Though karaoke nights exist in West Hollywood, it’s rare to find a dedicated venue for it. That is, until April 23, when two brothers opened the 6,300-square-foot Mic Drop Karaoke. The full karaoke bar appears to be a first for West Hollywood, where it lives in a 104-year-old building (the former legendary Larrabee Studios) in one of the busiest nightlife corridors on Santa Monica Boulevard. If the facade looks familiar, Mic Drop took over the former Flaming Saddles, which closed in 2020.
Siblings Oliver and Leo Kremer (Leo is the former Third Eye Blind bassist; band frontman Stephen Jenkins is an investor) wanted to bring a fresh approach to Mic Drop. The main room resembles a nightclub with violet-hued enhanced lighting, a microphone-shaped disco ball, and a center stage. There are 13 private rooms spread across two floors, a Sennheiser digital wireless microphone platform, concert-grade speakers, and custom subwoofers. Because this is West Hollywood, Mic Drop serves caviar, Santa Monica Seafood truffle popcorn, hummus, a charcuterie board, and pies from Avalou’s Italian Pizza Company.
A comparable karaoke spot would be fairly common in Koreatown, such as the Venue or Rosen Karaoke. But it’s a striking addition to this stretch of West Hollywood, which has been a historically queer destination for decades, sandwiched between longtime gay bars Micky’s and Trunks.
Mic Drop Karaoke is open Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Thursday through Saturday until 2 a.m. at 8811 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, 90069.
Monroe Place expands from Culver City to Hollywood
Culver City’s zeitgeisty sandwich shop Monroe Place will open a second location this summer. Owner Sara Fakhfouri confirmed the new location will be similar to their OG shop, but she’ll incorporate hot food items this time around.
A special screening for the award-winning Edna Lewis PBS series
On May 9 at 5 p.m., the Fowler Museum at UCLA will host a screening of the Emmy Award–winning PBS series Finding Edna Lewis. The series host and creator, Debra Freeman, will be in attendance, as well as Los Angeles historian and chef, Martin Draluck, who also hosts the recurring Black Pot Supper Club. RSVP on UCLA’s website.
Chef dinner collab at Heritage Barbecue
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