Rock It Grill - Old Town's Frontier

At the corner of King Street and West Street in Old Town Alexandria sits Rock It Grill, a karaoke haven for an alternative crowd. On weekend nights the din of classic hits from ages past escapes through a fog of cigarette smoke, out the front door and onto King Street. There, cult followers congregate, waiting to gain entrance.

Rock It Grill is a unique venue in an otherwise “chic” town. And like any frontier, the atmosphere can be a bit rugged. Bikers, locals and undergrads--usually adorned with tattoos--sling pitchers, play pool, and smoke butts. It is crowded on the weekend and there is always a chocked-full list of wannabe performers. In fact, a frequent complaint is that nepotism determines performance order. It is a tough and boisterous crowd, but patrons are there to have fun, and the karaoke IS entertaining. If you can stick to beer and jagerbombs, and can stomach the smoke, Rock It Grill makes for an entertaining evening and provides for a good change of pace from predictable King Street culture.