Epic Status Photoblog

Finally, late as usual, I have the last installment of the 3 part series of Halloween on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.  Since I was a “photographer” I could carry some lighting equipment with me, and not get so many weird looks.  It works out great because I can achieve much better lighting than with standard on camera strobe flashes.

A facial costume of sorts, if you will.

She means business, let me tell ya.  Couldn’t even crack a smile out of her.

They had some girls line up on top of the pool table for me.  They probably mistakenly identified me as Arturo Fernandez again.  I didn’t ask, I just started snapping away and requesting more tinsel… more wind… oh and while you’re at it call the Zoo, some wild animals would look spectacular right over there.

I didn’t want to ask.

As in “Seriously, this is my costume.”

By the end of the night, apparently I started having trouble figuring out who was in costume and who wasn’t.  While walking back to the car I snapped off this shot while we passed these two gentlemen.  I thought they were in costume as a Farmer and a Lawyer.  In my own embarrassing defense, the street wasn’t well lit… and what men dress up to go to Court Ave?  Maybe it was a wedding, a Halloween wedding.  I don’t know, but nevertheless I sincerely apologize for the mix up.

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Night, People

This is the second installment of a three part series from Halloween 2007 downtown, where I’m continuously mistaken for Des Moines Juice photographer Arturo Fernandez.

Nuked ‘em with flash.  Oops.  I can take horrible photos if I want to, I work for myself, remember.

This guy has been waiting for this picture for a few months, sorry man.  I have a feeling someone’s myspace icon will be changing soon.

Des Moines IA MMA girls

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Holidays, Night, Parties, People

This Halloween we did something different for a change.  Richards Dad and step mom previously hosted awesome annual Halloween parties, but decided that it’s too much work to continue.  We were forced to find something else to do, so we hit up downtown Des Moines.  This is the first of three posts from this night.

Just getting started at Johnny’s downtown

My beer maiden.

Richard had to see the butt doctor, lucky for him they had one on staff.

The humor that this suite invites is limitless.

I really enjoyed the idea of this taken out of the context of Halloween.  Imagine  just stumbling upon this photo somewhere.  It’s just something so strange you have to stop and think about what’s going on or where it is.  In case you haven’t picked up on it, I’m “into that stuff.”

It was one of those back and forth downtown nights.  We wandered between a few court avenue bars, trying to satisfy most everyone (or the loudest spoken) in our entourage.

Pee Wee spotted, hide your children.  Get that damn cellaphone out of my way.

Liars Club, Court Ave Downtown Des Moines on Halloween.

Excellent costumes and attention to detail.  They could have used a drink though.

Yes, a ballerina tu-tu tranny with penis in hand.  I’ve seen everything now.

I was managing to survive with getting tapped on the shoulder every other second with some desperate chick begging me to take a picture of her in costume.  But this is different.  These girls weren’t even in some poor attempt of a costume.  Nothing, zip, nada.  To pour salt on the wound, the begging “me me me, my turn, my turn” chick on the left wouldn’t stop staring at my remote flash.  I’m sure you’re brilliant in your own ways, but the lens is down here sweetie.

Much more still to come…

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Holidays, Night, People

I’m always a sucker for these downtown Des Moines skyline shots.

Buildings, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Night, Outdoor

? Colby asked me to take pictures of his pitbull, Gator.

Animals, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Outdoor

? Robert Van Winkle (aka Vanilla Ice) did a show at the Liar’s Club block party stage for Memorial Day weekend.? I had to get by without a telephoto lens and difficult lighting, so please forgive the quality issues.

He let a ton of people on the stage as a publicity stunt.? They all can go home and call everyone they know to tell them they were on the stage.? It was? too crowded for any of them to move around.? The affect was Vanilla Ice had to compete with the stage girls for attention.

? Vanilla Ice himself

? Nice soundboards, they were ginormous.

? Chicks were flashing various body parts.

? Vanilla Ice attempts to get more girls to undress.? The crowd wasn’t very receptive of his plea.

? Half the time you couldn’t even see him because the stage was over crowded.? Vanilla Ice’s show was interesting at best.

? I couldn’t say that I digged anything I heard.? We were hoping he would play some of the old school hits that we remember from childhood, but he must be too cool for that now.? It’s understandable that he’d be embarrassed.? We just wanted to hear some “Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go” or “Ice, Ice, Baby.”

