Epic Status Photoblog

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

These first pictures are a bit blurry, I didn’t want to annoy everyone with my flash.

 

 

 

We prefer Urbandales’ 4th of July fireworks over all the others in the area.? It’s one of the most popular in the metro.

 

 

 

Attractions, Holidays, Night, Outdoor, People

Or were they?

 

 

I’m sure there’s many country songs written about this pickup truck.

 

 

 

 

Cars, Holidays, Travel

We missed going to Valley Junction for Cinco De Mayo this year.? Eric’s brother was sick (cough-cough)? and couldn’t make it to their bar to DJ.? Eric had to fill in, so that’s where we landed.? We ended up staying there with boring white people, where it was just another fifth day of May.

 

? Black and white is for your grandmother.

 

Lucky for this small? bachelorette party, Eric showed up to control the mic.? They did some song by Queen and another one that made less of an? impression on me.

 

? Fancy bathroom murals

 

 

Girlies

 

Pain is life? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Life is pain

Bars, Des Moines, Holidays, Music, Night, People

? 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

Continued from Page 1? of St Patrick’s Day Parade 2007, Des Moines IA

 

We only saw one bagpipe.? I was dissapointed.? We missed the very beginning which we heard had more.

 

 

 

? Seeing shamrocks

 

? Pot O Gold

 

? 95 KGGO and guy giving away shirts

 

Melrose IA, Iowa’s Little Ireland, 1937 basketball champs, no snakes!? They also had a ginormous number of people and vehicles in the parade.

 

? Melrose fighting Irish

 

? Melrose Iowa parade unit 3-17.? Law and order runs afoul? while? the police car is out of town in the parade.

 

 

Conway Pallet family

 

?

Pot O’ Gold in a wheel barrel

 

Dogs

 

 

? St. Pat was a Democrat

 

Northern Warren Fire Dept.

 

Hot chicken.? I don’t see the relevancy, but hey it’s entertaining.

 

? Shaw Clan, Faith and? Courage

 

The? Delaney crew

 

Candy was left all over the ground.? Since we were at the very beginning of the parade, candy was being dispersed towards us at colossal rates.? The street was saturated with dirty sand from the winter, used for traction on snow and ice.? This made the candy much less enticing.? Kids went home with black hands.? Would it have been impossible for them to have a street sweeper do a pass the day before?

 

? It’s not fun unless you get to be wild and crazy

 

The chick in the back of the truck gave me what appears to be a Star Trek hand gesture, then she waved and laughed hysterically.? I didn’t start drinking until after the parade, so I was much more confused than humored by her odd antics.

 

Most of the adults in the parade were drinking, some more than others.

 

2007 Irish fashion trends

 

Greyhounds

 

? O’Reelitz

 

 

 

? There were way too many filler entries (blatant advertising with no entertainment value) in the parade.? It would have been much better if they would have weeded these out.? After an hour of watching the parade we had enough.? Everyone else had enough also, the crowd thinned to 1/3 the size an hour through it.? Repetition is good for the brain, not for the eyes.

? I strongly suggest they use an application process where they can filter out entries with little to no entertainment value.? ? Make them compete in front of? a small? panel of judges who could rate the proposed entries and only a given number of? the best would be allowed to proceed.? We want quality, not quantity.

Animals, Attractions, Cars, Des Moines, Downtown, Holidays, People, Streets

The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is the second largest parade in the state of Iowa.? A plethora of people come to be in it and watch it.

 

? Plenty of balloons

 

? Ancient Order of the Hibernians in America, Polk County.? Since I was taking pictures instead of watching, I was pelted with candy a few times.? The kid on the left is throwing candy our way at this moment.

 

Saturday night fever pose?? Anything goes on St. Paddys day.

 

The Murphy Clan

 

DMI Dance Force

 

 

 

Friend of Des Moines Girl

 

? Smokey’s

 

This is what they call a “kilt malfunction.”? The front of his kilt stuck to the velcro of his coat.

 

? It’s Bonnie and Josh

 

I wonder what? their lawn looks like at Christmas time?

 

Guys in Kilt’s representing St. Patrick’s day

 

 

? McGinn’s and friends

 

 

? Lepprechaun crossing

 

 

 

? It’s great to be Irish

 

The short bus, 100.3

 

? Georgetown, IA had a huge number of people and vehicles in the parade

 

? Georgetown Iowa, Irish spirit by night… Irish spirit by day

 

? Georgetown church and bar with door between

 

? Throwing beads

 

? Iowa D.O.T. Brotherhood of Islanders

 

Drummer men, 3 generations?

 

Elvis of? Good Vibrations DJ Service.

 

Groovy Girls was the name of this entry.? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

? The Church Ladies?? I’m clueless again.

 

 

See Page 2 for more

Animals, Attractions, Cars, Des Moines, Downtown, Holidays, People, Streets

? New Years Eve? at The Park Ave Pub.

It’s not the fanciest place, but that keeps you from getting bumped and stepped on all night.? I highly recommend this bar for all claustrophobic persons, since people usually don’t flock to places with dirt floors.? Free champagne on New Years Eve at midnight is a nice surprise for a place this unkept and dirty.

? Heather, Richard, and Bonnie arrive.

 

? Add Cherish and Tiffany.

 

? Richard wins a trophy.

 

? Juan wins a trophy.? You can see the look of shock and? amazement on his face.

 

? I win two trophes in one night.? They came with free trophe? chicks for the night, nice perk.

 

Pee-Wee, Grizzly, and Richard.? Yes I said Grizzly, I don’t think anyone even knows his real name… I would not be surprised if his drivers license says Grizzly.

 

? Richard, Me, and Pee-Wee.? No beers in hand, strange.? How’d that happen?

 

? SilverStrike 2007 bowling game.? Most bars have this game, it’s fun… probably because I’m good at it.

 

? Portrait for Richard and Heather.

 

? Some of Bonnie’s friends.? ? Richard does his usual pose, looking inconspicuous and unstiff as can be.

 

? Tiffany struggles to put together the cheap two-piece plastic glasses.? I offer some assistance.? The top peice is connected to the… bottom peice.

 

? Tell me how you really feel Bon-Bon!

 

? Beautiful smiles, “happy happy joy joy” and such.

 

? The gal set? for the night.

 

? Happy New Year!

 

Bars, Des Moines, Holidays, Night, People

? Forth of July Fireworks at Urbandale, IA

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could be authentic and use real canon balls…

Holidays, Night