Thursday, May 22, 2008

Spring '08 Scoop



Peace & Management

We are very excited as we embark on the experience of having hired managers that will enable the Brothers to manage the good work always going on at The Fountain, the Ice Cream Department and in the Office. We continue to try to take life slowly and methodically, emphasizing the details along the way.

Progress
Our new walk-in freezer has just been installed this week into our cellar, making life a lot easier to find our reserves for the weekend crush. Two men from Bally, Berks County, installed the locally made unit shown in the photograph.
In addition, we have new sturdy rubbish receptacles, and more antique tables to our growing outdoor seating. With the arrival of Spring, we’ve potted more flowers and plants outside and in to freshen up the Fountain experience.

Sweet Acts
Our House-made Franklin Ice Cream Department has tried and succeeded with our Honey Rose ice cream, our fresh Blood Orange sherbet, and refreshing Lemon sorbet.
In honor of the Walnut Street Theater’s production of Les Miserables, try our French Vanilla ice cream with blueberry ribbons and a field of raspberries. “Crème de Lafayette” will be a patriotic flavor served all summer long marking the friendship of Franklin to France and her great general.

At the Arden Theater, we offered peanut butter bone doggy treats atop ice cream for their GO DOG GO children’s premier. Starting May 22nd, the "Our Town" production celebrating the Arden’s 20th anniversary. Air-Conditioning circa 1908! Beautifully designed vintage Franklin Ice Cream advertising hand fans are free with tickets and sold on our counters for $2. These will be collector’s items shortly!

Dry Goods Department
New Gift Certificates are in and looking beautiful. Remember you can get one in any denomination over $5. Starting in June, Fountain staff will be adding house-made Caramel sauce and dessert Peanut Butter in jars for take-home, next to our very popular Hot Fudge!


Unleash a “Burmese Tiger.”
This sundae introduced in early 1908 was made most meaningful as a concoction of peace and we’re now using its profits towards sending aid to victims of the recent cyclone thru Doctors Without Borders in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Please come and try our ginger and cherry vanilla ice creams striped with orange marmalade and dark chocolate syrups for a real ROAR.

Hot off the Presses:
The Franklin Fountain made the front cover of Frozen Dessert Magazine with a great article and lots of color photographs. See the article @ www.frozendessertmagazine.com
An article in gourmand magazine SAVEUR featured the Fountain as one of the top ice cream spots in the North, with Jenkins, Max and Ryan were photographed eating their favorite flavors.

Brother Eric was photographed en-large for the summer issues of WHERE magazine, serving up a float of Franklin Fountain fun for thousands of tourists.

…and for a Photographic Finale:
Photographer Andy Pinkham proposed an ‘occupational’ sitting to the Berley brothers one quiet evening in Fairmount Park. On the grounds of the Centennial Exposition, Eric and Ryan displayed the tools of their trade and confectionery wares while the golden sunlit descended into the golden envelope of night. The image is tinted and will be printed and framed to greet patrons of The Franklin Fountain for years to come. See Andy’s website for this and other fantastical works www.andrewpinkham.com