Calliope Music

Calliope Music sits at 4 East Lancaster Avenue along a quiant stretch of shops in downtown Ardmore. As I walk in, I notice the sheer variety of musical accessories and instruments in supply. From instruments for sale lining the walls, to convenient accessories of every instrument, to even books of sheet music for today's most popular songs - it's clear Calliope Music is a music lover's paradise. "Calliope originally means 'muse', and music is a muse to us", says owner Julia, who purchased the store from other owners some years ago. Today, her and her husband George run the shop to serve all of the Main Line's musically inclined . When asked what she loves about Ardmore, Julia responds that "Ardmore is quaint, convenient, and has everything you could want". Calliope Music definitely makes Ardmore have everything you could ever want.

by: Eric McGarity

"Good Food. Good Coffee. Good Music" at Melodies Cafe

Owner Mark Roy moved into the Ardmore Community in August 2013 when he opened Melodies Cafe in the spot of the old Milkboy Coffee. Today, the airy, light-filled space attracts a diverse crowd, coming for the intimate atmosphere and great snacks. The cafe, which doubles as a music venue most nights, is an arts-focused coffee shop turned cafe. "I added a full kitchen when I bought this place, so we now have a full service food menu", said Roy. An updated menu today highlights delicacies from a variety of unique burgers and sandwiches, to vegan delights such as a spicy curry tofu scramble. A promise of locally-sourced and fresh ingredients is kept as a rule to the cafe - a whopping 80% of their meats, cheeses, and vegetables are sourced from local businesses in a 20 mile radius.

Behind the register lies a chalkboard detailing varying coffee drinks made to perfection. I decided to try the sweet-sounding cinnamon honey nut iced coffee. Honey? In coffee? A new concept to me, but I was addicted after one sip. The warm tastes of cinnamon and honey blended into the refreshing iced coffee was a cool twist on the regular iced coffee. I then tried a chewy oatmeal raisin cookie, chock full of oats, raisins, and crumbly brown sugar. Delicious!

While most restaurants seem to lack the kind of distinct ambiance that Melodies has, Mark Roy focused on the small things when opening the cafe. When I ask Mark what his motto for Melodies Cafe would be, he says with a smile: "good food, good coffee, good music."

By: Eric McGarity