October 5 Random Observations Of The Grand Lake Bum

Thank goodness the pelicans started arriving last week – by the thousands! I was afraid they were going to miss Grand Lake’s festival held in their honor; but I guess they got the memo. It’s a great time of year to take the boat out pelican watching…and the big Pelican Festival is Thursday-Sunday this week at Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Grab ya’ some fun and go pelican-watching!

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If you missed the inaugural South Grand Lake Chamber Car Show, Cruise & Burn-out event in Langley over the past weekend, you missed a lot of fun and some great music! Congratulations to Chamber Executive Director Jodi Waeckerle. This event was her brainchild, her baby, and an example of her hard work. She is to South Grand what Chamber President Donnie Crain is to the Grove area. We’re luck to have two fabulous and aggressive Chambers on Grand Lake! Always something fun.

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Speaking of huge events on the lake – Sunday’s weather AND the turnout for The Western Son Folds of Honor Classic presented by Armada Distributing at Shangri-la were nothing short of spectacular! There were actually more teams signed up than were able to fit on the course for the incredibly successful tournament honoring and supporting the Folds of Honor Foundation and military families. Congratulations to Rob Yanovitch and his crew at Shangri-La and Todd Gayer and his team at Armada Distributing for a truly sensational event!

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Like most people, I’m sorry when anyone is struck with the terrible Coronavirus. Like all Americans, I pray for the recovery of the President and First Lady; but honestly, I don’t know which would be worse if I were the President – testing positive or having every single newscast point out that I was more susceptible because of my age and my obesity. “Yeah, he’s got the virus…but he’s old and fat, too!” No wonder he hates the media.

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Watching the drama of the President’s hospitalization and the spreading virus makes one thing perfectly clear. If you don’t have a chopper lined up to take YOU to Walter Reed Medical Center, wear the damn mask!

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DINING AND DRINKING UPDATE: Grand Lake Public House will host an Octoberfest event Thursday. The Pourhouse at The Regatta in Grove is now open. Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La has reopened for dine-in lunch & dinner service 7 days a week. The Road Hog Saloon has resumed Saturday & Sunday breakfast service. The Quarterdeck Restaurant at Tera Miranda will remain open through November 15 (Monday, Thursday, Friday 4:00-9:00 and Saturday & Sunday 8:00-9:00).  

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PUBLIC EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE: Shangri-La Resort’s Fall Festival planned for October 24 has been cancelled, as has the October 23-24 “Ghosts of Grove” tour.

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BEST EVENTS OF THE WEEK: It’s Pelican Festival time! The Annual Pelican Festival runs Thursday-Sunday at Wolf Creek Park in Grove.  The first Thursday Night Prime Rib & Karaoke of the year is at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort (6:00-9:00). Saturday is Fall Fest at the Courthouse Square in Jay (9:00-4:00); and in Grove, the Pelican Festival Parade is at 9:30 a.m. There are OU-Texas watch parties Saturday at Doc’s Bar & Grill, Hookers at Cherokee Yacht Club, and Mooney’s. Shangri-La’s Pro-Am Invitational Golf Tournament is Sunday & Monday. Next Wednesday, October 14 – Fundraising Dinner at Shebang raising money for “Clothes & Toys for Kids Christmas Fund” with Guest Chefs Dick and Arlene Seybolt.

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BEST WEEKEND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Jason Morgan starts the weekend with karaoke fun at the first Thursday Night Prime Rive & Karaoke event of the year at Doc’s Bar & Grill at Shangri-La Resort (6:00-9:00).  KJ Flip leads the Thursday night karaoke fun at the Blind Swine; and the popular Dueling Pianos show returns for a live Saturday night performance. KJ Flip is back Sunday night for Karaoke & Cocktails. Terry Jordan performs at the Summit Restaurant at Shangri-La Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Big Shots will feature DJ Bandito Friday & Saturday nights. Karaoke with Kerry on the Balcony Bar at The Shebang Friday & Saturday, as well (if temperatures are 60-degrees+); and Monkey Island Pub features Karaoke with DJ Tim Saturday night.

At the Pelican Festival in Grove, The Faulconer Duo will entertain Saturday from 3:00-5:00 at Wolf Creek Park; and Blaze of Glory (The Bon Jovi Experience) will be on stage from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Some area casinos are also back into the musical entertainment business. Indigo Sky Casino this week presents The Faulconers Thursday night in the Echo Bar, followed by Bobby DeGonia Friday and the Stonehorse Trio Saturday. At Downstream Casino’s Legends Sports Bar, The Juice will be on stage Friday night followed by Mayday by Midnight Saturday.

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RANDY KREHBIEL’S RANDOM FACTOID OF THE WEEK: This year Cardinals lefthander Genesis Cabrera became the first player in Major League history to wear No. 92.

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FUN FACT OF THE WEEK: St. Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman.

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BEST FACEBOOK POST OF THE WEEK: Now that I’ve lived through an actual plague, I totally understand why Italian Renaissance paintings are full of naked fat people laying on couches.

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BEST SIGN SEEN THIS WEEK: Has anybody tried unplugging the United States and plugging it back in?

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BEST T-SHIRT SEEN THIS WEEK: You think it’s bad now? In 20 years, our country will be run by people who were homeschooled by day drinkers.

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TWEET OF THE WEEK: Let’s have a moment of silence for all who did the drinking game during the first Presidential debate. They all died of alcohol poisoning.

