May 25 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Wow! What a Memorial Day weekend on the lake, huh? For once, the weather forecast of rain almost all weekend didn’t scare anyone away – and they were rewarded with warm temperatures and sunshine for not listening to the TV meteorologists scare tactics. I’ve never seen anything like it on a Memorial weekend. With last year’s flooding, I saw boats out all weekend that I have not seen out in literally two years! I hope everybody had a fun and safe holiday. Let’s do it again next weekend!

*****

I hope you saved that stimulus check because area casinos are reopening. Buffalo Run Casino, Grand Lake Casino, Indigo Sky Casino, and Downstream Casino are open, although with limited hours, limited capacity, and some requirements for masks. River Bend Casino opens Monday, June 1 – and Cherokee Casino Grove is set to open “early June” although there is no firm date at the time I’m writing this. When it comes to gambling, the house always wins, right? Not when it’s betting against a pandemic. At one point, all 989 commercial and tribal casinos in the nation were shut down completely.

*****

There’s a little sad irony in the lake area entertainment line-up that was set before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Joe Diffie was scheduled to perform Saturday night at Downstream Casino. He died March 29 from complications from the Coronavirus.

*****

There were legislative changes in Oklahoma last week that impact the Grand Lake party lifestyle – but the Governor vetoed legislation that would have changed it more. There’s a new law now which allows restaurants to sell beer & wine curbside – or deliver it to your home. Liquor stores may now legally deliver your booze to your front door, just like in the old bootlegger days. That should cut down on the highway accidents and DUI tickets. If you’re too drunk to go to the liquor store for more booze, they can bring it to you. We could have had the same privilege for medical marijuana users. Legislation passed to allow dispensaries to deliver, as well. On top of that, with all the dispensaries in the Grand Lake area, we could have become even more of a tourism mecca. The bill also allowed temporary three-month “guest medical marijuana cards” for non-residents. Alas, the Governor vetoed that bill, and it was one of the very few vetoes the legislature didn’t override. Maybe next year.

*****

There’s a great new black market opportunity for some industrial entrepreneur. Last week, Governor Stitt signed legislation that raises the legal age for purchasing or using tobacco products (including vaping) from 18-21. Now you will know what is happening when you see a group of youngsters gathered around a guy with his car trunk open.

*****

How’s your 401K? Are you back to work? Are you collecting unemployment? Whatever you’re doing, it sucks to be you compared to the pension being handed Randall Stephenson. He’s the retiring CEO of AT&T. You can scratch him off your list of people to worry about. He’ll be getting $274,000. Per month. For life.

*****

DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Mooney’s Sunset Bar & Grill in Disney is now fully open and back to regular hours. Closed Mondays. Ugly’s Grill & Bar is open weekends now, as is Eddy’s Lakeside Bar and Waterside Bar.  1909 has reopened for dine-in service, as has Quarterdeck Café. Doc’s at Shangri-La offers curbside pickup of pizza and grocery packages, but is not open for dine-in service until mid-June. FYI, The Landings Restaurant and Morrow’s Bar & Grill have no plans for opening this season.

*****

PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: The inaugural 2020 cruise of the Grand Lake Queen Riverboat last weekend delayed by a day due to weather; but as of Memorial weekend Saturday, the Queen is back! The Faulconer Duo’s planned performance at Sharky’s Friday night has been canceled. Daily tours of the Pensacola Dam have been canceled for the 2020 season. The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament has been postponed until Friday, September 18. The Grove Rotary Club 2020 Lobsterfest scheduled for June 19 and the Rock the Dock Raft-Up/Music Festival scheduled for June 20 at Check-In Bay have been canceled. The Grand Lake Fireworks Cliff Elliott Memorial Fireworks Show has been canceled this year – but Duck Creek, Monkey Island, and Wolf Creek scheduled fireworks shows are a “go.”

*****

BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Parks, basketball courts, playgrounds, and splashpad in Grove will reopen Monday, June 1. The municipal pool in Grove will open Friday, June 5 (at 50 percent capacity). You can drive back and forth over the new Duck Creek Bridge to celebrate the fact that it is finally open!

*****

BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Big Shots will feature live DJ action Friday and Saturday nights. Karaoke with Kerry on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday and Saturday. Whiskey Poet Society will perform Saturday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Karaoke with Tim is on the agenda Saturday night at Monkey Island Pub.

*****

RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: The most homicides reported in Dodge City, Kansas, during its years as a lawless Old West town were five in 1876.

