MOVIES: The Dude abides

  Don't look now — at least not if you haven't already — but as 2008 winds down, so does the 10th anniversary of "The Big Lebowski."
  Hardly the biggest hit from filmmaking Coen brothers Ethan and Joel (who finally collected the Big Oscar earlier this year for "No Country for Old Men), "The Big Lebowski" was a flop during its initial theatrical release.
  Yet a funny thing happened on the way to the bowling lanes — and, long after many more successful movies have come and gone, the adventures of Jeff "Dude" Lebowski (definitely not the Big Lebowski, which you undoubtedly know if you've ever seen the movie) abide. And just keep on abiding.
  Annual Lebowski Fests have been happening all over America for years. Sunset Station hosted Lebowski Fest West in '04 — check out www.lebowskifest.com for everything from upcoming fests to Achievers' achievements. (Not to mention too-cool posters, T-shirts and other Lebowski-abilia.)
  Meanwhile, back in Las Vegas, PT's joins the cult — we mean club — on Thanksgiving Eve.
  Make that Lebowski Eve, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at PT's Gold, 10075 S. Eastern Ave. (That's St. Rose and Eastern.) Revelers are encouraged to wear costumes representing characters from the movie. (And, considering the movie, that gives you plenty of range, whether it's Jeff Bridges' scruffy title-role sweater, Julianne Moore's dreamy Viking get-up or even Sam Elliott's home-on-the-range cowboy attire.) Costumed guests get their first cocktail free — a Caucasian, we presume. (White Russians are $2 all night.) And remember the Dude's dictum: "Hey, careful, man — there's a beverage here!"
  In addition to a costume contest (winner gets $100 and the chance to lead a bowling team to the second annual Big Le"bowl"ski Jan. 19 at the Orleans), the agenda includes Nintendo Wii bowling, a Lebowski trivia contest and a live DJ mixing from 6 p.m. until midnight. (Plenty of Creedence Clearwater Revival — and no Eagles. Assuming they pay attention to the Dude's musical tastes, that is.)
  Some of us could quote lines from "The Big Lebowski" all night, and with good reason — it's the kind of experience that stays imprinted on your brain, whether you want it to or not. (Even if your brain's as fried as the Dude's, which is really saying something.)
  As the Stranger notes, "The Dude abides. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. "
  Amen to that, Duders and Duderinos.