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You're Gonna Hear Us Roar
So it's nearly 2020. And how are we going into the new decade? Loudly.
You're not really surprised, are you? No one has ever mistaken us for shrinking violets. We speak our minds, we raise our voices when change is needed in the world, and when it comes to leisure-time activities, it's true that sometimes we like to just lie in the sun and read, but other times? Other times we like to make some noise.
That is how we found ourselves for the second year in a row taking over the largest room at Alphabet City's best dive karaoke bar, Sing Sing on Avenue A.
What makes it a dive bar? Well, we love the hell out of it, but it's not exactly for clean freaks. It's a dark, grotty space, with the karaoke rooms located down a steep staircase in a dungeon-like basement. The walls are scarred and pockmarked, as if from all the decibels that have battered them, and no one wants to think about all the spills the floors have soaked up.
And yet — it's a wonderful place. Warm when it's cold out, and we're not just talking temperature. (Though, yeah, we're talking temperature too.)
This is the sort of place that, when we call up and say we want to bring two dozen topless women to belt "Macarthur Park" and "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Disco Inferno" and "Jump (For My Love)," they don't ask any questions. They just take our drink orders and leave us to it.
Did we only sing old stuff off our parents' vinyl? No way. But by the time we got to timelier fare, no one was keeping track of the tracks anymore. There was Gaga, there was Outkast. Some raps were rapped. But sometimes you just can't beat "Sweet Dreams" by Eurythmics. We all wish we were Annie Lennox sometimes. I mean, come on.
What else went down? Well, halfway through the night the $1 pizza joint down the block delivered a stack of pies. There may have been some fancier food hiding somewhere in the room too. Port wine potato chips and such.
Selfies also got taken, solo and group.
But mostly it was a night for singing, for total abandon, for letting it all hang out with dear friends and showing the night and the winter and the dying year and expiring decade who's boss.
It felt really, really good.
Cathartic in that wonderful way only pouring everything you've got into a mic can.
And why does being topless make karaoke better? Damned if we know. But being topless makes everything better. And we're not so sure bottomless isn't better still.
So, what do you think, are you going to join us next time? We've got an acroyoga class planned, a couple of figure drawing sessions, a possible baking adventure, a dinner, a D&D night. (Yes, a D&D night. What, you think only boy nerds like that stuff?) And all that's before the thaw comes in the spring, at which point it's outdoor time again!
If you're an open-minded, freedom-loving woman in the New York area, we'd love to hear from you. Email toplesspulpfiction@gmail.com or message us on Insta or Twitter.
And then come sing your heart out with us. It may not be Auld Lang Syne, but there's no better way to ring in a new year.
Categories 2019, art
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notredm2 says:
Topless D&D sounds awesome!!! I would love to join you for that!