November 30 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

I hope you enjoyed a great – and safe Thanksgiving holiday. It would be hard to get better weather, that’s for sure. Boaters and golfers all appeared to have a great weekend. I hope you grabbed some of that weather while it was here, because temperatures are beginning to take a pretty good downward spiral this week.

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Be glad you spent your Thanksgiving holiday in Oklahoma. To help combat the spread of Coronavirus, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolfe banned alcohol sales for on-premises consumption after 5:00 p.m. the night before Thanksgiving. In the District of Columbia, it’s almost as bad. Restaurants can now stay open until midnight, but they can’t serve any alcohol after 10:00. In Colorado, bars are closed. In Colorado, last call is 8:00 p.m….but that’s if you’re outside (little chilly in Colorado in December). Dine-in service is prohibited. I guess not everyone believes alcohol kills germs. In Oklahoma, at least we can drink ‘til 11:00.

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With Thanksgiving 2020 in the books, it’s time to bring on the Christmas parades. This week alone there are three land parades, the big boat parade, and reindeer hanging out this weekend at the Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village display at Har-Ber Village. The latter is a new event this year, and you need to make a plan to take time to include that in your holiday plans. It’s nothing short of incredible!

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With Governor Stitt’s Executive order mandating an 11:00 p.m. closing of all bars and restaurants, New Year’s Eve will be interesting. I’m getting together a betting pool on which bar owners will just shrug their shoulders and lock up, which will just blatantly ignore the order and hope for the best, and who will get innovative and think outside the box. It should come as no surprise that Monkey Island’s legendary Joyce Duke falls in the latter category with her New Year’s Eve plans at Big Shots Rhythm & Booze. She’s planning a “Puerto Rican New Year’s Celebration” – complete with a schedule on a Puerto Rico clock. When the clock strikes midnight in Puerto Rico (and at Big Shots), it will only be 10:00 p.m. across the Central Time Zone. That gives everybody time to ring in the new year with a Puerto Rican celebration, and still have an hour to celebrate before the bar closes at 11:00 (which will be 1:00 a.m. in Puerto Rico). A lot more people may be able to stay up for the celebration this year!

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I’m looking forward to New Year’s more than usual this year…not so much to ring in the new year, but to make sure 2020 gets out!!

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I know everybody is looking for silver linings in all the Coronavirus cloud over the country. Charles Barkley had a good silver lining on College Game Day last Saturday. He had just finished playing in a big fundraising golf tournament and said he loves “Covid Golf.” With his notoriously bad golf game, he said the only thing he ever worries about when he plays golf is hitting somebody with a ball. But..no crowds allowed so…no danger. Even bad golfers can play without worrying about anything but having enough balls.

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: The Café at Har-Ber Village is open year-round (8:00-4:00).  Quarterdeck Café at Tera Miranda is extending their weekend operating schedule through December 20 (Fri 4:00-8:00, Sat & Sun 11:00-8:00 – no breakfast service). The popular “Sunday Brunch” is offered to the public at Doc’s Bar & Grill (9:00-2:00) and Mulligans at Patricia Island (10:00-2:00). The Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La is now closed Sundays until March 2021.

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: The Vinita “Christmas Parade of Lights” is Thursday night at 6:00. Friday night is the “Gateway to Grand Lake Christmas Parade” in Ketchum (6:30). Saturday is the Cherokee Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade and Dock Decorating Judging in Duck Creek as well as the Disney Parade. Saturday, the reindeer will be at Santa’s Ozark Mountain Village at Har-Ber Village and available for photo ops. Saturday night is the annual Ugly Sweater Contest at Monkey Island Pub. The Winter Wonderland Christmas Light Display is open nightly at Pine Lodge Resort, the Twin Bridges Park of Lights is now open at Twin Bridges near Wyandotte, and The Casitas at Grand Lake also has a great light display.  Grove Playmakers presents an exhibit highlighting the 34 shows done in the past 25 years at Playmakers in Grove Saturday & Sunday (1:00-8:00 p.m.).

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Jason Morgan hosts karaoke at Prime Rib & Karaoke Thursday at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La. Scott Musick performs live at Doc’s Friday night. KJ Flip leads the karaoke fun at Blind Swine Thursday night from 8-11. Erin Fitzgibbon performs Friday night for Live Swine; and he’s back on stage at the Swine Tuesday. Terry Jordan performs at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La Friday and Saturday nights. Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with DJ Tim Saturday night.

