New York prepping for 'Big Lebowski' fest

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NEW YORK, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The upcoming Lebowski Fest in New York has area fans of "The Big Lebowski" set to honor the quirky film.

While the 1998 film from Joel and Ethan Coen has already spawned a drinking game, a speaking tour and an online church, the festival set to begin Dec. 16 in New York may best represent the off-beat film, the New York Post reported.

The New York version of the festival, which has other incarnations across the United States, will include a bowling tournament, live music and a screening of the cult film.

"Everything we try seems ridiculous, but somehow it always works. We do what we think would be fun, and generally everyone else agrees," festival organizer Will Russell said.

To date, the highpoint of any of the festival's incarnations was two years ago in Los Angeles when Jeff Bridges -- who plays Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in the movie -- actually showed up.

"It was a surprise. No one knew he was going to be there," Russell told the Post. "He was holding a drink and said in the most dudelike way, 'It all seems like some kind of weird dream I'm having.' He loves it."