We would like to introduce you to The Hop(s) NEW Ice Cream "Personal Cake"! A 4" circular Cake with your choice of homemade Ice Cream, cake or crushed cookie crust and decorated to your specifications. Perfect for 1 or 2 (if you'd like to share with a partner of friend) :)
The phrase, "Personal Cake", is an in-store reference to mini cakes given to friends having a bad day, with a reason to celebrate or simply as a gesture of kindness :)
Ice Cream "Personal Cakes" are $6.50 + tax. Also available with Vegan Ice Cream and crust for $7.50 + tax. If interested in ordering, call The Hop Ice Cream on Merrimon Ave at 828 254 2224 or The Hop West Asheville on Haywood Rd at 828 252 5155.
Homemade chocolate cake rolled with your choice of Vanilla Bean, Salted Caramel, Butter Pecan or Peppermint Stick Ice Cream then covered with Dark Chocolate Ice Cream and custom decorated.
$22.95 + tax. Give us a call at 254 2224 or 252 5155 by December 22nd if you'd like to order :D
I'm not sure how long The Hop Ice Cream has been making Yule Logs for the holidays, but from what we've gathered during our time as owners is that it's been a good many years...
We are happy to continue The Hop's biggest annual tradition!!!
This is a time of year, considering a combination of Winter weather and the Holidays, when our thoughts turn to those in need. As an effort to hopefully increase and spread warmth, comfort and joy, we now have MANNA Food Bank, Toys For Tots and Blanket/Clothes drop boxes at The Hop on Merrimon as well as The Hop West on Haywood Rd. Thank you for joining us and many others in this worthwhile and inspiring effort!
Asheville BBoy legend, Joe Adams (shown above), and his students will be throwing down the cardboard and showing off their exceptional breakdancing skills! Plus there will be a tutorial and additional chances for audience participation. This is going to be an all out Bboy and Bgirl dance party!!!
Here's a hilarious and wonderful video from a previous Kids Bboy Performance :)
Asheville Children's Director, Chris Martin, will take the role of Emcee for another installment of Kids Open Mic Night! This is an opportunity for your child to get up in front of an audience of friends and family to display their skills and talents!
In addition, all participants will receive a Free Scoop of Homemade Ice Cream and Kids eat Free at Urban Burrito on Tuesdays :)
Here's a video from a previous Kids Open Mic (video by UNC Asheville Mass Comm Major, Stephanie Schon)!
Every year the students and staff of UNC Asheville's Art Department put together a Soup and Salad Bowl Sale on campus. Buy a bowl and fill it with soup or salad for Free. Simple enough :).
This time they've asked us if The Hop would be interested in doing the same thing. Absolutely!!!
Purchase any handmade bowl from the vast selection and we will fill it with 1 Free Scoop of your choice of our homemade Ice Cream!
This is an excellent way for you to support UNC Asheville, it's students and the arts all in one event :D
http://unclemountain.com/, Great Asheville trio bringing an excellent energy and style in the form of a Free all ages show that will be fun for kids, families and music fans alike. We are very privileged to announce this show for sure! Hope you can swing by :)
An extra incentive... Kid's eat Free at Urban Burrito on Tuesday nights!
Asheville's Brooke Clover Band plays kid-friendly Americana roots rock and folk tales laced with dark comedy and poetic depth. Lyrically playful with a sense of humor in the likes of Tom Waits, Frank Zappa and John Prine, the Brooke Clover Band invents its own style of music drawing from Jazz, folk, rock and world traditions. The band’s latest CD tells tales of desperados, weirdoes and underdogs who emerge from the manholes of society with a half grin and a twinkle in their eye.
Sustainable Living Roadshow (SLR) is a caravan of educators and entertainers who tour the country in a fleet of renewable fuel vehicles setting up off-the-grid eco-carnivals with interactive learning villages at K-12 schools, universities, festivals and community events. These villages are designed to empower communities to utilize sustainable living strategies for a healthier planet.
Musical performances, for kids and adults alike, focused on sustainability from the Hip-Hop Ballywho Carni Crew and the San Francisco- based Big Tadoo Puppet Crew.
The Roadshow will be at The Hop with environmental info, performances, and a report-back from a 3 month cross-country education and activism tour.
Local Kid-Friendly guitar/ukulele duo, Dylan (one of our employees!) and Luke, AKA King Arthur Sunshine, will be debuting their new Iliad, The Robotic Wings of Icarus! Story time and music combined!!!
Below is a promo video (yes, that's me beatboxing) of what we have planned for you, plus a list of door prizes that we'll be giving away!
Click The Above Image For The Promo Video :)
$5 gets you in and enters you into a drawing for the awesome door prizes below! All proceeds go toward Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's Kickstarter Campaign for his new album, "Make Believers" (he's nearly 50% there)!!!
