Hr-57

A friend brought me here when I first moved to DC last year. As a music lover, I must say, the quality of jazz and the atmosphere of HR-57 is something you rarely find. That being said, I've recently noticed HR-57 has been filled with loud noisy people, who are into the 'scene' rather than the music.. My past two experiences at HR-57 have been tainted with loud, chatty people who are there for the scene instead of being there for the music. Several times, the performers asked people to be quiet, and the rude people disregarded their requests. I still plan on going back frequently, but I'm hoping HR-57 figures out a way to handle this new demographic that's been attending as of late. Pros: Great Music Cons: Annoying People more

Nobody is gonna answer the phone if you call during the day. The shutters will be closed if you walk by before the appointed hour. HR-57 doesn't go out of its way to pull you inside, but maybe that's the point: You have to sort of know . And it's worth knowing, especially if you're into jazz. (Or if you're looking to impress a date with pseudo-sophistication.) This nonprofit jazz house is the antithesis of those haughty table-service-type places. Brick walls, low couches, shabby chairs and not a waitress in sight. At the front, a set of musicians makes you feel like you found a wormhole to a different city, a different decade. Someplace cooler, a time with more verve. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, musicians from around town and beyond show up for jam sessions. On Fridays and Saturdays, the club, named for a congressional resolution designating jazz a "rare and valuable national American treasure," plays host to polished quartets. Tip: HR-57 is BYOB. So bring a bottle of whatever, but plan on paying a $3 corking fee per person. The staff will sell you wine and beer by the glass if you forget your own. -- Ellen McCarthy (January 25, 2008) more