All Aboard!

Okay, so we went to the best event on Friday night. We had been gloating about it all week, so maybe you've heard about how we got to serve spiked snow cones on a moving train. Is that even allowed? Apparently it is! And it was awesome. Put on by Wilfred Laurier University Student Publications, Steel Rail Sessions has been happening for a few years now, and is described as Nuit Blanche on a train. Basically, every car contains some kind of art installation, or dance party, or bar, or SOMETHING, and then the train would stop every once in a while with interesting shows, acts, and food outside for the guests to enjoy. It was great.

The train was beautiful and old, and had these giant windows with a perfect country breeze. Our car was pretty full most of the time, which was hilarious, because every time the train would slow down or go over bumps, we'd all have to try to stay standing and not fall all over each other. It was chaotic, but probably one of the most fun events we've done.

Neal was a great train conductor.

We didn't make that sign, but we did approve it, hehe.

One of the coolest things about this event was hearing people talk about Kitchener, and how much they love it there. Apparently there are some really amazing cultural things bubbling up there in the arts and music scenes - we had no idea! People talked about it they way that we talk about Hamilton, and that was really encouraging. It's just a good thing for people to stand together on a train and drink spiked snow cones, and talk about the cities they love. Steel Rails, thanks for choo-choo-choooosing us. xo

(Photo #1: kdub.ca)

Back in the Swing of Things!

The warm weather is here, and Sweet Ice is back at the Art Crawl! We weren't sure if we were going to make it back, as our regular spot at the Tivoli is no longer an option, but we found a cute little home on the Mulberry patio! We'll be there during July and August Art Crawl as well, so make sure you stop by. :)

We made sure to savor the Art Crawl over the Fall and Winter, because now that it's snow cone season, we don't get to see too much! I think this month's crawl was one of the busiest and most jam-packed that I've ever seen it. On every corner and in every store front, there was something magical happening! Very cool, Hamilton.

Our bud CJ was SO ready for a snow cone.

Emma had never had a Sweet Ice snow cone and was very excited.

Our new home!

We did make sure to get away from our booth to stop by and see our friends, Joel and the Jukes, playing at the Lister Block. If you're ever looking for an amazing wedding/party band, these guys are so good.

We also popped out to make some special deliveries to some of our friends along the street. Hey Hollie and Jane, HERE ARE SOME SNOW CONES FOR YOU.

All in all, it was a delightful night! Thanks for being so great, Hamilton.

Soccer Fun Day!

This is the ONLY photo we had time for. Pardon the pixels...

We served snow cones at a Soccer Fun Day to 800 CHILDREN. They were sweaty and yelling and they were wanting snow cones at 9:00 in the morning. Breakfast cones. The words "all-natural" and "organic" meant nothing to them - they asked for "blue" and we told them we didn't have blue but they could have pink or red or orange. 8-year-old children requested espresso cones that were meant for their parents, but we served it to them anyways, because why not. They were adorable and awesome and cool, and it was a really fun day.

We barely had time for one photo, but we did get a great quote:

Photoshoot! Behind the Scenes

We're finally crawling out of our winter hibernation, and starting to book up quickly for the summer. Yay! We can't wait to jump back into snow cone slinging! But for now, it's still a tad chilly out, and The People aren't quite ready for ice (fair enough), so we thought we'd tackle a project before the sun comes out in full force.

A while back, my friend Aisling posted a picture that got our wheels spinning. (Thank you, Kinfolk, for continuing to inspire the nations!) We needed some product photography, and we really wanted to capture the fact that our snow cones are made-from-scratch with all-natural ingredients, so we set out to capture a before-and-after set of photos. The photos aren't quite ready, but I already know they are going to be beautiful!

We got our floral supplies from i fiori on James St N - you need to go check this place out if you haven't been. The owner, Bev, is just the sweetest lady, and she's so passionate about what she does. She has literally made me cry when she talks about the ethos of arranging flowers. She's amazing, and the shop is so beautiful. Add a bit of honeycomb from our friend Brandi, the amazing styling work of Joanna Aitcheson, and incredible photography skills from Aisling (of Oak & Myrrh)...and I'm pretty sure we're going to have something very special.

Photo Credit:

1 & 2 - Meg Makins; 3 - Joanna Aitcheson; 4 & 5 - Oak & Myrrh

DANCE PARTY 2.0

It's that time again! Our snow cone season has come to a close, and we wanna dance about it!

This year we're hosting:
/ / THE 'NOT SO SWEET' ICE DANCE PARTY / /
...because why does everything have to be so damn cute?!

