The Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000

A Birthday in Three Acts

by Andy on Sep.09, 2008, under Fremont, Nightlife, Party, Seattle


ACT I: Feierabend.

Kristen, Curtis, Claire, Chris & Kate.
Feierabend. Seattle, WA. September 5, 2008.
Nikon D300. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens @ 11mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/6 sec @ f/2.8. ISO 1600.

I knew the evening was destined to be a classic the moment I read the email. What Kate succinctly proposed had enormous potential: “Hi friends! This Friday is Chris’s birthday and Curtis and I were thinking what better way to celebrate then a little DAS BOOT!! Let’s say 8:30ish at Feierabend (near REI). ” As a similar email did nearly a year ago, this note was followed up by several references to this movie, and of course this movie too. I immediately thought back to the last time I traipsed through the halls of Feierabend. It was this same group of friends and things got, well, German.

Chris & Kate.
Nikon D300. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens @ 11mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/13 sec @ f/2.8. ISO 1600.

I arrived around 10:30. The gang had already put down one boot and another was soon on the way. On occasions like these I gladly abandon the Coors Light routine in favor of Bravaria’s best. I quickly ordered myself a dunkel in what can only be described as an obnoxiously large stein. I sat down with the increasingly inebriated throng and did my best to catch up.

KATE LUVS DAS BOOT[Click image for larger version, then click "All Sizes"]

Quick work was made of the boot once it reached our table. We strictly adhered to Feierabend’s only rule: never let the boot touch the table. Once that glass slipper was up and tilted back, it did not rest until the last delicious drop of beer fell out of it. As noted above, Kate in particular enjoyed the festivities.

Upper left: Curtis. Upper right: Drew.
Lower left: Paul. Lower right: Chris.

The Brothers Dinsdale.
Nikon D300. Nikon 18-200mm VR lens @ 18mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/15 sec @ f/3.5. ISO 400.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

We also used the occasion to wish Drew (center) well on his trek to China. After helping decimate several boots on Friday, Drew flew out of Seattle the next morning for a month long trip. Hopefully the Chinese internet sensors allow access to The Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000 blog so Drew can see some pictures from what was probably a hazy night.

Nikon D300. Nikon 18-200mm VR lens @ 62mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/15 sec @ f/4.3. ISO 1000.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

Kate and Kristen quite literally got a little carried with the cake. Between hungry beer drinkers carving out random slices and the Feierabend bar staff occasionally carting off a piece or two, the cake soon became a mish-mash of chunks and frosting.
CAKE GRL[Click image for larger version, then click "All Sizes"]

Since I’m the one usually behind the camera, Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000 readers never get to see a picture of me. Thankfully, Drew helped us all out and snapped this shot.

Prost! Yours truly enjoys a Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel.

ACT II: The Dubliner.

Some of the gang outside of The Dubliner.
Nikon D300. Nikon 18-200mm VR lens @ 52mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/15 sec @ f/4.8. ISO 400.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 0° w/Sto-fen.

I am not sure how it was decided, but we all descended on the Dubliner in Fremont. Paul, Liesen, and I arrived first. As it happened, I only had $3 in my pocket (debit card yall). The cover charge (for a strange/lousy band) was $5. I confidently approached the bouncer and offered him ALL my money. He took one look at me and uttered, “yep, that’ll work.” A surge of Dutch pride ripped through my body as I strolled into the bar—Grandpa Hoort would be proud! After a few minutes I noticed the rest of our party gathering in the street outside. I knew they were likely debating the value of paying $5 to go to the freaking D U B L I N E R. I immediately texted Kristen to inform that the door staff could be bargained with. Moments later, five of my friends streamed through the door. They had been able to negotiate a 5 for $15 deal—good work, team.

Paul & Liesen.
Nikon D300. Nikon 18-200mm VR lens @ 18mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/15 sec @ f/3.5. ISO 400.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

After only a few drinks, we decided to shift the party one more time. Although we had suffered some attrition throughout the course of the evening, we were still about 10 or 11 people strong since being joined by Rich and Sarah. We ducked out of the Dubliner, hit an alley, jogged across the street and arrived at our final destination.

Kate, Claire & Chris leaving the Dubliner.
Nikon D300. Nikon 18-200mm VR lens @ 18mm.
Aperture Priority. 1/15 sec @ f/3.5. ISO 450.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 0° w/Sto-fen.

ACT III: Triangle.

The Intern, Claire, {n e 1 remember her name} and Paul. Triangle. Fremont, WA.
Nikon D300. Tokina 11-16mm lens @ 11mm.
Program Exposure. 1/15 sec @ f/5.6. ISO 640.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

Of course we ended up at Triangle. Of course we ran into my roommates and some of their friends. Of course things were a little messy. It’s Fremont on a Friday. I think everyone has a love/hate relationship with Triangle. As one reviewer on yelp commented:

I live in Fremont. Fremont does not suck. I think the staff at the triangle rock, they make good, stiff drinks and they’re entertaining. On the flip side, the patrons are on the fratty, ball-hatty side, and you do see a lot of “bros” doing Jaeger shots and young women with very empty eyes wearing too much makeup and halter tops in effing February.

Sounds about right, but honestly—is there a better bar to stumble into at 1 AM after das booting all night? Probably not.

Sarah and Rich.
Nikon D300. Tokina 11-16mm lens @ 11mm.
Program Exposure. 1/15 sec @ f/5.6. ISO 640.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

Curtis, The Intern & Claire.
Nikon D300. Tokina 11-16mm lens @ 11mm.
Program Exposure. 1/15 sec @ f/5.6. ISO 640.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

For those of you wondering about “The Intern,” he really is an intern. At least that’s how I introduced him to everyone about a year ago at Kristen’s pajama-jam-jam. Unfortunately, no one can ever recall his real name.


Nikon D300. Tokina 11-16mm lens @ 11mm.
Program Exposure. 1/15 sec @ f/5.6. ISO 640.
Nikon SB-600 fired. 60° w/Sto-fen.

Happy Birthday, Chris! I hope it was a good one.

Check out these pictures and a few more on Facebook.

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