins at noon Friday and Sunday, 12:30 Saturday on The Golf Channel. NBC picks up the final two rounds Saturday at 1:30 and Sunday at 1:00.

It’s also time for “The Match” live from Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida Saturday afternoon at 5:00 on TNT. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy take on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the 12-hole competition.

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Weather forecasters are flipping coins again this week. They say there’s a 50% chance it will rain this weekend – and a 50% chance it won’t. Either way, we’ll have high temperatures around 50 degrees and lows in mid-30s Friday & Saturday, dipping down below freezing Sunday night. Better snag some rain gear for parade-watching, just in case. There’s plenty of holiday fun this week, so get out and hop in the middle of it. Remember, though, wherever you decide to 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

Artichoke Restaurant & Bar in Langley

Balcony Bar at The Shebang (Smoking – open Friday & Saturday nights)

Bella Donna’s at Honey Creek Landing Marina

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

Cafeteria at The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

Casa Gutierrez in Grove

Cesar’s Place in Vinita

Cesar’s Place in Langley

Changos Locos at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

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

Danny’s Dockside Pizza at Honey Creek Landing

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 Restaurant in Grove

Drunken Rooster Bar & Grill

E&H Liquor Store at Littlefield Corner, Monkey Island

Eddy’s Lakeside Bar at Shangri-La Marina (smoking)

Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove Resort in Drowning Creek

Forage in downtown Grove & The Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

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 Coffee Company in Grove

Grand Lake Public House in Grove

Grand Lake RV Resort at the back of Duck Creek

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

Matt’s Place in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey Island RV Resort

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

Pier 13 Liquor Store 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

Regatta Restaurant & Bar at Sailboat Bridge, 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)

Royal Liquor Store in Grove

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 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