January 27 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

There is plenty of good entertainment coming up for spectators this week. The Tulsa Boat Show runs through Sunday; and professional golf’s loudest and most obscene event of the year is this week (Waste Management Phoenix Open).  Bedlam basketball is Saturday afternoon. Sunday night is the Super Bowl. Monday is the date for the Iowa Caucuses AND the opening day of the Oklahoma legislative session. Tuesday night is the President’s State of the Union address and, of course…the ongoing controversies emanating from Washington, D.C.. Enjoy the shows!

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I joined a couple of hundred of my closest friends Saturday night for the unveiling of some new menu items and the new Whiskey Kitchen at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. For a bourbon drinker like me, that new Whiskey Kitchen is too much fun. Add a bunch of great friends and a great band like The Wanda Watson Band, and it was certainly an evening to remember – and a great way to get in the mood for a weeklong party at the Tulsa Boat Show!

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I’m sticking with bourbon as my medicine of choice, but the numbers are changing in Oklahoma as a sign of the times. In Oklahoma City, sales tax revenue from medical marijuana dispensaries have now surpassed sales tax revenue from bars!

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State Representative David Hardin (R-Stilwell) has introduced legislation making it legal for legislators to carry guns in the State Capitol building. Not you. Just them. What could possibly go wrong?

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UPDATE: Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort has finished it’s 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: On Nov. 8, 1970, at the age of 43, reserve quarterback George Blanda threw a touchdown pass and kicked the extra point for the Raiders to tie the Browns with 1:34 remaining, then kicked a 53-yard field goal as time ran out to win the game. Blanda played five more seasons with the Raiders and is still the oldest person to ever play in the National Football League.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Relationships are a lot like algebra. Did you ever look at your X and wonder Y?

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Had a funny sign planned for this week, but the Astros stole it.  

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Home Depot now has self checkout. I’m about to build an entire house for $30.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I went down to the paint store to get thinner. It didn’t work.

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BEST NOTE TO SPOUSE SEEN THIS WEEK: “Sweetie, I’m at work. Dinner is on the stove. You only have to light it, the gas is already turned on. Love you!”

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Save business cards of people you don’t like. If you ever hit a parked car accidentally, just write “sorry” on the back and leave it on the windshield.

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FEEL OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The memorable movie “Love Story” opened 50 years ago. Ali MacGraw, the star of that film, is 80 years old. Ageless music, movie, and TV icon Dolly Parton turned 74 last Sunday. Famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who famously walked on the moon, turned 90 years old last week.   

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Kevin Sanford, Michael Blackman, Katelin Threet, Britta Thrift, Holly Weatherford, JoAnn Schaub, Druanne Durrett, Lynn Moore, Sue Ruth, Pete Moss, Daniel Moore, Mark Blanchat, Penny Humphrey, Amber Forrest, Kelly Long, Jade Jennings, and my ol’ pal “Radio Jim” Frazer.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Have you ever noticed that a woman’s “I’ll be ready in five minutes” and a man’s “I’ll be home in five minutes” are exactly the same?

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show continues through Sunday at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. Saturday is the annual “Souper Bowl” event at Integris Grove Hospital (10-2). Soup service begins at 11:00. Saturday night is also a great celebration of my buddy “Radio Jim” Frazer’s 80^th birthday at Pickles in Langley. Sunday afternoon, doors open at 4:30 at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze for the debut of their new gigantic screen at their Super Bowl Party with heavy hors ‘d oeuvres and prizes. There are also great Super Bowl Watch Parties at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La, Blind Swine, Road Hog Saloon and Mooney’s. Wednesday, February 5, is the Home of Hope Chocolate Affair from 6:00-8:00 at the Craig County Community Center in Vinita.

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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, Zeke Danniels will be on stage Friday night followed by Erin Fitzgibbon Saturday, 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 NighTTrain Friday night and Paralandra Saturday night.  Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655 offers the great music of Encore 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 Faulconer Duo on stage Saturday night. At Buffalo Run Casino’s Trailer Park Bar & Grill The River’s Edge Band will be on stage Friday night, and there is DJ action every Saturday night at 10:00. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, Retrorockerz will entertain Friday night at Legends followed by Hudson Drive Saturday night; and The Jeff Long Duo perform Friday and Saturday in Lover’s Leap Lounge. There’s plenty of entertainment at Indigo Sky Casino’s Echo Lounge.  Tim Nowell will be on stage for a Thursday night acoustic show, followed by Morgan Squared Friday night and Brent Giddens Saturday.

The best spots to catch all your favorite sports action including Super Bowl, 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 Series Finale of The Good Place airs Thursday night at 7:30 on NBC.  Taylor Swift: Miss Americana is available Friday on NETFLIX. Houston Texans star J.J. Watt will host Saturday Night Live at 10:30 Saturday night on NBC. CBS Sunday Morning (9:00 a.m. on KOTV) features James Taylor this week.  Super Bowl LIV pre-game coverage begins at 2:30 Sunday afternoon on Fox with kick-off at 5:30 followed by the season 3 premiere of The Masked Singer at 9:30.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Gentlemen, Gretel and Hansel and The Rhythm Section

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, February 7 – Business After Hours Reception at Shangri-La Resort (5:00-7:00). Friday, February 7 – Karaoke for Kerry fundraiser at Big Shots (6:00 p.m.). Friday-Sunday, February 7-9 – Grove Home & Garden Show at the Grove Civic Center. Saturday, February 8 – WAAMI Chili Luncheon Fundraiser 11:00-3:00 at the old Monkey Island Fire Station. Saturday, February 8 – Polar Plunge at Shangri-La Resort’s outdoor pool at 11:30 ($10 entry benefits the Grove Public Library). Wednesday, February 12 – “Early Love Birds” snacks & shopping specials late at Grove merchants. 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! It’s the biggest week of the year for NFL football (as if you needed a reminder). Super Bowl LIV is Sunday evening – kickoff at 5:30 for the Chiefs and 49ers. Pregame coverage is on virtually every channel, beginning about now. The game itself is on Fox.

The NBA, after a grueling schedule, the OKC Thunder have a little lighter load this weekend. They’re on the road at Phoenix Friday night at 8:00. Then, they’re off until next Wednesday when they host the Cavaliers in OKC. Both games are on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

There’s some really good college basketball this week, headlined by OSU at OU in a Bedlam match-up Saturday afternoon at 2:00 on ABC. There are plenty of great roundball games Saturday in addition to Bedlam. TCU is at Baylor (ESPN2) and Texas Tech is at Kansas (ESPN), both at 3:00. Tulsa hosts Wichita State (ESPNU) at 5:00. Monday night, Texas is at Kansas (ESPN) and Baylor is at K-State (ESPN2), both at 8:00.

PGA Players in the desert this week for golf in front of a crowd more demonstrative of a basketball crowd. It’ll be loud and rowdy at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. 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 weekend ahead looks really, really nice. We’ll have sunshine with high temperatures back up in the 50s and lows in the mid-30s. Sunday night’s low will be around 40 degrees and we’ll be in the 60-degree range for a Monday high before another cold front sweeps in. Enjoy the fantastic early February weather while you can. All the Super Bowl parties should be totally jammed with fans! 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