New York karaoke bars offer students a few shots at stardom

As many college students know all too well, there are infinite ways to make a fool of yourself, some less ill-advised than others. Karaoke, which comes from the Japanese for “to get drunk and sing poorly,” in at least its thoroughly American interpretation, is a wonderfully legal and socially acceptable way to act like an idiot. Here are three great places to let your inner diva, or inebriated alter-ego, out.

Suite

In case you weren’t aware, drag queens and karaoke are a great combination—especially with cheap Indian food next door. Suite, Morningside Heights’ only gay bar—which is also attached to Roti Roll—has karaoke on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights are run by a drag queen named Jacqueline Duprée who hosts her own show before an array of brave souls take to the stage to do karaoke. Sunday is “guys night,” hosted by a man named Gavin, who dresses up each week in a themed outfit, ranging from a cowboy to an ’80s rocker. “It’s really laid back and it’s a really mixed crowd. You know, straight, gay, lesbian,” Travis Huebel, Suite’s bartender, said. “There’s not a heck of a lot of drama,” he added.
Whether you want to belt Britney or croon Sinatra, Suite has got you covered. Plus, said Huebel, some of the karaoke singers are Broadway performers during the day, making for some seriously discounted professional performances. Despite the high skill level of some performers, Huebel said that the scene is not competitive. “There’s people that are really good, there’s people that are really bad, and there’s people [who] are just kind of in the middle and they get up there just to do it for fun,” Huebel said. Although Suite imposes a two-drink minimum for karaoke, most people who are about to sing for strangers would be happy to oblige.

992 Amsterdam Ave. at 109th Street

Arlene’s Grocery

If your taste is less KC and the Sunshine Band and more Guns n’ Roses, Arlene’s Grocery might be your dream come true. Rock and Roll Karaoke on Monday at 10 p.m. features a live band and backup singers, and there is no screen with rolling lyrics in sight. Emphasis is on performance value rather than accuracy or finesse, and audience participation is highly encouraged, making karaoke feel like a real arena rock concert. “It looks like you’ve gone to see a real rock show, but your friend is on the stage with a real band,” Arlene’s booking director Julia Darling said. Even if you don’t sound like Angus Young, you can still rock out. “It’s not competitive. If someone is really bad or shy or embarrassed, it’s really supportive and positive. We have some amazing singers here too, but for people who are just here to have fun, it’s a good time,” Darling said. In support of aspiring starving musicians, Rock and Roll Karaoke is free of charge and there is no cover.

95 Stanton St. near Ludlow Street

Biny

Though there are many karaoke bars in this city, Biny has the guts to call itself the “Best in New York,” hence the acronymic name. Maybe it’s the song list, which contains songs in English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Spanish. Perhaps it’s the Japanese food, a welcome alternative to late-night pizza. Or maybe it’s the fact that the bar has both a main room and seven private rooms for parties. Whatever Biny’s claim to its title, Phjang said that the place gets packed at night (it becomes a 21+ affair after 11 p.m., but some loyal customers report that Biny staff often overlook less-than-convincing IDs). There is a $15 food and drink minimum to sing in the main room and varying minimum rates for the party rooms. Biny’s Web site claims that their karaoke machines miraculously make “EVERYONE sound like a star.” If the sound system doesn’t have you feeling like Diana Ross, maybe another shot will.

8 Thompson St. near Canal Street, second floor.