Sixth Street NW

La Tomate Adds Café

La Tomate has been serving Italian food in Dupont for nearly thirty years. It's in a great location; on a narrow, triangular corner at R and Connecticut, just a block form the Metro station. I've actually never eaten there, but they may have a new customer after opening a cute addition in the form of a café. 

The grand opening for La Tomate Caffé is July 25, but I stopped by last week to peek in. It's a simple affair, being located in the rear of the restaurant, next to The Cheeky Puppy pet store. The café menu is separate from the bistro and for now, includes mostly sandwiches and salads. And of course a full coffee service. Looking forward to checking it out! La Tomate Caffé is located at 1701 Connecticut Ave NW.

Lia Cafe Brazil Opens in Mount Pleasant

Lia Cafe Brazil had its grand opening in July of 2013. After a one-day preview, the restaurant/cafe never opened for regular business. 

However, as of this weekend, it appears they are now open! I was not able to make a visit during operating hours, but they do have a refreshed logo, slightly tweaked name (originally Sobe Cafe), as well as a new menu. The menu includes half-a-dozen choices each of sandwiches, pastries, soups, coffee/espresso drink, as well as cakes & other desserts. There appear to be several vegetarian items, but nothing vegan at first glance. Lia Cafe Brazil is located at 3103 Mount Pleasant Sweet NW. Good luck to the owners!

If you dropped in this weekend, let me know how it was via Twitter: @The42BusDC

Peek inside

New Café for Mount Pleasant Street

New coffee spot at 2103 Mount Pleasant St NW?

UPDATE: Ramona's Salon and Day Spa will remain open on the second and third floors.

For the past five+ years, the Barreiro Salon & Day Spa has operated at 3103 Mount Pleasant St NW. They offered the usual spa services like massage, waxing, mani/pedi, facials, hair care, and skin care. They even hosted a semi-permanent art gallery and occasionally held special events.

Well, it looks as if a new business is moving in. Sobé Café has signage up announcing an imminent opening. The website listed was not yet active, as of last night. The Barreiro Salon website is still active, though. However, a food display case, cafe tables and chairs now inhabit the first floor, not salon equipment. And the Salon nameplate has been replaced by Sobé Café's. In addition, DCRA permits dating back to last summer indicate that the managers of the new space have been planning a conversion to food service for some time.

This café would join current Mount P coffee hangouts Flying Fish, Dos Gringos, and Heller's Bakery. More news as it comes. 

Coffy Cafe Opening Next Week

The DC coffee scene is about to get another player. Coffy Cafe has been in the works for nearly a year now and I'm happy to see that they will likely open within the next 10 days! A sign recently went up in the front windows indicating an open date of Saturday March 3rd. Welcome to the neighborhood, Coffy! 

Coffy Cafe is located at 3310 14th St NW in Columbia Heights. The unique name is a direct reference to the 1973 Jack Hill film Coffy starring 1970s (and then, 90s!) movie queen Pam Grier.

Not sure if they have a proper website yet, but the shop Facebook page is active and every time I've peeked in the windows of the store this week, they've had a more "open soon" feel. Looking forward to a new quality coffee spot just blocks away from Mount Pleasant! Have a great weekend.

UPDATE: They do have a website. CoffyCafe.com, natürlich.

Inside is still a work in progress, but looking good!

Coffee/Riot: Tynan Coffee and Tea

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are straight up coffee shops. I've taken on task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city, on a quest to show what's unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, go bananas. I'm not much of a hater or complainer so I'll mostly be heaping praise and being posi. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired, Dos Gringos, M.E. Swing, Grape and Bean, Crumbs & Coffee, Open City, Tryst, Ebenezers Coffeehouse, Bourbon Coffee, Chinatown Coffee Company.

Tynan Coffee and Tea
While sitting at Tynan drinking a soy latte of unknown calorie count, I looked up at the workout machines across the street at Washington Sports Club. I should have started a series on gym memberships instead. I'll need one after this winter of eating. But anyway, on to Tynan.

Tynan is in Columbia Heights. It is within 100 feet of the Metro station, across the street from DCUSA shoppers and on busy Irving Street NW. The set-up is priceless. This place should do well financially and it looks like they are off to a good start.

