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Find out more about Natalie Hope: Natalie Hope McDonald is a freelance writer in Philadelphia. Her work’s been published in Philadelphia City Paper, Inside Entertainment, Real Simple, Vibe and many other magazines and newspapers. She can be reached at natalie.hope.mcdonald@verizon.net. |
Love it or hate it, karaoke is here to stay. And lucky for local fans, there are plenty of hot spots to belt one out, seven days a week. Forget about singing in the shower and check out one of these karaoke destinations where you’re as likely to hear a drunk rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing” as you are a spirited version of “Love Shack.” If you’re shy, grab 20 or 40 of your friends and get a room at Yakitori Boy (211 N. 11th St., 215-923-8088) between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. daily. Yakitori’s lounge also hosts karaoke (for a dollar a song) and offers half-price rooms Sun.-Thurs. (5 to 9 p.m.).
SUNDAY: So much for it being a work night when beer-swilling singers step up to the mike at five different karaoke destinations around town. Starting at 7 p.m., the Locust Bar (235 S. 10th St., 215-925-2191) boasts an alternative vibe, chock full of ironic hipsters who know all the lyrics to the Billy Ocean songbook. Also check out McGillin’s Olde Ale House (1310 Drury Ln., 215-735-5562) at 8 p.m., Marathon Grill (10th and Walnut, 215-733-0311) at 9 p.m., Ly Michael’s (101 N. 11th St., 215-922-2688) at 10 p.m. and the Abbaye (637 N. Third St., 215-627-6711) from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. in Northern Liberties.
MONDAY: Is there any better way to welcome the week than making a fool of yourself four times in one night? Check out Sara Sherr’s “Karaoke That Doesn’t Suck” starting at 9 p.m. upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888) before expanding your boundaries even more. The college contingency starts singing in University City at 9 p.m. at O’Hara’s Fish House (3900 Chestnut St., 215-349-9000) and then at 11 p.m. at Smokey Joe’s (210 S. 40th St., 215-222-0770). The M Room (15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577) also pumps up the jam at 10 p.m. on the third Monday of every month.
TUESDAY: Stop by the National Mechanics (22 S. Third St., 215-701-4883) in Old City at 9 p.m. before hitting up the balcony at the Trocadero (1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888), also at 9 p.m., but on the last Tuesday of every month. The Gayborhood gets its karaoke going at 10 p.m. upstairs at Tavern on Camac (243 S. Camac St., 215-545-0900), as does New Deck Tavern (3408 Sansom St., 215-386-4600) in West Philly. Also check out Quattro Bar & Grill (2535 S. 13th St.) and the Sports Page Bar & Grill (2015 Penrose Ave., 215-755-9500) at 9 p.m. each week.
WEDNESDAY: Karaoke gets started super early (5:45 p.m.) at the Raven Lounge (1718 Sansom St., 215-840-3577) on the last Wednesday of every month. Nearby, Barristers (1823 Sansom St., 215-496-0786) clocks in at 9:30, as does Finnigan’s Wake (547 N. Third St., 215-574-9317). South Philly Bar & Grill (1235 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-334-3300), O’Hara’s Fish House and McGillin’s all do their thing at 9 p.m.
THURSDAY: Forget about Hump Day, Thursday is a king-size karaoke day in Philly when almost a dozen bars host the talented and talentless alike. Starting at 8 p.m., Samba (714 Girard Ave., 215-625-7900) starts the sing-a-thon, followed by “Karaoke Obscura,” with plenty of rare gems, at 12 Steps Down (831 Christian St., 215-238-0379) on the first Thursday of every month. Also at 9 p.m., Doc Watson’s (216 S. 11th St., 215-922-3427) and Applebees (215 S. 15th St., 215-772-2790) both start the show. Reales Sports Bar (7233 Frankford Ave., 215-332-6374) and Cheers to You (430 South St., 215-923-8780) own the 9:30 p.m. hour, while Westy’s (1440 Callowhill St., 215-563-6134), lesbian mecca Sisters (1320 Chancellor St., 215-735-0735), The Happy Rooster (118 S. 16th St., 215-963-9311), Bonner’s Irish Pub (120 S. 23rd St., 215-567-5748) and Ly Michael’s all clock in at 10 p.m. One of the most bizarre karaoke scenes in the city? Every third Thursday at M Room is puppet karaoke where singers build and bring their own puppets. No joke.
FRIDAY: Quintessential South Philly neighborhood bar Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar (1200 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-365-1169) hosts its karaoke at 10 p.m., when you’re as likely to run into a hipster singing twang as you are an old guy crooning Sinatra. At 9 p.m. McGillin’s does it all over again, and at 10 pm., so does Ly Michael’s.
SATURDAY: With a selection of almost 15 karaoke stops, Saturday is to singers what Sunday is to the believers. They wouldn’t miss this show for the world. Get your vocal cords ready by 9 p.m. when it all begins at Leneghan’s Inn (7412 Frankford Ave.), Nicholas Tavern (Second St. and Oregon Ave.), South Philly Bar & Grill, Second Place Tavern (Gaul and Clementine sts., 215-423-7878), Prince Café (Princeton Ave. and Vandike St.) and Moriarty’s (1116 Walnut St., 215-627-7676). Nearby, Natasha at gay-friendly Pure Nightclub (1221 Saint James St., 215-735-5772) gets the party started in the Pink Lounge at 9:30 p.m. before the after-hours crowd shuffles in. So does Coley’s Tavern (Third and Porter sts.). And at 10 p.m., check out Ly Michael’s, Westy’s, Blarney Stone (3929 Sansom St., 215-222-5340), Elephant & Castle (1800 Market St., 215-751-9977) and the Fishtown Tavern (Frankford Ave. and Thompson St.).
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