Marilyn Horne Museum Cafe - Bradford

Lovely little cafe, right in the middle of Bradford, with free parking. Recommended.

This was a pleasant surprise while I visited the area. I had time to kill and needed to find something to do. I looked up what was in the area to fill that void and this popped up. At first I was skeptical as I was not sure what this was and where it was. I guess you can say that this is technically part of the Pitt campus they have here, but it is still confusing.It was confusing to get here, and then to figure out if/where you can park without being in violation of some law. Just pull into the lot and be on your way. As long as you are going to one of the three that are included here, you will be fine. When I walked inside, I did not know where to go. The museum is off to your left, but secured to the point that you cannot enter on your own. To the right you have the café/gift shop area. Right in front of you is what appears to be an information desk with many things on the counter. I, not sure what to do, and after trying the door to the museum, made my way into the café and asked for some direction. I was told to ring the bell at the information desk. When I went back out to the desk I found the bell with a fairly small note stating to ring it for the museum. Once I did that I was let into the museum and told which direction this flows and some information on what it was I was about to see.Once inside the museum it can be a bit overwhelming. Especially if you do not know what the museum is about. But you ease into it by reading all the information in front of you and go with the flow.First, I had no idea who Marilyn Horne was. Once you delve into this museum, you know who Marilyn Horne is. She is a world renown opera singer that came from this area. Starting in Bradford and then heading out to the West Coast to pursue music. She has sang at some of the most well-known opera houses throughout the world. As you walk through the museum (which doesn't take long as it is small) you basically walk through her life. Both on the professional level and personal level. You see her grow as a person and performer. You can scope out some of her costumes from shows she was in. You can read over how she has met some interesting people. You can sit down in the theater area where you watch a short documentary with commentary from Ms. Horne herself. I really liked that portion. You sit in the viewing area and they dim the lights to let you know the show is about to start. I think that was a nice, subtle touch.This is one museum that you can do in less than one day and really take it all in. Best of all, it is another free museum to get into!

Located inside the Marilyn Horne Museum Exhibit Center, this bright and clean coffee shop offers a variety of items similar to a Starbucks, such as pastries, sandwiches, and cookies. The friendly lady working at the counter provided excellent service when I stopped in for a flat white, and the coffee was delicious.

HIDDEN ARTS CULTURAL GEM ALERT!! My husband and I were in Bradford PA for a quiet weekend getaway and decided to relax in the cafe at the Marilyn Horne Museum. We were pleasantly surprised by all the free exhibits in this beautifully renovated space. The museum, dedicated to opera icon Marilyn Horne, offers a small but informative loop of exhibits with multimedia elements and interactive games. The museum also has a theater showing a documentary about Marilyn's life. In addition to the museum, the first floor includes a Starbucks cafe and a well-organized gift shop where we purchased a CD of Marilyn's recordings. We were impressed by the museum director, Matthew, who shared his knowledge of Marilyn, Bradford PA history, and the building itself. We explored the building's original ballroom space on the fifth floor, which is set to be revitalized as a grand performance space. Despite not being opera fans, we were captivated by the museum's passion for sharing knowledge and regional arts contributions. The Marilyn Horne Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning about history and the arts, regardless of their opera preferences. We can't wait to return with our kids!

Positive aspects of this restaurant include a convenient location, mostly friendly staff, cleanliness, and a nice gift shop. However, there are some drawbacks such as limited selection of pastries, inconsistency in freshness and labeling, and the need to inquire about pricing. Additionally, customers may find the lack of music and absence of wifi to be disappointing.