March 20 Random Observations of The Grand Lake Bum

Chilly weather didn’t deter participants in the Grand Lake Boat & Sport Show, some awesome St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and the awesome COW Week “Day at The Anchor” Charity Fundraising fun over the past weekend – or 220 boats launched at Wolf Creek for the Major League Fishing Tournament. If you weren’t at Grand Lake for Spring Break week, you were the only one. It was fun seeing a lot of people enjoying all the fun; but I’ll admit, no celebrity sighting was more fun for me than spotting Super Bowl Champion Creed Humphrey enjoying a little R&R at Shangri-La Resort. The bad news is – Spring Break is over. The good news is – Spring is officially here! Maybe somebody can alert whomever controls the temperature settings.

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Just in time for Spring traffic, the new Bernice Bridge over Horse Creek is actually open to traffic. And they said it couldn’t happen! My only regret is that in all the months that bridge was under construction and traffic was limited to one-way travel across the remains of the old bridge, I never once hit that stoplight when it was green!

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I’m afraid the Oklahoma Legislature is going to waste a lot more time searching out people to pick on needlessly, but they won’t be first. Tennessee has become the first state to ban drag shows. The most famous of all Tennessee residents obviously does not approve. Here’s what Dolly Parton said: “I’m flashy and I’m flamboyant. I dress more provocative and risqué than any drag queen in Tennessee. Lord, I hope they don’t outlaw me! Had I not been a girl, I would have definitely been a drag queen. I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are.” Who doesn’t love Dolly Parton?

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Did someone say “boat races”? It’s looking like more rather than less on the Grand Lake horizon. The National Boat Racing Association has officially scheduled the return of “Thunder on Wolf Creek” hydroplane boat races June 17-18 in conjunction with the awesome “Toes in the Grand” festival. Mark your calendars. 2024 looks like the return of the GLOC Performance Boat racing on Grand Lake…and I’m hearing tidbits of information about Formula One boat racing in conjunction with another big music festival on South Grand around Labor Day. Watch this space.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Julie Londagin, Jan Smith, Paul Loving, Jason Macer, Todd Segress, David Ogle, Matt Rock, Helen Oden, Ryan Dalton, Jana Kimball, Matt Moyer, Todd Kerr, Greg Brasel, Jeff Williams, Kristin McCorkle, Jerry Barnes, Kyle Stephens, Brice Long, and Mandy Cousins.

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BEST GRAND LAKE EVENTS THIS WEEK. Things just keep getting busier at Grand Lake. Wednesday is the annual Home of Hope Chocolate Affair at the Craig County Community Center in Vinita (6:00-8:00 p.m.). Thursday is the South Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the GRDA Ecosystems Center in Langley (11:30) and the South Grand Lake Foundation’s “Mardi Gras in March” fundraiser at the Dreamcatcher Event Center in Langley (6:00 p.m.). Saturday morning, the Grand Lake Family YMCA will host a 30-minute Boot Camp and a 30-minute Yoga class on the front lawn of the YMCA in Grove (10:00). If you would rather get your exercise by volunteering to help spruce up Lendonwood Gardens for the season, Saturday is “Wake Up the Garden” day for volunteer workers. If you would like to help, show up at 8:30. Saturday is also the Spring Fling Market with 2 Hip Chicks Traveling Roadshow at the Whoops Surplus building in Grove (9:00-4:00) and the “Almost Midnight Madness” pickleball tournament at The Anchor Racquet Club at Shangri-La (7:00-11:00 p.m.). There’s a charity Fish Fry & Auction Saturday afternoon at Pickles Pub in Langley (auction at 4:00). Saturday evening, the Jay Education Foundation presents Dinner Theater & Silent Auction at Bulldog Arena in Jay (5:30 p.m.); and the Grand Lake YMCA is back at fundraising efforts Saturday night with a “Movie on the Lawn” at the Grove City soccer field (7:30). The Anchor at Shangri-La now offers Half-Price Wednesdays featuring half-price arcade and virtual reality games all day each Wednesday through April 5. BTW, The Anchor will close at 9:00 Friday night and 6:00 next Monday for private events.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The word "zombie" is never heard in the movie "Night of the Living Dead."

