.png "Rupert's Shot Glass")
Storytime.
May 2017: Tobie was with his family for a US trip, and I was mostly on my own at the Sietch. We had made one last O Bar run at the start of the month, but since then, I had mostly stayed home or visited my own family. It felt weird to go to O Bar on my own, as my tendency to focus on documenting the night meant I wouldn't be able to manage a table on my own. But then a Retro Night was announced, and it felt almost obligatory to go as such events were extra special and quite few and far between. So Tobie and I talked about it and agreed that I should go.
For those who just came in, Retro Nights were different, given that it meant the bar would open earlier than normal in order to better cater to patrons who don't typically stay up as late. This would mean an extra performance set for everyone at O Bar before the regular show after midnight. So I went alone without any other friends and without a table. I figured that I'd just stand around with Tanduay Ice (to avoid the need to mix my own drink), enjoy the show, and largely stick to myself.
But as is the way of these things, Rupert was there for the Retro Night, and given I was alone, he told me to sit with him at the owner's table. This meant the usual welcome tequila shot, but I figured that was it. At least I had a place to stay and certainly good company for the show. But this was different in that I've never really sat with Rupert at O Bar. We would typically be at the "friends table" behind his and would be close enough to say hi and such, and then retreat back to our table.
I would always get nervous around Rupert because he was Rupert. For example, whenever we'd get to O Bar and we'd see that he was there at the owner's table, Tobie and I would approach but stand to the side and wait for him to turn in our direction before saying hello. It was just a thing we ended up doing out of respect and not wanting to bother him, as, more often than not, we'd arrive while he was talking to a member of the staff about something, or he'd be entertaining guests.
So internally, I was kind of freaking out that I was sitting with him and I remember frantically messaging Tobie about how things were going. There was room for people to dance before the show, and everyone seemed to be enjoying, while I was trying to stay cool while we sat together. But even before the actual show began, Rupert told our waiter to stop serving me Tanduay Ice and then parked one of his tequila shot glasses in front of me. Apparently, this was now "my" glass for the night, and the shots just kept coming. Today's blog cover image is the same photo I sent Tobie after Rupert assigned the glass to me.
Rupert sharing tequila shots was a totally normal thing, but mainly as a sort of welcome drink. Introducing anyone to Rupert as a first-timer at O Bar guaranteed a shot for the new friend (and everyone else in the area), because he always wanted people to feel welcome at O. More than one shot in the night meant he was particularly happy, or he wanted to sort of reinforce something he had said - I'd get a few of these when we'd discuss the show between sets. But man, I had never been in this situation where Rupert felt like he could give me shots freely all throughout the show because we could talk about each number in real-time. He started out pretty stressed because this event was a little last-minute, but I think I helped to turn things around for him as the night went on.
Needless to say, I got pretty hammered. But more than that, it was one of the best times I spent with Rupert and probably the longest that we had ever really hung out at O Bar. But I love O Bar and all of the performers, and I think that night really reinforced that fact to Rupert. Of course, he already knew this, but I figure that was more because I'd take so many photos and such. But that night was special because we actually got to talk about the numbers, and we agreed on the ones we liked best, and we'd drink to celebrate those numbers even more. As much as this wasn't the last time we talked about O Bar the way we did that night, it still stands out as one of the best and longest conversations and one that I'll always hold dear.
Happy Birthday, Rupert. I miss being able to talk to you like that, even if that meant you were going to get me sooo drunk that I wouldn't make it to the final set of the night. And we continue to celebrate O Bar because that's your legacy going strong, and our lives have been forever changed because of O Bar. And we're forever grateful for that.
We're never going to stop missing you. For now, we'll do our best to remember the good times and raise a glass in your honor.
EDIT: Found my chat with Tobie from this night. I had shared this screenshot of Mon's chat the next day. 🥹
Happy Birthday, Rupert. We will do our part to keep you alive in our memories and stories. You have given us so much. A second place to call home. A group we can call proudly our extended family. And so much more. We miss you and we love you.
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