The interior set up is neat. Tynan has a community table right up front, next to the door, but it's tucked away in the window bay. As you enter, you are drawn into the shop by one of two paths, leading to either the ordering area or main seating area. The main seating area is dark and warm with wooden furniture and feels enclosed like a separate room, although there are no high walls. I like this. In the front of the store is the aforementioned community table, a large couch-like seat, two or three single chairs with small tables and counter top seating designed for laptop users. Also to the left, as you enter, a large white wall, a natural canvas. A Columbia Heights related mural is planned. There is a small fireplace in the rear. I was there on a weekday recently and there were only five or six seats available, one of which I took. It was near the front window. There is an area for outside seating. Looked great for a few weeks after Tynan's opening in late October of last year. Looking forward to the outside seating this spring.

This place has a high turnover and fast service. The employees have always been pleasant to me. As usual, I ordered a soy latte as well as a regular drip coffee. Soy latte was nothing to write home about. I've had it on 4-5 separate occasions since they opened. Serviceable and, at the least, consistent. I don't know what type of soy they use. The drip coffee of the day was Guatemalan Antigua, a mild roast. On it's own, a strong coffee with a hint of bitterness and a bold, but not cutting or overwhelming aroma and taste. Later, when I asked for some soy as creamer (its not on the bar), the barista was nice enough to steam some for me even though I didn't ask. I liked that, too.

In addition to coffee, tea and juice, there are whole bean and loose leaf teas for sale, biscotti, croissants, muffins, and bagels. Prepared foods offered include waffles, quiche, breakfast sandwiches, salads, wraps and chili. A small selection of beer, wine and coffee liqueur drinks round out the diverse menu (PDF). Some items are seasonal, so I'd call and check or just drop by if you want to be sure one of those menu items is available.

Overall, Tynan looks like a good addition to the DC coffee scene. A nice place for a group meeting, after dinner date, or anonymous lounging. Its quite comfortable, clean and there are multiple seating choices. For the vegans, this place probably won't replace the likes of Sticky Fingers, but if you aren't looking for food or alcohol, this is a fine place to hang your hat for an hour or so. On the flip side, Tynan is a great alternative for those who aren't big fans of either Stick Fingers or Starbucks, the other coffee shops within a block of the CH Metro stop.

Tynan Coffee and Tea is located at 1400 Irving Street NW on the first level of the Highland Park building. It's between Five Guys and Commonwealth. Its open seven days a week; 630am-800pm and opening at 800am on the weekends.

Coffee/Riot: Chinatown Coffee Company

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are straight up coffee shops. I've taken on task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city, on a quest to show what's unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, go bananas. I'm not much of a hater or complainer so I'll mostly be heaping praise and being posi. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired, Dos Gringos, M.E. Swing, Grape and Bean, Crumbs & Coffee, Open City, Tryst, Ebenezers Coffeehouse, Bourbon Coffee.

Chinatown Coffee Company

...opened in late July on the corner of 5th and H Streets NW. The rather utilitarian corner (GAO government building, nondescript hotel) has gotten more lively recently with the opening of a few new restaurants and now Chinatown Coffee.

Everything about Chinatown Coffee has impressed me so far. Start with the employees. I love coffee. I appreciate people who love coffee. Their employees are so nice and friendly and can describe in detail the qualities and tastes of the coffee in play that day, each of the specialty drinks they serve and have no problems giving recommendations. I trust that whatever is being served at the time is going to taste fantastic.

Consistency is sometimes a degraded virtue, but not at this place. The soy latte is just phenomenal every time I order it no matter who is barista-ing (not a word, eh. well, it's a verb now. barista-ing). That will keep me and others coming back every time.

The decor is spartan, but warm, with a deep orange covering the walls and dark furniture along the the edges. No gimmicky abstract art or tattered couches. Lots of sharp angles, cold metal and a "here we are, this is our craft" open layout to the espresso machines, work and register area. Not many areas for mass gathering, but there are a few spaces up front to fit a group of four comfortably. A nice contrast from the clean and finished orange walls to the patches of exposed brick and unfinished spaces that appear around the shop.

