A A new kind of nighttime entertainment is coming to Sault Ste. Marie. Starting Saturday July 29th, Vietnamese eatery Sunset Noodle House will kick off an ongoing, weekly series of Saturday karaoke nights called Sunset By Night.
Owner Chan Ngo, who moved to the area several years ago from Toronto, says she feels like there was a gap in Sault’s nightlife scene for this lively, after-hours activity. “It’s a new source of excitement for night lovers” Ngo. “I think it’s fun to just be our own entertainment.”
Sunset’s dinner service will wrap up at 9 p.m. on Saturdays, with karaoke night then running from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m.
Ngo’s vision for Sunset By Night, however, goes beyond setting up a karaoke machine. Instead, Ngo intends to transform the restaurant into a late-night venue in its own right, creating distinctive vibes by day and night.
“We’ll dim down the lights; there’ll be different types of music – it’s going to be a totally different atmosphere,” says Ngo, adding that the restaurant servers will also change outfits to reflect the transition from day to night.
Sunset By Night will also feature special snack and drink menus that will include shots, cocktails, soju served in teapots, and shareable bites. “After five shots, we all sound like Mariah Carey,” jokes Ngo.
The food menu, which Ngo is calling “Nhậu-licious” after a Vietnamese word meaning “drink,” will include beef short ribs and corn on the cob, along with a few items from Sunset’s daytime menu.
“Nhậu is poetically described as 'the art of eating and drinking for no particular purpose' and it’s known as a national pastime in Vietnam,” explains Ngo. “'Quán nhậu' is a place where everybody comes to meet their friends, to drink, and to simply enjoy life.”
Ngo says the menu will also include the restaurant’s popular spring rolls, marinated chicken wings, and ‘Chi Chi’ – a dish featuring baby clams, sweet corn, and pickled carrots that’s served with shrimp chips.
“We're focused on a smaller menu but every single thing on the menu tastes good,” explains Ngo.
Ngo encourages would-be performers to call Sunset Noodle House at 705-759-0000 in order to be added to the guest list for the first Sunset by Night, which will entitle them to one free drink with any purchase during the event. She says free samples of the “Nhậu-licious” menu will be available as well. “Sunset By Night is crashing Sault Ste Marie and seducing night lovers to Vietnamese Nhậu-culture,” says Ngo.
Ngo says guests can expect to enjoy music from all kinds of genres throughout the evening as participants choose to sing the songs they love most.
“We’ll get to hear and experience so many different types of music,” she says. “There'll be people that will want to sing country; there'll be other people that want to rap, and maybe somebody wants to sing pop – I think that's a fun dynamic.”
Ngo hopes Sunset karaoke nights will become a new Saturday tradition in the Sault.
“I’m hoping to bring a new type of fun to Sault Ste. Marie,” says Ngo. “I want guests to be able to come and just totally let their inner star come out. We all get to be Sunset Idols”
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