Door Prize List:
*23 Skidoo CD 3 pack
*23 Skidoo DVD and Hoodie Combo
*Out of print 23 Skidoo Kids Book, "What it's Like in the Stars"
*23 Skidoo 3 CD, 1 DVD, 1 Hoodie, 1 T Shirt Super Prize Pack!
*$25 Gift Certificate
*$50 Gift Certificate
*1 8" Ice Cream Cake
*Free Birthday Party (includes Facepainting and Sundae Bar)!
It's no secret that Ashley and I have a million of things for which to be thankful. Of those things, YOU are the most awesome and inspiring and important! Let's face it, without YOU our lives wouldn't know the same level of happiness and this business wouldn't even exist...
This is why we would like to invite you to help us celebrate the 1 Year Anniversary of The Hop West. In return, we'll gladly scoop you some well-deserved, and free, Ice Cream!!!
Awesome Asheville band, Grammer School, will be bringing their super fun energetic Fragglerock Indie Pop to The Hop! As always the show is appropriate for all ages AND kids eat Free at Urban Burrito! Hope to see you there... :)
If you and the family cannot make the Tuesday Grammer School Show...
One of Asheville's premier Youth Rock Bands, Double Take, will be making another appearance for your listening pleasure. These middleschoolers absolutely rock out!!!
To prove it, here's a video from one of their previous shows at The Hop...
The amazing, delightful, brilliant, mad, hysterical, mesmerizing, British, talented, energetic and magical Professor WhizzPop! will be pulling out his trunk of tricks for the enjoyment of Ice Cream eaters in Asheville and beyond!
If interested in a preview of what this is going to be like, check out this video...
Can't make it to West Asheville, but still looking for a Free family-friendly show?
Appalachian State University Flute Ensemble will be making a trip to Asheville on a tour and have always stopped at The Hop for Ice Cream. This time we've invited them back not only to enjoy a scoop or two, but to play a show for you!!!
A few words from the Ensemble's director :)
"The ASU Flute Ensemble, directed by ASU flute professor Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham, features music majors and minors in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. Ensemble members play all of the standard members of the flute family, including the high pitched tiny piccolo, standard concert flute and the "color flutes" -- the mellow alto and bass flutes. The performance at the Hop will be a fun, eclectic mix of pieces. *The Hop is the official Ice Cream Shop of the ASU Flute Ensemble!!!*"
The very first Art Show The Hop Ice Cream hosted was over a year ago. We had all this blank wall space and we were looking for something great to fill it. When Open Hearts Art Center approached us about a show, it created a whole new dynamic for us. Instead of just hosting a fundraiser, this was a chance to invite Asheville non-profits in to display their craft as well as generate some extra buzz/moneys for the organization. A total win-win for everyone!
To see the recap of that first Open Hearts Art Center show, click here.
Tuesday, October 4th, from 5-8pm, we again have the opportunity to hang OHAC paintings on our walls. The original paintings will be for sale not only during the event but also for the following month or two. Each painting sold benefits both the artist and Open Hearts Art Center equally!
In addition, we will be donating 50% of sales to OHAC during the event. In addition to that addition, the Open Hearts students will be performing a special choreographed dance to Thriller!!!
Hope you can make it out to support these amazing artists and people!
Asheville's premiere fundraising circus show returns, featuring Western North Carolina’s best aerial arts, juggling, comedy, aerobatics, acrobatics and more!
Tickets at the door: $10 (suggested) for adults, $5 (sugg'd.) for kids. No one will be turned away.
Classes and demonstrations in the circus arts will take place during and after the performance, giving kids of all ages the opportunity to learn juggling and aerial arts.
The Aerial Space Cadet Circus is produced by http://steveNyouPresents.com, a grassroots organization that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities since 2008, including Loving Food Resources, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Our Voice.
Being part of the lives of people on the Autism Spectrum, even if it's just scooping them Ice Cream, is a very moving experience. If you've ever known someone with Autism, chances are you know what I mean. If you haven't, here is just a glimpse. That is why we continue to support this community of people.
The Hop's relationship with the Autistic community began in 2007 by the request of Jessica Olivencia, one of our employees. Her brother is on the Spectrum and she hoped The Hop would become a sponsor for the Autism Society's annual Run/Walk for Autism. We did and have done so every year since.
The 2011 Run/Walk for Autism is now just around the corner (Saturday September 24th), and Jessica has expressed interest in submitting Team Hop Ice Cream to help raise more awareness and funds for the Autism Society! And we are reaching out to all of you for help.
GOAL: To get 50 people to join Team Hop Ice Cream and to raise $1250+ for the Autism Society!!!
*Deadline for registration is Monday September 19th*
4) Click "Join a team" then select The Hop Ice Cream
5) Fill out your information and pay the registration fee ($25 minimum)
*Note: If you cannot attend, but still want to contribute, please feel free*
6) Once you've completed the registration and made your donation, you're good to go!
7) On the day of the Run/Walk (Saturday September 24th) see Jessica at The Hop's booth for some Free Ice Cream AND your very own Hop T-shirt, with Scoops the 5K Hedgehog (pictured below).
