February 3 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

The Super Bowl and football season are officially behind us. Not to worry, though. March Madness is on the horizon, NBA playoffs are approaching and, before you know it, we’ll be worrying about baseball. I did a good job on the Super Bowl this year. I didn’t start drinking until an hour or so before kick-off, so I actually remember the entire game. Since I was at the watch party at Big Shots, that’s sort of a minor miracle! I’m not sure I had as much fun as my rich pals who actually went to the Super Bowl, but I certainly spent less money and had a better view of the game! If I was going to spend a fortune in Miami, I think it would have more to do with bars, beaches, and boats than a football game that’s on live television.

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Another year of the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show is in the history books, as well – and the results are stunning. As you probably know, the sales & attendance at that big show always serve to foretell the Grand Lake economy for the coming year. After talking to boat dealers, hospitality operations, and vendors at the show, I can tell you this: record-breaking sales at the show this year indicate an outstanding year ahead at Grand Lake. It was sure fun seeing so many friends I haven’t seen around the lake since October. The happy season at Grand Lake is underway for 2020! The upcoming Grand Lake Boat Show, by the way, is scheduled for March 5-8 at the Grove Civic Center – Welcome Back Weekend!

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Speaking of the Grand Lake economy – don’t confuse Grand Lake’s own Representative JOSH West with Representative KEVIN West of Moore. It’s Kevin West who has proposed legislation that would devastate our lake tourism business by eliminating Daylight Saving Time in Oklahoma. If we want to mess with the time again, we should extend Daylight Saving Time year-round, not eliminate it, for heaven’s sake! I don’t know anybody who likes hanging around in the dark at 5:00 in the afternoon!

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We had some great groundhog news Sunday morning. Although we were enjoying sunshine and warm temperatures at Grand Lake, there was totally different weather around Punxsutawney Phil’s groundhog hole. He poked his head out and…NO SHADOW! That tells you everything you need to know. Get the boat ready!

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I was glad to see the Health Department determined that Oklahoma has no cases of that nasty disease they’re fighting in China – at least not yet. You know what would be a good disease to go along with that frightening new Coronavirus? Lime disease.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort has finished its remodel. The restaurant’s new “Whiskey Kitchen” is now an awesome new part of the Grand Lake dining & drinking scene.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The biggest selling single of the 1970s was Debby Boone’s cover of “You Light Up My Life.”

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: If you keep a baseball bat in your car, also keep a glove. Your lawyer will thank you.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Things that tell the truth – small children, drunks…and yoga pants.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: I saw some idiot at the gym putting water bottles in the Pringles holder on the treadmill.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Thanks so much for teaching me the meaning of the word “plethora.” It means a lot.  

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Some things are better left unsaid. Which I usually realize right after I have said them. .

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FEEL OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Remember Grizzly Adams? TV star Dan Haggerty who portrayed the mountain man died last week at the age of 74. Here’s a stunner for literature students. I’ll bet I don’t have any readers old enough to remember the debut of Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem “The Raven.” It was written 175 years ago.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Stacy Landon, Lori Lillard, Christi King, Laura Goss, Kasie Flud, Larry Stout, Lance Franczyk, Stan Noble, Amy Bellis, Kimberly Self, Steve Weatherford, Martha Jennings, Steve Brewer, Rob Stalcup, Ben Wolfe, Caryl Fowler, Tonya Jurgensmeyer, Ally Jones, and Gene Duncan.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If a cow doesn’t produce milk, is it a Milk Dud or an udder failure?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Friday from 5:00-7:00 everyone is invited to a “Business After Hours Reception” at Shangri-La Resort. Friday night supporters will join in a Karaoke for Kerry fundraiser at Big Shots to raise money to help cover medical costs and living expenses for popular server/bartender/Karaoke Queen Kerry Kimmons. The Grove Home & Garden Show runs Friday-Sunday at the Grove Civic Center. Saturday is a WAAMI Chili Luncheon Fundraiser 11:00-3:00 at the old Monkey Island Fire Station. Saturday morning at 11:30 is a fun  Polar Plunge at Shangri-La Resort’s outdoor pool ($10 entry benefits the Grove Public Library). Next Wednesday, Grove merchants will be open late for an “Early Love Birds” snacks & shopping special, just ahead of Valentine’s Day.

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GRAND LAKE WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: There’s great entertainment around the lake this weekend. Jason Morgan provides the karaoke fun at Thursday Night Prime Rib & Karaoke at Doc’s Bar & Grill, and he is back with the trivia questions Tuesday night at Doc’s.  Terry Jordan performs Saturday & Sunday nights at Shangri-La’s Summit Restaurant. At the Blind Swine, Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Friday night and KJ Flip hosts Cocktails & Karaoke Sunday night. As part of the Sunday night karaoke fun, Blind Swine also has a karaoke contest underway! Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with Tim Saturday night. At Littlefield Corner, the Road Hog Saloon has live entertainment every Saturday night.