There is a full menu of coffee products from lattes, drip coffee, french press and much more. Yes, I have had the soy latte about, I don't know, a dozen times so far. It's great! For the vegans, they're using the Pacific Barista Series Soy Blender milk. It's not sweet, doesn't burn and makes foam like dairy milk. That means in the hands of a trained professional, get ready for a sublime soy latte.

The winter months are nearly upon us. I can see myself hitting this place up for a small coffee (under $2 after tax) to start me up in the morning or get me through a tough afternoon. All coffee signs point to yes for this place. Keep up the good work.

Chinatown Coffee Co. is located at 475 H Street NW. It's open 7 days a week. 7a-8p on the weekdays, 8a-8p Saturday and 8a-7p on Sunday (fall schedule).

DC is the New

The first half of 2009 has been good to DC. We're dealing slightly better with the recession than the rest of the country. Violent crime and murders are down, relatively. The new Presidential administration has breathed fresh life into and world wide attention onto DC. Even Hollywood is shining a light on the District with no less than three reality shows and an Owen Wilson flick being filmed here this year. Some observations:

14th and U is the new 18th and Columbia
Want to emulate 18th and Columbia on the weekend? Add a little street harassment, one fight, gridlocked traffic, bunch o' jumbo slice, pinch of lost Virginians and a nightly dose of mass bar hopping. U Street isn't quite all the way there, but its certainly giving Adams Morgan a run for the money as most annoying nightlife neighborhood.

Coffee shop is the new coffee shop
Nothing says you are are a bonafide, made-it, DC neighborhood than a locally owned coffee shop. These indie establishments give a sense of place to an area, some ownership to the residents-customers and provide a gathering place where neighbors can at least look at, if not interact with each other. Mt Pleasant has one in Dos Gringos. Now a couple of other neighborhoods are gearing up for their own versions. Chinatown Coffee in, well, Chinatown and Big Chair in Anacostia.

Yoga studio is the new coffee shop
Quiet Mind, Boundless, Yoga District, Studio Serenity, Past Tense and the list goes on. Yoga studios are popping up all over. Many of the midtown neighborhoods, including Adams Morgan, Mt Pleasant, Columbia Heights and U Street each has their own. Some neighborhoods have more than one. Close to home, familiar and relaxing. Like a coffee shop, but healthier.

Natinal is the new Nationals
Thankfully and mercifully my ticket plan for the Washington Nationals has expired. I won't likely be giving any more money to this team in 2009. I support them, but will be watching from home for the rest of the season. The odd jersey-gate episode was funny, but the team's actual performance is almost literally sickening. They represent Washington in such a nonchalant manner, you might forget that we built a 3/4 billion dollar stadium for the team only a year ago. Hockey season can't return soon enough.

Barry '09 is the new Barry '90
For a civil rights worker, the mayor who initiated a teen summer work program and helped jump start U Street's revival, Marion Barry has seemingly thrown away second chance after second chance. He trumped critics by winning the mayorship and then a council seat after being declared politically dead, but Barry has come into some more trouble as of late. In 2009 he's been maligned for his anti gay marriage views, public sex life episodes and job hiring oddities. In the eye of his supporters, he still on top. Considering that, I think should quit while he's ahead; i.e. retire after his current term is over.

Real Word DC is the new Real World Phila
Locals hate on the new Real World before, during and after they show up. Real World house located is a renovated historic building in a happening neighborhood. Reality treated as a relative term for the duration of the show. Check, check and check. Same show, different day, 135 miles south.

NextBus is the new on-time bus
All my friends, and many readers of this blog tell me that NextBus is great. I agree. Wholeheartedly. However, as a commenter pointed out on an earlier post, there is a potentially icky consequence of having this system. Will knowing when the next bus is approaching replace caring that that bus is actually on time? I hope not. There are still bus schedules WMATA! Just because we know the next 42 bus is arriving in 15 minutes doesn't mean we don't realize that it's scheduled to be arriving in 5 minutes.

Any I forgot, let me know...

Chinatown Coffee Company

Coming soon to 475 H Street NW. Can't wait! Related to Wrecking Ball Coffee.

