Fantastic Week Ahead!!

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Alright, folks, here's a friendly, if lengthy, update...


First, The Hop West is officially open and running smoothly in West Asheville (721 Haywood Rd, in the former location of Two Spoons Ice Cream). It's so fun and rewarding for Ashley and I to serve you all in our new space, meet new faces (and their dogs!) and have wonderfully rich interactions with a somewhat different Asheville demographic. Already, we've made some awesome connections with other West Asheville business owners and plan to quickly become part of the Haywood Rd culture, as long as they'll have us. In our opinion, it's all about community and enriching the thriving scene which Ashevillians have created. Three days in... so far so good :).


Second, The Hop on Merrimon is as bubbly as ever being a hang out for families, UNC Asheville students and, we are so fortunate to say, many others. Last weekend Ashley took care of two Birthday Parties and we have two more scheduled for this weekend! A youth rock band, Double Take, proved their name to be a perfect fit as Merrimon Square patrons totally double-taked during the show on Tuesday (videos here). Also, we had excellent support for Health Adventure Day (20% of Saturday's sales were donated to this worthy non-profit)!

Now we look forward to the coming week. Here's the skinny...


Thursday, October 21st, 6:30-7:30pm, Curtain Call Collective, local children's acting troupe, will be celebrating the works of Lewis Carrol at The Hop with scenes from Alice In Wonderland, Jr (coming soon to Asheville Community Theater!), plus much more. Director Christopher Martin is so great at inspiring ability from his students and gives them a platform on which they can truly shine. All are invited to participate. This will be a blast! (Need proof? Here's some videos from previous Curtain Call Collective performances.)


Wednesday, October 20th, ALL DAY, is Autism Society Day. 20% of sales at The Hop AND The Hop West will be donated to yet another extremely worthy cause. In addition, the fundraiser hopes to raise awareness for this Saturday's Run/Walk For Autism. Stop by either location and feel good about being a part of people helping people :).

As ever and always, thank you all so much for being the best customers for which any entrepreneurs could ask.
Much Love,
Greg and Ashley

FREE ICE CREAM FOR ALL!!!

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It's time, everybody. The Hop West is ready to open in West Asheville. 721 Haywood Rd doors swing wide at 1pm Friday and will stay that way until 11pm. There will be live music from 6-8 by our good friends, Gavin Connor and Ryan Cox, members of one of Asheville's great bands, The If You Wannas.


In addition, four prints will be on display from local artist, Jarrett Rutland, whom we've commissioned to outfit the walls of the new location. The above photo is a sneak peek at what he will bring to The Hop West. Both Ashley and I were immediately drawn to his family-friendly yet funky pieces and are so very excited to see his finished products!

If you get the chance, come help celebrate with Free Kiddie Scoops on us! Hope to see you there!

Much Love,
Greg and Ashley

PS Can't make it Friday? Stop by either location on Saturday to help support The Health Adventure! 20% of sales from The Hop AND The Hop West will be donated to this wonderful Asheville non-profit!
-G & A

Breaking News!!!

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West Asheville Ice Cream? Yes!!!


The Hop Ice Cream Cafe is dead excited to announce that we will be opening up a second location, "The Hop West", on Haywood Road in West Asheville. We have been contemplating our next move for a while now and the opportunity to become a part of the West AVL business community has now opened up to us. You can mark the date down for October 15, 2010 for our Grand Opening at the former Two Spoons Ice Cream location at 721 Haywood Rd. We will be open from 1-11pm and have live music, lots of friends, familiar faces, and free kiddie scoops of ice cream for everyone!

Ashley and I would like to express how supportive we are of Asheville as a whole, and thrilled to be a part of a close knit business community on the westside of town where we reside. We will continue to support the many events and benefits in the WNC area, using the The Hop West to reach out even more. Thank you to everyone who has shown us such inspiring support over these last couple of years. We look forward to building our relations with our many friends online and face to face. West Asheville... Here we come!!!

