Queer country cool moseyed into the spotlight with the runaway success of Brokeback Mountain , but gay country bars had been steering us through their doors for decades before Ennis and Jack hit the big screen. We tip our hats to the fabulous herd of country bars that rope us back in over and over again; from the East Coast to the midst of the Big D, we present the country's Top 10 country bars.
1. THE ROUND UP SALOON, DALLAS www.roundupsaloon.com The best country bar in the nation, hands down, the Round Up is all you can ask for in a C&W bar. Hot cowgirls and cowboys swirl the floor of this country-western dance delight nightly. Karaoke stars in the Victorian Parlor Bar. Shots hit the spot at the rowdy Tequila Bar. Six bars with different characters attract a hot crowd of local good ol' boys and girls.
2. HOEDOWN'S, ATLANTA The Daisy Duke of country bars, Hoedown's is a sassy Southern stop. A friendly atmosphere and free two-step lessons help newcomers feel at home. Located in the Midtown Promenade shopping center across from Piedmont Park, Hoedown's has been doing the do-si-do for over 10 years. It's one of the only truly 100 percent country-and-western gay bars in the country.
3. BRAZOS RIVER BOTTOM, HOUSTON www.brbhouston.com The BRB is a sizzling-hot haven of behatted hotties. Three bars, a packed dance floor, friendly bartenders, and even a boot-shine stand lure the boys in for a Houston hoedown. The jukebox bar is a quieter option. Excellent shows are scheduled, and Saturday nights are crammed with friendly folks who are light on their feet.
4. THE FINISHLINE, OKLAHOMA CITY www.habanainn.com Open daily (at high noon, of course,) the Finishline at the Habana Inn is the place to kick up your heels on Friday and Saturday nights -- with a large dance floor, big screen TV, darts, and two pool tables. On special events weekends, such as Rodeo Weekend, the entire hotel is crammed with cowboys.
5. CHARLIE'S, DENVER www.charliesdenver.com Catch a Broncos game or kick up some dust during an IGRA Bust and Show night at this "straight-friendly" gay country-western and pop dance club located in the heart of Denver, within walking distance of the Colorado State Capitol and just minutes from downtown. Careful which part of the bar you go into; Charlie's offers a pair of deuces -- there's a techno and R&B side to the bar, too.
6. REMINGTON'S, D.C. www.remingtonswdc.com aEUR" A two-level partner and line-dancing palace on Capitol Hill, theme nights also star on Remington's country-saturated calendar. Four bars and dance lessons on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays add to the allure.aEUR"
7. BADLANDS SALOON, LAS VEGAS Badlands takes the bovine theme to a whole new level. Beyond the faux-log-cabin frontage and lassoed sign, cows adorn every available surface. A cow-painted pool table and the over-30 crowd await in this predominantly male neighborhood bar. The jukebox is crammed to the rafters with all the hits, both country and Western.aEUR"
8. CHARLIE'S, CHICAGO www.charlieschicago.com It's hard not to love a bar with a sparkling saddle disco ball, but look beyond the sparkle and you'll find plenty more to make you stay awhile. Hot bartenders, a crowd of friendly cowpokes, and country music till 2 a.m. (after which time it heads over to house music) make this one a winner.
9. CASH COUNTRY INN, PHOENIX www.cashinncountry.net The best and largest lesbian country-western dance club in Phoenix boasts a fine stable of hot, hot, hot women roped in by darts, football, and Tuesday- and Wednesday-night dance lessons to prepare you to stampede on Saturday, when the place fills up with careering cowgirls. aEUR"
10. SPURS COUNTRY BAR, TAMPA www.spurscountrybar.com Only open on weekends, Spurs packs in the Sunshine State's finest wranglers and keeps them spinning till the cow(boy)s come home. Fridays' free line dancing lessons are made all the livelier by "free whoop-ass shots" and Saturdays' karaoke sings to the tune of an all-you-can-drink beer bust promotion. A Sunday afternoon tea dance leaves Spurs' final brand on Tampa's weekly social calendar.
RESOURCES To find a two-stepping venue near you, check the International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country/Western Dance Clubs website .aEUR"
