Bottom line: Hot Sand is a unique glass art shop and interactive experience in Asbury Park. Beautiful glass items on display and for sale as well as opportunities to interact with the artists there (see their website) to make a unique glass object as a result. I dig it. The Deets: When I went to visit my parents on the recent Easter holiday, I saw the glass eggs I had given them in the past and it reminded me of my visits to Hot Sand on Cookman Ave in Asbury Park where they were purchased. I cannot believe I didn't come on Yelp and show some love but fixing that now. Hot Sand is a shop that is more like a showcase or gallery for some of the amazing glass blown/sculpted items they create and sell. Best thing I can recommend is to look at the pics here on Yelp as well as their own website to get a feel for what they offer. Speaking of offerings, Hot Sand also has interactive opportunities to help create your own glass blown/sculpted items with their artists in the workshop area in the back (check out their website for details/FAQ). Their website states the "immersive, exciting hot glass experiences are one-of-a-kind" and I agreed with what I saw on my visits there. Beautiful glass art made and sold as well as interactive opportunities with the staff does make Hot Sand a unique experience that I recommend visiting when in Asbury Park. read more

Hot Sand - Two of the sculptured/blown glass Easter eggs purchased at Hot Sand. - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

I ordered the Hot Paws kit from Hot Sands. The kit came in fast and was very easy to follow the directions to get a perfect print. The product took longer to receive back (over 30 days) after they received the mold kit back. I was very excited when it arrived, however, I was disappointed after receiving it as it looks to have been handled in a way that it is pushed in on one side. I think is was due to how it was handled after the pour was made (the mold I provided was completely round), The sides are not smooth and unfinished, not a polished look (except the top) lots of small bubbles. I was a bit disappointed. Maybe I expected more than I should have. read more

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Great speciality store with a really helpful, friendly staff. Got a mold of our dogs paw made which was really turnkey and a fun experience read more

Hot Sand - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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We came here to make a keepsake for our rainbow baby's first birthday. While we couldn't do it on his actual birthday (a Monday), we were able to do it the Friday before (I believe they do appointments Fri-Sun and on holidays - easy to find out on their website). We did the quick cast mold which was a box packed with sand and we made an imprint of one of his hands and one of his feet. We were also able to get a little heart stamped in and a color included in the price. We got to speak with Arielle, one of the glass blowers (and manager as it turns out!), and she helped us with the size that would be the best fit for us. We ended up getting a medium cast which was $75+ tax plus any other enhancements you might want (additional colors, engraving). After the imprint she did a lovely coloring and edging for our print with this really cool tool that I can't remember the name of. After that, we watched her go to work melting down the glass and molding it until it was ready to be poured into the imprint. It was quick, but so cool to watch and the flow and heat from it was so crazy and cool! We also had a great narration throughout the whole process by Jonah I believe (apologies if it was Daniel!). Didn't have too much on hand, but we were happy to leave a little something for the staff for their help and wonderful work! Due to the organic nature of how the glass falls into the mold, there is no way to really request a shape as it will just depend on the way the glass spreads and the glass blower's technique. In our case, Arielle created perfection! We were absolutely in love with the shape of ours after it was first made. The glass needs about a week to cool so when we went to pick it up almost 2 weeks later, we got to see how it turned out and it was perfect! They wrap it up in paper and bubble wrap for you to take home when you pick it up and I believe they will hold your piece up to 3 months! We had a great experience here and they made this first birthday memory a great one for us! I would definitely come back because they have classes where you can make your own items! They also have some really beautiful pieces in the store for purchase. Thanks so much to Arielle and the staff at Hot Sand! read more

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I ordered the pet kits the other day. When I recieved the shipping info it stated I would recieve my order on 12/26. I only live 2 towns away. So I contact the manager to find out why this happened. Understood that this was a Christmas gift and offered to meet me with 3 new kits and a return label when I recieved the original order to send it back. The kindness and compassion that you dont see lately. Well I recieved my packages on 12/23. So I did not have to put the manager out of his way. I will always remember is and tell anyone I know to give Hot Sands a try. And thank you again management and staff for all your help read more

Front of the shop is an awesome glass art gallery with all types of things you can purchase from magnets to wall art to seasonal pieces. I'm the back is the glass working shop where you can blow your own glass pieces. All of the instructors were super nice and knowledgeable. Everything is sterilized or disposed of and the blow hose allows for social distancing. Very cool and unique experience! read more

Hot Sand - Check out this candy dish! (End product was not orange!) - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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I decided to take my teen daughter here one day for a girls night out. We also took our pup with us. The price for quickcasts is very reasonable and leaves you with an amazing keepsake. We did our dogs paw print which was simple and quick. My daughter did the glassblowing and made an apple. This is very pricy and for obvious reasons not very hands on. But my daughter enjoyed it and the employee working with her was great. The store also sells plenty of ready made glass items if you choose not to make your own. Overall a really unique experience. I highly recommend the quickcast experience. read more

