944 Florida Ave, NW, (at W Street by 9:30 Club) home to Darnell’s Bar in the evenings, is getting a pop up coffee house called The Blind Dog Cafe. They have soft opened this week but officially open Feb. 12th at 2pm.

Co-Owner Noah Karesh (other partners are Jonas Singer and Cullen Gilchrist) tells me:

The Blind Dog is a pop-up cafe located in the heart of Washington DC. We love espresso, good conversations, and building a community. We will be serving great coffee, delicious sandwiches and salads, and an assortment of other homemade goodies.

Our standard hours are from 7AM-4PM 7 days a week. In the evening the place turns back to Darnell’s Bar

In general our menu is focused on simple ingredients prepared in a delicious and authentic manner. Most of our food is either local and or home made. Some highlight from the food side are the fresh baked Croissant and other assorted backed goods which come from Black Strap Bakery (@BlackStrapCo) (a local startup bakery, who bake out of our kitchen). We are making our own roast beef and turkey for the sandwiches as well as all of our finishing salts, aiolis , pickles, granola. The list can go on. On the drink side beside one of a small few places in DC serving PTs Coffee, we are doing a pour over bar ( i think the only one in DC). We are serving the amazing Rishi teas and finally we are making our own home-sodas (flavors include Vanilla, Lemon, Lime, Blood Orange, Passion Fruit).

Check out the menu after the jump.

BREAKFAST
Herb Frittata on a house baked Croissant/Bagel with Bacon, Mushrooms, Baby Swiss/Goat
Croissant/Bagel with Organic Farm Fresh Butter, Peppercorn Salt
Toasted Baguette with Organic Farm Fresh Butter, House Jam
Granola with Walnuts in Honey, Banana, and Yogurt
Assorted Baked Goods

LUNCH
Sandwiches -
Roast Turkey Breast with Raw Milk Baby Swiss, Sriracha Aioli, Heirloom Tomatoes, Greens, Peppercorn Salt
Roasted Chourico Sausage with Roasted Peppers, Garlic Aioli, greens, Peppercorn Salt
Home-Made Roast Beef with Heirloom Tomatoes, Walnut Pesto Aioli, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Peppercorn Salt
Tuna Salad with Capers, Sliced Hard Boiled Egg, Pickled Shallots, Citrus Salt
Baby Mozzarella with Heirloom Tomatoes, Walnut Pesto Aioli, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Fresh Basil, Basil Salt

Entrée Salads
Roasted Beets with Toasted Walnuts, Goat Cheese, Pickled Shallots, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Citrus Salt, Greens
Chickpeas with Kalamata Olives, Basil, Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Pimenton Salt, Greens
Quinoa with Cucumbers, Heirloom Tomatos, Preserved Lemon, Basil, pickled shallots, Lemon Vinaigrette, Paprika Salt

Tuna Salad with Capers, Picked Shallots, Heirloom Tomatoes, Citrus Salt, Greens
Baby Mozzarella with Heirloom Tomatoes, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Fresh Basil, Basil Salt, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar

Sides
House Pickles
Toasted Baguette

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has opened up at 1919 Connecticut Ave, NW in the Hilton.

Their Website says:

Born and brewed in Southern California since 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is the oldest and largest privately-held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the United States. Beginning with our first café in Brentwood, California, we have always been passionate about connecting loyal customers to one another with carefully handcrafted products.

Known for sourcing and providing the finest ingredients and flavors, we have built relationships with the best private coffee farms and tea estates around the world, selecting only the top 1% Arabica beans and finest hand plucked, whole leaf teas. Our coffee is freshly roasted daily in small batches in a manual European roast style in our private roasting facility. All of our teas are hand blended under the direction of our tea master. Today we proudly offer over 30 varieties of coffee and 20 varieties of tea. And for nearly 50 years, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has demonstrated a passion for product innovation epitomized by The Original Ice Blended® beverage.

Any fans? I was digging the lounge area:

On Sunday afternoon, @MrTinDC noticed some folks at Coffy Cafe coming to 3310 14th St, NW, and was wondering when they’d be opening. I stopped in to get a quick update and indeed they had just finished a staff meeting and are now aiming for a grand opening on Feb. 18th. While the furniture is still getting set up, I did see some awesome mod furniture. Gonna be a great addition to Columbia Heights.

Thanks to a reader for sending word of a “new coffee roaster/cafe” coming to 2904 Georgia Ave, NW. He writes:

“The owner was one of those typical super nice, optimistic Ethiopian guys and stressed that they would have their own coffee roaster. They have the tables and a coffee bar already set up, so it looks like they should be open any day now. I also heard that the same builder of the new nearby Condo, is now going to build a twin condo building on the same block where the auto mechanic currently is located. All this with the Jazz club across the street should make the tiny 2900 Blk of Georgia Ave quite the happening place!”

The Enterprise Theater and Jazz Lounge’s website says:

“Grand Opening. Event consists of 3 days of Music, Theater and Art. Official Kick off is Thursday February 2nd, 3rd and 4th. All events start at 4pm.”

2917 Georgia Ave. NW

I was psyched to learn that BakeHouse is coming to 14th and T St, NW. I emailed owner Niall Cooper for some details and she writes:

We are in the final stages of lease negotiations for a space in a new build on T street, right off 14th (behind Policy, across T St from Room and Board). The development is due for completion in the Fall, to be built by Eichberg Construction. The one-story post office is part of the same project, but our shop will be located in a new building that will be constructed in the small empty lot next door.

Our menu will consist of house-made baked goods and high quality coffees and teas. We’ll serve updated classics with modern flavor profiles.

We took part in the last the Grey DC Market, which was a great success, and we hope to do more markets over the coming months.

Sounds great. I’ll let everyone know when the next market is scheduled. They project to open in 213 days and counting. Think this’ll be a good fit for 14th and T St, NW?

Last weekend, I noticed the sign that the Starbucks at 3430 Wisconsin Ave, NW was closing Jan. 29th. And WTOP (via DCist) shares a very interesting fact – it is the first Starbucks to open on the east coast:

The first Starbucks store on the East Coast, which opened in 1993 on Wisconsin Avenue near the National Cathedral, will serve its last drink Sunday.

Starbucks says it will reopen upon completion of the new Cathedral Commons Center, which will be anchored by a new Giant supermarket.

Beveragemania finally has a new tenant, Cuzzin’s, coming soon to 849 Upshur St, NW. I spoke to a worker who said that it would basically be a lot like Beveragemania, featuring coffee, drinks and ice cream. I’ll be sure to follow up when they open. At the very least, I love the name – this’ll drive grammar sticklers crazy but I knew other people used ‘s like I do

Back in Oct. we learned that Uncle Chip’s was coming to 1514 North Capitol St, NW south of Florida Ave. They’ve recently opened and the space looks great!

Anyone try them out yet?

Menu after the jump.

Le Caprice DC recently opened up at 3460 14th St, NW in Columbia Heights. So far the buzz has been phenomenal with one caveat – the coffee. I’m happy to report that Le Caprice DC has now acquired a UNIC Espresso maker, apparently the Cadillac of espresso makers. Anyone try it out yet?

To be honest I’m still most excited about this:

Love Cafe is located at 1501 U St., NW. From Cake Love’s Web site:

“After 8 wonderful years, Love Cafe will be closing at the end of this month. Our final day of business will be Sunday January 29th.”

Washington Business Journal got the reason from owner Warren Brown:

“Brown said increasing rents that the restaurant could not sustain drove the decision to close the cafe’s doors. Brown will still have an operations base on U Street, as there is a CakeLove location there at 1506 U St.”

Were there any fans of Love Cafe?