LebowskiFest was this weekend, and it was definitely a good time. Tizzie came in from Kentucky, and we walked around Midtown on Friday before I had to go to work. Friday night was the "pre-party" at the Knitting Factory, which, well...could have been better. A lot better.

Because, simply put, the Knitting Factory sucks. I know they've got a (well-deserved) reputation for booking great bands, but this was my second, and last, visit there. The place was seriously overcrowded, but what was really annoying was the attitude of most of the staff. Bartenders hassled some of my friends, saying that their freshly-acquired-at-the-door hand stamps must have been fakes. "Security" guys bark at you to "MOVE ON!" if you hesitate for a second in one of their hallways, check out their bulletin boards of upcoming acts, or presumably do anything other than buy overpriced, watered-down drinks. And if you're going to be showing a movie, you should know that people are going to want to sit. A few of us were sitting on the edge of the downstairs stage, when some Junior Napoleon with a black T-shirt and an I-own-the-place attitude came over and ordered us away. Not "hey, we'd appreciate it if you didn't sit on the stage", not "I'm sorry, but I can't let you sit there", not even "would you mind not sitting near our cables?", but rather "you have to MOVE NOW." He then said that if we didn't leave, he'd "have to get loud." Then he screamed about "respect." That was too much for us, and we figured that if they were gonna act like this, we didn't want to give them any more of our money. So we blew, pausing only to get hassled by the bouncers on our way out. Screw 'em.

Saturday's edition was much, much better, though, and redeemed the Knitting Factory's behavior the previous night. After walking through SoHo with Chico and Tizzie (stopping at Rice to Riches and Bar B), we headed to the Cozy Bowl in Jamaica (by way of Astoria). It was a good time; unlimited bowling + Caucasians & oat sodas = good clean fun. The real Dude, Jeff Dowd, was there, and signed my poster. The costume contest was great...the rug was there, as were the Folger's can of ashes and the Chinaman who took the Big Lebowki's legs in Korea. (I dressed as Walter, and it was odd when people stopped me to pose for pictures with them.) Lots of pictures here and here. Oh, we ran into krimur, which is always cool, and I particularly liked the political T-shirts of the guys in the next lane.

I'm giving serious thought to going to the Louisville Lebowski Fest next year. Anyone with me?

Comments

[lydia savarro]

Go to Kim's Video near Columbia and rent Big Lebowski Parking Lot. Or visit www.biglebowskiparkinglot.com.