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Really great studio in a beautiful location with knowledgeable and friendly staff. However it is NOT a hands on experience. Be prepared to just watch/listen to the instructor for about 85% of the time, who makes your glass. They made my glass egg and I get to pick it up a week later. Fun/interesting experience though. read more

What an awesome place! The front of the shop is a store and gallery with pieces made by the owner and employees. All of them are so breathtaking, so amazing to see what the finished product looks like. There's a workshop in the back where you can make your own pieces. It gets a little bit pricey, but it's really worth it in my opinion. How many people get the opportunity to make their own glass, bowls, vases, suncatchers, etc by hand? The employees were so helpful and knowledgeable and walked us through step by step and explained what they were doing and why. There were some hands on portions as well! My boyfriend made a candy dish and I made a vase, we got to choose which colors we wanted - which was the hardest part for me. All of the examples were so gorgeous, it was hard to narrow down what I wanted! Everything seemed very safe and sanitized as well. You wear goggles when past a certain point, and if you're going to be blowing any pieces of glass each hose was used individually and sanitized. If you don't live in the area they can ship your piece to you once it's finished in the kiln (which took about a week or two). All in all, great experience and I'd love to do it again with new pieces and colors. read more

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We really enjoyed our time at Hot Sands! The artists were very knowledgeable and gave so much insight about the process of glass blowing. They made us feel very comfortable and welcomed in the studio as they helped and guided us throughout every step. I highly recommend this place and would definitely be back! read more

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I brought my granddaughters here, Ages 12 & 13. They thoroughly enjoyed learning about this art form! We will be going back for them to a more complicated piece. The artisans explained the process clearly and taught safety procedures. Thank you to all the Hot Sand folks for this experience! read more

Awesome experience, friendly staff . My grand daughter loves the experience . Will definitely visit again .

This place was so much fun! Always been fascinated with glass making. Place allowed me to bring my dog in. Which is a plus. The staff was very friendly, answered all my questions. It was a great experience!! read more

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First time blowing a piece of glass. I chose the "candy dish". The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I can't pick up my piece for 1 week but I'm excited to see how it came out! read more

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My four friends and I had the most amazing experience over 4th of July weekend. We all did back to back reservations for the interactive demonstration and talked of almost nothing else for the rest of our stay in Asbury. The artists were exceptional in every sense from their technical ability to the way they educated us throughout the process. All five of the pieces made by our group in collaboration with the Hot Sand artists turned out beautifully! read more

Hot Sand - An ornament made at Hot Sand - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

I have made a rock glass that matches the colors of my place exactly. I watch the series about glass blowing the staff are knowledgeable and exceptional. I will come back each December to make a new glass for my home. I recommend you make reservations ahead and blow away all the bad energy...have a great time I do! Please don't forget to tip they are worth it... read more

Really beautiful shop. We originally wanted to take a glass blowing class but they weren't offering classes the days we were there - would totally come back for a class though! So glad we walked around anyway, everything is beautiful and reasonably priced, with everything from cups to hand made flowers to jewelry. It's amazing to be able to see the glass blowers work in the back of the store too. Beautiful, special spot! read more

BEST TIME EVER!!! got the groupon deal for the glass bubble making (which was such a bargain) so i took the fam. it was a Sunday and beautiful which made the boards very busy! we handed in our information to Emily and she said if we wanted to get a bite to eat they would call us when it is our turn. heck yes! BTW - you have to be 9 and up for bubbles. one of the best parts for me was seeing my kid have total add. every second was - mom look at this! mom - look at this! how cool is this! - i mean, what really gets an imagination going to a kid that isn't battery operated? seeing the child in wonder was so goood! so we got to pick a glass color, safety goggles on, and go! Paul let us know each step what was going on with the process. You are right there and can see everything going on. any questions were answered without being made to feel like a fool for not knowing. the experience is one of a kind, the shop has magic energy, its a LOCAL business which is awesome, and next week we get to go back to pick up our bubbles to remember this rockin day in asbury. A MUST DO FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! read more

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A unique way to spend the afternoon: learn about glass blowing from start to finish. Sit with a knowledgeable and patient artist as you help blow glass for the project you choose. The session is approximately 30 minutes depending on what you make. Unfortunately you have to wait a week to take home what you have made - but so worth it! Wear light clothes as it gets warm on their. Staff is absolutely wonderful & helpful! Must be on your to do list! read more

Hot Sand - Glass blowing at Hot Sand Ap - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

