FREE ICE CREAM and more

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This is a special week! Check it... :)

MONDAY August 30th:
Ashley and I are entering into our 3rd year of ownership of The Hop. Coincidentally, The Hop is also celebrating its 32nd birthday! What better way to mark these two occasions than to offer up, without cost to you, the thing that's kept The Hop going all of these years in Asheville?

All you have to do is stop by Monday August 30th during our regular business hours, 11am-10pm, to receive a FREE KIDDIE SCOOP of our homemade Ice Cream. :)

TUESDAY August 31st:
From 6:30-7:30pm we will be hosting an interactive and educational Classical Music performance by Keowee Chamber Music! As always the event is FREE, kids eat FREE at both Urban Burrito and Artisan Catering and Deli, and bring a can if you can for MANNA Food Bank. This event is always a blast!

WEDNESDAY September 1st:
From 11am-1pm our weekly WNC Mountain Mamas mom's group meets for half-off caffeinated happy hour :)

We make single-shot lattes using Asheville Coffee Roasters fair-trade, organic espresso for only $.99!

From 6-10pm we are teaming up with UNC Asheville's Sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, to host a benefit for Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism advocacy organization. Stop in to meet these extremely generous and philanthropic young women and support a very worthy cause. 20% of sales during the event will be donated to Autism Speaks.

And...

From 7-9pm a Supermarket Currency Savings Seminar takes place in store. It is $25/person or $40/couple. Shana, the organizer, has six children and only spends $200 a month on groceries. Wanna know how?

THURSDAY September 2nd:
For all of you parents out there, Thursday night is Family Night at Earth Fare, which means that kids eat FREE! We will be scooping at the Earth Fare Westgate location during that time. Also we donate 20% of proceeds to Mary Paws.

And...

UNC Asheville students, faculty and staff receive 20% off all purchases at The Hop. (We give 10% off every day)

FRIDAY September 3rd:
The Hop is combining forces with local craft beer store, Bruisin Ales, from 5-7pm, for both a Beer/Ice Cream Float tasting and fundraiser for Friends of The Blue Ridge Parkway! There will be several beer float options to choose from, including Craggie Brewing Antebellum Ale floats, and a portion of proceeds will go to Friends of The Blue Ridge Parkway (which just celebrated its 75th birthday). Here is a link with details via Bruisin Ales Beer Blog.

And...

The Jolly Balloon Smiths will be twisting the night away at The Hop from 7-9pm. We encourage you to challenge them :)

SATURDAY September 4th:
From 7-10pm is this year's last Shindig on the Green. If you haven't had the opportunity to witness this historical event at the newly renovated Pack's Square, it's fantastic! We'll be scooping next to Okie Dokies BBQ stand :)

SUNDAY September 5th:
We will be scooping at arguably Asheville's best festival. Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival is going on from 11am-9pm! Stop by LAAFF to see all of the awesome entertainment!

Thank you all so much for making scooping Ice Cream in Asheville, NC such a wonderful thing!

Much Love,
Greg and Ashley

Showing Doggie and Kitty Love

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This week The Hop is teaming up with two different Asheville non-profit animal rescue organizations to try and raise funds and find homes for those animals in need.

Tuesday August 17th All Day: Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Day. 20% of the day's sales will go to benefit one of Asheville's great animal advocacy organizations. Animals looking for a warm home will be up for adoption from 5-8pm. Also, it's Kids Eat Free night at both Urban Burrito and Artisan Catering and Deli.

Saturday August 21st All Day: Asheville Humane Society Day. 20% of the day's sales will go to benefit Asheville Humane. We are proud to say that this event is tied to AHS Pussy-Cat Pallooza, a massive drive to find homes for cats and kittens. The adoption will run from 1-4pm!

(This is Kitty Han. He's my buddy. I rescued him from the Asheville Humane Society seven years ago and love him to death :) Ashley and I also have a "dumpster baby" named Jasmin that came from Haw Creek Animal Hospital when Ashley was working as one of their techs.)

Hope you get the chance to support and, as always, bring a can (or some pet food) if you can for MANNA Food Bank!

