Hi, It's Self Promotion Sunday!!

Here are samples of product templates not on market, but would like to be! I'm interested in licensing images to manufacturers and publishers. Please feel free to leave your comments, constructive criticism &/or suggest companies for which my work may be suited. I appreciate it :)

Kids' Tableware:

Party Unit:

Below, few of my Brooklyn Buckaroo T-Shirts. Available in limited supply @ Blip Blop Shop *I will be closing my online shop end of July. I sell my art prints on wood panels and Tees for toddlers & women here. I will offer select products on Etsy (search seller "blipblop" or *click Chickadee on right). In Brooklyn? Stop by Ruby Moriarty at 516 Court St. profiled here last May.

This is Jackson in a Dudley Scooter Dog tee. He's the cute son of my friend, Kelly McMurray, who owns 2Communique a strategic design firm that creates print & interactive design solutions tailored to each client's needs.

Above is the precious little girl, Ciarra in a Rocky Rabbit tee. I painted murals for her room and her little sister's nursery in Cobble Hill, Bklyn. Great family, great project! Extra nice since I could walk there, plus received some press in NY Daily News :)

Above are my good friends, Mika Inatome, an outstanding wedding gown and accessory designer. In the middle is Stephanie Ferrante, a talented art director/stylist who also helped promote my mural work by passing my name on to clients while she worked for Blue Bench in Tribeca. Maria Zyrianova, in blue Dudley tee is one of Mika's models, also an actress who recently appeared in HBO's Entourage.

*All images/designs copyright Allyn Howard

Thanks for looking, have a swell week ahead!

Iggy Pop at NYTimes Center

Last night, I went with my friend Melissa Zexter to see an interview with Iggy Pop at The Times Center. Known for his influence on the Punk movement and wild stage antics, his new Cd "Preliminaires" is jazz inspired and more suited to the Cafe Carlyle than CBGB.

He was interviewed by The New York Times jazz & pop critic, Ben Ratliff whose latest book "The Jazz Ear: Conversations Over Music" was published in 2008. We were treated to an array of old film & tv footage of some of the greats in jazz & blues who have had an influence on Iggy. These included Louis Armstrong, Booker White, Bo Diddley (I loved this clip of "Hey, Bo Diddley" with Norma Jean Wofford or "The Duchess" on guitar!), Jerry Lee Lewis, Howlin' Wolf and a fantastic live performance of "I Can't Stand It" by James Brown. I've linked the videos for these with the exception of Armstrong & Brown. It may take a more involved search for this particular version of Brown's "I Can't Stand It". His glittery coats & dance moves back to the mike make it worth finding. Pop also discussed some of his history with The Stooges and spoke about The Ramones (this link to sound check in Rome).

There was very little time left for questions from the audience. Iggy is incredibly knowledgeable and speaks so eloquently about music that I could have sat for hours watching and listening! I wasn't surprised at all by his charisma and knack for storytelling. I think I was surprised by just how thoughtful and articulate he is about his life and musical interests. Unusual way to conduct an interview, too-- promoting a CD, yet rarely if ever mentioning it by name.

As you can see, Iggy was a very gracious guest, signing autographs and chatting with audience members at the end :)

I recommend joining The Times Center mailing list for future guests. I've attended three so far, an interview with Julian Schnabel and one with Michael Caine, and all have been fun and interesting. The tickets are $30.00 with discounts often offered.

The Times Center is located at 242 W41st St. NYC 10018

Happy Father's Day!

Here's to all you great dads out there! This is my dad, Richard Henderson Howard. You can call him Henderson, H, Henders, Der or almost anything that sounds similar. My dad's nicknames for me have included Cucky, Grippie, the Grip, Monkey, Monk & Champ. I'm still called Champ and I love & deserve it ;)

This photo below is with my great grandmother, Pom Pom (my mom's grandma) in our apartment at Carriage Hill in Richmond, Va.

Below is my dad as a young boy. This is one of my favorite pictures of him. He is not a fan of organized religion, to say the least, so it's funny to see him with this book.

Dad spent his summers as a kid fishing & crabbing in the James River in Newport News. Despite coming from a rather eccentric family, his childhood was pretty close to idyllic. I remember Grandma Howard as a sharp, witty and very pretty woman, while my grand dad, Head (as in head of the household-- really) being hard to know, at least from my young perspective. Dad had one older brother, Morris, who I thought was just the most fun. 

Above, 1968 with his college buddies, clockwise from left-- Bob Arthur, dad, Paul Pascarosa, Bruce Behrman, Bob Hungerford, Donald Butler (seated). Dad remains friends with Donald & Bob, unfortunately Paul died in the early 1980s. My parents met at the University of Richmond, a beautiful campus in Richmond. Below, my dad with Donald, who hosts a wonderful Christmas Eve (eve) Party each year! He's an amazing chef :)

I am very lucky that both my parents love animals. Animals particularly take to my dad. Here I am with our 1st pet, Cubby. I found him while playing outside and because our apartment didn't allow pets, we had to hide him until we moved. I thought that was kind of fun. We always joked that he's the reason we found a house, but think it was in the works already.

