The Resurgence of 14th & U

Zen-like simplicity, great jazz, and affordable retro furniture all on 14th & U.

By Shaun Rodriguez

Last month, we visited the chic Maison 14 and cozy Kuna. This time, we visit three merchants who have decided to make this vibrant neighborhood their home.

Ready, Steady, Go

Noi Chudnoff, owner of Go Mama Go -- with her petite frame, silver-gray hair, and infectious smile --gives a tranquil and gracious first impression. But under that calm, charming exterior is the mind of a savvy businesswoman with a heart of gold.

Go Mama Go started humbly as a table in DC's famed Eastern Market selling Japanese plates and bowls. Though Chudnoff experienced some success, she found that the inclement weather took its toll on foot traffic. It was time to find a store.

Chudnoff came to 14th Street two years ago. She carefully selected the block by visiting at different times of the day and counting how many people entered the existing stores. The block between S and T was the most well-trafficked, so she got a space that used to be a thrift store. In a whirlwind of contractors, inventory, and friendly support from her neighboring store, Home Rule, Go Mama Go emerged. When you enter the shop, with its terra cotta brick and high wrought-iron fence, it feels like a secret garden. Offerings from local artists and exotic tableware adorn the bright yellow walls, and the atmosphere balances vitality with Zen-like simplicity. "I like strong colors and strong shapes," says Chudnoff of her inventory, which comes from such distant locales as Japan, Poland,

Go Mama Go!

Prices range from under $1 for small decorative fruits to $2,000 for some of the featured artwork. Though the store has a definite Asian influence, there is an equal mix of items from other countries as well. It's like a mini United Nations of cool stuff for the home. There's everything from miniature Buddhas to Moroccan lamps to a Freda Kahlo mouse pad.

"I don't care if people don't buy," Chudnoff says, "Just come and visit and enjoy."

All That Jazz

Tucked above an Indian/ Pakistani restaurant on U St. is one of the best -- and last -- authentic jazz clubs in DC. Twins Jazz, owned by Kelny and Maze Tesfaye (the "twins" in Twins Jazz), is a jazz club for purists. Open Tuesday through Sunday with Friday and Saturday being their busier nights, Twins features well-known and up-and-coming artists such as hometown jazz hero Buck Hill and newcomer Gaynell Rose. The crowd -- ranging from college students to a more mature audience -- reflects the neighborhood's diversity. Though it has been a member of the U St. community for little over a year, Twins Jazz has been a purveyor of great music since the late '80s with its former home on 14th and Colorado.

The location is intimate with bistro-style seating and sexy lighting. Photographer Joseph A. Beasley's work adorns the walls, a treat in and of itself and worth a meditative pause. Beasley's work, most of which you can buy, ranges from tasteful nudes to stunning photographs of Ethiopia, where the Tesfaye sisters were born. All create a cozy, artistic venue that is reminiscent of jazz clubs of old. There isn't a bad seat in the house. No matter where you sit -- at a table or at the bar -- the sound is stellar.

A hot night at Twins Jazz

The menu features a mix of American, Ethiopian, and Caribbean favorites, such as the Vegetarian Delight, a platter of greens and legumes seasoned with savory Ethiopian spices. There are also burgers and fries, crab cakes, and an array of curry dishes. The bar offers reasonably priced beers ($4 for domestic, $5 for imported), as well as a competent wine list.

Deals of the Century

Looking for cool furniture from the '50s, '60s, and '70s? You'll find it at Millennium, a decorative arts store on U. The 10-year-old shop offers everything from kitsch to Danish Modern, with a focus on all things trendy from lava lamps to sleek Lucite nesting tables.

Partners Glynn Romero and Jeff McGroder have three decades of goodies spread throughout a small two-floor retail space. The initial concept for the shop was an antique mall, where many dealers could show their pieces under one roof. Romero and McGroder, who were originally dealers, took over in 1998. The lower level offers a blend of hip fun yet functional '50s, '60s, and '70s pieces, such as a '50s red and yellow snack bowl set and a funky orange brocade sectional couch.

Millennium is relaxed and helpful, with reasonable prices A French provincial "ladies' desk" is $295 and a pink Samsonite train case, circa late 1950s, sells for $30. There's everything from vintage clothing to wax recordings from artist such as Barry Manilow, The Supremes, and Ramsey Lewis.

Millennium 1528 U ST. NW Washington, DC 202.483.1218 Thursday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.	Twins Jazz 1344 U St. NW Washington, DC 202.234.0072 Tuesday to Saturday, 6 p.m. Closed Monday.
Go Mama Go 1809 14th St. NW Washington, DC Monday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

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When not starring as Urban Mother: Mistress of Laundry, Shaun Rodriguez can be found either madly scribbling the secrets and ironies of life and love in her journal or pretending to be a photographer.

Photos by Shaun Rodriguez