When someone says "the dude abides," what exactly comes to your mind? Do you scratch your head, look at them strange, or perhaps say back "the Dude abides."
I am of course talking about "The Big Lebowski," which got a little love the other day in our conversation about movies that make you freak out when you discover a friend has not seen them.
The reason I bring this up again is because today marks the beginning of the Sixth Annual Lebowski Fest down in Louisville, KY.
This may seem like an exercise in geek indulgence, but if Star Wars, Star Trek, and Harry Potter can inspire mass gatherings, why not Lebowski? In the last six years there have been multiple Lebowski Fests across the country and around the globe.
The philosophy is simple: get a bunch of people together, enjoy some bowling, maybe a little Credence, and sip a few White Russians. Also, avoid Nihilists.
My question is this: Why not Portland? Seriously, why not a Lebowski Fest Portland? There’s got to be Lebowski fans in the northeast, and I know we’ve got bowling alleys to spare. (Pun not intended)
Who do I need to see about this? Can I get Videoport and Bullmoose behind this? I’m serious, who’s with me?
FRIDAY
"Has the whole world gone crazy? Am I the only one around here who gives a (bleep!) about the rules?" Oh, also, Harry Potter is released tonight at the stroke of 12. My spoiler – EVERYONE DIES...of laughter!
( I do not want to incite the rage of lots of tiny Potterheads.)
Want to know what I will be doing at midnight – going to sleep, watching bad 80s movies, re-enacting bad 80s movies or enjoying a cold beer and waiting for high tide in the Alley of Shame.
"We're talking about unchecked aggression here, Dude." Over at Geno’s tonight Big Coffin Hunters are teaming up with the Outsiders and Last Week’s Attack. Show starts at 9 p.m., and it’s another $5 ticket – you can’t beat that.
"Your revolution is over, Mr. Lebowski. Condolences. The bums lost." It’s back-to-back 80s at Bubbas this weekend, starting off with DJ Jon spinning Wham, Duran Duran and if we’re lucky Rick Astley, starting at 9 p.m.. Saturday night things go live with The Awesome picking up where Jon left off with a show starting at 9 p.m for $8. As always, clothes make all the difference. Dress t with lots of bright colors, irrational patterns and spandex.
It’s CLAMTASTIC!
But seriously, as someone "from away" the need to throw a festival just over clams seemed bizarre to me...until someone explained all the fried food available.
That, is something a guy from the Midwest can get down with.
I do so love fried food, but fighting crowds is not my thing. I’m going to start the Portland do nothing festival…or maybe the Portland Goulet Festival?
People, I would not need to grasp at straws if we had a Lebowski festival.
"Lord, you can imagine where it goes from here." "He fixes the cable?" Tonight indie rockers Subject Bias are playing at Space Gallery. Subject Bias has a moody, at time distant sound, at times mix things up, alternating between acoustic and electric. I’d say emo, but that can be a bad word at times. They play with Tree by Leaf and Rural Electric. It’s an 18 plus show and another $5 ticket. Show starts at 9:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, down at Amigo’s you can check out Chronic Funk They’re part blues band, ready to take on a loooong guitar set, mixed with a modern soul sound. It’s like if smooth jazz was more fun to listen to and not confusing. (Is it jazz? Is it something else? Is that Yanni?)
SUNDAY
"That rug really tied the room together." So the White Stripes are going to be in town tonight, a show that it’s easy to say has been anticipated for months. The Stripes are coming off a visit to Canada and various spots they’ve missed while touring over the years, hence the stop at the Quad C.
They’ve kept busy on the tour – for the new album "Icky Thump" – stopping to play the shortest show ever on the last leg of the Canada tour.
If there are still tickets available, get ‘em at Ticketmaster for $32.
Monday
"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there."
SLICK RICK. Yeah, you read that right. The Ruler is coming to town tonight for a one-night engagement at the Big Easy. The man behind “Mona Lisa” and “A Children’s Story” will be in Portland. For a while this show seemed to be going under the radar, and I suspect its because folks may have tought this was just another one of Boondock’s celebration of hip-hop’s giants. Nope. It’s the real thing. Tickets (again, if you can still get them) are going for $22.50 in advance and $25 at the door.
Finally, your moment of Zen. From the many e-mails, questions and comments I have received, it is obvious that not many of you are familiar with GYMKATA.
It is a deadly sport.
The best way I can explain it is that someone in the 80s probably thought, "Hey, you know martial arts movies make a lot of money, and people really are into gymnastics these days. Can we combine the two?" To which another executive replied: "You're damn right we can! This calls for a coke party!"
Oh my...I think I have to go update my netflix - Gymkata looks AMAZING. Thank you.
If scapled Mugglefest tickets can go for over $100...I'm sure Lebowski-palooza will be able to draw some attention. I think a group needs to be formed to bring the party here...or at least rent a Winnebago to Louisville.
Justin is a former newspaper intern and has the scar tissue to prove
it. Justin has been a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald/Maine
Sunday Telegram since 2003, and in 2004 began writing a weekly column in the
Monday Magazine.
If he had to pick a label, the column would fall under "youth culture,"
covering everything from high school dance etiquette, dealing with college
debt, the resurgence of Roller Derby and Portland's one-of-a-kind music
scene. This of course has not stopped him from answering letters to Santa
Claus or writing about his experience riding shotgun in a drift car.
Justin is an export from the Midwest. He is a graduate of the University of
Missouri and is originally from Minnesota. He enjoys bacon, cheap beer,
redheads, Burt Reynolds jokes and wondering what the soundtrack to his life
would sound like.
When he grows up he wants to be an international art thief. Or Captain
America.
Until then he'll be bringing you dispatches about "the young people" and
what they do.
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