Finally, A Real Coffee Shop Coming to PQ

The owner of Murky Coffee --which closed its DC store last year and will soon be closing its Arlington location-- will be opening up a new place on 475 H St NW. The new coffee shop will be called Wrecking Ball Coffee.

I'm totally excited! I've been reduced to trolling the Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts of the PQ coffee scene for too long. Finally some real coffee (and ambiance) in this neighborhood; with all due respect to Juan Valdez, formerly of 7th and E Streets.

This is a plus for the blog, too. I can get back to adding places to the Coffee/Riot series! There are several places on the still-to-visit list: Peregrine Espresso, Sova Espresso and Wine, and now Wrecking Ball. Perfect spring time activities. Any other places I should get to?

Coffee/Riot: Tryst

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired, Dos Gringos, M.E. Swing, Grape and Bean, Crumbs & Coffee, Open City.

I had put off writing about Tryst since I know so many people have strong feelings about this place. It enamors and infuriates equally. Laptop owners love it, but not on weekends. Its a great place to do homework, unless the band's playing. You can go there to people watch, or to be stalked. Ok, the last one was kind of a joke. But, Tryst is so popular its hard to make a case against it. Its a quintessential coffee shop and lounge. Its not familiar in the way Open City is; clean, sharp and out-of-town-visitor friendly. Its not as intimidating as a specialty coffee shop embedded in a trendy neighborhood (like Grape and Bean). I guess that's the rub, Tryst is so good at being all things to all people. And I'm one that really likes it.

Start with the coffee. Its great! Both Tryst and Open City use Counter Culture Coffee. Its almost a given now that a respected alternative coffee shop should serve fairly traded, organic etc coffee. If you have read the blog before you know that I LOVE soy latte. They make a great one here. The in-house latte is the size of your head and I often have a hard time finishing it before it gets cold. Similar to Open City, Tryst baristas make a mean soy cortado. They have a fairly sick tea menu as well. Great presentation when you order the loose leaf tea. If you do get a coffee and want to stick around, the downside is that there is table service. If you ever feel guilty about running a $3.00 tab for an hour sitting, don't come here. They serve alcohol so table table service is not optional.

The service is fine by my standards, but don't expect an in-and-out breakfast, lunch or dinner. The servers are usually oh-so-attractive, knowledgeable, generally kind and serve just fine: its just hard to find them on occasion. They definitely put the "wait" back into waitstaff. But the large letters on the front door do say 'lounge,' so I'm not inclined to complain. There is always some sort of art on the walls, many times begging the question "but is it art?" Check out the amusing bathtime photos of the staff behind the counter. The atmosphere is laid back. Couches and mismatched armchairs share room with community coffee tables and night stands turned place setting. Its a sort of free for all as far as seating. If you can find a seat and room for your plate or cup, great. If not, you may need to improvise.












There are no hosts so actually finding a seat is up to the patron and can be nerve racking. I never attempt to eat at Tryst with more than one person. Finding a seat for a group is especially challenging. On the other hand the lighting and single seating model can lead to a little privacy and intimacy; great when you don't want to be bothered by others, or just want to get away for a spell and bury yourself in food or coffee. The food menu is nothing special, but the salads are particularly full and filling and I've heard great things about the desserts, but few are vegan friendly, so I can't say from experience.

Tryst has much to offer and I can't get into all the nuance in one post. Its almost too perfect. Sort of like the smart know it all kid in class who was just nice enough, or attractive enough that you couldn't really get on his case. A tough shell to crack. I learned a long time ago if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Tryst is located at 2459 18th St, NW, just south of Columbia Rd.

Coffee/Riot: Open City

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired, Dos Gringos, M.E. Swing, Grape and Bean, Crumbs & Coffee.

This post happened by accident. I usually end up at Open City on days like yesterday. Its just, I never plan too. Gorgeous out, 70-something degrees, orange sky and people, people, people, on the streets. No need to be in the house, I started out on a walk to no-where, beginning in Mount Pleasant. I figured, since I'd already been to Adams Morgan earlier in the day (buying movies at CD/Game Exchange), I'd make the trip across the bridge to Woodley Park, people watching along the way. Great place for it, eh. Anyway, yes, I end up in Woodley Park, home of a dozen or so quality, worldly restaurants, the "Adams Morgan" Metro stop, lost tourists looking for "Adams Morgan," conventioneers, zoo goers and a neat coffee shop and restaurant called Open City. I stopped there for coffee.

