Best Country and Western Nightspot 2011 | Norton's Country Corner | Arts & Entertainment | Phoenix
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Best Country and Western Nightspot

Norton's Country Corner

Don't go cruising into Norton's Country Corner wearing anything but standard cowboy gear — boots, Levis, and a Wrangler button-down — or you'll be in for some sideways looks from the regulars. Norton's is about as "country" as it gets, located out in Queen Creek, where the locals gather to sip cold ones and catch western bands tearing it up on the dancehall stage. The Pueblo-style building exudes a hickified charm, and the jukebox is loaded with classics from Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Dwight Yoakam — as well as a few odder choices, like a "best of" collection from Prince. Because, you know, cowboys get funky, too.

Best Country Nightclub

Handlebar J

Courtesy of Handlebar-J
Handlebar J comes loaded with no shortage of honky-tonk history. Opened in 1966, the club has been under the management of the Herndon Brothers, whose family band, The Herndon Brothers Band, plays both kinds of music — country and Western — Wednesday through Sunday nights at the longstanding establishment, attracting visiting Nashville stars and Scottsdale urban cowboys alike. The bar offers more than just music, with comedy shows and a menu loaded with steaks and sandwiches, but we don't blame you if you're too buys line dancing and spinning your partner do-si-do to sit down for a bite.

Best Neighborhood Bar, Central Phoenix

Shady's

Jennifer Goldberg
Celebrating its sixth anniversary, Shady's is the not-to-be-missed neighborhood bar in Central Phoenix. With its dark, retro interior, friendly bartenders, and amazing jukebox, Shady's has become a staple for service-industry employees and mature hipsters who like to throw back a few after a long day. Not only does the bar offer custom cocktails (try the signature Drink to Forget, a boozy coffee concoction), it also has been dabbling in the craft-beer scene. From such on-tap beers as Odell's 90 Shilling and Nimbus A-1 Pilsner to bottles of Stone IPA and Dogfish Head 60 Minute, even the biggest CenPho beer snob can find something to drink here. Another cool thing about Shady's: If you become a fan on Facebook, you'll be hooked-up with secret passwords that will get you drink specials galore. Oh, and don't forget, free pool until 7 on Sundays. This is one neighbor you'd be happy to live next to.

Best Neighborhood Bar, Downtown Phoenix

The Lost Leaf

The Lost Leaf
You won't find booze or a jukebox. You can't play a game of pool here, and you sure as hell won't be able to stare mindlessly at a TV at this little circa 1920s house turned bar — which is exactly why we love it. What you will find is a huge selection of the best craft beer around (including gluten-free and organic brews), an unbeatable wine list, and the perfect spot to gather with friends, socialize, admire art work, catch a live band, harass the extra-friendly bartenders, or, if you prefer, hang out on the narrow patio and make new friends while chain-smoking away. Beware: Lost Leaf sits smack-dab in the middle of Fifth Street, just south of Roosevelt Street, so expect a line out the door on First Friday.

Best Neighborhood Bar, South Phoenix

Fox & Hound Cocktail Lounge

Courtesy of Zipps
Boasting a retro look that's a kitschy mix of English décor (Renaissance-style oil paintings, wrought-iron fixtures, and stuffed deer heads) and more wingback chairs than your grandpa's wood-paneled den, the Fox & Hound gives off the vibe of an old-timey hunting lodge. Since it's located in South Phoenix instead of Southampton, you're more likely to see the blue-collar crowd enjoying a $2.75 draft beer following a long workday than noblemen partaking in a snifter or two after a day of sport. The antique-looking bar is also the gathering spot for guests of the Best Western that houses the lounge, which is manned by a cheeky wait staff. While said drink-slingers probably don't give a flying flip about mixology or the trendiest in flavored vodkas, they'll definitely pour you a no-frills cocktail that's long and strong.

Best Neighborhood Bar, North Phoenix

Do Drop Inn

Lauren Cusimano
With a glowing vintage "Cocktails" sign illuminating the night, Do Drop Inn makes no bones about being the kind of place you go with one thing in mind: hammering a few drinks. The wood-paneled walls of this Sunnyslope standby make the place feel like a rec room straight out of the '70s, but it's hard to imagine an arts-and-crafts nook this dark and beer-soaked. Some websites have the place listed as a "questionable drinking establishment," but don't let that scare you off. The no-bull vibe is all part of the Do Drop's peculiar charm. The only thing you need to have a good time here is plenty of booze and a sense of humor, and they can certainly supply you with the former as long as you've got the latter.

Best Neighborhood Bar, West Valley

The Hoot Owl

Night owls in Glendale have been flying by this neighborhood favorite for more than 30 years, probably because of its homey atmosphere, relaxed vibe, and cheap booze. Duck inside its darkened interior and you'll witness drinkers of every stripe huddling and engaging in quiet conversation in the vintage-looking tuck 'n' roll leatherette booths lit by soft blue light. Meanwhile, regulars perch on stools and knock back strongly poured and inexpensive mixed drinks and domestic drafts underneath caricatures of themselves hanging above the bar. The cut-rate drink prices mean more money for the jukebox or, perhaps, a game or two of pool on the single billiards table that dominates the center of the bar. Or for the cab ride home after indulging in a few too many. Karaoke takes place on Monday nights and usually sees participants get a bit energetic with their singing, to say the least. Ordinarily, we'd give a hoot about such things, but we're too busy having another $3 Long Island at the bar.

Best Neighborhood Bar, Southeast Valley

What the Hell Bar & Grill

Given its location in the dusty fringes of the Valley, it isn't surprising that a curious cross-section of society rendezvous at this Apache Junction juke joint. Much like in the fabled cantina in Star Wars, What the Hell is a bizarre bazaar, populated by beefy bikers, crusty desert denizens, duded-up cowboys, and Ed Hardy-clad 20-somethings. This mixing of the masses takes place within the expansive interior or at the elongated bar, where the collection of people who've made their way to the bar bond over a shared appreciation for all things alcoholic. Patrons shout their orders over the din of the hard rock and country bands performing on the corner stage, while sassy-pants barmaids gleefully serve such specials as $2.50 drafts, wells, and shots. It's the kind of bargain that even a scoundrel like Han Solo would dig.

Best Neighborhood Bar, Tempe

Casey Moore's Oyster House

Jennifer Goldberg
It doesn't get much more "neighborhood" then good ol' Casey Moore's. Situated on the outskirts of the coveted Maple-Ash neighborhood, droves of Tempe locals have called Casey's their home for more than 20 years. Whether you're mobbin' out with your hipster girlfriends on a Friday night, curing your Sunday hangover with a bloody Mary (made famous in these parts by Tyler the bartender), or chillin' on the front porch with a book on a Wednesday afternoon, you'll always feel welcome. FYI: This place gets packed Wednesday through Saturday nights. Plan to arrive early to snag a roomy booth on the back patio — prime seating near the back gate is imperative for people-watching.

Best Neighborhood Bar, Scottsdale

T.T. Roadhouse

Lauren Cusimano
There's no denying that Scottsdale has got the club scene locked down, but sometimes you don't feel like waiting in line for a drink or getting all gussied up to go have one. That isn't to say that T.T. Roadhouse is slouchy, but it's certainly relaxed. Styled as a British biker bar, the Roadhouse is stocked with ales and harder stuff and features the Valley's best jukebox, hands down, loaded with punk and pub rock fare. DJs rule the sounds on some nights, but don't show up expecting trendy electro sounds; T.T. Roadhouse is a rock 'n' roll kind of place, and Scottsdale is all the better for having a bar that "don't give a damn about its reputation."

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