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. (more…)

This condo is located at 2100 11th St, NW:

The listing says:

“Rare find in magnificent building. Contemporary flare with all the bells and whistles. This 2bedroom 2 full bath plus den is ready for you. Features include pkg, W/D in unit, concrete counters, island in kitchen, balcony w/ view, rooftop, concierge, workout room, game room and pet friendly!!! Convenient location just blocks to metro, dining and shops.”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

This 2 bed/2 bath is going for $729,000.

Back in Oct. 2011 we spoke about El Sol Mexican restaurant closing at 1930 9th St, NW (just south of U St.) I had noticed construction for the last few months but they’ve recently applied for a liquor license which says it’ll become a:

“New Tavern with an occupancy load of 122. Requesting an Entertainment Endorsement to include dancing and cover charge.”

More info as it becomes available.

I recently begged Bar Pilar to hurry up with their construction at 1833 14th St, NW. Sorta good news:

Thank you!

Thanks to a reader for sending an update from the Ledroit Park Listserv. We learned initial details about the plans for All Souls after speaking with owner David Batista on Jan. 12th. All Souls hopes to come to the vacant space at 725 T St, NW.

Details in the Voluntary Agreement from All Souls’ lawyer via Commissioner Moss:

-to allay concerns about the exposure of schoolchildren to the business, the application would be amended such that the establishment would not open until 5 p.m., at the earliest

-the patio will be relocated such that it is at least 10 feet from the property line of the closest neighbor north of the property

-to ameliorate potential noise from the patio, applicant shall erect a wall perpendicular to the street, on the north side of the patio seating area. The wall will incorporate materials that are sound absorbent, subject to approval of the public space committee

-Patio service shall cease, and all patrons off the patio at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight Friday and Saturday

-No recyclables shall be emptied after midnight

In response to a question on the listserv Commissioner Moss answers:

The commission supports the compromise however we are suggesting additional provisions no music on the patio no recyclables after 10 pm patio seating in front of business not on the side signage inside establishment informing residents they are in a residential neighborhood, patio hours 10pm Sun – Thurs 11pm Fri Sat I did not state our position because provisions needed to be discussed with residents and the commission.

Mediation hearing just completed. Residents and Commission (not Myla) provided a counter offer to applicants provisions. Applicant will review provisions proposed by residents and the Commission. Applicant will respond by Monday Feb. 6, 2012.

More info as it becomes available.

Update 1pm from Commisioner Moss:

the applicant has agreed to open @5pm, which is after schoolhours. The applicant is considering the ANC’s counter offer. The following is being considered by the applicant:

Opening @ 5pm

Patio seatng in front and not on the side of establishment

Close of patio seating 10 pm Sun -Thurs and 11pm Fri -Sat

No music on the patio

No recyclables shall be emptied after 10 pm

There will be a status hearing on Feb. 8 @ 9:30 pm the purpose of the status hearing will be to report the result of the 1/31/12 mediation hearing.

Another late night option has opened up at 1931 14th St, NW. Black and Orange opened to the public last night. So without doing an internet search – anyone remember what used to be in this location? The transformation is pretty wild:

Unfortunately, I forgot to ask about the status of their outdoor seating. Anyone happen to know what happened with that?

So, they’re open 11am-5am and you can see their menu here. Black and Orange also has a Dupont location at 1300 Connecticut 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?

From our old friend Danny Harris:

In honor of Valentine’s Day, People’s District is taking over the Room and Board furniture store on February 7th for The Anecdote: Stories about Not Love. Come get under the covers, gather around the table, and get comfy on the couch as storytellers regale you with tales of terrible dating, no sex, awkward sex, failed love, and (pre-Lady Gaga) bad romance.

And, who better to share such stories of failed romantic conquests than Danny Harris, Chris Keener, Vijai Nathan, Amy Saidman, Jennifer Tress, and Patrick White.
If you needed more incentive to come, Room and Board will be giving a $250 gift card to a lucky attendee.

$10 gets you in bed with a storyteller. Sadly, given the theme, we can’t promise anything more than that…

Room and Board (1840 14th St NW – 4th Floor)

February 7th
7:00 – 9:00pm

RSVP here

Back in Oct. 2011 we noted that a serious roof deck was coming to the Brixton at 9th and U St, NW. A reader writes:

“I have been glad to see the building directly across U St from Nellie’s being fixed up with what looks like a new roof deck. I noticed this morning that sometime this past weekend their faux-stone façade was painted white. I don’t know why they didn’t just take that ugly stuff off, but it is what it is.”

Dear PoPville,

I spotted an ABRA permit renewal in the window of the below ground unit in the Lost Society/Subway building. The sign says that it will be a Music & Arts Club and the Applicant name is listed as Cuckoo Marans. It’s petitioning to be a class C nightclub. Have you heard anything more about this place?

Does anyone remember the details of the Music and Arts Club/Cuckoo Marans that is supposed to come to the basement space at 14th and U St, NW?

I always get tons of emails asking about the retail space at 2013 14th St, NW (just north of U St.) This used to be the Red Lounge Bar and Grill but the first floor space has been closed for ages. I just noticed that the paper has finally come off the windows:

Anyone stop by or know if they’ve officially reopened?

Thanks to a reader for sending the heads up that Tropicana Eatery has closed at 725 Florida Ave NW (just east of 9th and U St, NW). They heard that “they had been operating without a license and had received notice from the health inspector.” I know they had been open for a while at that location so I’m not sure what caused the abrupt the closure. Anyone else hear anything? The space has been completely emptied out:

Their Website still lists the Florida Ave location and a few others as well. They have another location in DC listed at 1333 Rhode Island Avenue, NE. But if you’re looking for Jamaican nearby you can still get jerked at 928 U St, NW. Other recommendations for Jamaican food were given here.

After the jump are some sweet Tropicana Eatery signs. (more…)

Could be cool. CB Twelve-Twelve recently opened in the former Almaz Ethiopian restaurant space at 1212 U St, NW.

From an email:

DC Love Child, a decadent cupcake made with Chocolate City Beer, will be sold starting Friday in Hello Cupcake’s Dupont and Capitol Hill locations.

DC Love Child, the first cupcake to be made with a DC craft beer, is a rich chocolate lager cake with bourbon buttercream frosting topped with a chocolate covered potato chip. The batter is created with Chocolate City’s, Cerveza Nacional, a unique take on a traditional dark, malty, creamy, smooth and slightly roasted Vienna Lager.

Hello Cupcake and Chocolate City Beer will celebrate their offspring with a “Shot Gun Wedding” on Thursday night at Nellie’s Sports Bar. From 7 to 9 p.m. guests will get taste a sneak preview of the cupcake along with a free Chocolate City Draft.

Chocolate City Brewery is DC’s second production craft brewery to open in the district. With a variety of different drafts. residents can find their beer at numerous independently owned restaurants and bars including Nellie’s at 900 U Street.

All seasonal special cupcakes are $3.50 individually, or $39 per dozen. DC Love Child will be sold in Hello Cupcake stores until February 15.

Bar Pilar, 1833 14th St, NW, closed for renovations at the end of Nov. and hoped to be open by New Year’s. I peeked in over the weekend:

Well, I miss them, hurry up please. What do you guys think – another month?