May 31 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum
It’s no surprise that a few Friday showers and unseasonably cool holiday weekend weather did absolutely nothing to dampen the spirits of Grand Lakers over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend. Every place I went was packed. Every courtesy dock was full. All the golf courses were full; and all the parking lots were stacked beyond capacity. It seemed like the only significant impact of the cooler weather was to calm some normally sensitive tempers and keep everyone calm, cool, and collected. Overall, the first major holiday weekend of the summer season is in the books without major incident – and with unprecedented participation!
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The first major holiday since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions seemed to have the impact of increasing crowds and increasing sales. Alcohol sales were predictably increased – and a new national survey says there are significantly increased sales of four major products now that Covid-19 restrictions have been eased. The best-selling items over the past two weeks have been tooth whiteners, condoms, luggage, and alarm clocks. Welcome back!
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Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief now tha the Oklahoma legislature has adjourned for the year. Remember the old adage from jurist Gideon J. Tucker: “No man’s life, liberty, nor property is safe while the legislature is in session.” There were a lot of legislative actions this year that cannot be explained with logic, but here’s my favorite: there are two specific items credited with easing the Covid-19 pandemic – face masks and vaccines. So, naturally, in the closing hours of the legislation session, lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting schools from requiring two things of students: wearing masks and getting vaccinated. Things that make you go, “Hmmm.”
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The best sports story of the week has to be the interview with NBA icon Michael Jordan about whether his 1990s Chicago Bulls were a better team than LeBron James current Los Angeles Lakers Team. Jordan said he thought his Bulls were the better team, probably defeating LeBron’s Lakers by “2 or 3 points.” Asked why he thought it would be so close, his answer was classic: “Well, players on the 1990s Bulls team are mostly almost 60 years old now.”
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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. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La now has a new menu – and hosts a weekly Shrimp Boil on the patio each Thursday night as well as an all-you-can-eat Ribs Special Friday nights. The Patio Bar at Road Hog Saloon is now open 2:00-8:00 Thursday-Sunday. Brunch is served to the public both Saturday and Sunday mornings at Doc’s Bar & Grill (9:00-2:00) and Sunday Brunch is available at Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00). Cosby’s Catfish has begun summer hours – now open until 10:00 p.m.
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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Friday evening is the Summer’s first “Block Party” with Food Trucks in Grove. Saturday is the annual Camp Bandage at Grand Lake RV Resort (noon-4:00). Next Monday-Wednesday, there a Youth Tennis Camp at The Anchor at Shangri-La (9:00-1:00); and next Wednesday & Thursday is the Shangri-La Women’s Golf Association’s Shangri-La Tee Da Golf Tournament. Royal Horse Ranch on Monkey Island now offers Day Camp operations Monday-Friday from 9:00-5:00.
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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: The Thursday Night Shrimp Boil and Karaoke with Jason Morgan kicks off the Monkey Island weekend on the patio at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Friday night, Laron Simpson provides the live entertainment at Doc’s. DJ Matt kicks off the weekend entertainment Friday night at Eddy’s Lakeside Bar, followed by Whiskey Poet Society 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. The Faulconer Trio will be on stage Saturday night at The Road Hog Saloon. Saturday night is Karaoke with Tim at Monkey Island Pub.
In Grove, Friday night is the summer’s first “Block Party” – and features incredible entertainment by J.C. as “Adele.”
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.
Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Morgan Squared in the Echo Bar Friday night, followed by Rick Hancock and the Bulletproof Band Saturday. Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar features music of Travis Kidd Friday night and Accidental Moguls Saturday night. At Cherokee Casino Grove’s 1897 Bar, Bobby DeGonia will be performing Friday night followed by The Brandon Butler Band Saturday.
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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: Actress Anne Baxter was the granddaughter of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Covid-19 vaccines are a gateway drug to concerts.
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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: When I was young, I was poor; but after years of hard work, I’m no longer young.
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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: How to tell if someone is vaccinated or not: Ask them who won the election.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: A woman just stopped me while I was speaking to a Mexican friend. She said, “Speak English! We’re in San Diego.” I asked her how to say “San Diego” in English. The look on her face was priceless.
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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: I sure missed you today – but I’m working on my aim.
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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Don’t let anyone else ruin your day. It’s your day. Ruin it yourself.
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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head” – “Hooked on a Feeling” – Hugo, Oklahoma-born singer B.J. Thomas recorded both of those super-hits. He died over the weekend at age 78; and “Captain Stubing” from “The Love Boat” (and equally famous “Murray” from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) is gone, as well. Actor Gavin MacLeod was 90 years old. Country singer Hank Williams, Jr. turned 72 last week.
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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Valerie Carter, Nick Bowers, Tiana Douglas, Chris Mullen, Hank Kraft, Julie McFerron, Donna Ferguson, Kim Schoppa, Mary Jobst, Don Davis, Dan Arnold, and Marty Phillips.
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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why do they report power outages on TV?
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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Maya Rudolph hosts Saturday Night Live at 10:30 Saturday night on NBC. The 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors air Sunday night at 8:00 on CBS. The Bachelorette returns for a new season Monday night at 7:00 on ABC. The 2021 CMT Music Awards air next Wednesday night at 7:00 on CMT.
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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: Spirit Untamed, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and Samaritan all debut in movie theaters this week.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” – Mark Twain
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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday-Sunday, June 10-13 – Toes in the Grand Festival at Sniders Campground and Wolf Creek Park. Thursday, June 10 – Tickets go on sale at Tulsa’s BOK Center for Blake Shelton’s September 24 concert. Saturday, June 12 – Daisy Dukes of Hazzard Party at Sharky’s. Saturday, June 12: Bikini Bike Wash at Pickles at the Lake in Langley (1:00-4:99). Saturday, June 12 – Kyle Williams Safe Boating Class at GRDA Ecosystems Building. Friday, June 18 – Grove Rotary Club Lobsterfest at Grove Civic Center. 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.). 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. 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 as the field begins to dwindle heading toward the Conference Championship match-ups. There are multiple games daily on TNT and ESPN.
The PGA Golfers are at Muirfield Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio this weekend. Coverage of The Memorial begins on The Golf Channel at 2:00 Thursday and Friday, 11:30 Saturday and 11:00 Sunday. CBS picks up the final two rounds at 2:00 Saturday and 1:30 Sunday.
It’s another big weekend for horse racing fans. There will be no Triple Crown winner this year, but the third leg runs Saturday. Coverage of the Belmont Stakes begins at 4:00 p.m. Saturday on NBC. Post time is approximately 5:45.
With red-hot OU and OSU still in the mix, it’s Women’s College World Series week in the softball world. WCWS action begins Thursday at 11:00 a.m. with additional games at 1:30, 6:00 and 8:30. There are four games daily leading into the three-game Championship series next Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday evenings at 6:30 on ESPN.
NASCAR drivers are in California for the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Coverage begins at 3:00 Sunday afternoon on FS-1.
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The weather for the weekend ahead generally looks good – in fact it’s the kind of weather we wanted for the big Memorial weekend holiday. We’ll add about ten degrees this weekend, with high temperatures around 80 degrees and lows only 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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