Thursday, March 1, 2007

Jazz outpost HR-57 has long been one of the city's secret little treasures, a spot to catch stupendous local musicians pairing off for an open jam, and, often on weekends, bigger names on the touring circuit.

There's a chessboard or two, Cajun-influenced grub for a pittance and that famous BYOB policy. It's no wonder the brick-walled place, easy to miss on 14th Street NW away from the U Street hubbub, is packed with young new residents, old jazzheads and couples looking for a dark place to enjoy alone time.

Tonight, the joint gets a new addition -- a comedy annex. And in keeping with the hole-in-the-wall vibe, you'll have to enter the Riot Act Comedy Club by creeping down the stairs to the long, narrow space that's definitely, ahem, industrial. As with the jazz club, "intimate" is the word.

Riot Act is run by the eponymous company that paired Dick Gregory and Paul Mooney at the Lincoln, brought Bob Saget to town in the fall, and is presenting "Allah Made Me Funny: The Official Muslim Comedy Tour" later this month. Cover at the club is expected to range from $12 to $20, and, for now, stand-up shows will be Thursdays through Saturdays, with the rest of the week open for what might be open-mike, all-female, gay or Latino comedy nights.

Opening weekend is celebrated with Christopher "Kid" Reid, the onetime Kid 'N Play rapper whose skyscraper of a flattop inspired boys everywhere to aim high. He has since become an actor and comic known most recently for hosting "Showtime at the Apollo."

$17-$20. BYOB corkage fee, $5 (but beer and wine are available). Tonight at 8:30, tomorrow and Saturday at 8 and 10:30 p.m. HR-57, 1610 14th St. NW. 202-625-6229.

-- Lavanya Ramanathan