Des Moines, Downtown, Music, Night, Outdoor, People

We stayed at the Marriot in downtown Des Moines

Looking South of downtown Des Moines

Just borrowing? a cart?

Buildings, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits

We went to Liar’s Club.

? Ran into Stevie’s crew

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Night, People

? We went to Tequila Tom’s on Court Ave. in Des Moines after eating.? We got there around 7pm.? It was fairly early for bars on Court Ave, we didn’t run into many people.

? Down the hatch

? Chewed up Worm

? One handed bottle juggling

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Night, Outdoor, People

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Parties, People

We went to Liar’s Club? in downtown Des Moines.?

? Come as you are, or as you prefer to be.

? Dion is good for stirring up the crowd.? If only I had a? dollar for every picture I have of drunk people sticking their tongues out.

Shots

? Don’t lie

Very intriguing conversation

? Liar’s Club is packed

? Our waitress for the night, much better than last time.

“I’m a good waitress, and I’ll get your drinks faster than the lazy ones.” x3

Hey you, your shoes are untied.? No… seriously, no lie.

Richard and Dion arguing all night

Jeremy, one of the owners of Liar’s Club.

? You can see between the mens and womens bathroom where the sinks are, a good conversation starter.

? These two girls played tag through the mens room, ducking and weaving through people.? One had lipstick on her cheek.

Still arguing

Busy place

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Night, People

Urban? exploration from a safe distance…? Outside the buildings.? I’d love to go inside but the whole breaking and entering thing is overrated.? Unlike large cities, Des Moines is real quick to board up entries to abandoned buildings.

Mad skills with bricks.? They just don’t do brick laying like this anymore, it was an art.

Above ground? wiring and terminations are sexy

? The Crane Co. building’s sole use? is as as a tower for cell phone antennaes.? The wiring rises up the side of the building to the top.? There’s a short mast on top.

? Dwarfed.? It’s days are limited.

? Work needed

? Unbreakable

? Take pride in safety.

? Scrap heap overflowing.

? The end of a street.? Mounds and mounds of junk.? People actually live next to this disaster.

? Parker Oil Company, Conoco.? For lease.

Buildings, Des Moines, Downtown, Graffiti, Streets

? Municipal building in Des Moines, Iowa.? Ice skating facility to the left.? Supposedly it’s used for other activities in the summer.

?

Famous Court Avenue bridge

Old railroad bridge.? Are those old power lines dangling?

? New pedestrian bridge with built in lookout.

? Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, claimed by many to be the most beautiful capitol in the country.? Some day I’ll get shots from the inside.

? Sunset at the Iowa State Capitol

IA Capitol

? Downtown Des Moines Skyline

Downtown Des Moines at Night

Skyline picture? of Des Moines

Buildings, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Night

Continued from? PAGE? 1.?

We were all surprised to see that Pee Wee made it out.

? Your drink is not just a drink, it’s an accessory.

Check your phone?

? Brad had a birthday too.

? Larry Smithson? (owner: Smithson Limousine and many downtown bars) with Colby.? Thanks for the limo’s Larry, we had a great time!

? This guy was pole dancing for half the night.? He didn’t realize that everyone was looking at him weird and taking pictures.? Guys just don’t have the style and grace needed to make this look sexy? for the females.? It was reminiscent of an overweight? truck driver salsa dancing.? Trust me, none of the ladies were impressed.

Grinding some pole

Met? this couple, he works with? MusiCity Productions, a DJ service

? Met this couple.? I don’t remember his name but he said he wants to get into photography.? Nice picture, but I had to blur out a special something that was clearly visible.

? “I’m a guy that likes to pole dance, so what!”? Later in the night while he was still doing his thing, he started making this angry face at anyone who looked at him.? I don’t think he realized that everyone would stop staring if he stopped drawing attention to himself.

You? can swing over everyone’s heads at the bar

It’s PBK of Bad Kids, Des Moines.? I’ll soon be featuring some still clips from their video and show you where you can buy it.

Excursion Limo by Smithson Limousines

The Excursion limo was our favorite.? It may have had slightly less seats, but it was so much more comfortable and swanky.? On the other hand the Hummer did have much bigger TV’s, and also the seating was directly across so everyone could probably talk slightly easier.? Considering all, the refined styling and comfortable seating? of the Excursion won us over.? If you’re considering a limo, this should be your first choice.

