"Okay, next up we have Aaron…."

Consistently voted "Best Place for Karaoke" by Metro Times readers, Royal Kubo is metro-Detroit's top destination for kitschy glamour. Located in a strip mall on the southeast corner of Greenfield and I-696, a night out at the Kubo is always memorable. The beauty of karaoke is that when you hold the microphone for those few minutes, you are in fact the star of the room. And what a room it is. Green neon, wooden lattice, giant mirrors, stage lights, huge TV screen, dance floor, mirror ball, fake plants, and an unmistakably warm ambience of plastic; the Royal Kubo is like being at a resort bar in Manila without actually leaving the country.

One could spend a lifetime looking for buried treasures in the list of over 10,000 songs available for your personal interpretation, with everything from Beatles to Bee Gees to The Carpenters to Puff Daddy (and that's really just scratching the surface). Royal Kubo regularly plays host to members of Detroit's Filipino community, young hipsters soaking in the vibe, and a healthy number of the just plain curious.

Fridays, Saturdays and holidays find the bar packed to the gills, with competitions and dancing to spice up the evenings. Other nights are excellent opportunities to stop by with a few friends, have a couple drinks, and belt out "Eye of the Tiger." Luckily, the crowd is always warm and appreciative to performances. The point is, after all, to have fun, and one can't help but feel the sense of shared camaraderie in the room.

Furthermore, Royal Kubo features a wonderful menu of authentic Filipino and Asian cuisine available until 2 a.m., and a great selection of exotic mixed drinks, many of which come with little umbrellas (again, just like being at an Asian resort!). Prices tend to be on the expensive side, but this covers the cost of karaoke which is always free (but don't forget to tip the DJ). Because of the drinks, you have to be 21 to enjoy the fun. Parking at the strip mall is never a problem.

Few places really meet the challenge of a fun, alternative place to hang out with friends like Royal Kubo. Gather up as many people as you can, meet up, and sing to your heart's content.

"A big round of applause for Aaron. Okay, next up we have…."