Broken Spoke, Austin

Broken Spoke claims to be one of the last authentic Texas honky tonks. For those who don't know, a honky tonk is a bar/restaurant with live country music and dancing. This particular establishment opened in 1964 and has kept going strong even as the neighborhood around it gets more gentrified. 

Broken Spoke out front

Tombstone or cornerstone?

More of the exterior

They have live music in the front room/restaurant from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and then live music in the back dance hall from 9 p.m. till closing time. We took the kids in for dinner and caught the front room show with Tracie Lynn. I had their famous chicken-fried steak which was very yummy, along with a Lone Star draft which was also good.

Dinner

We took the kids back to the hotel to hang out with grandpa while my wife and I returned for the 8 p.m. dance lesson. The dance instructor was very colorful. She spent the first ten minutes talking about proper dance etiquette (which way to go around the floor, etc.) and the basics of the two-step. She was quite salty and gave advice to the bachelorette party that was clearly there for a good time more than to learn the two-step. She also had some choice words about the "younger generation" and how they are not good at listening, among other flaws. She finally taught the steps and had us practice. She then paired up one couple at a time to give them pointers in front of everyone else. She started at one end of the floor and we were in the middle, so we got to see her instruct others before she got to us. When our turn came, we got by well enough not to get too much salt.

A band led by Tylor Brandon played music that we danced to. We practiced the two-step and snuck some swing dancing in too.

A view of the dance hall

It was a fun night and an experience of classic Texas culture.