*****

CORONAVIRUS OBSERVATION: If graduation can’t be done inside a gym or outside on a football field, perhaps grads could walk through Wal-Mart, Lowe’s or Home Depot and be announced over the loud speaker.

*****

CORONAVIRUS DRINKING UPDATE: CORONAVIRUS DRINKING OBSERVATION: After hitting all the bars over the Memorial Day holiday weekend after being quarantined at home, I’ve discovered something important: the drinks are much weaker than the ones to which I have become accustomed.

*****

BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Five Tips for Woman – 1) It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job. 2) It is important that a man makes you laugh. 3) It is important to find a man you can count on and who doesn’t lie to you. 4) It is important that a man loves and spoils you. 5) It is important that these four men don’t know each other.

*****

BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: WARNING – BRIDGE WASHED OUT (unless you feel that this is an attempt to deprive you of your liberty – then keep driving).

*****

TWEET OF THE WEEK: So…these murder hornets – do you send them a list of names or what? How’s that work?

*****

BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: It’s not a face mask. It’s a coughy filter.

*****

OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: One minute you’re young and fun; and the next, you’re turning down the stereo in your car so you can see better.

*****

FEEL OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Superstar Chef had a birthday last week. She may still look 35, but she’s….74. Ken Osmond, the actor turned L.A. cop who was best known for his portrayal of snarky suck-up Eddie Haskell on “Leave it to Beaver” died last week. He was 76.

*****

GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Top of the list – a special congratulations to longtime Grand Laker Denny Cresap who, last week, was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame! Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Jim Arnold, Lori Magoulas, Bill Hodge, Arlene Seybolt, Ron Griffin, Kevin Holmes, Jim Sellers, Brinda Russell, Andrew Doney, and Valerie Carter. It’s a sad week, not just for OSU fans, but all fans of college basketball. The legendary Eddie Sutton, one of the greatest coaches of all time, died last week at the age of 84. RIP, coach.

*****

UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why are wrong numbers never busy?

*****

BUM MUST-SEE TV: Space Force is available on NETFLIX Friday. Celebrity Family Feud airs Sunday night at 7:00 on ABC followed by Press Your Luck at 8:00 and The Match Game at 9:00.  America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday night at 7:00 on NBC.

*****

BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The High Note and Debt Collectors are available via streaming Friday. Irresistible will be released nationwide Friday.

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It would be nice to spend billions on schools and roads, but right now that money is desperately needed for political ads.” – Andy Borowitz

*****

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, June 12 – American Heritage Music Festival and National Fiddle Contest at Wolf Creek Park, Grove.  Saturday-Sunday, May 23-24 – Big Smitty performs at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar. Friday-Sunday, June 12-14 – Toes in the Grand Summer Kickoff Festival at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Saturday, June 14 – Thunder on Wolf Creek boat races.  Friday, June 26 – Grove Chamber Golf Tournament at Patricia Island. Friday-Saturday, June 26-28 – Grand Jam Music Fest at Grand Meridian RV Park.

*****

SPORTS: You can’t watch NASCAR in person yet, but you can watch it on TV. Drivers will be at Bristol Sunday for the Food City 500. Coverage begins at 2:30 on Fox Sports 1.  UFC fights are back…also with no crowds allowed, so far. Monday Night Baseball is back on ESPN. You might not recognize the players, though. They’re so desperate, they’re televising South Korean baseball. We’re all hoping for empty-stadium pro games in the United States in July. If you’re really hard up, there’s always WWE professional wrestling.

*****

The weekend ahead looks a little cooler, but a little less “iffy” than Memorial weekend. We might get a little rain Friday, and a little Saturday morning – then it looks good. Grab a jacket if you’re going to be on the water or an outdoor bar. Highs will only be in the low 70s with lows in the mid-50s. Remember, be sure to buy a drink for the guy six feet from you. It could be me!

GRAND LAKE BUM

Want more information on advertisers you see in the Grand Lake Bum?  No problem.  Just click on their ad and you will be connected to their web site.  If you would like to join the growing list of sponsors of The Grand Lake Bum e-blast and the Bum’s page on both www.GrandLakeNewsOnline.com  and www.360grandlake.com, as well as Grand Times on Grand Lake, the cost is only $50 a week and the list of readers is growing.  E-mail or contact grandlakebum@gmail.com to sign up. The Grand Lake Bum column is also published in The Grand Laker. 

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

Matt’s Place 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