This Monday evening, Fremont will award the “Keys to the Universe” for the first time in the neighborhood’s history. The recipient of this great honor will be Jeff Dowd, aka the real-life Jeff Lebowski.
The 1998 movie, “The Big Lebowski,” was loosely based on Dowd, a former Seattle resident who’s known as “The Dude.” The movie has since become a cult hit, spawning “Lebowski Fests” across the country. This Monday and Tuesday, the festival is back in Seattle and Dowd is back in town. “People who are living large and making things happen, and capturing the imagination and whimsey of the world, need to be recognized and celebrated,” said Jon Hegeman, founder of Fremont Outdoor Cinema, who along with the Fremont Chamber will be presenting Dowd with the Keys to the Universe.
The presentation will take place at the Troll, Monday at 5 p.m. Then at 6 p.m., doors open over at Fremont Outdoor Movies for the Lebowski Fest Movie Party. Tickets for that event are $20.