If you look closely, it's obvious that Open City is a sister business to Tryst and The Diner in Adams Morgan. All three have a generic, but organic feel. Safe, clean and comfortable. There's a curious narrative on the OC website explaining this aesthetic, in a round-about way. I pretty much agree. Stylistically it borrows from the best of what we think of an interesting and aesthetically pleasing cafe should be: close, intimate wooden tables, high ceilings, ton of outdoor seating, fans, low lighting, bustling energy. There is a latent sophistication to OC, even if the clientèle is mostly made up of townies, out of town visitors, tourists and college kids. You legitimately feel as if you aren't in DC while visiting Open City. It is a good feeling.

As for the coffee, it on par with Tryst. Not completely obvious if the two establishments share baristas, but I really like Tryst coffee and espresso drinks, and I feel the same about Open City. OC has a full menu, with full complement of breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch meals. After tinkering with the menu over the last three years, they've even added dedicated vegan options, which were scarce or questionably vegan just after the opening in 2005. The bar sports a 50-something inch television and today it was showing ESPN Classic. No one was sitting at the bar. OK, back to the coffee. There is so much going on at OC its sometimes hard to focus on the coffee. If you dine in, you are subject to table service, similar to Tryst. However, OC has limited seating for "waiting" customers outside the front doors. I usually order a coffee at the counter and sit outside, in the waiting area seats to enjoy it. Yesterday I ordered a soy cortado. So thick and bitter, it needs to be enjoyed while sitting down. Relaxed, able to savor. Perfectly drawn. So for the 10 minutes I was there, I relaxed, looking over the Omni Shoreham, Rock Creek Park and still imagined that I was in another place, anonymous, sophisticated happy. Then I remembered that I had to do laundry. Ugh, back to reality. Nice walk home tough, over the bridge and glancing the lights of 18th street, before settling back down in Mount P.

Open City is located at 2331 Calvert Street NW. Open daily until midnight, 1AM on weekends.

Coffee/Riot: Crumbs & Coffee

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired, Dos Gringos, M.E. Swing, Grape and Bean.

When Crumbs & Coffee opened a few years ago, I was excited. This was well before the coffee shop explosion in Columbia Heights, but well after Starbucks moved into the previously haunted corner of 18th and Columbia. I thought "Finally a coffee shop which isn't a chain (Starbucks), doesn't have table service (Tryst) and doesn't shun wireless internet (Dos Gringos)." Sadly, the only remarkable feature was the free wireless. I tried to make Crumbs my coffee shop. I went on Sunday mornings with the paper. Once a month or so I took my laptop down to the shop and surfed or listened to music. I tried to eat there a few times (not much vegan food, just bagels). I generally did my best to support a new local business.













It never caught on, personally. The owner and a woman who I surmised to be his daughter worked there tirelessly for the first year or so serving up OK coffee and espresso drinks while trying various configurations of furniture (couch? no, no couch. well. maybe a small one. no. nope. no couch) and menu options. They finally settled on the ubiquitous coffee and lite fare model, with the full compliment of hot and cold coffee drinks plus sandwiches and salads. Recently they added a Dunkin Donuts-type line up of pastries and doughnuts. I was surprised, and while there recently they sold an impressive handful before noon. The coffee is sufficient, but I was a little miffed that you couldn't get a real cup to drink out of. Only paper to-go cups. Sad. I last went on a weekend and there were 8-10 laptops out, making use of the free wireless. Obviously this is the biggest draw. For the cost of a small cup of coffee you can plop down and surf the net at no additional cost for as long as you wish really. There are a ton of electrical outlets and the connection is fast.