Chelsea LeBate, one of Asheville's best songwriters, will be joined by friends that make up the wonderful band, Ten Cent Poetry, for a Free Acoustic String Show at The Hop Ice Cream!
As always, this show is appropriate for all ages and kids eat free upstairs at Urban Burrito :)
Asheville's Buchi Kombucha (http://drinkbuchi.com/) and The Hop Ice Cream have teamed up to create 3 varieties of Kombucha Sorbet (Vegan!). Now we're bringing the drink and frozen treat together for a Buchi Float Night!!!
This delicious combo has already been a hit at several local and regional festivals (including LAAFF and Floyd Fest). Here's your chance to see what we're on about :)
This family of five from Asheville, NC, has been entertaining local and regional audiences since April of 2009. Jonas, Meryl, and their three boys, Avi, Samuel, and Lev, play an eclectic mix of songs garnered from their favorite rock, pop, modern Israeli and liturgical Hebrew tunes. Now they will be bringing their jams to The Hop Ice Cream!!!
Wendi and Lin, local Jazz stars and members of The Red Hot Sugar Babies, are bringing their classy tunes to Haywood Road. What could be better than starting the weekend off with a free Jazz show and Ice Cream? :D
Sly Sisters Jazz Duo(West), Goldstein Family Band, Kombucha Floats, 10 Cent Poetry Show, ABYSA Fundraiser, Krekel and Ami(West), Kids Open Mic Night, Autism Society Fundraiser, Alligator Indian Show, Big Hungry Show!!!
October:
Open Hearts Art Center Art Show/Fundraiser, Professor WhizzPop! Magic Show(West), Grammer School Show, Seussical the Musical, King Arthur Sunshine Show(West), Little Pearls/Asheville International Childrens Film Festival Fundraiser and Movie Screening!
The mission of the Bob Moog Foundation is to educate and inspire children and adults through the power and possibilities of electronic music and through the intersection of music, science and innovation. Check out http://moogfoundation.org to find out more!
Tuesday August 30th from 5-8pm on Merrimon, we're supporting that mission. 50% of sales will be donated to BMF during the event. In addition there will be several electronic instruments at The Hop that night to help educate kids and adults about electronic music!
PS Bob Moog was a fan of The Hop Ice Cream and would cruise his iconic car through the old drive-thru :)
Wednesday, August 24th from 5-8pm at The Hop, American Cancer Society Day:
Chances are you've known someone close who has battled with cancer or done so yourself. To support cancer research, raise awareness and funds, The Hop will be donating 50% of sales during the event on Merrimon to ACS. In addition there will be merchandise for sale as well as a donation jar to help bring in always-needed funds.
First off, in an effort to say THANK YOU for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful Asheville community, we gave away over 340 Free Kiddie Scoops of Ice Cream last Sunday! This was The Hop's 33rd Birfday and our 3 year Anniversary as owners :)
Tuesday brought a Free kid hip-hop show with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and a HUGE crowd to The Hop on Merrimon. This show definitely confirmed 23 Skidoo's reputation as one of the best children's performers in the country!
Then on Wednesday, due to some really fortuitous circumstances, Rabbit!, a super fun kid-friendly electro-pop band on a National tour, stopped by Merrimon and won over a ton of new fans. The above video is why... :)
Last but certainly not least, zen Sutherland, one of Asheville's most lovable people, drew a gathering of all ages to The Hop West for a Beatles sing-a-long. The feeling with which one left this event was truly infectious and full of love!
What an amazing week! So so Much Love, everyone. Ashley and I sincerely thank you :D
Greg and Ashley Garrison Owners
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe hopicecreamcafe@yahoo.com
640 Merrimon Ave
828 254 2224
AND
The Hop West 721 Haywood Rd
828 252 5155
Friday, August 19th from 6:30-7:30pm at The Hop West (721 Haywood Rd):
Asheville's beloved character, photographer and socialite, zen Sutherland, who also knows a thing or two about a piano, will be performing a set of Beatles sing-a-long songs! Bring the family. It's free and appropriate for all ages. Much Love to zen for helping us put this show together!!!
And don't forget to bring your Mersey-side singing voices!!!
This past Tuesday, August 16th, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, joined by Jonathan Santos, walked in, set up and brought their brilliant Hip Hop to the Ice Cream shop. Here are four videos from the show. Hope you enjoy :)
"I Like Fruit" got the crowd singing...
"Hot Lava" got the crowd jumping...
"Secret Handshake" got the crowd soul-clapping...
"Mind Over Matter" put the crowd in awe of a little girl in roller skates rapping (AKA MC Fireworks)...
The contagiously energetic and absolutely endearing band, Rabbit!, out of Orlando, FL, will be making a stop at The Hop to perform a number of excellent tunes for your entertainment! To understand my enthusiasm for their music, check out the videos below :)