This was one of the sweetest dogs in the world, Ricky! Once we moved, our neighbors, the Clements (family of 8) baby sat me during the week and their dog had puppies. I spent each morning with them. I was sooooooo happy we took in Ricky.

Here are Bruiser and Ilsa. These were two beautiful Golden Retrievers we had. Bruiser was another incredibly sweet dog and Ilsa, who meant well, had a habit of eating album covers, toys, magazines, cake, anything she could get her paws on.

This is Jake, a fairly crazy dog, but we loved him & he adored my dad!! A friend of mine found him during my last year of college and I kept him. He had some behavorial issues and an eye injury, so hard to imagine finding him a home. I lived in the fan district of Richmond, attending VCU. On his way home from work, dad would often check in on Jake, especially days when I waitressed after classes. When I moved to NYC, my parents took him for me. They had 3 dogs for awhile. Jake and my dad were best friends until Jake passed in 2003. Now, they have 2 cats, Panda (below) and a funny black & white cat, appropriately called BW. He basically found my dad by coming to the backyard for visits.

Here is our house. I know dad doesn't think I care about the yard, but I am very proud of all the work he does to keep it nice!

Mom likes to take photos of us in the kitchen for some reason, think you can tell in top one that we are pretending to be in the middle of a conversation. Below is a picture of dad in a T-Shirt he designed. He often draws funny characters on cards mom sends & I used Cafepress to have these 3 faces printed out. I call the design "Triple Threat".

My parents have always been great to my friends and my friends seem to enjoy them just as much! This is an old shot with Marshal (far left) & Kelly (right), two close pals from college. Nice puffy, blonde hair-dos on the ladies ;D

Below is my great uncle Tommy who died very recently. I'm happy I found this photo of him with my father in better times.

I've included these photos of my dad visiting horses, because I think it shows his genuinely kind nature. This must be why animals are so drawn to him.

Yep, that's Ashanti!

I have been blessed with parents who have always been involved in my life. My dad is a unique person who speaks his mind, has his own way of looking at situations and has a great sense of humor. I have always respected his opinions, his open-mindedness, belief in equality, fairness and justice.

Finally, I just want to say Thank You Dad...

Thank You for teaching me to swim, to build a sandcastle, ride a bike, write a check, drive a car (including clutch)... Thank You for playing nerf ball at the apt pool, keeping Cubby, taking care of Jake, volunteering as a timer at every single summer swim meet, being an extra parent to my friends, driving me up to NYU in a Ryder truck, honking with abandon in the streets of New York... Thank You for taking an interest in everything I do, being so funny, being a good Democrat, pulling through a tough illness & taking such good care of yourself since, taking care of mom when she needed it most... Thank you for teaching me patience, though not by example ;)

Believe it or not, I think about something you've said to me over the years, almost every single day! I LOVE You! Have a Very Happy Father's Day!!!!!!!!

*Sorry no pics of BW here...

Brooklyn Social

As you walk by rows of shops & boutiques along Smith Street you will run into an inconspicuous bar called Brooklyn Social

This is where I meet up with friends for early Friday night cocktails...

Brooklyn Social was originally an Italian social club called "Societa Riposto" or "Company Store". Opened in April 2004, the owner, Matt Dawson has maintained an interior in keeping with the original. This includes old framed photographs, many of original members, plaques and trophies. All of the fixtures are authentic, as is the pressed red, tin ceiling. Bartenders dress the part, too!

Above, the Friday night Ladies' Night regulars, Stephanie, Melissa (aka Zexter) and Leslie (aka Lester). There are some other revolving members, but few as committed as these 3 !

Rules to live by, below :)

Would love to know who this woman was? Great wallpaper in this cute little nook where she hangs.

Back room with pool table gets very busy later in night.

This is Ivan Martin, a most charming & generous bartender who is around on weekends. It's possible you recognize him from any number of television shows or films in which he's appeared. He most recently attended the CineVegas Film Festival for the premiere of a new film "Daylight" directed by David Barker. Click here to view the fun promo he shot with fellow actor & bartender, Michael Godere (some shot in bar) It's quite entertaining! I recommend checking it out :D

Brooklyn Social is known for mixing a terrific cocktail like Matt's Ginger Old-Fasioned (bourbon, ginger, sugar, cherries, orange, bitters & soda) and the Riposto (vodka, tangerine slices & rosemary). I'm often intrigued by the varieties listed on the menu, but tend to fall back on my favorite-- a cold, clean & bubbly glass of Prosecco! Add a cherry mmm mmm Good :)

Can get very busy as night progresses. I prefer to come early and grab a table or sit at the bar. Can always use this little cubby hole for those moments when you've just got to hear what the person on the other end is saying!

A safer way to travel after cocktails. Of course, walking is fine, too-- doesn't have to be a straight line ;)

*ps they serve tasty & inexpensive pannini, too. Wish they had Utz potato chips, oh well, can't have everything!

Brooklyn Social is located at 335 Smith Street near Carroll / F train to Carroll St. Stop

Phone 718.858.7758 Hours: M-Th 6p-2a, F & Sat 6p-4a, Sun 5p-2a *Cash only Enjoy!