For more details about The Hop West, check us out on Twitter.

Thank you again, Asheville!!!
Greg and Ashley Garrison
Owners
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
640 Merrimon Ave
828 254 2224
&
The Hop West
721 Haywood Rd
Coming Soon!

October & November Events at The Hop

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*Click photo for larger image*

Alright, calendars at the ready!!!


Tuesday October 5th 6:30-7:30pm: Local Harp and Fiddle duet, Highland Fling feat Donna Germano and Susan Kidney, will be showing off their delightful talent with two of music's most beautiful instruments.


Tuesday October 12th 6:30-7:30pm: Asheville Arts Center's youth Rock U Band will be performing a set of well-known classic-rock songs. These kids do not mess around!


Saturday October 16th All Day: Health Adventure Day. 20% of the day's sales will help support Momentum, The Health Adventure's highly-anticipated new location.


Tuesday October 19th 6:30-7:30pm: Curtain Call Collective presents Alice In Wonderland Jr. Join us for a night in wonderland as we celebrate Lewis Carroll! Directed by Christopher Martin.


Wednesday October 20th All Day: Autism Society Day. 20% of the day's sales will be donated to the Autism Society and we hope to raise awareness for the Run/Walk for Autism!


Tuesday October 26th 6:30-7:30pm: The Runaway Circus will be performing a variety of acts from music to juggling to vaudeville. This event is going to be a blast for sure.


Wednesday October 27th 6:30-7:30: Curtain Call Collective presents it's first celebration of a local author, Stacey Curnow, and her acclaimed children's book, "Ravenna"! Dramatized and directed by Christopher Martin.


Saturday October 30th 3-4pm: A HALLOWEEN SHOW. We'll be celebrating All Hallows Eve eve with Mark Deverges, local magician and balloon artist, who will captivate his audience with loads of family fun and an exceptionally large balloon creation!


Tuesday November 2nd All Day: Asheville City School Foundation Day. 20% of the day's sale will be donated to ACSF. In addition there will be a raffle for prizes to local businesses.


Saturday November 6th 3-4pm: Audrey Kinsella, local author, will be reading from her children's book, "Dingle; The Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog". A perfect fit for The Hop.


Sunday November 7th 3-4pm: Asheville's Rock Academy "Kontained" will perform a set of some of your favorite rock hits. These kids will show off their surprisingly learned talents for all to enjoy.


Tuesday November 9th 6:30-7:30pm: Now You See Them will be making a second appearance (here's a video from the first courtesy of ThatBeat1974) at The Hop to bring their exceptionally boisterious music to what no doubt will be a willing audience.


Saturday November 13th All Day: Wild For Life Day. 20% of the day's sales will be donated to this center for rehabilitation of wildlife. In addition from 3-4pm rescued birds of prey will be on display for an educational demonstration.


Tuesday November 16th 6:30-7:30pm: Professor WhizzPop!, local magician, will captivate his audience with wildly clever and animated magic tricks, which create a performance that people of all ages can enjoy.


Saturday November 20th All Day: Blue Rige Roller Girls Day. Many have attended a BRRG bout. Now is your chance to sopport and meet the Asheville team that has brought so much entertainment. 20% of the day's sales will be donated to the Blue Ridge Roller Girls!


Tuesday November 23rd 6:30-7:30pm: Ira B. Jones Elementary School presents Honk Jr., its 9th annual musical production, at The Hop. This year over 100 students in grades Kindergarten thru 5th grade are involved in Honk Jr., based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic fairy tale, "The Ugly Duckling".


Tuesday November 30th 6:30-7:30pm: David Novak, local and nationally renowned storyteller, will be performing a Thanksgiving-themed series of stories. entitled "Storytelling Dessert".

