Eager to get to know the neighborhood a bit better, our crew up here at Opening Ceremony at the Ace Hotel set out to find some new haunts.

Being a novice at the art of karaoke, but happy for any opportunity to bestow my vocal ineptness on willing ears, I was thrilled when talk of an outing to local karaoke bar, DUET 35, became a reality. Under the guidance of Greg and Mao, the OC Ace karaoke masters, a plan to make the most out of our two hours unfolded shortly after our arrival. As we waited for our room to vacate, we settled down on the leather-clad couches in the lobby to peruse the song-books. While sipping down some much-needed courage, we compiled a lengthy list of song titles.

After we were shown to our room and the lighting was adjusted to something a bit more occasion-friendly (read: off) we began the song-fest with a hero's attempt at the original version of Nena's '99 Luftballons.' For the next two hours we warbled, wailed, crooned, rapped, and finessed our way through songs from the likes of Madonna, 2 Pac, Next, Queen, Journey, Ace of Base and Ke$ha. With voices hoarse and one sore neck from reenacting the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' scene from Wayne's World, we wrapped up the evening and bade our kind hosts at Duet 35 farewell... for now.

FILED UNDER: ocace , staff , duet 35 , Caoilfhionn Gifford , Diane Lin , Greg Luna , Jimmy Jimeno , Mao Kudo , Nora Beckman , Tyler Mahowald