Indigo Sky Casino this week presents Brett & Terri Thursday in the Echo Bar, followed by Donnie Ray Friday and Sweet Trouble Saturday. Cherokee Casino Grove features two great bands this weekend – Mason Jar Revival Friday night and Reverse Reaction Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: As a part-time college job, writer Rod Serling tested parachutes for the U.S. Air Force. He was normally paid $50 a jump, but got $1,000 for testing an ejection seat that had already killed three people.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: Every time you clean something, you just make something else dirty.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Want to find a big buck? Just drop down from full coverage to liability coverage on your truck.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Be nice to your bartenders. We know your wife. And your girlfriend.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: If poison passes its expiration date, is it more poisonous – or no longer poisonous?

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Why do sea gulls fly over the sea? Because, if they flew over the bay, they would be bagels.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: If you replace the “W” with a “T” in What, Where, and When, you get the answer to each of them.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: The first “Nancy Drew Mystery” book was published 90 years ago. Next week, a new movie will be released – “Let Them All Talk” – starring award-winning actresses Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, and Candice Bergen. Those three icons are now 71, 72, and 74 years old, respectively.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Steve Zenthoefer, Mike McCurdy, Alicia Hampton, Christa Kelley, Darrel Hicks, Mike Thornberry, Dale Lowe, Ryan Blakemore, Judie Clark, Hunter Burkholder, Sharon Mical, Marshall Brackin, Rita Hitzeman, Gary Brock, Heather Fink, Kelly Poorboy, John Cillessen, Barbara Pliler, Jeff Underwood, Wayne Crouse, Jim Gray, Randy Williams, James Andrews, Leslie Wright-Porter, and Gina Gibbs.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do twins ever realize that at least one of them was unplanned?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: My Gift:A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood airs Thursday night on HBO Max. MacGyver kicks off a new season Friday night at 7:00 on CBS followed by season premieres of  Magnum P.I. at 8:00 and Blue Bloods at 9:00, all on CBS. A Holly Dolly Christmas airs Sunday night at 7:00 on CBS. Nurses makes its series debut Monday night at 9:00 on NBC.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: All My Life and Nomadland are in movie theaters this weekend along with The Croods. Mank and Angela’s Christmas Wish are available Friday on NETFLIX. Godmothered is on Disney+ Friday.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “A loan at a bank can take 30 years to pay off. If you rob a bank, you’re out in 10 years. Follow me for more financial advice.” – Demi Kay

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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, December 11 – Christmas Carols at the Coleman Theatre in Miami. Friday & Saturday, December 11-12 – Last Minute Lakers shopping special in Grove and on Monkey Island. Saturday, December 12 – Fairland Christmas Parade (noon). Saturday, December 12 – Jay Christmas Parade (2:00 p.m.).  Saturday, December 12 – Grove Christmas Parade. Saturday, December 12 – Offroad Christmas Parade in Disney (5:00 p.m.). Saturday, December 12 – Big Band Christmas at the Coleman Theatre. Monday, December 14 – Electoral College votes to elect U.S. President. Saturday, December 19 – Afton Christmas Parade (6:00). Saturday, December 19 – Christmas Costume Contest at Monkey Island Pub. December 31 – Puerto Rican New Year’s Celebration at Big Shot’s Rhythm & Booze (8:00-11:00 p.m.). Thursday, January 14 – Grove Chamber Connection Membership Luncheon at Grove Community Center (11:30).

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SPORTS WATCH: College football battles are getting critical now. OU hosts Baylor Saturday, OSU is at TCU, Tulsa is at Navy, Kansas State hosts Texas, and Kansas travels to Texas Tech.

The NFL season heads into week #13 with Dallas and Baltimore getting the weekend started Thursday night at 7:00 on Fox.  Sunday games include Washington at Pittsburgh (noon on Fox), Cleveland at Tennessee(noon on CBS), Philadelphia at Green Bay(3:30 on CBS), and Denver at Kansas City (7:00 on NBC). Monday Night Football features Buffalo at San Francisco (7:00 on ESPN).

PGA players are back on the Tour this week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Coverage of the Mayakoba Classic on the Golf Channel at 1:00 Thursday, Friday & Saturday, with final round coverage on NBC at noon Sunday.

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Weather for the weekend ahead looks pretty nice for a December weekend. We’ll have sunshine and light winds, with daytime highs around 50. It may get a little cool for parade watchers, though, with nighttime temperatures dipping into the upper 20s. Plan your outdoor activities accordingly – and enjoy the parades and your favorite party spots, but remember - 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 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

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

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

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)

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 Pouhouse 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

Waterway Café, Harbors View Marina (smoking on breakwater dining deck)

Wolf Creek Diner in Grove