I’ve had some very fun evenings in my life, but maybe none as interesting as a night with Jeff Bridges out in Santa Barbara. Jeff had played a few times at City Winery locations several years after his acclaimed performance in Crazy Heart as a country musician. Let me say this: The Dude Can Play! He is a very good guitar player and has a great voice. Yet, his inner soul, with that characteristic charming voice of his, is indeed the fun philosophical personality of The Dude from the Big Lebowski.
So, I got the chance to be asked to dinner with Jeff because he had an idea for a City Winery concept out in California. He had identified a large restaurant outside of Santa Barbara he thought perfect for a smaller version of CW. I didn’t hesitate to accumulate a few more American Airline miles and jumped on a plane—I mean, fucking dinner with The Dude, man!! Maybe even a business partnership of sorts, anyway, that’s what was on my mind. We met at a restaurant with his music director and sat down. As soon as we did, a neighboring table sent over some White Russians to the Big Lebowski. When the 3 “Caucasians” arrived, the fan came over to say hello, shake his hand, etc. Jeff was gracious, spoke for a minute. When he left, I asked if we drink them or not, and he said, “hell yes”. That started an evening of some great California wine, other drinks and some hysterical story telling. He really wanted to know about the live music business and was excited to show me this space he thought perfect for City Winery Santa Barbara.
So, after dinner, we all got into his SUV and drove about 10 minutes out of town to a building off the road that was surrounded in chain link fence, he kept the car running so the headlights could shine on a building clearly surrounded by 8 foot tall fence with the barbed wire spiral stuff at the top. I scratched my head, he said “follow me.” Now it was just the two of us, his MD stayed in the car. We get to a spot where there was a dirt pile and a little gap under the fence. He lifts it up for me, a 20-inch space for me to slide under. I get through and he asks me to hold it, which was awkwardly pushing the fence the other way for his much larger body. He is mostly through, but the fence catches a little of his sweater, a small tear. No big deal for the Big Lebowski. We stand and approach the building; he suggests using the flashlights on our phones. We now are both looking in the windows of an abandoned old restaurant, he telling me where he thinks the stage should go, me thinking I am about to go to jail with The Dude any minute. We go back through the fence, this time easier as I am through first and can lift it straight up so it is easier for him to wiggle back through. We get into the car and now talk Turkey about what is involved to build it.
I run through a few practical estimates of construction costs, equipment needs, timing, etc. It’s now getting late and we agree to pick it up at another time. But life, films, health, family, and time got away from us and nothing actually ever came from that. I am thinking why did I write this story down. First, I got reminded of Jeff Bridges from a newsletter I read this morning from Jimmy Frisch of Branded Hospitality who was digging into the meaning of “the Dude Abides” a line that the Dude always uses is he lives in a state of “dudeness—He doesn’t worry about anything, and he just accepts life for what it is.” And to continue the newsletter quote: “Maybe that what The Dude Abides really means, a combination of don’t sweat the small stuff and focus on what’s most important.” I can’t disagree that seems to be integrated into the Big Lobowski.
My takeaway is that I could regret never having gone into business with Jeff Bridges (although if he is reading this and still wants to, I’m game), but I don’t. I relish the memory of a really great night, a chance to hang with a movie star, to talk shop, and connect with a great personality. Living life for all the precious moments we get and a reminder to take advantage of every opportunity to engage with the world around us. There can be great moments all day and every day if your open to receive them. Forging for mushrooms after a rain. Shaking the hand of a new employee grateful for work. Enjoying a glass of Rose and looking out at a beautiful sunset. That to me is dudeness. Open your crazy hearts and take advantage of everything we can.
L'chaim. Cheers.
More ways to experience the Dorf enthusiasm and great view of good livin’! Hi Mike!
That was a very cool story. I’ve loved Jeff Bridges forever. Seeing him in Crazy Heart made me see what a real musician he really is. We caught he and his band in Saratoga, CA at the Mountain Winery and it was a phenomenal show. He is funny and definitely lives life by “the dude abides.” Open that place in SB!!!