Sunday, February 9, 2025

Celebrating The Big Lebowski with a Party Fit for The Dude

Fans of the Cohen brothers’ cinematic masterpiece about White Russians, rugs, bowling and The Dude (or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing)— get ready. The newly-renovated Ohio Theater has dedicated an evening to The Big Lebowski. So, regardless of how many times you’ve seen it, you will have a great time watching it on the big screen surrounded by a crowd committed to the cult film.

Tying the fest together

If you’re unaware, The Big Lebowski is a 1998 film about The Dude, played by Jeff Bridges, who gets roped into an intricate kidnapping plot, thanks to the fact that he shares his name with Jeffery Lebowski, the film’s title character. This hilarious and gritty neo-noir tale set in Los Angeles is one of the films that has given the Cohen brothers an immense cult following.

Kim Sanchez, theater manager, knows how big a deal this movie is. “This film is a cult phenomenon, and we want to show it with a big bang.” So this won’t be your usual filmgoing experience. The evening includes a costume contest, plenty of White Russian cocktails (the drink of choice) for purchase at the theater’s bar, and opportunities to show off your Dudeism trivia knowledge. To satisfy munchies, Balance Pan-Asian Grille will bring snacks.

To support the Ohio Theatre, raffles tickets will offer prizes, including a pair of tickets to the Toledo Opera’s performance of “The Barber of Seville” on Sunday, October 9 and a pair for the Bird’s Eye View Circus’s Saturday, October 15 performance— a perfect choice for fans of Maude and her trapeze skills.

Also raffled off will be will be The Feast of The Dude, a pre-set meal for 6-8 people prepared by Micah Risher of The House Of Eats and Dan Muszynski of All Crumbs Artisan Bakery. The Dude-worthy, five-course meal, completely inspired by the film, include courses such as “Swedish Nihilist Pancakes” (served with Lingonberry Jam and NOTHING ELSE).

Tying The Room Together

This is the second film of the theaters 2016-2017 film series that incorporates a special event with each showing. The first was the Alan Rickman wine-focused film Bottle Shock in September, which featured a wine tasting. Future events include a midnight showing off the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a food truck event coinciding with the film Chef, and a baseball trivia contest before A League of Their Own that’ll help kick of next year’s baseball season.

“It’s more than just walking into a theater, grabbing a snack, and going to your seat,” explained Sanchez. “We want going to the theater to be an event again for folks who’ll enjoy the events as much as the films.”

Once the screening is over, head to The Attic on Adams
for the after party for cocktails inspired by the movie,
with $1 from each drink donated to support the theater.

8pm | Saturday | October 8 | $8/in advance | $10/at the door
The Ohio Theatre & Event Center | 3114 Lagrange St.
419-255-8406 | Ohiotheatertoledo.org
$8/in advance | $10/at the door
This event is presented by The Ohio Theatre and Event Center and the Toledo City Paper.

Fans of the Cohen brothers’ cinematic masterpiece about White Russians, rugs, bowling and The Dude (or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing)— get ready. The newly-renovated Ohio Theater has dedicated an evening to The Big Lebowski. So, regardless of how many times you’ve seen it, you will have a great time watching it on the big screen surrounded by a crowd committed to the cult film.

Tying the fest together

If you’re unaware, The Big Lebowski is a 1998 film about The Dude, played by Jeff Bridges, who gets roped into an intricate kidnapping plot, thanks to the fact that he shares his name with Jeffery Lebowski, the film’s title character. This hilarious and gritty neo-noir tale set in Los Angeles is one of the films that has given the Cohen brothers an immense cult following.

Kim Sanchez, theater manager, knows how big a deal this movie is. “This film is a cult phenomenon, and we want to show it with a big bang.” So this won’t be your usual filmgoing experience. The evening includes a costume contest, plenty of White Russian cocktails (the drink of choice) for purchase at the theater’s bar, and opportunities to show off your Dudeism trivia knowledge. To satisfy munchies, Balance Pan-Asian Grille will bring snacks.

To support the Ohio Theatre, raffles tickets will offer prizes, including a pair of tickets to the Toledo Opera’s performance of “The Barber of Seville” on Sunday, October 9 and a pair for the Bird’s Eye View Circus’s Saturday, October 15 performance— a perfect choice for fans of Maude and her trapeze skills.

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Also raffled off will be will be The Feast of The Dude, a pre-set meal for 6-8 people prepared by Micah Risher of The House Of Eats and Dan Muszynski of All Crumbs Artisan Bakery. The Dude-worthy, five-course meal, completely inspired by the film, include courses such as “Swedish Nihilist Pancakes” (served with Lingonberry Jam and NOTHING ELSE).

Tying The Room Together

This is the second film of the theaters 2016-2017 film series that incorporates a special event with each showing. The first was the Alan Rickman wine-focused film Bottle Shock in September, which featured a wine tasting. Future events include a midnight showing off the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a food truck event coinciding with the film Chef, and a baseball trivia contest before A League of Their Own that’ll help kick of next year’s baseball season.

“It’s more than just walking into a theater, grabbing a snack, and going to your seat,” explained Sanchez. “We want going to the theater to be an event again for folks who’ll enjoy the events as much as the films.”

Once the screening is over, head to The Attic on Adams
for the after party for cocktails inspired by the movie,
with $1 from each drink donated to support the theater.

8pm | Saturday | October 8 | $8/in advance | $10/at the door
The Ohio Theatre & Event Center | 3114 Lagrange St.
419-255-8406 | Ohiotheatertoledo.org
$8/in advance | $10/at the door
This event is presented by The Ohio Theatre and Event Center and the Toledo City Paper.

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