June 7 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
The biggest news on Grand Lake is The Anchor Indoor/Outdoor Activity Park, NOW OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK at Shangri-La Resort. If you haven’t seen the place, you’re going to be blown away. Sure there are arcade games, golf simulators, shooting simulators, pool, ping-pong, shuffleboard, darts, virtual reality arenas, driving simulators, flying simulators, pickleball courts, tennis courts, basketball, and the mini-Fenway WIFFLE Ball Park. But I’ve found a new home in the OMG indoor-outdoor bar area. My new spot is the outdoor bar area, complete with fire pits and drop-down Isenglass and overhead heaters so you can drink outside with a view of the water features, outdoor courts, and Grand Lake YEAR-ROUND! It’s a game changer for all of Grand Lake, for sure. The official Grand Lake “season” is now 12 months long!
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If you haven’t already gotten your Covid-19 vaccination, there has never been more incentive. Professional sports teams are giving away free tickets to fans who get vaccines at the park, several states have lotteries for vaccine recipients with prizes up to a million dollars; but Grand Lakers now have joined those who have the ultimate incentive – free beer! Yep, you read it right. President Biden has set a goal of having at least 70 percent of the population receiving at least one vaccination shot by the 4th of July. If we reach that goal, Anheuser Busch has agreed to buy every adult in America a free beer on the 4th. Even non-alcoholic beverages qualify, so kids 12 years and older can get a free beverage, too. Staying alive has always been a good enough reason for me to get the vaccine (I’m done), but now there is an even better reason for staying alive – free beer!
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If you’re still trying to keep up with former President Trump, I’m not sure where to send you. He’s banned from Twitter and Facebook, of course – and he recently resorted to a regular blog on a website. His staff now confirms the blog has been permanently discontinued.
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Our prudishness and sensitivities are still in overdrive, I guess. The magnificent 25-foot “Forever Marilyn” sculpture of Marilyn Monroe’s famous photo with an underground vent blowing up her dress will not be coming to Tulsa, after all. Unbelievably, 41,000 people signed a petition to block the “Forever Marilyn” tour of the iconic and historic statue. It was displayed in Tulsa with no issues whatsoever in 2014, but I guess we’ve gotten wackier since then. It was supposed to be in Tulsa over the past weekend, but officials confirm it’s not going to be displayed in Tulsa due to its “hyper-sexualized, misogynistic” nature. The photo wasn’t offensive back when it was taken in 1954; but I guess it’s offensive now. SMH.
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ENTERTAINMENT NOTE: Tickets are on sale for Blake Shelton’s September 24 concert at Tulsa’s BOK Center.
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TOURISM NOTE: Last year, it was Covid-19. This year, it’s ongoing maintenance inside the powerhouse – but, for the second year in a row, there will be no tours of the Pensacola Dam this season. That’s too bad. It’s an incredible tour; but if you haven’t already done it, it looks like 2022 is going to be your year.
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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney is now open 7 days a week. QuickQue BBQ Shack is now open Wednesday-Sunday from 11:00-8:00 at Monkey Island RV Park. Blind Swine on Duck Creek (at Harbors View Marina) is now hosting Friday night Creole Shrimp Boil fun, as well as breakfast service Friday, Saturday & Sundays. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La hosts a weekly Shrimp Boil on the patio each Thursday night as well as an all-you-can-eat Ribs Special Friday nights. Doc’s Bar & Grill and Quarterdeck at Tera Miranda both offer a Saturday & Sunday Breakfast Buffet; and Sunday Brunch is available at Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00).
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It’s Toes in the Grand Festival weekend in Grove! The American Heritage Music Festival and Thunder on Wolf Creek Boat Races are all a part of this year’s festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. The first Kyle Williams Safe Boating Class of the year is Saturday at the GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley. Saturday morning, there’s a Farmers Market at the Grove Community Center (9:00-2:00). Saturday is also a Bikini Bike Wash at Pickles at the Lake in Langley (1:00-4:00); and Saturday night is the “Daisy Dukes of Hazzard Party at Sharky’s Bar at Hammerhead Marina. Kyle Williams Safe Boating Class at GRDA Ecosystems Building.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: The American Heritage Music Festival and the Toes in the Grand Festival are both at Wolf Creek Park this weekend. Friday is the American Music Festival including the National Fiddle Competition topped off with evening entertainment by Cliff Top (7:00), The Baker Family Band (7:45), and the Junior Marriott Swing Band (8:30). At the Trop Rock festival Saturday, Three Chord Justice will entertain at 2:00 followed by The COPA Reefer Band at 4:30, and a Beach Boys tribute band at 7:30.
At The Regatta in Grove, Until Now entertains Thursday night and KJ Flip leads the karaoke fun Friday.
On Monkey Island, The Thursday Night Shrimp Boil and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the weekend on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Friday night, Clint Ingramprovides the live entertainment at Doc’s. DJ Max kicks off the weekend entertainment Friday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar, followed by Ronnie Pyle and the Drivers Saturday night. Terry Jordan entertains Friday & Saturday nights at The Summit at Shangri-La. The Balcony Bar at The Shebang provides great karaoke fun with Kerry Kimmons beginning at 8:00 Friday & Saturday nights; and just across the street, there’s always great dance music Friday & Saturday nights at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. KJ Flip will lead the karaoke fun Thursday night at Blind Swine – and he’s back for more Karaoke & Cocktails Sunday night. Saturday night is Karaoke with Tim at Monkey Island Pub.
