Posted on 01 November 2009 by jason.kristufek
Dozens of photos of people celebrating Halloween night at various bars and clubs in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Do you see someone you know?
Submit your Halloween photos: Upload your Halloween photos and we will share them with others.
Halloween in Iowa City - Photos by Crystal LoGiudice
Halloween in Cedar Rapids - Photos by John Beyer
Posted on 30 October 2009 by tracy.mccullough
Posted on 29 October 2009 by carly
This year don’t be the dope dressed like the guy from “Twilight” or the 12th Kate Gosselin at the gala.
Sure. Pop culture costumes have their place, but this Halloween go back to the origins of All Hallows Eve.
That’s right. Go ghoulish. Go gory. Get bloody.
C’mon. What other time of year can you fake being a burn or stabbing victim and not be frowned upon for your poor taste?
Bonus: These looks can be achieved in less than 30 minutes with supplies readily available at costume shops or your local megamart.
Not ready to strike out on your own? Ask a pro for help. The folks at CenterStage in Cedar Rapids will help apply your makeup for free.
Are you burning to make a splash at an annual Halloween party? Try this technique and go as an eerily real looking burn victim. Add some charred clothes for good measure, if not good taste. Since when is Halloween PC anyway?
You’ll need:
How-to:
Get this wound-er-ful look if you’re gunning for a role in the next installment of “Saw” or you just want to freak out your mom. Perfect it and, who knows, maybe you’ll find a whole new second career as a haunted house ghoul or extra in one of the Zombie movies being filmed in Eastern Iowa these days. Since the trick to this look is plenty of blood, remember that most fake blood stains. So don’t wear anything that you don’t mind staining or getting dirty. Hit up Goodwill or the Salvation Army to find old clothes for the night.
You’ll need:
Note: Read all manufactures directions and warnings.
How-to:
Posted on 19 October 2009 by jason.kristufek
(AP) — Michael Jackson. Amy Winehouse. Kate Gosselin. And Bernie Madoff. We’re definitely keeping it real this Halloween.
Costume suppliers predict this year’s hot costumes will come from reality television, tabloid celebs and the high-profile deaths of two superstars (the other is Farrah Fawcett).
The National Retail Federation picks princesses, witches and Spider-Man as popular costumes for children, while party supply chain iParty’s list of children’s favorites includes Power Rangers, “Star Wars” characters and Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Vampires, clowns and pirates were top choices on the federation’s adult costume list, while the list from retail chain Spirit Halloween includes Jackson, Gosselin, Britney Spears and Sarah Palin.
“Inspiration for Halloween costumes comes from the media, the movies, current events and pop culture,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO and president of Spirit Halloween. “This year vampires are everywhere. You will see lots of tributes to Michael Jackson, from ‘Thriller’ to sequined gloves. And you may even see a Mr. Ponzi mask.”
Here’s a breakdown on what’s hot for various categories.
More Halloween related items from HooplaNow
BABIES
This year, moms can dress their babies up as Cinderella, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, said Karen Dodge, chief merchandising officer for Toys R Us. She said Babies R Us is offering those same costumes, along with Tinker Bell, for the first time in infant sizes.
Hooded furry animals also are strong sellers, said Dodge, such as monkeys, lambs, pigs, tigers and bumblebees.
The top searches of infant costumes on Yahoo! over the past 30 days included a lady bug, blossom/flower, Elvis, and Pebbles from “The Flintstones;” iParty’s list had Thomas the Tank and Superman. And at Disney Stores, Nemo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse were strong sellers.
GIRLS
Disney princess costumes are all the rage again this year.
The new Tiana Deluxe Costume, an exact replica of what Princess Tiana wears in a key moment in the upcoming film “The Princess and the Frog,” is expected to be a best-seller, according to Molly Adams, vice president and general manager for Disney Stores North America. The film, featuring both Disney’s newest young royal in more than 10 years and its first black princess, comes out on Dec. 11.
Mulan, a Japanese princess, and Pocahontas were also added to the costume assortment this year.
Toys R Us is seeing a similar trend. “It all tends to be really fun and girly dress up costumes that are selling for girls, said Dodge, ticking off a list that includes Disney princesses, Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” and friendly witches.
She said Hannah Montana isn’t as popular this year. But the pop star made it onto iParty’s list, in addition to 1920s flappers, bugs and Alice from “Alice in Wonderland.”
Minnie Mouse, a new Jessie getup from “Toy Story” and Tinker Bell — “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure” comes out Oct. 27 — are also strong sellers at Disney Stores, said Adams.
BOYS
Boys follow the blockbuster movies more than girls, said Dodge, and “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe” costumes are hot this year. She said Toys R Us is also seeing an uptick in Buzz Lightyear and Woody costumes in part because of the reintroduction of “Toy Story 1″ and “Toy Story 2.” ”Toy Story 3″ is scheduled to come out next year.
“The other one that was a surprise for us is SpongeBob,” said Dodge, adding that SpongeBob Squarepants is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. “It’s a best seller.”
Also popular this year are “Iron Man,” though not nearly as big as last year (expect that to change when “Iron Man 2″ comes out) — and “Star Wars” characters, another evergreen costume, she said.
Batman, an athlete and a ninja are top costumes on the National Retail Federation’s popular kids’ costume list, while iParty has Harry Potter, “Star Trek” characters and horror costumes like a “Wicked Jester” and “Scary Mummy.”
