New York Magazine

For OLD-TIMERS SINGING GEORGE MICHAEL

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MONTERO 73 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights

MONTERO, WITH ITS flickering neon sign and glass-brick façade, opened on Atlantic Avenue near the waterfront as a longshorem­an’s bar in 1938. It’s still well known for its maritime ambience (model ships, lifesavers, and framed photos of sloops abound), but since 2007, the place has become equally popular for its rather rowdy karaoke nights, run by host Amethyst Valentino. On Thursdays through Saturdays, get a paper slip at the bar when you buy a drink, fill it out, and give it to Valentino, who will gladly suggest other songs if yours is taken. Expect to hear the Eagles, Céline Dion, Billy Joel, Queen, and Sinatra. (Cristina Martin, a regular for almost a decade, recalls one especially notable rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer.”) Montero gets its share of young profession­als and students, but Martin says the oldtimers are the heart and soul of the place, including “Bob. Whenever I see him,” Martin says, “I know he’s going to sing ‘Careless Whisper’ and bring the house down.”

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