Yesterday I got an email from a friend of mine who thought that, what with the combination of dogs and coffee, I would like this new coffee shop, ParkGrounds. (Oh. Typing it out now, with the capital G, I just got it. Seriously.) That website is pretty bare right now — yesterday there was a nice little write-up about how they came to be and how they got a special exception for street parking — but at least you’ll know when to go by. It’s in Reynoldstown.

The hook here is that it’s a coffee shop with a fenced-in dog park in the back. Inside, the coffee shop’s got that nice concrete-floor-and-exposed-ceiling look with modest tables and a handmade full-wall bookshelf that I… covet. Best thing about the place is probably the bar, though, which is some kind of heavy stone. Outside, the dog park is a startlingly large yard of wood chips, chain-link fencing and cafe tables.

I stopped by yesterday, because I am compelled to go into independent coffee shops of all stripes, and got a mocha with an extra shot, which has sort of become my metric drink. It was real good — more dry than sweet, just a little bit foamy, and not sludge at the bottom. My wife seemed to dig the cupcake she got. (Cupcakes are all the rage now, it seems, from West Egg to Starbucks.) I had a chocolate chip and walnut cookie that was freaking great, all crispy and melty (it was hot yesterday). So, based on one short trip, I’d recommend this place.

And is it just me or is Reynoldstown becoming more and more like Cabbagetown?