Not Announced: Lebowski Fest 2009

Good (and maybe bad) news, dudes. This year’s Lebowski Fest is on the move with plans to bring the movie-and-bowling circus to, at the very least, 16 cities nationwide—but will Denver be on that list? No official word yet, though its organizers have announced that the Fest, now in its seventh year, is “primed to start growing in spurts.” Granted, that doesn’t really mean much, but with dates slated for cities like Las Vegas, Chicago, and Minneapolis, it doesn’t seem entirely out-of-reach for The Big Lebowski-inspired convention to make its way over to our 'hood. Founded on a lark in 2002 by super-fans Scott Shuffitt and Will Russell, the Fest has grown from a casual bowling party into a weekend-long gathering with live music, unlimited bowling, and, of course, a token screening of the 1998 Coen Brothers film. Past festivals have included live sets by They Might Be Giants, Mike Doughty, and even My Morning Jacket. The Dude himself, actor Jeff Bridges, even showed up once. Want to lobby to bring the White Russian-soaked fun to Denver? Drop a line to festival organizers here.