I guess that brings me to the conclusion. Crumbs had potential. Its at a crossroads, in the heart of Adams Morgan. Its adjacent to the Safeway, under an apartment building and fronts onto one of the busiest roads in the Ward. But it's just so..... blah. Single laptop users don't engage in conversation. Its the quietest coffee shop I've been to in a while. I wish they had kept a miss-matched couch or two to liven the place up. And for the love of good coffee, buy some ceramic mugs for those of us who want to linger a bit and enjoy the coffee. If Crumbs had another gimmick, or actually made really great coffee, or some other distinguishing factor besides free wireless, I'd be more excited. But they don't. For now, its a perfectly nice, indie coffee shop with a decent selection of pastries and good service. All in all, not bad, just not quite on par with the other shops nearby or reviewed so far in this series.

Crumbs & Coffee is located at 1737 Columbia Road NW. Open daily until 9:00pm.

Local Starbucks Take Part in Course Correction

Can the company which introduced many Americans to gourmet coffee right their own ship? Starting Wednesday, we'll see.

Each and every Starbucks store in the United States will close Tuesday night for three hours. The stores will close at 5:30pm and most will not reopen until Wednesday. The company has decided to close it stores and mandate that employees and baristas attend a retraining session. The Seattle-based chain wants to get back to basics, focusing on actually making coffee and customer service. The correction comes after years of mega-expansion and beating us all over the head with Starbonics (tall is small? what's venti, and why is it the largest size? that's not really a macchiato, is it. no, no it isn't).

The chain lost its way by focusing on all manner of non-coffee related items like breakfast sandwiches and stuffed teddy bears. One could just as soon find Norah Jones' new CD as a finely drawn espresso shot. While expanding like gangbusters, the chain lost the power to exclaim "You've arrived!" for a neighborhood and even for entire towns. Not unlike acquiring a Whole Foods, getting a Starbucks meant your town was robust, sophisticated and had residents who didn't think twice about spending $3.00 on some steamed milk and espresso. Now, the stores use automated machines to pump out espresso drinks and the term barista is applied too loosely at most of the 7,000+ stores in the U.S. For perspective, there are over 2,000 stores in California and more than 60 in D.C., one for every 9,500 residents; highest ratio among states. The ubiquitous interior design and unrelenting expansion caused Starbucks to occupy an unsavory niche within popular culture and worse, the quality of its coffee and espresso drinks slowly declined. Read it all on one of the longest running Starbucks related blogs, Starbucks Gossip.

My question is: will visiting the Starbucks at 18th and Columbia ever be any different than visiting Starbucks at R and Connecticut Ave, N and Connecticut, K and Connecticut or 19th and Connecticut? There are so many stores on the 42 bus route alone! Long ago, local indie coffee shops surpassed Starbucks in coffee quality and availability, store ambiance, accessibility and customer care. (See the ongoing Coffee/Riot series for details.) No way Starbucks will ever stack up against Tryst, Murky or even Heller's Bakery. All Starbucks are the same to me. The 18th and Columbia location might as well be on 6th Ave in New York, or 6th Street in St Louis. I'll give them credit for slowing down, getting rid of food and retraining their staff. But I fear the once fun and quirky anomaly which taught a lot of us about coffee quality and variety, has become just another corporation intent on growing their business and making bank at the expense of all else. Maybe I'll reconsider when they start actually selling that $1 cup of coffee.

Coffee/Riot: M.E. Swing

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired, Dos Gringos.

M.E. Swing

Good things apparently come in ugly packages. Not far off of the 42 bus line, and only one block away from the White House, lies the M.E. Swing Company. Its housed in an ugly 1970s era office building on G Street near a smattering of office-lunch spots like Subway and a few nondescript delis. Inside was a different story. The owners luckily kept many of the counter pieces, old roasting equipment and other accoutrement from the earlier incarnations of the coffee shop. The warm wooden-paneling and two-seaters with stools help take the edge off and give M.E. Swing a more homey feel. M.E. Swing specializes in importing and roasting high quality beans and there were several patrons who searched for their favorite roast by the pound during the few minutes I stuck around and observed. Mostly everyone patronizing looked to be a regular and I guess due to the location, everyone was apparently on a lunch break. There was one kid with a skateboard, but no tourists or out of towners appeared to come in.