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Prohibition agent Izzy Einstein bragged that he could find liquor in any city in under 30 minutes. In Chicago, it took him 21 minutes. In Atlanta 17, and Pittsburgh, just 11. But New Orleans set the record: 35 seconds. Einstein asked his taxi driver where to get a drink, and the driver handed him one.

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ODD FACT OF THE WEEK: Paul Bear Bryant was once quoted as saying, “I’d probably croak in a week if I ever quit coaching.” He died 28 days after he coached his last game.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Imagine learning English  and finding out butt dialing and booty calls are two different things.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Walmart Correction Notice:  The 4 for $10 price shown in our flyer for Old Dutch Chips is incorrect. The correct price is 2 for $5.

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BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK: A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: With great reflexes comes great response ability.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If God made a man in his own image, why aren’t we all invisible? (Courtesy of Father Guido Sarducci)

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: The wizards of such information say Americans will wager $15.5 billion on the 2023 Men’s NCAA Tournament. Imagine how much money Oklahoma has left on the table all these years. I hope they are finally wise enough to approve sports betting during the current legislative session.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The indestructible Chuck Norris turned 83 last week. Iconic American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger turns 72 this week.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.” – Robert Frost

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: On Monkey Island, the weekend fun kicks off at Doc’s Thursday night with Jason Morgan leading the karaoke and Singo competition. Mark Gibson performs at Doc’s Bar & Grill Friday night. Friday night is Karaoke Night at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze – and there is always special entertainment and dancing on Saturday nights. DJ Kennedy brings Rockstar Karaoke to Monkey Island Pub Saturday night.  

On South Grand Erin Fitzgibbon will be on stage Saturday night at The Drunken Rooster. At Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill, JR Neal will provide the entertainment Friday night. Pickles Pub in Langley has a Karaoke Night Saturday.

In Grove, there is karaoke fun Thursday night at Grand Lake Casino’s Venue 655, followed by live music Friday night by Constant Chaos, and more karaoke Saturday. Phil Vaught entertains Friday night at Cherokee Casino Grove, followed by Whiskey Poet Society Saturday night.

Michigan Rattlers will provide the music Saturday night at Legends Sports Bar at Downstream Casino; and Big Smitty will be on stage at Riverbend Casino’s Club 60 West Saturday.

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GRAND LAKE DINING & DRINKING UDATE: Matt’s Place in Grove now opens daily at 6:00 a.m. Hero’s Deli is now open on Main Street in Grove. Blue Cat Bistro is now open Thursday-Tuesday at Har-Ber Village (8:00-3:00 – Sunday 10:00-3:00). Sunday is All You Can Eat Catfish Day. The Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda opens for the season this weekend (Friday 4-8, Saturday 11-8, Sunday 11-7). Prime Meats, Eats & Sweets in Ketchum, VIP Pizza at Hammerhead Marina, The Fire Pit at Wildwood Cove, and Blue Bluff Café at Blue Bluff Harbor are all now open, as well.

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: All 10 episodes of the new series The Night Agent debut Thursday on NETFLIX. The 24^th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor airs Sunday night at 7:00 on CNN. The new series Rabbit Hole also makes its debut Sunday on Paramount+; and the final season of Succession premieres Sunday night at 8:00 on HBO. The IHeartRadio Music Awards program airs live at 7:00 Monday night on Fox.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: John Wick: Chapter 4 and Champion are in movie theaters this week.

