Sing your heart out - Karaoke gives the tone-deaf a place to vent

By now even the freshman on campus have been to every frat and are calling the bartenders at PJ's and CVP by name. So what else is there to do at Hopkins when one is not on D-level of the library studying biochem and hoping fervently that in the morning they will awake to find themselves at that state school back home? Karaoke!

Karaoke, you ask? Yes, karaoke. This Tuesday if you've got nothing to do (I know that this is unlikely, but let's be optimistic), head on down to Rootie's with your friends for an evening of Karaoke. They offer three for one Corona's until close every Tuesday. I have it on good authority that the crowd on Tuesday nights is predominantly a college crowd and that the female to male ratio is a lot like the Corona special, three to one.

If you can't make it to Rootie's on Tuesday, there are a few other options. The first, and tamer of the two, is the Crystal Lounge in Towson. They have Karaoke every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. They offer nightly dinner specials and a full open-bar every night. I will caution you that the woman I spoke with on the phone did not seem thrilled by the idea of a hoards of underage Hopkins students filling the tables this weekend, but maybe I misread her. If your interest is purely Karaoke oriented, this is the place for you. Karaoke Charlie, voted "Karaoke King" in 1999 by The Baltimore Sun, and offering over 40,000 musical choices, provides the Karaoke services.

If neither of these Karaoke locals appeal to you, don't worry, I have saved the best for last. Although it may sound like I am making this up, I am not. There is a Korean restaurant and bar named Joung Kak located at 18 W. 20th Street that offers Karaoke nightly. There are four private Karaoke rooms that you can rent for $25 an hour. You might be best served to bring along a friend fluent in Korean, as the proprietors do not speak much English. The directions for operating the karaoke machines are in Korean, and many, but by no means all, of the karaoke selections are in Korean.

For those of you who might be dissuaded by this slight linguistic drawback, there are redeeming features. I have it on good authority that there is a dance floor in each room that has feet that light up to show you how to dance to the various musical selections. Who could ask for more? Additionally, previous patrons informed me that the place was, "completely empty of people," so there should not be a long wait for a karaoke room.

So, while many of you will probably choose to remain on campus this weekend, with the possible jaunt to CVP, I hope that some of you explore the wonderful world of Karaoke that Baltimore has to offer. I know that the choice between the "Karaoke King" and the Korean top 40 is a tough one, but I'm sure you will be able to decide. If you want to get your feet wet first, swing by Rootie's on Tuesday. This weekend you will find me at Joung Kak exercising my vocal chords.