Thank You, Asheville, from The Hop!

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"Hey, how you!" I'm Greg, The Hop's Social Media operator. My lovely wife, Ashley, The Ice Cream Ninja Master, and I are so very fortunate to be the owners of The Hop(s). This year has truly been a wonderful year for us in every respect. Thus, I am here, in the holiday hemisphere, on Christmas Day, to offer our most sincere, warmest and fuzziest thanks to all of you.



Seriously, you folks in the Asheville Community are amazing. It would have never been imaginable to think that a collective of people could be so welcoming, open to ideas, willing to collaborate, genuinely supportive of each other and just flat out awesome! Over the past 12 months we have met and worked with so many brilliant and creative groups or individuals on such incredible and diverse events. The depth of it is unfathomable. Allowing us to be a part of this unique Asheville scene has literally changed our lives in such a positive way and, honestly, brought us closer as a couple.



So on this Christmas Day, Ashley and I, with all of the stores of happy Yule-tide vibes within us, wish you the best holiday imaginable. We are so thankful to know you, interact with you, meet you in person and be able to experience the many beauties of Asheville with you! Let's keep building this community together!!!!

So Much Freakin' Love,
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

In Spite of The Cold

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Tuesday 12/14 6-7pm: Sirius B Family-Friendly Show.
Asheville's super fun and fabulously energetic gypsy rock band, Sirius B, will be performing a Free show! A perfect event for families looking to have some good clean fun and avoid cabin fever :) Here's a Sirius B video from Asheville Vaudeville's Halloween Show.



Friday 12/17 7-9pm: Asheville Tweet-up/Toy Drive.
This Holiday season we are reaching out to all of you in the Asheville Social Media world in an effort to make a better Christmas for WNC children and families. Friday 12/17 from 7-9pm we are hosting a Asheville Tweet-Up, as part of the National Tweet Drive, to benefit Toys For Tots. Suggested toy donation valued at around $10 (must be new and packaged, please donate what you can)! All details are at this website, thanks to Gary of G Social Media.



Saturday 12/18 6:30-7:30pm: PANDA WITH COOKIE Monster Art Show *At The Hop West*.
Panda With Cookie, AKA Lisa Coulson will be at The Hop West on Saturday evening selling a plethora of plush toys for your perusal. Tote bags! Baby onesies! Holiday ornaments! Bring the family out for some delectable ice cream and delightful toys. Great Holiday shopping event! Check out Panda With Cookie's ETSY Shop here. <-- Did you see the "Pirate Squid Onesie" :)?



Tuesday 12/21 6-7pm: Polar Express Night presented by Curtain Call Coillective.
Be part of the magic of the classic children's holiday story, The Polar Express, which is celebrating it's 25th Birthday!, by Chris Van Allsburgh. Kids any age can be a part of the story by being one of the characters as we dramatize the book or be in the audience. We invite folks to wear their fun, festive pajamas on this night and enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and ice cream along with a very special surprise!!! Ho, Ho,Ho! Directed By Chris Martin.


Click here for the story about the above picture :)

Much Love, Asheville.
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

2 Free Family-Friendly Shows at The Hop

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TUESDAY 12/7 6-7PM: CAROLINE POND - ukulele show!
There are some musicians around town, like Now You See Them or Sirius B, that, because of their energy and message and fun sound, can very easily be profiled as Family-Friendly. Caroline Pond, Asheville ukulele player of Snake Oil Medicine Show, who has performed with the incredible Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, is no different.



Therefore, she is excited to be performing a solo show for YOU on Tuesday 12/7 6-7pm at The Hop.



THURDAY 12/9 6:30-7:30PM: SUGARFOOT SERENADERS - totally jazzy fun!
If you are fans of The Runaway Circus or enjoyed their hilarious performance at The Hop, The Sugarfoot Serenaders are right up your alley. They will be playing a Free Family-Friendly show for you on Thursday 12/9 at 6:30pm!

This is a great opportunity for families and folks of all ages to see some of Asheville's finest talent! Hope to see you there :) Much Love!
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

The Hop's Famous Yule Logs!

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This is the time of year when we light up the night with the holiday spirit. We create or make purchases with other people in the fore of our minds. We host, are invited to and attend wonderful parties with great food and fun. We piggy-back on the family-time inspired by Thanksgiving and gather close to friends and loved ones to spread cheer and joy.

It is from this seasonal vibe which we introduce The Hop's Famous Yule Logs!!!



First we take chocolate Jelly-Roll Cake, handmade by Creme Bakery, and roll it up with Vanilla Bean, Butter Pecan or Peppermint Stick Ice Cream. Once it sets, we cover the whole thing with our decadent Dark Chocolate Ice Cream. Finally, we festively decorate the Yule Log to your specifications. Healthily serves 10-12 people for $22.95+tax. Yummo!

We are taking orders now through December 22nd! Call, email or stop by either The Hop or The Hop West to order!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
Much Love
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

Free Storytelling Event!