Featuring: DJ DONNA LOVEJOY
Also featuring: strict new rules such as no giggling, no cartoon fruit with happy faces, and absolutely NO BUNTING BANNER ALLOWED!

PLUS!

Spiked snow cones! (RIGHT?!)
Lots of fun and dancing! (no cute dance moves, though!)
Where? Vasco da Gama - 175 James St N. in Hamilton!
Doors at 9:30. Tickets: $10.

It's the most badass snow cone party in town, so you better be there! Tickets should be purchased ahead of time, and each ticket purchased will enter you in a draw for a Sweet Ice Merch Pack! Space is limited, so buy yours now - available online here! Facebook details here. Dance on, snow cone fans!

Poster Credit: Matt Jelly

Nic & Karyn's Wedding!

Yay! Wedding photos! We got to see the photos from Nic and Karyn's wedding and they are GORGEOUS. It was such a beautiful day, and we were so honored that Sweet Ice got to be a part of it. It was so much fun to make snow cones for the whole wedding party, and then see now how well those photos turned out...

We are already starting to get bookings for next summer, and after our amazing time at this wedding, we're so excited to book a whole bunch more! If you know of someone who might want refreshing, all-natural (not to mention adorable) snow cones at their Summer wedding, please spread the word! All inquiries can be sent to info@sweeticesnowcones.ca.

Congrats again, Nic and Karyn! Your wedding was just perfect! All photos courtesy of White Photographie. You can see more from this wedding here!

It's Been A Good Year (Oh, And We're Having A Contest!)

Tomorrow is a big day for us.

The August Art Crawl marks one year of snow cone business for Sweet Ice, and we're feeling pretty nostalgic about it. Only a year ago, we were packing up for the crawl, making sure to focus on all the "important" details (matching shoes?!). We headed to the Art Crawl, so proud of our ten (ten!) bottles of syrup, saying things like "Do you think we'll sell any?" and "What if we sell NONE!?". To our amazement, we sold out very quickly, and a year later we now know better than to make just ten bottles.

Matching shoes!

It's been such a good year for us. We've been welcomed into the small business culture of Hamilton with open arms. We've had the honor of spending time with the most amazing business owners, and have learned so much from them. We have gotten a taste of the food truck world, and have watched in amazement as some incredible people led the way for a mobile food revolution in this city. Hamilton is full of talent and inspiration, and we're so glad we get to play a small role in that.

One year ago!

I think if we could describe our experience with Sweet Ice so far in a few words, they'd be 'fun' and 'humbling'. Owning a business is fun! Who knew?! We get to develop our own flavors, and it's part of our job to spend time picking fresh Ontario fruit. We get to spend time brainstorming with some of the most creative people we know, and call it a “business meeting”. We’ve learned to screenprint, we’ve played ‘postman’, we got to experience the intensely fun process of making a COMMERCIAL, and best of all, we get to chat with all our customers every time we set up shop. That’s the most fun part – all of you! You’re so damn nice! And humbling - we say it all the time, but we are so overwhelmed by the support and all the smiles in this city. Thank you, thank you, thank you. #HamOnt is a friggin peach - and you know it.

We were all smiles!

So tomorrow, one year after our nervous debut, we'll set up in the same spot, and we'll have the same talented lady busking beside us. And hey, we're so excited about our little first birthday that we thought we'd have a contest about it! Starting today at noon, we're going to have a contest where you can be entered to win one of three commercial prize packs!

All you have to do is:
1) Share our commercial (here's the link, or you can share directly from Facebook or Twitter)
2) Tag Sweet Ice (either on Facebook, or on Twitter)
3) Let people know that we'll be set up at the Art Crawl tomorrow night on the Tivoli lot beside the CBC

The prize packs have a retail value of $100, and they feature all the people who played a leading role in our commercial:

A CD FROM KORI POP!

A FABRIC PACK FROM NEEDLEWORK!

A COMBO FROM WEENIES!

(Includes sausage, chips and all-natural soda! Can be redeemed at any time.)

AND A HAIRCUT FROM

THE AMAZING CAMERON ELDER!

(Must be redeemed by the end of November.)

That is a very good prize! And it all comes wrapped up in a Sweet Ice tote bag with two free snow cones! You can enter today and tomorrow (two entries per person), and you must be able to pick the prize pack up at Art Crawl (or have someone get it on your behalf). The contest will end at 5pm tomorrow, and we'll draw the three winners and announce them at 6 o'clock, just before the crawl!

Post away, friends! And we'll see you tomorrow night!