Karaoke Tini Tuesdays @ Asylum Cafe

Last night, I assembled my crew and set out on my first official venture for the site: Karaoke Tini Tuesdays at Asylum Cafe. I got there around 9:30pm, and a DJ was just starting to warm the crowd up by playing some Jay Z and T.I. that we could all bob our heads to. I hunkered down on a bar stool and asked the bartender if there were any drink specials. "$5 martinis," she proudly stated. Um... why am I just now hearing about this?! I promptly ordered something called a Lemontini and waited for the festivities to start.

At 10pm, a man got on the mic and kicked off the evening with a questionable rendition of his chosen song: always a great start to a karaoke night. One of the hosts of the event approached my friends and I to ask when we planned to get up there. I didn't have nearly enough Lemontini in me to think that was a good idea, but promised him I'd think about it later. In the meantime, a friend of mine ordered some delicious looking chicken wings that I was told were also only $5. Once again, things I wish had been brought to my attention YESTERDAY! I'd already had a dinner that was way more than $5 and I didn't get any chicken wings.

By 11pm, as with everything in Hartford, people had finally started to show up to the event. I'll never understand it: If the start time is 8, and bars close at 1, people will always show up well after 11. The drink specials are over, all the chairs are taken, usually you even have to pay more money to get in (luckily, this event has no cover). I like to get there a little earlier and secure my spot. Not to mention, it's so much easier to get drinks when there's only a few people. By this time, my drink was starting to give me just enough liquid confidence and I hit the mic. There weren't a ton of people offering to sing, but the people that did all had a great time. No one seemed to feel judged and no one was there to judge anyone else. So if you like to sing but sound like a bird on fire, this may be your type of karaoke night. When there was a lull in singers, the DJ kept the energy up with some bumping music, another plus when trying to give yourself some backbone. When you're trying to convince yourself that you'll sound ok singing "Walking on Sunshine", you probably shouldn't hear "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" before you get up there. All in all, a great night was had by me, and I definitely plan to stop back in and recommend you to go too!

Stuff you should remember:
"Happy Hour": 8-11pm **specials** $5 martinis, $5 wines, $3 beers
Food: $5 appetizers, they were also selling pizza by the slice. kitchen closes at 11.
Karaoke: According to Facebook it starts at 8, but it didn't kick off until 10 when I got there. The DJ was there earlier though.
Dress code: Come as you like. Most people were dressed classy casual, so if you don't want to feel out of place, I'd wear some jeans and a nice top.
Age: Since it turns into a bar at night, I'm going to assume 21+. I'll check that out for sure.
Cover: Free!
Address: 253 Asylum Avenue, Downtown Hartford

Introductions Are In Order

Hello and welcome to my new venture: Things Black People Do In Hartford! I'm not sure if you noticed in the poorly Photoshopped picture above, but I am black, I'm from Hartford, and I love to go out! I was talking with my girlfriend today and somehow, through some convoluted stream of thought, I decided to make a page dedicated to highlighting the places in Hartford that people of color tend to enjoy.

I thought it would be a good idea to have a central location to focus on interesting things going on in our city. As much as I've enjoyed myself at bars and clubs on Allyn Street and Tisane is one of my favorite spots to chill with my friends, I can't help but wonder what else is out there that is geared toward my fellow people of color. Have you ever wanted to try somewhere new, or have a friend visiting and want to show them something fun? You call your crew and they give you the run around and can't decide if they want to go. "Who else is gonna be there?" "You ever been there before?" "What's the dress code?" By 10pm when you're ready to hit the road, you're back at the same club you go to every week! I can't really help with who else will be there and make your friends stop dragging ass, but I can let you know what it will be like when they decide.

I plan to be informative: If it was fun, I'll tell you exactly why. If it wasn't my cup of tea, I'll also let you know because maybe that's something that appeals to you. I'm not getting paid to tell you about these places but because Hartford is pretty small, I may end up knowing some of the people who put on these parties.

Of course, people of any color are welcome to go to the places I review. I would never knowingly recommend a place that would discriminate against anyone. I'm focusing on POC-owned & frequented events because as often as I see critiques of new places in Hartford, I see little about actual events that POC go to and even less written by us. The name is just pretty clever, don't ya think?

I'm figuring out the rest as I go, so bear with me and keep checking in! Don't forget to tell your friends!