Area casinos have big entertainment plans, too. Cherokee Casino Grove features Wilkie Jay & The Heat Friday night and Thomas Martinez Saturday night.  Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 offers the great music Friday night and Karaoke Saturday night. At River Bend Casino, DJ 5-Star Entertainment puts on the show Friday night in Club 60 West followed by The Tim Amey Band on stage Saturday night. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Indoor Peoria Showplace David Nail will be on stage Friday night, and there is DJ action every Saturday night at 10:00 at the Trailer Park Bar & Grill. At Downstream Casino, there is a great show Thursday night at Legends Sports Bar – Satisfaction: A Rolling Stones Tribute. Friday night, there’s live music from The Mixtapes, followed by Retroactive Saturday. In  Lover’s Leap Lounge, The Scott Eastman Duo performs both Friday and Saturday nights. Indigo Sky Casino has three nights of great entertainment this week, starting with Brett & Terri Thursday. The Rumor will be on stage Friday night, followed by ChristiAna Saturday.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action including PGA Golf and NBA and college basketball action are Big Shots Rhythm & Booze, Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort, Road Hog Saloon, 1909 in Grove, Pickles at the Lake in Langley, and Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: The Season 7 debut of Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Thursday night at 7:00 on NBC.  The Series Premier of Indebted airs at 8:30 Thursday, also on NBC. The Series Premiere of the highly acclaimed Tommy also airs Thursday night at 9:00 on CBS. There’s another Democratic Presidential Debate Friday night at 7:00 on ABC.  The 92^nd Annual Academy Awards air live at 7:00 Sunday night on ABC, and Season 40 of Survivor debuts next Wednesday night at 7:00 on CBS. The movie Horse Girl and the Series Premiere of Locke and Key are both available this weekend on NETFLIX.

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIE: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I think youngsters should start thinking about what kind of world they’re going to leave for me and Keith Richards.” - Willie Nelson

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, February 14 – Groundbreaking ceremonies at Shangri-La Hotel for the resort’s new Activity Park (10:00 a.m.) – Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell is the featured speaker. Friday-Sunday, February 14-16 – Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinners at both the Summit Restaurant and Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Both are open to the public. Friday-Sunday, February 14-16 – Midsouth Tackle, Hunting and Boat Show at the Grove Civic Center. Saturday, February 22 is the Monkey Island Trail BBQ at Doc’s Bar & Grill. Friday-Sunday, February 28-March 1 – Women’s Getaway Weekend at Shangri-La Resort (Spa specials, pottery classes, Sip & Paint – and discounted room rates). Thursday-Sunday, March 5-8 – Grand Lake Boat Show at Grove Civic Center. Thursday, March 12 – Grove Chamber Luncheon at Grove Community Center.  Friday-Saturday, March 13-14 – Grove Merchants Open House  

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SPORTS WATCH: After a grueling road schedule, the OKC Thunder enjoy a little “home time” this week. They host Detroit Friday night (7:00), Boston Sunday afternoon (2:30),and San Antonio Tuesday night (7:00). All games are televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

There’s some really good college basketball this week, as well. OU hosts West Virginia at 1:00 Saturday (ESPNU) and Oklahoma State is on the road at Baylor at 5:00 (ESPN2), followed by Kansas State at Iowa State at 7:00 (ESPN2). Kansas kicks off the action Saturday morning at 11:00 on the road at TCU.

PGA Players are at Pebble Beach this week for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Coverage is on the Golf Channel beginning at 2:00 Thursday & Friday and noon Saturday & Sunday. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday & Sunday.

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The weather for the weekend ahead can’t compete with the weather of the weekend gone by, but it’s not bad, either – especially for February. We’ll enjoy high temperatures in the mid-50s with lows around 40 degrees. There’ll be a few clouds, but those temperatures are pretty good for February. It ought to be perfect for the Polar Plunge brave hearts at Shangri-La’s pool Saturday morning. Warm up with a good party in the bar or restaurant of your choice. 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.

1909 in Downtown Grove

Ailey’s Café in Langley

Aquabar & Grill at The Landings Marina on Monkey Island (smoking on the deck)

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 Monkey Island

Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café Italia on Monkey Island

Café Yum in Grove

Carlos Montez in Langley (smoking in bar)

Ceasar’s Place in Vinita and at Littlefield Corner

Checkered Past in Grove

Chickanella’s in Grove

Chicken Coop West of Langley

Clanton’s Café in Vinita

Coppers Tea & Coffee House in Grove

Cosby’s Catfish on Highway 28 in Eucha (East of Disney)

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

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

Gabby’s Place in downtown Grove

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

Henrie’s Grill 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

Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum

Los Garcias in Langley

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Grove

Monkey Island Pub (Smoking)

Monkey’s Uncle at Littlefield Corner (Breakfast & lunch)

Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney (smoking, etc.)

Morrow’s Bar & Grill at Morrow’s Landing

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

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)

Scooters in Langley (smoking)

Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina (smoking)

Sticky Fingers Barbecue in Ketchum

Stuffn’s Restaurant in Ketchum (Smoking on patio)

The Grill at Indian Hills Resort & Marina in Bernice

The Landings Marina (smoking on the deck)

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 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

Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove