Two Steppin' In Austin

Austin might be Texas's hippie mecca, but it's still Texas. Which means most of us have cowboy boots tucked away in our closets, and some of us even know how to use them. For those looking to do some two-stepping in Austin, you have quite a few options and we know where to find them.

Sam's Town Point claims to exude a lowfalutin' creative fortitude that's refreshingly real. They offer free two-step lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced dancers most Monday and Thursday evenings. The White Horse is the hipster hangout of country western bars; this East Side dive features live music every night and dance lessons on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It's dark, grungy, and gets very crowded on weekend nights.

Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon, out in North Burnet, is well worth the trek, offering live country music six days a week (closed Mondays). The dance floor is small, so you may have to fight for space, but the music is worth it. Sundays bring the uniquely Austin experience of Chicken Shit Bingo at 4pm: buy a ticket, pick a number, and wait for the chicken to do its business on the winning square for cold hard cash.

The Broken Spoke is the daddy of 'em all, serving Austin's musically inclined for over 50 years. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, it offers dance lessons Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, though experienced dancers can start as early as 7:15pm. Check out the side room full of memorabilia, since some famous folks have danced these floors, and don't miss one of their famed chicken fried steaks.

Donn's Depot is housed in an old Missouri-Pacific train depot and keeps the music coming every night but Sunday. Many of the seats are real train cars and the vibe is extremely low key, drawing everyone from students to retirees onto the two dance floors. Drink prices are reasonable and the music is always good.