This weekend it was my distinct pleasure to drive out with my good friend Karen and visit two Minneapolitan expatriates, Angela (and her boyfriend Gary who is not from Mpls. but we met once and got along fine) and Sue. I've been meaning to do this for some time, but finally mustered the determination to see it through. I mean, Madison, WI, is only four hours away from me, and I miss these friends - why the hell not? I had a fantastic time! All my pictures are from Saturday night; unfortunately I lacked the presence of mind to grab my camera for Sunday's adventures, and there were definitely some photo ops abound. Oh well, next time...

Many of the pics were too dark to see so I've taken it upon myself to lighten/rebalance them in Photoshop. They may look goofy and unattractive, but they're better than the big black-and-red blurs they used to be, I assure you. I'm astonished how much of the original image was actually retained in the photo, when to my mere human eye it all looked like a field of black! When the pictures are excessively blurry, however, that's my fault: I was using the shutter-drag/prolonged exposure effect ('cos I didn't want to use the flash in the restaurant or club, obviously) but couldn't hold the camera very still. I apologize.

This was a hilarious damn photo Karen and I had to backtrack (14 miles, in the middle of nowhere) to capture! We agreed it was worth it.	The Capitol Building in Madison. WARNING: big picture.
Gary, Angela, and Karen (and me, behind the camera) stride boldly on to the evening's convivial adventures - to destiny!	Angela awaits her dinner while Gary demonstrates the hookah.
Karen gives me a look as I try the delicious apple smoke of the hookah - what an exquisite experience!	This was our clever and personable server; she was nervous that I wanted her picture.
This is the bathroom at The Inferno, Madison's own dedicated goth club. I'm less interested in the urinals than in the room deco, actually.	They really had a motif going on in here. The club was a biker bar, after it was a Mexican restaurant. The owner has done all the interior deco (not limited to beautiful glass-blowing for the light fixtures) himself, in the basement of the club.
Blurry shot (mea culpa) of Gary lining up a shot at pool, in the midst of his, er, "Zenlike euphoria".	Blurry shot (mea gravissima culpa) of Sue, during a non-bouncy moment.
Sue and I, on our way with the group to Club Paradise, a punk bar (where "punk" means cheap drinks and blue-ribbon jukebox selection).	The Baskerville, an historic apartment building Karen and I admired greatly.
Club Paradise ditched their Playboy pinball machine for one featuring the Simpsons!	Sue intently masters the subtle machinations of pinball.
Gary and Sue observe some acquaintances playing a spirited round of pool.	Sue takes her turn to show them how it's done.
Preliminary shot of Angela and Karen, which prompted Karen to insist I take another...	Here we go! Angela and Karen, friends to the end!