I visit a good friend down on the shore several times a year and I always make sure to visit hot sand for beautiful glass creations. Their prices are reasonable and I've bought everything from coasters to figurines to vases. I love this place and the staff is so nice and helpful. You can custom order your own design or participate in glass blowing too. I've stuck to what they sell but the latter looks fun too. read more

My grandson really loved Hot Sand and making something of his very own. The employees were all so helpful and encouraging! What a great place to visit any time of the year! read more

My team and I went to Hot Sands for a team-building activity and had a fantastic time! Scheduling was easy and the team went out of their way to accommodate us. When we arrived, we had space and very warm welcome. We had a lot of questions and learned a lot about hot glass and glass-blowing from our Hot Sands hosts. Super excited to see the finished product but even before that, the time spent together was worth the very reasonable price and the experience was something we'll definitely remember! read more

Such a great place! Everyone is super friendly and willing to answer any questions. Blowing your own unique item isn't cheap but it's more than reasonable. Children of all ages can participate in making a piece of art. You can have children press their hands, feet or object like seashells pressed into sand boxes. The glass is poured into the imprints and a lasting memory is created! They also have a great variety of items for sale that are all reasonably priced. Beautiful works of art. They also do custom work. read more

This was an awesome experience for my teen daughter and her friend. We talked to the staff ahead of time about the teens' special needs and they were very accommodating. It was an expensive day but worth it! read more

We got a groupon at a great price! $16 for glass blowing a large bubble. We didn't need to make a reservation which was really nice. The gallery is beautiful, but anything to buy seems a bit pricey. So many nice things to look at! The drinking glasses are gorgeous. All employees that we interacted with were very nice. No problems with the groupon, and they give you all sorts of options to upgrade. The groupon is good for a clear bubble only, so if you want color(s), twists, a hook for an ornament, engraving, etc., you'll have to pay pretty hefty for it. We ended up adding an extra $40 really quickly. We waited about 15 minutes before being called (individually, it's not a group project). Our instructor was Nick and he was very nice and informative, he explained every step of the process and did the work flawlessly. After you're done, you pay and they give you a slip to come pick your work up after a week. This was really different and we had a good time. I can definitely see us coming back in the future! read more

I grew up in a town that had a glass blowing studio and gallery, and I always loved watching the creations bubble and transform from fire into crystalline, colored works of art. When I saw Fire and Sand listed on Yelp and in Trip Advisor, I decided to take my family for a visit, and to let my son try one of the glass blowing experiences. All three staff members in the shop were wonderful -- friendly, ready with a smile or information, and patient with my questions, and my son's nervousness at trying glass blowing. Overall, it was a lovely experience that I will repeat with friends and family who visit us here at the shore. We cannot wait to go back and pick up the beautiful, blue swirled drinking glass that he made with the help of the talented artists there. Even if you choose not to try glass blowing yourself, the shop is filled with art for any price range or taste. Highly recommended! read more

This place rules. It's a unique experience that I definitely recommend. The staff knows their shit. It's fun with a group of friends. I went with mine and we all made beer pint glasses. You're able to customize the colors and design a bit, and don't worry the staff walks you through it so it turns out right! They also give you a beer voucher when you choose the pints. Cool spot! read more

Hot Sand - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

What a GREAT idea! You can stop by this little shop and see an artisan at work demoing glassblowing, and you can even create your own item as a keepsake (friends did it for Valentine's day, may be fun for a first date, as well) *note-if going to Wonder Bar across the street for Yappy Hour on Thursday-you get a discount on your pets paw print in glass which my friend, whose dog passed, was able to commemorate a trip there with her dog) a fun, different activity to do, it will get you laughing in no time! read more

Took my 9 ad 13 year old here to experience glass blowing. What a great time! Very knowledgeable artisans. They took time to explain what was happening at each step and patiently worked with my kids. Both kids produced gorgeous glass apples. Good times! read more

Got a great deal through Groupon for a Quick Cast session, which we used to get a glass cast of our baby son's feet. The person who helped us with the casting was super friendly and VERY patient (you try keeping an infant still while dipping his feet in sand!). The best part was, she talked us through the whole process, which was really fascinating, and a lot of fun to watch. I have already recommended Hot Sand to a number of friends. It's a wonderful business, and a real asset to the lovely AP boardwalk! read more

Hot Sand - Getting our baby's feet cast in glass! - Glass Blowing Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Wow! What an amazing experience! Thanks to Paige for all her help today in immortalizing my Seeing Eye Puppy's paw print in glass. She was professional, calm, and a dog person! LOVE this, and Hot Sand! Thanks Paige! We'll be back in 2 weeks for a print of our new Seeing Eye puppy's paw! read more