On South Grand, Erin Fitzgibbon entertains every Thursday night at Blind Swine on Duck Creek (at Harbors View Marina) and KJ Flip leads the musical fun every Wednesday night. At Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, Daniel Chesser will perform Friday night. The Barrett Lewis Trio will be on stage Saturday night – and Barrett Lewis will be back for a solo performance Sunday afternoon at 4:00. The Faulconer Band will entertain Saturday night at Sharky’s at Hammerhead Marina.
Indigo Sky Casino this week presents The Party Line Band in the Echo Bar Thursday night, followed by Stonehorse Friday and The Uncrowned Kings Saturday. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar features music of Mayday by Midnight both Friday and Saturday nights. At Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar, Constant Chaos will be performing Friday night followed by Encore Saturday.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The red part of a Poinsettia is a type of leaf called a bract.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: People who drank Boone’s Farm as teenagers are immune to all viruses.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: I just read that 4,153,237 people got married last year. Not to cause any trouble, but shouldn’t that be an even number?
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Remember what the valet who parked your car looks like, because we don’t have valet parking.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: You can walk around Wal-Mart eating grapes, and nobody every says anything to you about it; but when you pop open the first beer, here comes security.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: The Black Eyed Peas can sing us a song, but the chick peas can only hummus one.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Sometimes you meet someone and you know from the very first moment that you want to spend the rest of your life without them.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: ZZ Top and Willie Nelson are planning a joint concert on August 8 in Kansas City. ZZ Top’s original band members have been performing together for 52 years. Willy Nelson is 88 years old. That should be an interesting crowd demographic. Actor Jerry Mathers, “The Beaver” on the old “Leave it to Beaver” television series, turned 73 last week.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to David Moore, Bill Pettit, Marnie Pettit, Donna Price, Matt Nash, Ron Young, Jim Gray, Lynn Bowker, Blair Philbrick, Amy Kennedy, Tina Tolleson, and Michael Junk. Congratulations, too, to newlyweds Michael Thrift and Amanda Payne!
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do songbirds get irritated at hummingbirds because they won’t take the time and effort to learn the lyrics?
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Blindspotting premieres Sunday on Starz. The Republic of Sarah debuts Monday night at 8:00 on CW; and Celebrity Dating Game airs Monday night at 9:00 on ABC.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The Misfits, In the Heights, and The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 all debut in movie theaters this week. Infinite is available on Paramount +, Home Before Dark is on Apple TV+, and Queen of Spades is available for rent.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Social media made y’all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it.” – Mike Tyson
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, June 18 – Grove Rotary Club Lobsterfest at Grove Civic Center. Friday & Saturday, June 18-19 – Route 66 Festival in Vinita. Saturday, June 19 – Rock the Dock Concert at Check-In Bay (noon-5:00). Saturday, Saturday, June 19 – Jello Wrestling at Juan Montez at Red Arrow Marina (7:00 p.m.). Saturday, June 19 – Steampunk Costume Party at Monkey Island Pub. June 19 – Kyle Williams Safe Boating Class at GRDA Ecosystems Building. Monday-Wednesday, June 21-23 – Junior Players Academy at Shangri-La. Friday-Saturday, June 25-26 – Grand Jam Music Festival at Grand Meridian RV Park. Saturday, June 26 – Heels on Wheels Car Show & Bikini Contest at Copy Penny Bar & Grill in Ketchum. Monday-Wednesday, June 28-30 – Youth Pickleball Camp at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 3 – Monkey Island Fireworks at Shangri-La. Saturday, July 3 – July 3rd Fireworks Celebration at Wolf Creek Park. Saturday, July 3 – Grand Lake Fireworks at Disney. Sunday, July 4 – Duck Creek Fireworks. Sunday, July 4 – Miami Fireworks at Riverside Park.
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SPORTS WATCH: NBA Playoffs continue this week in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs. There are multiple games daily on TNT and ESPN.
The PGA players are in South Carolina this week for The Palmetto Championship at Congaree. Coverage begins on The Golf Channel at 2:00 Thursday and Friday, and noon Saturday & Sunday. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday and Sunday.
The Women’s College World Series Championship series is Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday evenings at 6:30 on ESPN.
In MLB, the Cubs host the Cardinals for a couple of games this weekend – Saturday at 6:15 on Fox and Sunday at 6:00 on ESPN before traveling to New York to face the Mets Monday night (6:00 on ESPN). Next Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves host the Boston Red Sox at 6:00 (ESPN).
NASCAR drivers are in Fort Worth for a little Sunday night prime time racing this week. Coverage of the NASCAR All-Star Open begins at 5:00 Sunday afternoon followed by the NASCAR All-Star Race at 7:00, both on FS-1.
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The weather for the weekend ahead looks pretty darn nice, with high temperatures in the mid 80s and lows in the mid-60s. Enjoy all the fun Grand Lake has to offer. 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.
Ailey’s Café in Langley
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
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
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 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
Red’s Buffet & Ice Cream in Disney
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)
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
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