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SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 1 – Get Your Grove On Christian Music Festival at Grove Community Center (11:00 a.m.). Saturday, April 1 – Masquerade Murder Mystery Dinner at Cherokee Yacht Club (6:00). Friday-Saturday, April 7-8 – Grove and Monkey Island Merchants’ Spring Open House. Saturday, April 8 – Langley Easter Egg Hunt at Langley City Park (11:00-1:00). Sunday, April 9 – Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor at Shangri-La (2:00-3:00 p.m.). Friday, April 14 – Grove Chamber of Commerce “Eggs & Issues” legislative breakfast at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (8:00 a.m.). Saturday, April 15 – Second Chance Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt & Auction at The Shebang benefiting Second Chance Pet Rescue (11:00 a.m.). Friday-Saturday, April 21-22 – Grand Lake Youth Art Show at the Grove Community Center (10-6 Friday, 10-4 Saturday). Saturday, April 22 – South Grand Lake Chamber Bootleggers Ball & Murder Mystery at Shangri-La Resort (6:00 p.m.). Saturday-Sunday, April 22-23 – Spring Open Pickleball Tournament at The Racquet Club at Shangri-La. Friday, April 24 – Modoc Nation Golf Scramble at Shangri-La Golf Club (11:00 a.m.). Friday, April 28 – Season’s first weekly “Yellow Rabbit Run Horse Race” at Shangri-La Golf Club (5:00 p.m.). Friday, May 5 – Food Truck Friday at Grove Community Center. Saturday, May 6 – Burning of the Socks at Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina (4:00 p.m.). Saturday, May 6 – Nichols Marine/Shangri-La Marina Customer Appreciation Luau (5:00 p.m.). Tuesday, May 9 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Trivia Night at BOOM. Thursday, May 11 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon with featured speaker Jill McAbee (DCCSN) at the Grove Community Center (noon). Friday, May 12 – Grove Chamber of Commerce Spring Golf Tournament at Quail Ridge Golf Course.

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March Madness rolls on this week. By the time extended weekend play is over, we’ll be down to just four teams in both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Tournaments. Men’s tournament coverage includes Sweet 16 coverage Thursday & Friday and Elite 8 games Saturday & Sunday. The Women have the same schedule, but one day later – Sweet 16 games Friday & Saturday, Elite 8 games Sunday & Monday.

OU and OSU softball teams are in action this weekend. OSU is at home hosting three games with Baylor. Friday’s game at 6:00 will not be televised, but Saturday (2:00) and Sunday (12:00) games will be televised on ESPN+.  The Sooners are on the road at Iowa State Friday-Sunday for three games – but they are not televised.

The OKC Thunder face a grueling road schedule this weekend against some tough west coast competition. They’re in L.A. for back-to-back games Thursday & Friday (9:30) with the Clippers and Lakers, then on to Portland for a Sunday game with the Blazers (6:00) before returning home for more back-to-back action against Charlotte (Tuesday at 7:00) and Detroit (Wednesday at 7:00).

In the PGA Golf world, it’s a double-header weekend. Live coverage of the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic is exclusively on the Golf Channel at 9:30 Thursday & Friday mornings and Saturday & Sunday at 1:00.

The last WGC Dell Technologies Match Play is also this week. Live coverage from Austin begins at noon Wednesday-Friday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday. NBC picks up weekend coverage at noon Saturday and 1:00 Sunday.

For pro football fans, it’s the sixth week of XFL action. Saturday games feature Seattle at Orlando (noon) and St. Louis at Las Vegas (6:00). San Antonio will be at Arlington Sunday afternoon at 2:00 – and Houston will be at DC Monday night at 6:00.

NASCAR drivers are in Austin this week for some Grand Prix action! Coverage of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix begins Sunday at 2:30 on Fox.

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With the official arrival of Spring, I’m hoping we’re done with high temperatures that begin with a “4.” This weekend, we may have a shower or two Friday, but we’ll have sunshine by Saturday. Highs will be in the mid-60s with lows in the upper 40s. It should be a nice weekend for all the things happening around the lake. Get out and have some fun! 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

Back Porch Ice Cream in Grove

Bailey’s Bistro at Layk Schoolhouse on Monkey Island

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

BOOM in Grove (at The Regatta)

Buffalo Bar at Shangri-La on Monkey Island

Buffalo Run Casino in Miami (smoking)

Café at Har-Ber Village

Café Yum in Grove

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

Flower Bar in Grove

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

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)

R Bar Dance Hall & Saloon in Grove

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