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BEST PUN OF THE WEEK: Lance is a pretty uncommon name these days; but in Medieval times, people were named Lance a lot.

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OBSERVATION OF THE WEEK: Alcohol is not in my vodkabulary. However, I looked it up on Whiskeypedia and learned if you drink too much of it, it’s likely tequilya.

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FEEL-OLD MOMENTS OF THE WEEK: Lillian Brown was more than a make-up artist. She did make-up, yes…but she also advised nine Presidents (Eisenhower to Clinton) on diction and presentation, and raised their spirits before difficult speeches. She died over the past weekend at age 106. St. Louis Cardinals pitching legend Bob Gibson died over the weekend, too. The Hall of Famer was 84. Do you know singer/songwriter Mac Davis? Famously from Lubbock, Texas, my favorite was his song “Happiness is Lubbock, Texas in My Rearview Mirror,” but he had many hits. What you may not know is that he wrote a song that was one of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits – “In the Ghetto.” Mac Davis died following open heart surgery last week. He was 78 years old. Australian singer Helen Reddy, best known for her mega-hit “I Am Woman,” died last week. She, too, was 78. Tough week.

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GRAND LAKE BUM SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Katie Allen, Jared Jeffers, Angela Estep, David Hampton, Nancy Saamer, Barry Eller, Luke Curley, Pat Flanagan, Lane Worley, Saunie Boeve, Mark Funke, Art Couch, Jim “Tree” Hollingshead, Tom Love, Brian Brandwein, Bob Altmiller, and Kyle Wooderson.

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UNANSWERED QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Do you think when fish get thrown back by fishermen, they swim around yelling about alien abductions, and the other fish stop talking to them?

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BUM MUST-SEE TV: Wednesday night at 8:00 is the only Vice-Presidential debate. Hopefully the vice-presidential candidates will be a little more civil than the presidential candidates were last week. The Right Stuff will be available Friday on Disney+.  Fear the Walking Dead premieres on AMC Sunday night at 8:00. The Bachelorette returns to ABC next Tuesday at 7:00.

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BUM MUST-SEE MOVIES: The War With Grandpa and Honest Thief have nationwide releases in movie theaters this week. The Wolf of Snow Hollow and The Climb are available streaming this week. Charm City Kings is available on HBO Max.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Dear Plexiglass: Thank you for protecting me from the cashier who just touched everything I’m taking home.” – Jimmy Fallon

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SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, October 15 – Grove Area Chamber Business After Hours at Indigo Sky Casino. Thursday-Sunday, October 15-18 – Rocktoberfest at the off-road area by the Pensacola Dam. Friday, Saturday, October 17 – “Walking with Angels” Fundraising walk benefiting Heavenly Angels House at Har-Ber Village Walking Trails (8:30-Noon). Saturday, October 17 – Grove Springs Cultural District Fall Festival of the Arts at participating Grove merchants. Thursday, October 22 – South Grand Chamber Business After Hours at Grand Meridian RV Park.  Friday, October 23 – South Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Coves Golf Club. Saturday, October 24 – Grand Meridian Halloween Bash. Saturday, October 31 – Halloween Hayride & Party at Cherokee Yacht Club. Saturday, October 31 – Haunted Candy Trail at Lee’s Resort (5:00-8:00). Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day: Veterans play free golf at Shangri-La. Saturday, November 14 – Glow Golf Par 3 Challenge at Shangri-La Golf Club. Saturday, November 14 – Monkey Island Potluck Thanksgiving at Monkey Island Pub (7:00). Saturday, December 5 – Cherokee Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade. Saturday, December 5 – Ugly Sweater Contest at Monkey Island Pub. Saturday, December 12 – Grove Christmas Parade. Saturday, December 19 – Christmas Costume Contest at Monkey Island Pub.

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SPORTS WATCH: There’s no shortage of sports this week – just a shortage of home turf college football. OSU, Kansas, and Tulsa are all idle this week – but it’s more than made up for by the fact that it’s OU-Texas weekend! Game time is 11:00 Saturday morning on Fox. Kansas State also travels to TCU Saturday for a 2:30 kick-off on Fox Sports 1.

The NFL season heads into week #5. Chicago hosts Tampa Bay Thursday night at 7:00 on Fox. Sunday games include Las Vegas at Kansas City (noon on CBS), the New York Giants at Dallas (3:30 on CBS) and Minnesota at Seattle (7:00 on NBC). Monday Night Football feature the L.A. Chargers at New Orleans (7:00 on ESPN).

The NBA Championship Finals continue as necessary this week. If it goes the distance, the last game will be next Tuesday.

Major League Baseball is in playoff mode, as well. Divisional Championships roll into League Championship series this week, with the World Series scheduled to begin October 20.

The PGA Tour will be in Las Vegas this week for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Coverage is exclusively on the Golf Channel beginning at 4:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.

NASCAR drivers are in Charlotte this weekend for some Sunday afternoon on the Road Course for the last race of the Round of 12. Coverage of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 begins at 1:30 Sunday on NBC.

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With lots of outdoor activities this weekend – and lots of folks planning on boarding the boats for pelican-watching, we get a bump in temperatures. The forecast calls for sunshine, light winds, high temperatures in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s. There are a lot of fun things to do around the lake this weekend, 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.)

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