Much Love,
Greg and Ashley Garrison
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe

Beer Floats, a Corn Maze, and "It's Big Time"

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Alright, y'all, we at The Hop aren't messing around this week, which is jam-packed full of pure awesomeness and ice cream eating opportunities! Let's get started...


This Tuesday, September 21st, we are hosting a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC. 20% of the day's sales will be donated to this wonderful organization. In addition, this is a call for "Bigs" to come out and sign up to take on a "Little". If this is something you've been itching to be a part of, stop by, show your support by having some delicious Homemade Ice Cream and step up!


Theeeeennn... This Thursday September 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm The Hop and Craggie Brewing Co are once again joining our Asheville-gilded forces to present you, the deserving public, with Antebellum Ale Beer and Ice Cream Floats! $6 gets you a beer float, helps support the YMCA of WNC and lets you take home your very own Craggie Willi (What's a Willi)! Check us out at Craggie's Public House -- 197 Hilliard Avenue, Downtown Asheville!


And theeeennn... Friday September 24th from 4-10 The Hop will be scooping our hot socks off at Eliada's Annual Corn Maze! You're dog gone right it's that time of the year! And there's a fairly strong chance that we'll be featuring our bestest batch of Pumpkin Ice Cream you've tasted this season!


Not done yet because theeeennn... Sunday September 26th from 2-5pm at The Jewish Community Center on Charlotte St is "It's Big Time", a benefit circus for Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC (that's right, double the love :) )! The Hop is so very proud to sponsor and support this event, the brainchild of contagiously enthusiastic philanthropist, Steve Leibenhaut! It will feature Asheville Vaudeville, Asheville Aerial Arts, Firefly Soda, The Runaway Circus and much more. Tickets are on sale now at The Hop and at BigTimeCircus.com! Check This Video for details!

WooooHoooo! Hope you have a great week, folks!!!
Much Love,
Greg and Ashley Garrison

Antebellum Ale Floats!

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*Click photo for larger image*

Two of Asheville’s locally owned businesses have joined together
to create ONE delicious ice cream.

The alcohol-free syrup from Craggie Brewing Co.’s Antebellum Ale
(an 1840s American Ale brewed with molasses, ginger root & spruce tips),
has been transformed into Antebellum Ice Cream; The Hop Ice Cream Cafe’s creamy, malty frozen dessert.

And… when we put Antebellum Ice Cream into a Willi* of Antebellum Ale… it’s the PERFECT PAIRING!

Come get your Antebellum Ale Floats for ONLY $6 on Thurs., Sept. 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm at Craggie Brewery on 197 Hilliard, Downtown Asheville. We’ll donate proceeds to the YMCA of WNC AND you get to keep your Willi!

*What’s a Willi?

View Original Link.

Firefly Soda Recap

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We at The Hop had been anticipating this show for some time. Really, ever since Firefly Soda's guitarist and singer, Brooke Clover, brought by a demo and I gave it a few focused listens, the excitement began to mount.

What I heard was the gypsy-rock-inspired tale of "George Fudge and the Psychic Rat", a playful story full of humor, wit, imagination, great lyrics appropriate for all ages and, most importantly, fine musicianship. Guitar, fiddle and upright bass were on point. Brooke's voice was concise at times but also had a life of its own, which, to me, only added to the experience. I could tell this was not a pretentious band nor one that took themselves too seriously.

And Firefly Soda's performance on Tuesday September 7th proved that to be true. They delivered fun and funky songs that were accessible to both children and adults without trying to be Mother Goose. In fact, one could feel the Asheville pulse within every bar, fiddle solo or crafty walking-bass transition between songs. This was a unique treat for sure. Special Thanks to Firefly Soda and to all who attended!

For all videos from the show, click here!

Check out Firefly Soda at Firestorm Cafe for their CD release party on Saturday September 18th at 2pm. Also, they are on the bill for "It's Big Time" a Benefit Circus for Big Brothers/Big Sisters at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday September 26th at 2pm.