Glass blowing has always been on my mom's bucket list and admittedly, mine too. Thus, we decided to finally get out there and go do it during my winter break this past Sunday (1/3). I was super scared at first to blow glass at Hot Sand because I wasn't sure how interactive it would be and I was so sure I would make a mistake and accidentally burn myself. However, after picking out the colors for my bubble and the twist style, I started to become more excited to make my own glass creation. After watching my mom have fun making her beautiful purple spotted bubble, I sat down with one of the friendly and knowledgeable glass blowing experts as she explained the process and the significance of each tool we would use. I then, after her careful explanation and demonstration, created my swirl design with a pair of tongs. Finally, I blew into the pipe after cleaning it thoroughly to expand my glass creation. All the while, the expert was educating me on the art of glass blowing, and my appreciation for it definitely increased that day. In a week, my mom and I will pick up our beautiful glass blown projects. The entire process was amazing and totally worth it! I definitely recommend paying a little extra to make the swirl design - you get more interactive with your bubble from using the tongs! Next time I come in, I'll try to make something more complex and try to get more hands-on with glass blowing. Also, make sure you check out the glass art gallery in the front of the building! Everything is so beautiful! In all, a big thank you to the dedicated artists at Hot Sand for creating a memorable experience for my mom and I. read more

Dog friendly business and we loved it. We were in Asbury Park area for a few days, this was a must do! Had our Black Labs paw print done. They very very friendly and even gave her a treat after she was done. The Paw Print arrived today at our home address.It is 5*. Probably will get some do it yourself kits for gifts. Great place! read more

Place is fun to go to. You can buy and make some glass items. Good to go with a date or family.

Customer service cashier was courtesy and the procedure was all laid out for us very simple come in make your reservations OR if reservation is made online one reservation per person, cc needed to hold reservation, wil be charged 100% for no show come back if need be two people per session each session is 20 minute. Complete form, pick out your shape, color(s) $10 extra fir c additional colors and then pick formation : stripes, spots, calico, etc. Safety was thoroughly explained. There is some self participation. Each step as it is happening is explained. Safety is reiterated. You can take a picture with the person who helps you develop your product. You can select if you want to pay for shipping or come back to pick up the product as it has to cure for a certain amount of days. Nice fun different activity. Celebrating my friend's 50th she will have the bowl until she breaks it ; ). If not, she can pass it to her daughter who will fondly remember that fun dad spend together and the keepsake to show for it. NOTE: Wear short sleeves and put your hair up. You will have the option to wear your own glasses or safety glasses. NOTE NOTE: If you are wearing readers and you get dizzy for far distance you can not take them off so consider the glasses provided. read more

The entire staff at Hot Sand is very friendly and welcoming. The COVID procedures in place made us feel safe. My 10 year old could not wait to do glass blowing and I am so happy he had the opportunity to work with Scott. My son really enjoyed what he learned about the process and assisting Scott in making his ornament. read more

So many beautiful pieces being sold there and if you take a walk in class, you end up with a beautiful piece that you made yourself. I never ever write reviews but: Despite all that, I'm giving it 2 stars because my husband and my friend and I think the prices were a little much. Every little thing added up. I made a bubble which was shaped into a vase. I had to pay extra for each color (kind of understandable but not for $7.50 per color), pay for each twist of color (another $7.50), and then I had to pay for the flattening of the vase bottom ($10! For just taking a wood paddle and putting up against the hot glass). The bubble sizes are small, large, and XL. My friend chose a small and I chose a large upon the suggestion of the glass blower so my design would show better. HERE'S WHAT IRKED ME ENOUGH TO WANT TO GIVE A ONE STAR REVIEW: my large bubble turned out to be $68 PLUS tax. My friend's small bubble was $48 plus tax. When picking up the pieces, my friend's small vase and my large vase were the same size. So I just paid like $30 (if you include the tax) extra for the same size piece. Very very upset about the prices. Although the pieces did turn out beautifully....not worth the money. read more

Had a great time with my family. It isn't exactly free, but it has to cost a lot to provide the experience. Staff was great, and the money was well worth the experience and the ornaments we now have to remember the day. read more

I can't say enough great things about Hot Sand! We went here for my birthday and were pleasantly surprised. 6 of the guests made a blown glass piece while 3 did glass tiles. All of them came out well. The instructors were very patient and helpful as it was our first time ever trying something like this. They also have an amazing gallery of pieces for sale (all of which I wanted to take home with me that day!). read more

I wanted glass handprints of my toddler as a gift and a keepsake. The staff here was so patient and friendly. Its not easy to get an 18 month old to give a good handprint! The finished product came out exactly how I pictured it. This is a unique shop, worth the price and has great customer service. read more