The Black Cat is a nightclub in Washington, DC, located on 14th Street Northwest in the Shaw/U Street neighborhood, a few blocks from the 9:30 Club. It was founded in 1993 by a group of investors (mostly musicians, including Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame) and quickly established itself as a venue for independent music. While The Black Cat is most known for its support of indie rock, its schedule contains acts as diverse as metal, punk, ska, and DJ/dance nights.
The Black Cat's main stage is on the second floor, and can hold roughly 700 people. Lesser known acts play in the "Back Stage", a smaller area on the first floor that holds approximately 150 people. There is also a bar and lounge called "The Red Room" and a cafe that serves primarily vegetarian food (some meat and vegan dishes are also available) called "Food For Thought", the last remnant of a popular but defunct Dupont Circle vegetarian restaurant of the same name. In 2001, the venue moved three doors south on 14th Street to its current location. It is served by the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo stop on the Washington Metro.