Our favorite limo with our favorite driver of the night.? He was? accommodating and personable when we talked to him.? If names didn’t escape me when I drink, I’d recommend him by name.

For more information, refer to Smithson Limousine’s website.? Here’s a list where Larry is keeping track of famous people who have been in his limo’s.? We’re waiting for him to update it to include us.

Bars, Cars, Des Moines, Downtown, People

We? celebrated Cherish’s birthday on Friday the 13th.? We tried to plan it less than a week ahead, which caused some availability problems.? We had a turn out of a little more than half the people we expected to come.? Excuses, excuses… we still forgive you though.? Well, give Cherish another week on that just in case.

? I had lighting problems all night, mainly because I couldn’t use bounce flash in the limo or at Club? Envy due to the black ceiling.? I need to buy or devise a flash bounce diffuser for the next time this happens.

Limo is here, everyone out.

? Hummer limo, courtesy of Smithson Limousines

? Pile in the Hummer limo everyone

? Arrival at Club Envy, downtown Des Moines

? Yaeger Bombs for everyone

Envy has very unique decorating and styling, great efforts were taken to give this place a personality.

Cherish’s duece-duece.

While playing around, I liked the arctic look and the green accents.

Leslie, Sandra, Elaine, Cherish

Freak dancing

? Private dancers

Elaine, Leslie, Ty, and Joe

See PAGE 2 for more

Bars, Cars, Des Moines, Downtown, People

Headed towards downtown to? check out some places on Ingersoll Ave.?

? We stopped into this tiny bar called “Cocktail Lounge” on Ingersoll Ave in Des Moines.? It had interesting unkept 50’s/60’s decor but overall it sucked.? The? 7 people in there all knew each other and they made it known that we didn’t belong in their bar.? We were the youngest, everyone else was in their? 40’s or older.? The 1 bartender was polite as he served us, when he wasn’t away from the counter playing pool.? After enjoying the awkwardness of being constantly stared at, we left after each slamming our single beers? less than 10 minutes after we entered.? Do you have to be in a special club to drink here?? Do we need “Members Only” jackets?? Was this a secret hideout of the local cannibalism society?? Was this in fact a gay bar?? There were no women but the men looked like they have probably been in prison lately.? Perhaps we’ll never know.? ? Leave a comment if you know anything about this place or if you’ve been there.

3 (out of 3)? thumbs down in our book.

? Shuey jumps up and down after seeing a Big Tomato Pizza Co. nearby.

? He made us try it, and I’m glad.? I would have avoided the place because of the weird name, but this pizza was great.? I can’t explain why it was better, but it really was.? The neon light in the window says “Lousy Service.”? We went in another bar next door and got some beers and a booth to go with the pizza.? I don’t remember the name but the bar next to Big Tomato was fairly nice and had a unique atmosphere.? We started to feel comfortable again.

“We have so many chairs that our chairs have their own chairs to sit on.? We have chairs up the ying-yang in here.”

We couldn’t go here because they had a black shirt policy.? We forgot ours at home.

I don’t have any pictures of it, but we did go to Star Bar for the first time.? Although crowded, it was really nice.? The fenced in patio was great on this warm spring night.

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Night, Streets

? After the St. Patrick’s Day Parade? we hit up Johnny’s Hall of Fame in downtown Des Moines

? The place was packed, the whole area with seats was filled.

Hey, it’s Chris

Ryan too

“Bead me”

? Chris was Kung-Fu fighting

Green from her shoes to her hair,? plenty of Irish spirit

? There was live music going on at the Liar’s Club block party.? There were enough portable toilets for an army.

? ? I have no clue who played, we heard rumors of the Long Beach Dub All Stars coming but we got bored early and moved on.

Hey,? it’s Anthony, Mike, Ty, and Corey.

Anthony does his famous disgruntled zombie robot dance

? Cheers

? Partying it up at El Bait Shop in Des Moines

Since many of us started drinking early in the day, we were all a little more wild than normal.? Bar-wide cheers were being initiated every 10 minutes for hours.? We’re making up for the rest of the year when we just sit and stare.

? A fight broke out and ended as quickly as it started.? The cops came soon after.

? I don’t know what the deal is but the girl in the center appears to be crying while everyone is cheering.

May I rub my drumstick against your face?

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Holidays, Night, People