How to Pick up the 7-10 Split

In most cases, Dude, mark it 8

The 7-10 split is the most difficult shot a bowler can face. In this arrangement (right), the two back pins nearest to the gutters are left standing after the first roll.

When picking up the 7-10, it helps to have a good relationship with God. That, or a combination of blindness and convincing friends.

Still, there are three things you can do to help your chances:

Hook
The ball should travel on an angle toward the 7 (the 10 if you’re a lefty). A straight roll can only work if it flirts with the gutter the entire time, dropping off at the absolute last moment before impact. Chances are you’ll have more luck flirting with that blond at the bar.

Hard
A slow roll might seem more controlled, but it’s also less likely to give the pin maximum ricochet possibility. And it primes you for the biggest let-down of all (besides the blond telling you to shove off): Hitting the 7 pin so slowly that it falls and rolls inches from the 10 without making contact.

Hope
The hope is that the 7 pin ricochets off the back wall, stops — in mid air, mind you — pirouettes and just tips into the side of the 10. That, my friend, is one magic roll.

Ever picked up the 7-10? Tell Lebowski DC about it, or any other bowling-related miracles, mishaps, or what-have-yous.

How to Make a White Russian

Recipe for The Dude’s favorite drink, the White Russian, otherwise known as the Caucasian.

Vodka – 1 part

Kahlua – 1 part

Light Cream, Half ‘n half, or milk – top off

Mix in a tumbler with some ice.

How many White Russians does The Dude drink during the movie? Take the 3rd Annual quiz and find out.

Pictures from the 3rd Annual Fest

Brandt can’t watch, though, or he has to pay a hundred


CLICK on an image to enlarge


Founding trio

What’s your drink, dude?


3rd costume winner


Stranger and Jackie


Walter 1


Walter 2

Hi fellas


Ah, separate incidents


Achieving


The Louisiana Purchase


Happy rolling


That creep can roll, man


8-year-olds, Dude


This is a bummer, man


I’m marking it 8


Throwin’ rocks tonight


Two oat sodas, Gary


Mark it zero, next frame


You mean, coitus?


Dios mio, man


Not in Nam, of course


My dirty undies


The occasional acid flashback?

You’re goddamn right we’re living in the past

What's this "Day of rest" shit?

Lebowski DC began in 2003, when three native Washingtonians — quite possibly the laziest in Montgomery county, which places them high in the running for laziest in the metropolitan area — were too lazy to travel to Louisville for the official Lebowski celebration.

1st Annual DC Fest
The first Fest was a small affair, with the three creators (only one costume—The Dude), a handful of Caucasians, a 19” TV, and two games of bowling.

But the whole darn thing perpetuated itself, up through the ages, across the sands of time and, ah hell…

2nd Annual DC Fest: June 27, 2004
The second Fest was as hot as a trophy wife, to use the parlance of our times. Eight attendees, a mess of costumes, including Jackie Treehorn and a couple nice Walters.

If it had known they were coming, AMF Alexandria probably would have kidnapped itself. By the end, though, they learned to love us, and the guy working the lanes — who bore an eerie resemblance to the guy who makes the 7-10 split in the opening credits — gave us a shout-out. Bowling and oat sodas rolled into the late hours.

Just as they were for poor Donny, the stars were aligned for the 2nd Annual Festers, but in a better way. On that day, Bob Dylan played “The Man in Me” for the first time in almost two years — the only time he’d play it on that tour.

3rd Annual DC Fest: June 26, 2005
Year Three: Costumes included two Walters, two Strangers, a Dude, a Treehorn, and several what-have-yous. Bowling took place at AMF Shady Grove. Few beers, few laughs, a number of Caucasians. Attendance was eclipsed and there was talk of an upgraded venue and invitation list next year.

4th Annual DC Fest: June 10, 2006
I never seen the Queen in her damned undies, as the fella says, but I saw 10 Achievers gathered in a Bethesda house for the 4th fest.

This year’s group took costumes to the next level. They included usual suspects like Jackie Treehorn, the Dude, and two of Jackie’s goons. But Saddam, Liam, Brandt made their first DC Fest appearances, and the owner of the corvette and a Ralph-visiting Walter stole the show and took the prize: a bowling pin painted like the Jesus. Even the one person who didn’t dress up still donned an “In-and-Out Burger” hat.

Strike Bethesda was considered “very un-Dude.” But it was close-by, and three drivers took us to the lanes so we could, ah, keep our minds limber. And they were free-spirited enough not to throw us out after we broke not one, but two pint glasses within the first five minutes of our visit.

The bums will always lose

Sometimes there’s a man — I won’t say a hero, cause what’s a hero — but sometimes there’s a man, sometimes there’s a man…

Robbie Jaffe won the 4th Annual Lebowski Fest trivia contest, knocking off two-time defending champ Chris Chase with a final score of 21.5. Jaffe defeated Jeremy Becker in a tie-breaker, based on his ability to re-create the Nihilist’s ransom note. For his efforts he received a bowling pin painted like the Dude.

• NEW! Take the 4th Annual Quiz. Check your answers.

• Take the 3rd annual quiz or check your answers.

• Take the 2nd annual trivia contest and see how you did.

Keep in mind, the scoring for the Lebowski DC trivia contest is made under the influence of several Caucasians, and as such is subject to change.

Submit a potential trivia contest question.

It really ties the site together

Way out East there was a Fest, a Fest I wanna tell you about, a Fest by the name of … Lebowski DC.

Lebowski DC is a local celebration of the greatest bowling movie of all time, “The Big Lebowski.” The Fest consists of a trivia contest, a viewing, bowling, and general Lebowski ins, outs, and what-have-yous.

Interested in attending the 2007 Fest? Let us know.

• NEW! See pictures of the 4th Annual DC Fest, held June 10, 2006.

• NEW! Take the 4th Annual Trivia quiz.

• Read about the history of Lebowski Fest DC.

• How to make a White Russian. How to pick up a 7-10 split.