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Dearest Asheville,
We at The Hop wanted first to extend our most earnest thanks for all that you do. Our hearts are filled with such joy and love for this brilliant community and of the great things it has allowed us to be a part! We are thankful for YOU most of all!

Along those lines, we are very happy to announce our next Free Family-Friendly event at the Merrimon Ave location...



Tuesday, November 30th, between 6 & 7:30pm, Local and Nationally renowned Storyteller, David Novak, will perform some of his favorite holiday tales! If you have yet witnessed one of his performances, you will definitely be in for a treat!



As always, there is no charge for the show, Kids Eat Free upstairs at Urban Burrito, thin out your pantry to bring a can if you can for MANNA Food Bank, and help the underprivileged have a better Christmas by bringing some toys for Toys For Tots!

Much Love!
Greg and Ashley Garrison
Owners
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
640 Merrimon Ave
828 254 2224
AND
The Hop West
721 Haywood Rd
828 252 5155

Professor WhizzPop!, Craggie Anniversary & Blue Ridge Roller Girls

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*All events herein will be held at The Hop at 640 Merrimon Ave unless otherwise indicated.*

The Hop, North and West Asheville, have another exciting week ahead. We're talking a free magic show, Craggie Pumpkin Beer Floats, an incredible art show and a Rollergirl Day! Here are the details...



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. Here's a video from a previous performance.



Friday November 19th 6:30-7:30pm *At The Hop West*: To outfit the walls of our new location, we commissioned local artist, Jarrett Rutland. He has created an enormous 4'x5' canvas painting that will be unveiled this Friday. In addtion, there will be prints and originals for sale and perusal.



Friday November 19th 4pm-12am *At Craggie Brewing*: Craggie Brewing Company is celebrating their 1 year anniversary all this week. Part of the celebration will include Pumpkin Beer and Ice Cream Floats (for only $5)!!! Congratulations to these folks who have wholly devoted themselves to this vibrant community. Here is the link to their full schedule for the week. And here is a link to an interview they did with Local Edge Radio.



Saturday November 20th ALL DAY: It's Blue Ridge Rollergirls Day. This is your chance to help support this awesome group of ladies that bring so much fun and excitement to Asheville. 20% of sales from The Hop and The Hop West will be donated to BRRG. In addition, there will be an autograph session and ice cream eating competition from 2-4pm!!!

We'll be back next week to give thanks :)
Much Love
Greg and Ashley

PS Burgermeisters on Haywood Road is exclusively selling our Jagermeister Ice Cream (must be 21 or older)!!! AND Pumpking Ice Cream Pies are now on sale for the holidays!!!



The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
640 Merrimon Ave
828 254 2224
AND
The Hop West
721 Haywood Rd
828 252 5155

Now You See Them free show + More

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*All events herein will be held at The Hop on Merrimon Ave unless otherwise specified.*

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, as if scooping ice cream for you wonderful folks wasn't enough, the coming seven days make us so proud and happy to do what we do for Asheville! We're talking 5 free performances and 2 fundraisers from Saturday to Saturday! Check it...



SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6TH 3PM: Things get kicked off with a book reading by Asheville Author, Audrey Kinsella. She is the creator of "Dingle: The Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog", a perfectly fitting tale of a pup, Dingle, that wants to help out in whatever way (with ice cream!) he is able. This will great for all ages, in particular ages 3-6.



SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7TH 3-4PM: We are hosting a show by Asheville Music School's Rock Academy. The youth band, Kontained, will be rocking the The Hop as it ought be rocked! When these youths come to play, it's such a fun family-friendly time! Join us!



TUESDAY NOVEMBER 9TH 6:30-7:30PM: One of Asheville's best and most entertaining bands, Now You See Them, will be putting on their boisterous musical charm at The Hop for a second time! Click here for a review of their first show. Also here are some videos from that performance courtesy of Thatbeat1974.



WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10TH ALL DAY: Center For Diversity Education Day! 20% of sales from The Hop (640 Merrimon Ave) AND The Hop West (721 Haywood Rd) will be donated to this non-profit. Here's their mission: "The Center celebrates and teaches diversity in order to foster conversation and respect among cultures". Check this link for more details about the fundraiser!



FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12TH 6:30-7:30PM *AT THE HOP WEST*: The brilliantly imaginative Madison J. Cripps, mastermind behind Cripps Puppets, will be putting on a show unlike any other with his handmade marionettes. We are happy to say that this is the first of many performances at The Hop West! Check this video for a previous Cripps Puppets show at The Hop on Merrimon.



SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13TH 3-4PM: Wild For Life, a local non-profit focused on the rehabilitation of birds of prey, will be bringing some of their educational hawks and owls by for a demonstration! In addition 20% of the day's sales from The Hop AND The Hop West will benefit Wild For Life. Here's a previous post, an interview with co-founder Susan Wright and a video from a previous demonstration!



Much Love,
Greg and Ashley
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
640 Merrimon Ave
828 254 2224
AND
The Hop West
721 Haywood Rd
828 252 5156