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

Open Hearts Art Show Recap

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We really cannot explain to you how great this event was.

The excitement of the Open Hearts Art Center's students was beyond what words can tell.

The touchingly raw and honest enthusiasm shown in their art work perfectly matched their willingness to participate, but cannot be captured, however we tried, in pictures.

This was one of those small moments in life when all preconceived notions; all of those little "games" most of us can play; all internal negativity, pessimism, self-doubt, et cetera get tossed out the window.

Only every so often, under certain special circumstances, do most of us let ourselves shed all external influences to reveal how we truly feel or what we truly are.

While they show it in whatever way they can, these wonderful, so-called "disabled" adults breathe what is wholly real within themselves.

And simply are.


We at The Hop cannot thank Open Hearts Art Center enough for allowing us this opportunity to experience what life without walls can be like and thank all of the people in this beautiful community for showing their support of what has honestly been our flat-out most inspiring in-store event!

If you didn't get the chance to make it to the Open Hearts Art Opening and would like to check out the display, it will be up in The Hop for the next month. To benefit the artists and program, all art is on sale for much less than it is really worth. Also, OHAC is always happy to accept monetary donations and supplies.

Thanks again. You all are brilliant!
Much Love,
Greg and Ashley Garrison
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe

Open Hearts Art Center Art Show!

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"Open Hearts Art Center is a non-profit art education program located in the rich arts based community of Western North Carolina. We are dedicated to serving adults with a variety of challenges, which include but are not limited to, developmental, mental, physical and emotional disabilities.

".. These unique individuals are able to reach their full potential through creative techniques such as, music, drama, dance, creative writing, painting, ceramics and animal therapy. Through the arts a challenged individual may: discover new ways in which to express themselves, gain self-confidence, and increase awareness of their individuality." (via OHAC website)
Thursday August 12th from 4-8pm The Hop Ice Cream Cafe is extremely pleased to announce an Art Show featuring the talents of some of Open Hearts Art Center's delightful students! Their works will be displayed (AND FOR SALE) all over the store. In addition, a special dance performance has been choreographed specifically for the event and we will be donating 30% of sales from 4-8pm to Open Hearts! Drop in to support this undeniably noble and worthy cause, and, as always, bring a can if you can for MANNA Food Bank.

Unable to make it to the show? Here is how you can help this WNC non-profit!

Much Love,
Greg and Ashley

Dan Zanes Comes to The Orange Peel!

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Grammy-winning Dan Zanes & Friends are making a stop through Asheville on their latest tour! The family-friendly show will take place on Saturday August 14th at The Orange Peel.

Dan Zanes, former member of the popular '80s band, The Del Fuegos, has been crafting all-ages music for the last ten years and has released ten albums in that span. He and his band have most notably been featured in the LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post, and even Esquire for their "wry, rootsy, real American folk music - songs that twist a little plagnecy into the sweetness of a melody, songs that feel like life." (via Rolling Stones Magazine).

The Hop is privileged to announce that, to help promote the event, we will be raffling off a Family 4 pack of tickets to the show (a $64 value) as well as Dan Zanes & Friends CDs and DVDs! The raffle will take place on Tuesday night, August 10th, from 6:30-7:30 during our scheduled storytelling event featuring Asheville's own David Novak.

On the night, David Novak, nationally-renowned in his own right, will be telling his tale of "The Cookie Girl" as well as more of his most popular stories. For a taste of his talent, check out this video from a previous performance at The Hop. As always our event is FREE to all, Kids Eat Free at both Urban Burrito and Artisan Catering and Deli, and bring a can if you can for our MANNA Food Bank barrels!

What a great opportunity for Asheville families to experience kid-friendly music at its finest. The show kicks off at 2pm (doors 1pm) and tickets are $18 or $64 for a family 4-pack (more info on The Orange Peel's website).

Thanks as always for the wonderful support.
Much Love,
Greg and Ashley

PS Word is Secret Agent 23 Skidoo may be making a cameo!!!

The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
"Asheville Ice Cream Makers and Smiling Faces"
640 Merrimon Ave Ste 103
828 254 2224
http://thehopicecreamcafe.com/