The Dude cometh: Let the festivities begin!

While the official release date (a la Amazon.com) still says “October 1, 2009” we’re here to tell you that The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers will, in fact, roll out next week, beginning with some nifty local coverage in Minneapolis later this week (coinciding with Lebowski Fest and the annual Religion Newswriters Convention), then on to the Toronto Film Festival (for the premiere of the Brothers’ Coen’s “A Serious Man” – woot!), and finally to our old crib, Sweet Home Chicago for some tv and radio appearances, a guest appearance at Lebowski Fest Speed of Sound Tour‘s stop at Chicago’s Portage Theater (and a personal time-out for the U2 gig at Soldier Field) and then the official hooplah of The Dude Abides Launch Party at Chicago’s Smart Bar the evening of Monday 9/14 before heading back home to the beach on the left coast.

Deets on all the above to follow …