The Melting Point

   Today I'm giving you the scoop on the Melting Point, one of my favorite music venues in Athens. I love all things OLD. This building itself was built in the 1850's as a blacksmith's foundry, and part of the original building remains today. The interior of this venue is quite stunning. The exposed brick and the layout makes the venue an intimate atmosphere for both entertainer and.... erm, entertained ;)

   I heard through the grapevine that new owners took over in January 2014. Luckily, they kept some of the staff. MP's sound guy often get compliments from band members. And I really like the regular bartenders (Ask for Fernando; he is everything a good bartender should be, and Debbie is awesome as well!).

   There is live music most every night at Melting Point, and often the cover is $5 or free. Of course, check their website for costs and showbills. Frequent bookings that I recommend:
         -Rabbitbox, storytelling for adults
         -The Hoot, Americana style music
         -Fester Haygood's Confessionals, a musical organizer who usually puts on a good show and not all are at MP.
         -Terrapin Tuesdays

   Browsing the (new) menu they serve salads, burgers, sandwiches and seafood. Also new, a build your own fry basket with lots of tasty options!  Honestly, I personally preferred their older menu style, which changed periodically, but offered more healthy options. In my opinion, the new owner's menu is a bit heavy on the fried food.

  Parking can be a bit of a hassle sometimes. MP shares parking with The Foundry Inn and Spa, and sometime the hotel guests use up all the available parking before shows start. On busy nights, MP staffs the parking lot, and he will tell you where you can find parking.

  Lastly, I want to highlight The Melting Point's patio. It's built between the private galleria and the main stage and bar. On summer nights when the air gets so heavy it stops circulating, the staff opens the huge doors dividing the stage and patio. Letting the music out into the world, and soft breezes into the stage area, it encourages frolicking and dancing :)  No matter what kind of music is being played, these are my favorite nights at Melting Point.

As always, please leave a comment if I left out anything or you want to share your experience with my readers!

~Amanda Terranova

Useful Links:
Melting Point Website
Melting Point Calendar
Directions