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371--California: Halloween in the Castro 2006 @ CherieSpotting     Nov 08 2006 - 09:09 PST cherie writes: Halloween in the Castro was a different kind of scary in 2006. The night started off with fake blood and plastic swords and ended with real guns and serious wounds. The massive street party was in full swing when multiple gunshots tore the festivities apart. Nine people were wounded in the shooting and one person was injured in the resulting panic. My friends and I were a few blocks away snapping photos in the heart of the Castro when the shooting occurred. Police and local authorities tried to scale back the Halloween Castro Party this year—but the party-goers would have none of it. At 10:30 pm the police announced on megaphones: “The event is now over.” But how do you tell 300,000 people to stop having fun and go home? The shooting happened ten minutes later when a thrown bottle ignited a gunfight. Luckily, none of the wounds were fatal. Here are my photos of the Castro Halloween Party before the shootings. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (1) | write comment| views: 33279    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Over 300,000 costumed partiers gathered in San Francisco's Castro district to celebrate in a massive Halloween street-party that's unlike any other in the world. A costumed Madonna with her African baby. The crazy pink flamingo. Tim Burton would be proud of these Halloween costumes. Miss Piggy cuddles her Kermit the frog. If it absolutely has to be there overnight....Fed Ex! On Halloween the Castro was full of vampires, pirates and geisha girls. One of my favorites: the Hot-Dog-on-a-Stick costume (complete with hot dog!) The Cookie-Monster meets Gumby. (Cherie is Gumby!) Oh, go bake a pie with your face. Frankenstein and his bride. Didn't you know that two things are better than one? Let's meet at the bar in San Francisco. Which bar? The Bar! A costumed "Michael Jackson" and a bunch of little boys. Are they off to Never Never Land? Is it too soon after his death to have a Steve Irwin "The Crocodile Hunter" costume? Notice the stingray, crocodile and baby. Al and Peg Bundy from the TV show "Married with Children." Who remembers the movie: Tron? Pinocchio never tells lies. One day he'll be a real boy. Things are just ducky around these parts. A rock lobster. Homer Simpson in the Castro. Snowboarding Mark cuddles Gumby. How fresh does your car smell? Wrestlers...are you ready to rumble? A new kind of mobile-home. Take it with you everywhere! Kiss me! Some guys have big heads. The village people live. Join the mascarade. Edward scizzor-hands ready to cut a path through the crowd. Till death do us part. Frankenstein costume. Even tough cowboys have to use the toilet. Fresh California spinach. Now with more bacterial growth than ever! Missing: Have you seen these girls? Who's afraid of this big bad wolf? Greg is a real fly boy. Little Miss Buttercup. Blood-sucking geisha girls. Throw on a costume and a bullet-proof vest and join the party! Gumby meets the Super Heros. The scarecrow and Mr. Sugar Babies. The real question is: Does your hair match your dress? There were lots of pick-ups on Castro street. His ego is a bit inflated. No one can resist a man in goggles. I knew there would be 'shrooms at the party. How does this marshmello man stay puffed? Hulk Hogan. Meet your neighborhood friendly moose. Look closely to see where that Afro really ends. An angel and an X-man. Who let the dog out? Yo mamma! Mr. Potato Head Costume. Very Sexy? That's up for debate. Memoirs of a Geisha costume. Those girls are nuts. Don't mess with the Taco Queen. Is the world big enough for two Gumbys? The Mario Bros. Go Go dancers. Does anyone have nail clippers? The party in the Castro 2006. Madonna loves her new bundle of joy! It was one scary night in the Castro.