Lebowski Fest comes to Minneapolis

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MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Two of the organizers of a Minneapolis convention celebrating 1998 film "The Big Lebowski" said the event is also about bowling and friendship.

Andy Sturdevant and Josh Doheny, both of Minneapolis, said the eighth Lebowski Fest, an annual event making its first stop in the hometown of filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, features a screening of the film Friday night at First Avenue nightclub and a bowling party Saturday at Memory Lanes, the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer-Press reported Friday.

The organizers said as many as 4,000 people have attended previous celebrations of the comedy starring Jeff Bridges.

"On Saturday, we will have a real nice old beat-up Winnebago. We'll go to Memory Lanes early, do some tailgating and set up a rug to tie the room together," Doheny said.

Scott Shiffutt, who co-organized the first Lebowski Fest in 2002, said the Lebowski Fests have spawned a number of friendships and even a marriage.

"It sounds cheesy, but you really do get to know people," Shiffutt said. "Bowling is a social sport. You throw beverages in there and that seems to help. But, either way, people leave with e-mail addresses and photos and new friends. I think that's really great."