Karaoke

In the past, on the rare occasions when I attended an evening of karaoke, I always admired those at the microphone for their unabashed renditions of old favorites. They performed in public the way most of us do only in the shower or car. But you would never catch me with a microphone in my hand. My unspoken excuse -that karaoke was too cheesy for me - was a ruse, however. The truth is I can't carry a tune. If I could, I probably wouldn't have been a karaoke snob. But now, after an epiphany I experienced during a recent stay in Hawaii and Asia, I have come to understand that when it comes to karaoke, being able to sing doesn't matter at all. And that karaoke rocks!

The lasagna at Kelly's is quite possibly the best food deal in Baltimore. This slab of ooey-gooey goodness arrives bubbling hot, so thick with cheese that pools of orange oil form in the bottom of the white baking dish. Chunks of ground meat the size of small meatballs weigh down every forkful. And this delicious homemade treat, served with a salad and slices of garlic bread, costs a mere $7.95. Kelly's is shabby and unchic, a hole-in-the-wall bar and restaurant decorated as if every day is St. Patrick's Day. Kelly and Mary Sheridan acquired the place 17 years ago and are still fixing up a second dining area near the bar, according to Kelly Sheridan.

Gamers like to complain that publishers are content to crank out sloppy sequels and boring movie-to-game conversions. Of course, when innovative games do come along, they rarely leave a blip on the gaming consciousness. When is the last time you heard anyone talking about Rez, a Sega title for the PlayStation 2? Well, here we go again, although this time the marketing muscle might be powerful enough to make gamers notice. Microsoft recently sent out previews of its Music Mixer title.

Anne Arundel County Fair Junior Board's annual "Teen Dance" for ages 12-16 will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, 1450 Generals Highway, Crownsville. There will also be karaoke, food and sodas. Admission is $5. Information: 410-271-4358 or aacountyfair.org.

FRIDAY KARAOKE AT THE SENATOR: This is your big chance to perform in the spotlight on a historic stage. The Senator, 5904 York Road, offers touch-screen song selection of more than 65,000 songs accompanied by the theater's impressive sound system. Video of the performances will also be projected live on the screen. Doors open at 7 p.m. Karaoke starts at 8 p.m. The karaoke contest is free and culminates in costume karaoke on Oct. 30. Call 410-435-8338 or go to senator.com. TEQUILA TASTING: The opportunity to taste a brand-new tequila doesn't come along every day, which is why you should get to Morton's the Steakhouse, 300 S. Charles St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Don Roberto Tequila Experience includes samplings of three Don Roberto cocktails, three tequilas and several of Morton's hors d'oeuvres.

Sing-along music represents one of the hottest growth areas in entertainment in the 1990s.Just on the U.S. consumer front, sing-along software and hardware notched $330 million in sales last year -- almost doubling 1990's returns -- and the business is expected to grow to $590 million in sales this year.So estimates Neil Friedman, director of the Karaoke International Sing-Along Association, a trade group of manufacturers, distributors, marketers and entertainers.Far East countries have been passionate for karaoke, a Japanese word meaning "empty orchestra," for the last 20 years.

ALIVE AND KICKINGI am a professional singer responding to your article on karaoke ["Micro-Phonies," June 7]. It started out great! Everything was positive and enjoyable; then on the last page it ended by basically offending clubs that do not use karaoke, and it leaves professional, struggling musicians feeling unvalued. I quote Colette Kelly: "The usual nightclub scene is really a negative place. . . . With karaoke, people sing and interact with each other."My husband and I have our own band here in Baltimore.

Nevin's Cross Street Station For karaoke in Federal Hill, Nevin's should always be your first stop. Where --31-33 E. Cross St. Call --410-468-4078 Notable --It's fun to sing karaoke, but even more fun to see. Watching other people warble their way through "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is hilarious - like a real-life American Idol. Believe it or not, a good deal of the regulars at Nevin's can sit through some of the weirdest and downright fingernails-on-a-chalkboard song renditions without batting an eye. Vibe --Though it may seem a little intimidating at first, it's actually pretty laid back once you settle in. What to wear --Something you don't mind having beer spilled on. For the most part, it's T-shirts and jeans in the summertime.

ON AND OFF THE AIR:* Could the pennant race in the American League East turn on this week's three-game series in Toronto? The Orioles visit the Blue Jays, and WMAR-Channel 2 has the first two games, at 7:30 tonight and tomorrow. (Cable's HomeTeam Sports carries Wednesday's game).But note the Orioles action also means that Baltimore viewers will not see tonight's early season premiere episode of NBC's "Blossom," which resolves a spring cliffhanger plot line.When last we saw Blossom (Mayim Bialik)

CHICAGO -- From tai chi to ginseng to yoga, Americans have long looked East for antidotes to stress. But David Cho thinks he has found the ultimate Asian import to defrazzle the American psyche. It's shaped like a Coke can, is about the size of a photo booth and holds up to three people in its cozy confines. It is not a tall, skinny hot tub, but what Cho calls a "cyber jukebox." This new invention has nothing to do with the Internet. Instead, it is essentially a portable karaoke booth that Cho believes will lower the blood pressure of the American masses.