Whither Karaoke? NYC's Baby Grand Reinvents Japanese Pastime

Karaoke arrived in the United States in the early 1990's, and while the craze was short-lived in suburban areas, it gained a foothold in cities like New York, where the booze-soaked Japanese pastime was perfectly suited to our tight quarters and stressed out lifestyles. Now nearly two decades old, New York's karaoke culture has flourished and mutated into various forms, from Punk Metal Karaoke at Arlene's Grocery to Movieoke at Two Boots Den of Cin, but it's often at its best when stripped to its soul-baring essence.

Enter Baby Grand, a new "singing bar and art gallery" that bills itself as the the smallest karaoke bar in the city. Owners Mike Uy and Raylene Gorum took a minimalist approach when they opened the sleek-looking joint on Lafayette and Grand a few months ago, creating an elegantly uncluttered white and silver cocktail bar that would seem familiar to any Tokyo salaryman hoping to forget about Toyota's record losses for a few hours. It only fits 25 people at a time, but that just makes the karaoke experience more intimate for those bold enough to venture onstage to sing along to classics and deep cuts from the 18,000-track playlist.

As for the cocktails, a top-shelf drink will run you $10, a small price to pay for the liquid courage necessary to belt out "Born to be Wild" in front of your 24 closest friends. Theme nights such as a Sunday night Rock Band party keep things from getting stale, but there's little risk of that in a bar as inviting as this one. Drop by the next time you're downtown for a song or two, or just tuck into a bar stool and sip a crisp martini, appreciating the simple pleasures of life.

[Photo: Raylene Gorum]

Related Stories:
· Baby Grand [Official Site]
· First Look at Baby Grand, the Cutest Karaoke Bar Ever [New York Magazine]
· Karaoke Coverage [Jaunted]

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