In all fairness, I should have played to the strength of the place and gotten a regular drip cup of coffee, but I went with a soy latte. Not a bad choice I must say. The espresso was really flavorful and I plan to make another trip just for a plain shot of espresso and a cup of regular coffee. I rarely buy coffee by the pound, but I may try a small amount from this place. I always seem to get the coffee which tastes great at the shop, but looses all the flavor and aroma when put through my coffee maker at home. Then again, I'm not willing to put down a small fortune for any of the home machines either. Maybe after my cashing out my savings after I stop working at age 90, I can buy one of the $20,000 coffee makers sold in Japan. But I digress. M.E. Swing is one of those places which goes about its daily business as if it really doesn't need or want your approval. Its dedicated customers have kept the place in business since 1916 and are rewarded with a quality product and a staff that seems to know the craft, terminology and coffee business ins and outs. Now of only they could acquire a space with a little more umph and less ugh. They'll get another visit from this blogger however. Gotta try the drip...

M.E. Swing is located at 1702 G Street NW.

Coffee/Riot: Dos Gringos

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers, Baked & Wired.

Dos Gringos

Well, didn't have to go far for this one. Dos Gringos is right in my backyard, here in Mt Pleasant. A quintessential neighborhood coffee shop and gathering place, Dos Gringos feels like it belongs in this neighborhood. If not for the empty cable spool, recycled tables and plastic lawn chairs out front, you may miss this place, housed in a row house and still looking very much like someone's den on the inside. The entrance sits above Mt Pleasant street in a relaxed and inviting way, looking friendly and open enough to invite you up the stairs without requiring you to make a commitment. Once inside, you'll notice that the chairs and tables are slightly miss-matched, but not in a sloppy way. The counter is located in the second "room" and offers menus in both English and Spanish. Of course there is coffee, and the house blend is REALLY good, just straight up; no sugar (ok, a teaspoon, maybe) and no cream/soy milk. Also its $1.75 with $.75 refills. In the past I wouldn't have gushed about that, but these days, to be able to put down less than two dollars and get a good coffee is becoming rare.

The full menu is extensive and includes a lot for the vegetarians and even the vegans. Mostly lite fare menu items you'd expect at a place like this; wraps, sandwiches, pretty good chili and soups. I did the 'coffee shop thing' and went on a weekend day with newspaper in hand and staked out a window-side table. Pretty perfect afternoon. I sat at a little two seater so I didn't feel awkward about taking up one of the larger tables, which can seat up to six. Politics seemed to be the item of the day for most of the other patrons. Old and young alike frequent this place. A few mom's with baby and many couples. The counter staff gives out all manner of funny little toys and objects for you to take back to your table. When your latte or bean wrap is ready, a staff member will trade your toy for the food. Always funny to see people walking around with little plastic animals, cars, or a school bus, which I had. Nice, fun touch. Cell phone use is not allowed, which is a policy I've warmed up to. Initially, I thought it was a silly rule, but I liken it to the quiet cars on a commuter train. Sort of nice not to have to sit through one of 'those' conversations right in your ear. I've seen the staff ask folks to step outside after answering a call. For better or worse the rule is posted and enforced. During the summer you can get a scoop from the downstairs ice cream bar and on winter mornings, grab a cup of coffee to-go from their outside stand, its only $1. Overall I do like this place. I feel like I don't go nearly enough, for it being an establishment literally steps from my front door. Its very homey, friendly, and the food and drink are good. If you ever want to stop by and see Mount Pleasant as a visitor, make sure to include this place; it really does represent a small slice of life for the neighborhood.

Dos Gringos is located at 3116 Mount Pleasant St NW. Its closed on Mondays.

Coffee/Riot: Baked & Wired

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog. Previous Coffee/Riot posts: Sticky Fingers.

Baked & Wired

My long time favorite Georgetown coffee spot, Baked & Wired is one of the few bearable places to sit and relax on the busy M Street corridor. Located on the quiet Thomas Jefferson Street NW, B & W serves up some of the best coffee I've had in the city. A sign near the cappuccino machine reads: "Yo! It takes time to prepare a quality drink... thanks for understanding." Hear, hear. They always come through on the quality part. And I've never waited an extraordinary amount of time for a drink. The new set up has you ordering your drinks at the coffee bar and crossing a threshold to pay for the drink. This, of course after you've had a chance to peruse the baked offerings.

