Up in the Big Apple, of all places, something straight outta the Deep South is making waves!
Picture this: February rolls in, and suddenly, Gottscheer Hall in Ridgewood, Queens is throwing a hoedown every month. And let me tell ya, those Yankees up there just can’t get enough!
"Would you believe it? New York's turning into Nashville, they're eating it up," chuckled Evelyn Meyer, a local Ridgewood gal who's been into country music since forever.
They call it "Honky Tonkin’ in Queens" and let me tell you, those nights are hotter than a skillet in July. You got folks of all stripes—line dancers, old-timers from the neighborhood, and hipsters from every corner—sporting cowboy gear like they were born in a barn.
This whole shebang is the brainchild of two local DJs, Charles and Jonny, who looked at Gottscheer Hall and thought, "This place could use some boot-scootin'!" They wanted to bring back the vibe of those old-timey dance halls, where the music's loud, the floor's slick, and everyone's got a partner.
So, they started booking acts, setting up card games, and making sure the drinks were flowing faster than the Chattahoochee. And let me tell you, it's a hoot! Even Sinjun, a city slicker from Kew Gardens, couldn't resist the urge to two-step her way into the party after hearing about it from her pals.
At first, it's all about the line dancing—gotta keep a level head for that—but as the night wears on, things get wilder than a rodeo on Saturday night. The floor gets packed, the music gets louder, and before you know it, we're all just swaying along, feeling as southern as sweet tea on a front porch.
And get this, even the transplants from down South are giving it the nod of approval! "Yup, this is the real deal," said Ethan, a young consultant who grew up hitting up honky tonks in South Dakota.
So, there you have it, folks. Up in Queens, they're blurring the lines between North and South, city and country. And you know what? Maybe that's just what we need more of these days—less talk about politics and more talk about partying. So let's all raise a glass and dance till dawn, y'all! Giddyup Gotham!
