Tryst Is Suddenly D.C.’s Newest Cop Cafe, and Some People Are Pissed | Eater DC

"A longtime Adams Morgan hub for the artsy, the under-caffeinated, and unimaginative first dates, Tryst has spent 23 years aiming to “build meaningful connections, one animal cracker at a time.” The cafe announced an MPD “Coffee with a Cop” meetup for Oct. 20, which prompted immediate social-media backlash, calls to boycott, deletion of the original Instagram post, and disabled comments; the event was rebranded as the “Adams Morgan Community Safety Forum” but kept the same date and time. Owner Constantine Stavropoulos — who also runs other D.C. cafes — defended the forum, citing declining foot traffic and ongoing neighborhood crime, while critics say the name eclipsed the forum’s purpose and employees and marginalized patrons feel betrayed: one anonymous server said staff were given no notice, feel disrespected, and are uncomfortable with the added police presence. The outdoor forum is scheduled for Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon, and future MPD events are expected." - John Besche