Like Sticky Fingers, B & W is as known for its baked goods as it is for the coffee. While I drank my unbelievably savory soy latte at the small bar, customer after customer entered and tried to decide which cupcakes to take home. One woman expressed that she deserved a strawberry cupcake after a tough weekend; just one though. Another ordered 5 red velvet (which was the run away favorite that day) for a special occasion, I think a birthday. Mostly everyone who came in appeared to be a regular, although a few, unawares-looking shoppers stopped in and ordered coffee. B & W shares space with a design firm. The bakery recently expanded though and the share is less obvious. Looks and feels better for the change. There are now a few couches and more original art hanging on the walls, with the new bar making it even easier to hang out and read, study, or contemplate the art without being bothered. And like any coffee shop, the staff can make or break a visit. The staff at B & W are pretty awesome. I was treated very well, having my stupid questions about the mango ceylon tea answered nicely (it IS caffeinated). And every indecisive cupcake buyer was treated with patience and non-pretentiousness. A relaxing and simple visit made complete by the quality of the offerings and setting. Thumbs up.

Baked & Wired is located at 1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW. Its open 7 days a week.

Coffee/Riot: Sticky Fingers

Coffee shops, cafes, whatever you prefer to call them, DC has its fair share of spots that serve up the caffeinated, addictive beverage in some form or another. Some are bakeries, others more restaurant-like, and others are self-identified coffee shops. I'll take on the dubious task of chronicling some of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Of course its not a dubious task, but in order to really examine the reasons behind their greatness (as decided by me) of any specific location, I'll deliberately visit each one, including a couple I've never been too, on a quest to uncover what's so unique and cool about them. If you have suggestions, well, suggest away. I know DC residents are sometimes fiercely loyal to their favorite coffee joints, so I'll mostly be heaping praise, and being posi. On the other hand, I appreciate coffee of varying quality, so all you purist can start your own blog.

Sticky Fingers

I'm not sure there is a more unique set of circumstances that exists than the set associated with this place. After operating in a basement location in the no-man's land part of 18th St (near BP Gas, Jolt-N-Bolt) for a several years, Sticky Fingers Bakery, made a big splash after moving into the Park Triangle building in Columbia Heights. I don't have all the specs, but they must have tripled in square-footage in and helped anchor the retail options of the Park Triangle (Citibank, Pollo Campero, SCORE! Education, T-Mobile, OXXO Cleaners, others). They will be remembered as one of the local businesses to first populate the new version of 14th and Irving after this key intersection of Columbia Heights finishes its build-out. Some of the other indie businesses to stake a claim nearby are Nash Sports, Mayorga Coffee, Il Riconcito, The Heights and Los Rumberos.

Two of the biggest changes SF made after their move were in seating and coffee offerings. They are first and foremost a bakery. However, after adding a cappuccino machine and hiring trained, experienced baristas, some from other well-known local coffee shops, SF has become a destination for neighborhood people like me who really savor the idea of getting a cup of coffee or a latte and sitting in the corner with today's paper. They offer free WiFi and can seat about 20 customers comfortably, although on any given weekend afternoon, you'll see strangers doubling up at the same table and learning to make nice because of the squeeze. In the old 18th St location, there was seating for 5. No kidding. Six if one guy sat on the sofa arm. The staff are always friendly and one of the two owners is seemingly always there, baking behind the scenes. The clientèle are as varied as the neighborhood (its Columbia Heights!), but with a strong propensity for bicycle riding. You're liable to see as many locked up outside as there are people inside. In the good weather months, there's seating for another 8-10 people outside on the sidewalk. Unlike in Tryst, where table service ruins the idea of getting a quick coffee and lounging at your own pace, and Starbucks where your anonymity isn't always an asset, SF is small enough to be homey and accessible, but busy enough that you may run into friends, school mates, or your next door neighbor. Its a real community gathering spot in a neighborhood that is working out its identity in the midsts of massive change.

Sticky Fingers is located at 1370 Park Road NW. Its open 7 days a week.