Booth, bar or bar mitzvah—there’s more than one way to enjoy (or merely endure) karaoke, and what better place to explore this cherished international pastime than the entertainment capital of the world? Singing in public is daunting enough without having to worry about compromising your vocal cords and your blood alcohol level in pursuit of the ultimate karaoke experience, so we’re taking some of the guess work out of it for you in our series, Is This Thing On? So far, we’ve rocked the mic at The Cottage and the Smog Cutter. This week’s pick: The Happy Ending Bar. more ›

Before the Smog Cutter was East Hollywood’s most infamously decrepit karaoke joint, it was reportedly one of Charles Bukowski’s dives of choice. While this has yet to be corroborated by the ninety-year-old hunchbacked regular who apparently takes a vow of silence between spirited performances of Clarence Carter’s “Stroke It,” one look at the dingy, faux-wood paneled interior and world-weary patrons seems like evidence enough. You may not be as lucky as I am and live spitting distance from the place, but if you share old Hank’s penchant for stiff drinks, small time hustlers and hard women, you just may have found yourself a home away from home. more ›

If The Cottage’s proximity to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles and Oki’s Dog is a deterrent rather than a boon, then I would caution you against setting foot in this unpolished gem of a dive bar. If, however, you are one of the elite few who crave trans fats and public humiliation in equal measure, then where the hell have you been, soul mate? Pull up a stool, plug that frown with a Miller High Life and prepare to be awed by the breadth of the bar’s song selection, the enthusiasm of the crowd and the lenience of the conspicuously posted “No dancing” policy. more ›