ADULT COSTUMES
Spirit Halloween is touting its Gosselin wig (attach eight babies to your hip), a Palin get-up with glasses and wig, Lady Gaga with a long platinum blonde wig, and a Bernie Madoff-like mask.
iParty is selling Winehouse, in the form of a wig, tattoo, and rehab form, and slugger Manny Ramirez, with dreadlocks and a baseball hat.
But Silverstein predicts the Jackson costume — with a sequined glove, red leather jacket and fedora — is going to be a strong seller, as people pay tribute to the superstar who died in June.
“He is an icon and I think this is sort of the Elvis Presley of our lifetime, of our generation,” Silverstein said. “He has stirred so much emotion.”
Classic costumes, such as a French maid, nurse, ghost and cat continue to be top choices on the National Retail Federation’s list; iParty has “Star Trek” characters, flappers, hippies and vampires.
Retro character costumes, such as Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, Mario and Luigi, are also growing in popularity, said Silverstein.
Over the last 5 years the trend has been for more couples — young and old — to shop for costumes together, said Dorice Dionne, founder and senior vice president of merchandising at iParty. She said costumes include fun pairs like Plug and Socket, or Fred and Wilma Flinstone.
PETS
Animal lovers are increasingly buying their pets’ costumes — essentially treating them as a member of the family, said Betsy Saul, co-founder of Petfinder.com.
“Because animals are already so cute on their own, even the most simple costume idea can be the biggest hit, she said in an e-mail.
According to Yahoo!, the top dog costume searches in the past month were Yoda, a Bumblebee and a horse. Batman and Super Dog were on iParty’s list and top pet costumes on BuyCostumes.com were a Dog Bee, Prisoner Dog and pirate.
Posted on 12 October 2009 by jason.kristufek
So Halloween is still a few weeks away, but here are some costumes from the past to help get you in the mood.
Posted on 12 October 2009 by jason.kristufek
These are the legends and reports of incidents which come from the authors – Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk, in their book, The Iowa Road Guide to Haunted Locations. These are just the six in Linn and Johnson counties. Lewis said they don’t rank them since they let the adventurer decided which places earn that title.
Note: All descriptions bellow have been paraphrased from their book. Here’s a link to their website: http://www.unexplainedresearch.com/
Cedar Rapids Public Library, 500 1st St. SE, Cedar Rapids: The ghost of a library patron continues to visit the library.
Legend says there is an elderly woman named Helen Stein who visited the library on a regular basis. One day the woman came to the library wearing a nicer dress than staff had typically seen her in. But later that day the staff was informed of her death. They soon found out she was buried in the dress they had seen her in the library hours after her death had been recorded. One librarian did report that several staff members have had odd things happen to them including hearing strange noises, items falling off shelves for no reason, and various misplaced items.
Oak Hill Cemetery, 1705 Mount Vernon RD SE, Cedar Rapids: The ghost of a young Czech woman will grant you your wish, but disrespectful visitor’s to her grave will encounter bad luck.
Legend says there is a woman named Tillie who is said to make her presence know by ensnaring those brave enough to pass through at night. The record of where her plot is has been lost and no one knows where she is actually buried. Witnesses report seeing a mysterious ghostly woman walking the grounds with a small candle in her hand. Rumors say that she was a practicing witch in Cedar Rapids in the 1800’s who was stoned to death. Her grave use to be in an area surrounded by an iron gate, but the gate was eventually removed and Tillie is said to now roam the cemetery. The other story of her is that she was a poor woman in Cedar Rapids who died without any money or possessions and roams the cemetery.
Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café, 3320 Armar Dr., Marion
One night when an employee was closing the restaurant, the phone kept ringing on and off, and this was an unusual occurrence. When she had returned after multiple trips to check the phone she came back and discovered a cup of coffee on her desk. Several employees had also reported seeing plates, cleaning supplies, and cooking equipment fly off the shelves for no apparent reason as well as blenders turning on and off on their own for new reason.
Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, 4 Miles North of Palo on Palo Marsh Road
Known as the “13-Step cemetery,” because there are only 12 steps visible during the day but a 13th appears at night-leading people into the cemetery- Investigators reported a ghostly phantom running through the cemetery. Also visitors have reported seeing a green ball of light hovering over then famous Lewis family graves. Many reported to have been touched or pushed by some unseen forces. Eerie unknown human shapes have also been reported to be seen in the cemetery. The dare to people in to park your car near the entrance of the cemetery and enter and when you return, raccoon or other animals will be covering your car.
Matsell Bridge and Mansion, Matsell Park Rd., Viola:
Though the mansion no longer exists, legend says haunting still exists around the bridge It is said that if you drive onto the bridge and shut off your car, an unknown force will push you across the bridge. Reports of handprints on people’s back windows have been reported. But beware, local teens are said to believe that if the ghosts of the bridge get angry they will try and break your windows or even push you off the bridge.
The Black Angel of Oakland Cemetery, 100 Brown St., Iowa City
Legend says every Halloween the statue turns a shade darker because of the souls it has taken throughout the year. If you touch the angle at exactly midnight it is said you will die within 7 year. If you stare directly into the statue at midnight it is said you will suffer a fatal curse. And it is said if any woman who is kissed in front of the Black Angel will die within 6 months unless she is a virgin. Legend says the statue turned from bronze because of a woman named Teresa -whose ashes are buried under the angel- who was a very mysterious woman who was interested in spells and magic. Her evilness is said to have caused the statue to turn black. There are many versions of the story including one which says that a man constructed a statue over his wives grave but it turned black due to her infidelity during the marriage. One popular story said that two men went into the cemetery and urinated on the statue and died in a car accident that night has placed a curse on the statue. Many other legends exist. The dare is to kiss the statue at midnight.
