Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse

6823 E. Cave Creek Rd.

Cave Creek, Az 85331

RATING:  4.5 out of 5 stars

INSIDE AND OUT:

This venue is surprisingly very large.  As you enter, the dance floor is to your left and tables/sitting areas are around it and the bar is towards the back. The kitchen is to the right beyond another large area.  Next, out back they have a very large outside seating area for their BBQ and LIVE BULL riding arena (across from the BBQ). This is one happening place when all areas are being used!  Nice western décor. Wild West Days are being celebrated this weekend, Nov.9- 11, 2018.  Lots going on!  See Buffalo Chip website for specifics.

Cover Charge:

Age range:  All Ages

Dress Code:        For ideas on Country Western Dance Apparel and Accessories see Products tab.

Dance Floor:  Medium Size dance floor inside, and outside, very large area that people dance in                    spontaneously

Dance Mix:  80% two-Stepping and couple dancing with 20% line-dancing

Live Music:  LIVE Music every Tuesday-Friday and Sundays at 8pm and Saturdays at 9pm

Dance Music:  95% Danceable Country Western Music played all night.

Dancing:  Dances are not called, and the dance floor gets very crowded after about 8pm, so it’s very                            difficult to dance around the edge of the dance floor two-steppin’.  This means you end                                    up dancing in one spot on a very crowded dance floor.

Dance Lessons:  FREE on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 7pm.  The instructor was very    good and we had fun taking the lesson.            We love Country Western dance!

Food:  We had a salad and sweet potatoes fries that were good!

Beverages:  Iced Tea (with free refills since we bought it with dinner.  Also beer, soda, wine, spirits

Restrooms:  Very clean

Security:  Understated if so, not noticeable

ATMOSPHERE:   Staff was very friendly and kept very busy with all the customers.  Lots of locals and tourists as well.  Met people from other states as well as people that come on a weekly basis.

NEWBIES:  Go early to dance as it gets very crowded later. There are plenty of experienced dancers to follow.  Definitely take the lessons if you really want to learn how to dance.

Specifics:

Lots of jeans, boots and hats worn.  Definitely all western and FUN activities! It is a very positive and upbeat venue.  Just loved the atmosphere and all the activities.

FINAL THOUGHTS:  Try to go there during one of their event days. There are activities for all ages. Their Mutton Bustin’ on Friday Nights reminds me of the Fiesta Day Rodeo in San Antonio Texas (where I lived). The kids riding are amazing and they hang on for dear life like champs!

Overall, we thought this was a terrific and historical cowboy dancing saloon.  We loved the feel of the inside and the corrals and the bull riding out back.  The crowd was very enthusiastic and the dance floor packed for most every dance.  People were very nice and there was a loud and animated crowd.  We loved the whole night and all the fun we had dancing and socializing.  We did feel that what was missing though, was an occasional dance being called by the DJ or the band.  Many venues we have visited, that have big crowds, at least call an occasional dance.  For example, calling a two step would limit the floor to only two- step dancing, moving around the dance floor instead of being stuck in one spot.  At crowded venues, this made dancing a little more fun for all levels of dancers.

The post Buffalo Chips Saloon & Steakhouse appeared first on BOOT SCOOTIN' REVIEW™.

Temecula Stampede Review

28721 Old Town Front St

Temecula, California  92590

Woohoo!  This is our very first review and we’re all excited about telling y’all about it.  It was fun to arrive mid-afternoon and check out Old Town and then head over to the Temecula Stampede in California.  The venue is situated at the end of a really cute western Old Town area that is filled with shops and eating places.

What a nice surprise it was to find such a large dance floor at the Stampede with an inside and outside track!  The dancing was divided into line dancing in the center area and two-stepping around the outside track.  When we danced we really liked this aspect of the dance floor.  It was fun and the dance area gave everyone plenty of room to dance and pass as needed.  We even had to choose a couple of times, because we knew both dances!  Once, the Cowboy Cha Cha was called on the outside area and the California Cha Cha was called for the center area.  We chose the California Cha Cha, LOL.

INSIDE:

Cover Charge:    Thurs. no cover, 18 and over. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and the Temecula Stampede hours are from 6pm to 2am.  Go early because the cover is half price before 7pm and it’s a good time to warm-up and peruse the venue.  See Temecula Stampede website for specifics

Age range:          6-9pm 50+, after 9pm, one of the regulars told us the crowd becomes much younger, more like the 18-40 range.

Dress Code:        Yes, they have dress code.   See Stampede website

Dance Floor:       It’s huge, a rough estimate is 65’x 50,’ nice smooth surface and well maintained.

Dance Mix:          Line dancing 70%, Two-Step 20%, Swing 10%

Dance Music:     Country western 90%, Pop/Rock 10%

Live Music:          Look at website for schedule

Dancing:               Dances are “called” which means the DJ will call out which dance to do.  The advantage of this means dancers are moving in the same direction and doing the same steps.  There is less bumping from others. But in all saloons/dancehalls we’ve danced in, everyone is cordial and we all just say, “sorry” with smiles and that ends it.

Dance Lessons:  Dance lessons are offered Mon, Fri and Sat. On Fri/Sat lessons are $4 for two separate                                  dances. On Mon, it’s $6 for two separate dances. See Stampede schedule for specific dances they will teach.

Food:  A very moderately priced menu, we did not eat while we were there.  See their website.

Beverages:  Iced tea, soda water, beer, wine and liquor

ATMOSPHERE:  We generally liked the atmosphere.  People were nice, and several came by our table to say “Hi” and tell us all about the Stampede. We were dressed in our boots, hats and cowboy shirt (for my husband) and a cute blouse for me (of course 😊), and jeans.  We felt very comfortable because this place has such a great old-time country saloon feeling to it! How were others dressed? There was a smattering of others in boots (leather soles are best to slide on dance floor) and cowboy hats.

NEWBIES:  It is our opinion this is a great place for beginners to learn how to dance. They offer lessons and there is a side area on the outside track for you to both see and follow experienced dancers. It doesn’t get better than this! And, if you come early, from 6-9pm, there is plenty of opportunity to learn when it is not crowded.

OUTSIDE:

Parking:  Is free in a big, lighted lot next to the building.

Safety: We felt very safe, both arriving at 6pm and leaving at 9pm. The whole Old Town area is very busy till late with tourist walking around and dining.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Don’t be afraid to start country western dancing and looking like a fool at times. The pure joy and fun you’ll find in this activity will be well worth it. Besides everyone is so busy dancing and doing their thing, nobody cares. Happy Boot Scootin’ wherever it may take you😉

The post Temecula Stampede appeared first on BOOT SCOOTIN' REVIEW™.