Bat, Ball, and Brush - Rog Petersen Art Show - April 2

Last year, at the beginning of baseball season, my buddy (and one of the most skilled and versatile artists I know) Rog Petersen made a whole slew of old time baseball card art. The show was a hit, almost a sellout. Anyone who knows Rog knows that he lives for baseball season. He puts his guts into these pieces.

This year, he's got another gang of card art hanging at Atlantis, the Lost Bar (Frankford & Hagert in Kensington). The show is called "Bat, Ball, & Brush Season Two". He will also have some larger portraits of baseball players hanging as well. The show will hang all month. But you'll definitely want to head there First Friday if you want to purchase one of these. They go really really fast...

Rog made this awesome baseball card portrait of me as a gift. Being the uncoordinated and half blind slob that I am, he drew me with an axe instead of a baseball bat (an object you'd be more likely to find me swinging). Thanks, Rog!

Spirit Newspaper Article - 3/24/2010

My cousin Tommy was real kind to me in this article. God bless the Milligan family. They make me miss my Mom even more. If you'd like to read the full article (or even the entire paper online), please click here: Spirit Newspapers 3/24/2010. PS: Happy Birthday to my sister MaryKate!

Sketches of Fishtown, Vol. II Book has arrived...

The books arrived two days ago from Brenner. I think they did a swell job on the printing. I've been having some North Catholic kids from Ernie's J.U.G. (Justice Under God) hand number the books for me. I'm really looking forward to Saturday's book release party at Holy Name. There will be copies of Volume I available too. If you'd like to read more about the event and also see some of the art that will be up for raffle, please click here: http://fishtown.us/node/15393

Sketches of Fishtown # 98, Philadelphia Brewing Company

Although Bill & Nancy's Philadelphia Brewing Company is located just outside of Fishtown, they help a lot of folks living withing Fishtown's borders. Every Christmas, PBC's Christmas party is definitely my favorite. It's like going to Fezzywig's place in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Really good folks...

Sketches of Fishtown # 97 - Soupy Island

Aside from Tom "Hooker" Lynch (issue 51), Soupy Island was the most requested subject matter for a "Sketches of Fishtown" issue. So many people from the neighborhood look back on that place with fond memories. I was really happy to find not only a story but actual photo reference provided by Amanda Zellner and the good people at philaplace.org. Back in the day, cameras were a limited and valued household commodity. It was a different world when you felt safe enough to send your kid across the river to another state unattended, but you didn't trust your kid with your camera. Those were much simpler times it seemed. Ah, the good old days...

Sketches of Fishtown # 96 - Big Mike's Quizzo

Mike McCafferty is one of the biggest goofballs I've ever met. He is, however, a really loyal friend. And I love him like a brother. For more info, go to www.bigmikequizzo.com
This isn't the first time I've drawn cartoons based on Mike. I used to do a really sarcastic strip called "Meet Your Neighbors" for the online Philly Turkey. The drawings are crude, but they give you a sense of the kind of sense of humor Big Mike has...

Sketches of Fishtown, Volume 2 - Off to the Races...

After a few weeks of rolling back and forth on the wheelie chair from the drawing desk to the computer, I finally got the new book off to the printer. The picture on the cover is the crateball net that used to be on Fletcher Street between Gaul and Belgrade (behind the Starboard and McElvarr Funeral Home). Joannie's son Brandon came over on Sunday to help with the Photoshop colors on the cover.

Digby came over to keep me company and have a few beers while finishing the pages. It was weird because I am six issues ahead of the newspaper. There will be comics in the book that haven't been published yet. This is way different for me, because usually I am chasing my weekly deadline Monday night or Tuesday morning.

I'm getting kind of siked for the release party on March 27. If anyone wants advanced tickets, they can pick them up at the Spirit offices (Gaul and Susquehanna) or contact me: phillytoon@yahoo.com. Hope all are well. Think I'll fall out now. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............