“Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you.”
March 6, 2026 marks 28 years since the release of The Big Lebowski, or Dude-mas to those subscribing to the philosophy known as Dudeism.
While the film takes place in Los Angeles, Pendleton Lebowski fans know that connections between the cult classic and our own humble town are more than wool-deep.
But yeah, we’ve gotta start with the sweater, man.
Whether you roll in Southern California or Eastern Oregon, desert climes have hot days and chilly nights. A sweater is a crucial accessory for night owls. The distinctive patterned cardigan worn by Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski was made by Pendleton Woolen Mills.
It’s official name is the Westerley Cardigan, though if you’re into the whole brevity thing you can just walk into Pendleton Woolen Mills and ask for The Dude Sweater.
As much an Icon of Dudeism as bowling & Caucasians, the Westerly is Proudly Pendleton. So it’s safe to say that our town’s namesake wool company is woven directly into The Big Lebowski.
But in this writer’s opinion, the connection runs past wool and into philosophical territory.
In a movie with enough quotable lines to fill a PHD dissertation, the one from the the top of our digital page – spoken towards the end of the movie by Sam Elliot’s Stranger to Jeff Bridges’ Dude – is the sort of thing you might have heard muttered sagaciously over whisky at any saloon in Pendleton back in the day.
Though the origins of the saying are lost in the sands of time, the proverb is generally thought of as a Western frontier folk saying reflecting the rugged survival mindset of the American West. Particularly among grizzled mountain-men to whom a bear could be both prey and predator – depending on timing, the wind, or just sheer dumb luck.
These days we’ve modernized the phrase into you win some, you lose some. However you phrase it, the unpredictable nature of life hasn’t changed much between 1880 to 2026. Ups and downs, strikes and gutters.
You can’t control everything, so like the Dude, it’s best to just roll with whatever comes up.
Big Lebowski Screening in Pendleton: 6pm, Friday March 13 at Prodigal Son
Speaking of things that are coming up, local Lebowski fans are putting together a celebration of Dudemas on Friday the 13th (which is technically speaking the eighth day of Dude-mas). The party will be held in the back room of Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub (230 SE Court Ave in Pendleton).
There’ll be a screening of The Big Lebowski around six, appetizers, menu items, and a full selection of beverages – including, of course, White Russians.
So put on your Westerly (the genuine articles available at Pendleton Woolen Mills, now in original, black, made for women and pet sized – check out their website!) and come on down to Prodigal Son at 6pm on March 13th.
Prodigal management requests that diners not pee on the rug. It really ties the room together.
