STANANDLOU MARKETING/ADVERTISING

June 12th Sarah Sides and I headed over to the new McCormick & Schmick’s in City Centre for their grand opening event. What a soiree. Patrick Henry Creative Promotions organized the event and invited us to check out the swanky new location.

The event was fabulous — fantastic atmosphere, great entertainment on the patio, generous amounts of M&S’s signature menu items and specialty mixed drinks. The food was delicious and the cocktails unique. Some of the specially mixed drinks for the event and now happy hours were a black raspberry Grey Goose Martini, Patron Margaritas, and wine spritzers — my favorite was with a Cabernet and St. Germain…fantastically creative and oh-so yummy.

The set-up invited guests to visit every corner of the new location – entertainment on the patio, wine and cheese in the back dining or meeting room, sushi bar near the open main bar area, seafood table with a fantastic ice sculpture leading you back towards the back dining room where the comfort food was served buffet style.

Hats off to PHCP for a well done event, highlighting all of what McCormick & Schmick’s has to offer in their new location.

This weekend was great for being outdoors, and what better way to spend your time outdoors than at a Arts Festival? The Spring Bayou City Arts Festival is in Memorial Park, a good setting to spend the day wandering among art.

Sarah Sides, Allison Johnson (the Intern) and I all volunteered at the Beer Booth, with tips benefiting SNAP (Spay and Neuter Assistance Program) in the morning. It has been something that I have done for the past few years and decided to share the fun. I have always wondered what it is like to be a bartender, and this is the closest I get to finding out. Usually there is a group of 7-10 people serving up beer, water, sodas and iced tea. It is a really good time in that you meet others in the Houston ad/marketing community (and others) AND you get to try new beers, not always craft beers, but definitely ones you don’t generally find elsewhere.

This weekend, as you can imagine, got pretty busy and by the time our shift ended at 2pm, there were lines backed up at least 10 people deep. I am happy that SNAP was able to get some of the monetary support it needed through the tips. People were all very generous and many came back because of our dazzling smiles and quick service (if I do say so myself.)

If you want to volunteer next time (Spring or Fall), get in touch with Tad Grow at Brandit Marketing. It is a lot of fun!

Team A at Broadway Cafe Beer Booth: Tad, Kate, Sarah, Allison & Steve

100% cotton, Hanes Beefy T, available in 3x,2x, XL, L, M & S. Mustard yellow with distressed dark blue lettering. $15 All proceeds benefit the Just Ask! Foundation.

STANANDLOU welcomes the one and only Reggie Bibbs to the office!

Reggie will be the newest member of the STANANDLOU family as he offices with us while he builds his new foundation, the Just Ask! Foundation.

He is currently awaiting 501c3 certification so he can begin to raise money to help increase awareness of neurofibromatosis through his many websites, blogs, social media and appearances that have made him somewhat of a local hero here in Houston.

Please feel free to visit his website and his blog.

Artist / Designer Interview 3 – Kim White
By DotDesign | September 30, 2008

How long have you been an illustrator?
I grew up in the mid-fifties the son of an illustrator. In my early teens, I followed my father and his promise of a career in commercial art that will be “fun” and “glamorous” and “rewarding”. This was about the same time that I learned one of the Great Truths of Advertising: “Don’t believe anyone, not even your father.”

What inspires your work?
Later, in art school, while pretending to listen to lectures, I would surreptitiously doodle unflattering cartoons of my lecturer. All the while asking myself the age-old student question, “What the hell good will knowing any of this ever do me?” (more…)

On Sunday, August 10 a bunch of us from STANANDLOU went to the
Verizon Theater to watch our friend, Reggie Bibbs, be honored by the Houston Roller Derby. Reggie has neurofibromatosis. The severity of his disorder has caused Reggie to miss out on a lot of life. With his “Just Ask! Foundation”,
Reggie is making up for lost time by attending as many public events as
he can, spreading awareness of NF while having a great time, too.

Here are some shots from that night. You can enjoy more photos when you click the word, Lou_Is_One_Good_Looking_Guy!!! Click Reggie Gives Thanks to watch Reggie thank the Academy!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE SKATERS, FANS, REFS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE
MADE GOING TO THE ROLLER DERBY EVERY BOUT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! YOU
HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT IS APPRECIATED! EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO FRO-ROCIOUS, THE COLONEL, MISTILLA THE KILLA, CARMEN GEDDIT, JEKYLL & HEIDI, DEMENTIA, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE AND SO MANY MORE.