FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2015Annual “Block on Rock” Celebrates 2nd Anniversary, Helps CharitiesLittle Rock, AR, July 21, 2015– Local neighborhood nano-brewery Stone’s Throw announced details for their second annual Block on Rock Birthday Bash today. On Saturday, August 1 from 3:00-10:00pm the 2013 opening of the brewery taproom will be celebrated with a street festival involving local food trucks, breweries, bands, artisanal vendors, and community groups. The event supports Preserve Arkansas, but this year will also benefit dozens of other local causes.
“Last year’s Block on Rock was a huge success, and we love giving back to the community. Usually a festival as big is this would charge all the vendors to set up, but we wanted to take a different approach. So instead of vendor fees we’re asking everyone who is participating to give back to the cause of their choice." ~
Ian Beard, Co-owner Stone’s Throw BrewingAdmission to the block party will be $5. Discounted armbands can be purchased ahead of time at the Stone’s Throw taproom for $3. A quarter of gate revenue and Stone’s Throw sales will be donated to Preserve Arkansas. At the first Block on Rock in 2014, $3000 was raised for the group.
“Preserve Arkansas works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. Stone’s Throw has supported this mission both through their help with Preserve Arkansas’ projects and the work they’ve done on their own historic building. We are excited to be partnering with them for a second year on the Block on Rock Birthday Bash! ” ~ Vanessa Norton McKuin, Executive Director Preserve Arkansas
The first Block on Rock in 2014 was attended by over 1200 people, a number much higher than expected. In response to the event’s popularity, organizers have added a second block to accommodate more people, food trucks, and vendors. A stage has been added for the musical acts, a variety of local beer and cocktail choices will be available, and more necessities like porta-potties have been planned.
“Last year was crazy. We sold more food in a couple of hours at Block on Rock than we did the whole time we were at Riverfest. This year there will be more trucks, and I think we’re all planning on serving big numbers. After the Main Street Food Truck Festival this is probably the most trucks you’re going to find in one place.”
~ Justin Patterson, Owner The Southern GourmasianThis year both the 800 block of Rock Street, located immediately west of the brewery, and the 300 block of E 8th Street will be closed off for the event. Entrance gates will be located at 9th and Rock Streets and 8th and Scott Streets, and participants are encouraged to bring chairs. The stage will be located on Rock Street, which is shaded in the afternoon; Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu will perform at 4:00pm followed by the Big Dam Horns at 7:00pm. Fifteen different food trucks will set up along 8th Street while six local beer & cocktail vendors will be in the parking lot behind the brewery. The brewery taproom will be open for festival goers as well.
“The response last year completely took us by surprise, so we’ve been working on improving things for the second Block on Rock ever since. We’ve been stock piling beer at the brewery for months in preparation. Along with all the great food and beers, we’ve got a stage this year with two local favorites: The Big Dam Horns, and Cindy Woolf & Mark Bilyeu. We can’t wait!”
~ Theron Cash, Co-Owner Stone’s Throw BrewingStone’s Throw Brewing is the product of four guys—Theron Cash, Brad McLaurin, Shawn Tobin and Ian Beard—who met in the local home brew club, the Central Arkansas Fermenters. After doing most of the work themselves to turn a century old building in Little Rock’s MacArthur Park Historic District into a production facility, they began brewing operations on July 4, 2013 and opened a taproom on August 1, 2013. Stone’s Throw Brewing specializes in small-batch, artisanal beers that are both creative and drinkable.
The Stone’s Throw Brewing tap room is open to the public Wednesday-Thursday, 4:00-9:00 pm, Friday 4:00-10:00pm, Saturday 12:00-10:00 pm, and Sunday 11:00 am-8:00 pm. The tap room features different food trucks each day and offers all night happy hour on Wednesdays, #ArkiePubTrivia at 6:30pm on Thursdays, new beer releases every first Friday of the month, free brewery tours at 1:00pm and beer infusions at 4:00pm on Saturdays, and beer to go on Sundays. Current beer selection, food truck schedules, and upcoming events can be found at www.stonesthrowbeer.com, on Facebook at StonesThrowBrewing, Twitter @stonesthrowbrew and Instagram @stonesthrowbrewing.
The following is a complete list of festival vendors and the causes they have chosen to support.
Food:Black Hound BBQ, Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club
The Clean Eatery, Out of the Woods Animal Rescue
Solfood Catering Emporium, Southern Center for Agroecology
BEAST Food Truck, Diverse Youth for Social Change
Jackie's Mobile Cafe, Humane Society Of Pulaski County
Luncheria Mexicana Alicia, TBD
Waffle Wagon, Kanis Skatepark
Southern Gourmasian, Arkansas Rice Depot Food for Kids Program
Fork n the Road, Diverse Youth for Social Change
Katmandu MoMo, Nepal earthquake relief
Pie Hole, The Van
Hot Rod Wieners, Group Living, Inc
BBQ for Change, Arkansas Food Bank Network and Rice Depot
Loblolly Creamery, Lucie's Place
Slader's Alaskan Dumpling Co., Mission Machine
Drink:Stone's Throw Brewing, Preserve Arkansas
Rock Town Distillery, Preserve Arkansas
Ozark Beer Company, Arkansas Brewers Guild
Bubba Brew's Brewing Company, Arkansas Brewers Guild
Diamond Bear Brewing Co., Arkansas Brewers Guild
Lost 40 Brewing, Arkansas Brewers Guild
Goods:Homayd Natural Care Products, Heifer International
J. M. Stevens Knives, Wounded Warrior Project
ArkieStyle, Out of the Woods Animal Rescue
Groups & Causes:Preserve Arkansas
Legends of Arkansas
Rock City Rescue
First Lutheran
St. Edward's Catholic
Local. Magazine
Bacon Fest
Little Rocktoberfest
First Presbyterian
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Ian Beard at 501-908-1816 or email at
ian@stonesthrowbeer.com.
