Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar — Restaurant in Bandera

Men, if you want a joint to do all your first-date heavy lifting for you and end up looking cool in her eyes. Then take her to Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar in Bandera, Texas.

True story.I recently attended a packed Justin Trevino matinee dance on a Saturday at Arkey Blue's. The occasion also marked the first date for me and a woman who drove from Houston to accompany me to the dance. She showed up on time, and was way out of my league. It was her first time in a honky-tonk. She smiled as she took in the friendly, rowdy atmosphere. Then the band started to play and she was hooked. After a song she said, "What a cool place." Men, note how this jumping place made her not regret her decision to join me and was in no hurry to leave. Thank you, Arkey.

I had an open bottle in a paper bag at our booth. You see, men. Arkey is BYOB and I brought smooth sipping mezcal to our first date. She asked what was in the bottle, and we started to drink fast and hard. A lady won't usually drink as freely as she would at an establishment when you are buying her drinks by the glass, and she won't feel as warm as my date felt as I refilled our cups right at the table. Thank you, Arkey. The tight acoustics and high volume are so loud, but in a good way, because it forced us to sit close to each other while screaming our conversation in each other’s ear. Thank you, Arkey. The combination of a first date who danced drunk in my arms most of our time there. Thank you, Arkey. Though, mind you, in her coquettish, sophisticated and charm-drunk sort of way, at a friendly venue with a band playing the best music, while we enjoyed our own libations, it easily made Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar in Bandera, Texas, a must destination for a man who wants his surroundings to make hlim appear like the first date she was hoping would be waiting for her after a long drive just to meet him. Thank you, Arkey.

But what I will remember the most about our first date at Arkey Blue's was after the dance, kissing her passionately on a quiet, empty street in Bandera. I think there is a song somewhere there. And men, remember to...

This bar needs to spend the vast amounts of money that it makes on two new bathrooms. The customers need to have more privacy. Better yet, do not drink anything except water. It is better, in my opinion, not to spend more than 2 hours there. I believe that they care more about the large amounts of 💰 money to be made, rather than forming nice relationships with people. It is very smokey and the majority of people are highly intoxicated. It is not a good and wholesome environment for your sweet chiIdren. I was invited as part of a fundraiser. I brought lots of canned goods to help the poor families during Christmas. Unfortunately, I wasted over 5 hours there. When I left this bar and finally arrived home, I quickly changed my clothes and tossed the smoke-filled clothing outside. If I visited this place again, it would be a 100% waste of my valuable time. The customers and staff were totally unfriendly and I felt completely uncomfortable. I do wish that Bandera had family oriented events, as well as, a movie theater. Possibly, I should start up a movie theater in Bandera. I don't particularly envy driving to San Antonio to watch a good assortment of movies. All of my friends prefer to watch movies on their VCR, rather than visiting saloon in search of some form of...

One of the last sawdust on the floors Texas dancehall. It's in the basement and dark with community seating, small dance floor, live music a lot of the time and still owned by one of the last trubedours of the Hank Williams era. When you walk down the steps be prepared to walk back in time. No fluff or anything fancy here. Bring your own bottle if you drink liquor, they don't serve it here, but they have some of the coldest beer in Texas. Be brave and step back in time. The people are friendly and if you aren't worried about fancy bars, flashing lights and private seating you just might find that you can have a wonderful time. Music is mostly 1940's to 1980's country with a tad bit of occasional classic rock. You will not find anything newer than 1990 country on the jukebox and there isn't much of that but there is a once in a lifetime experience here with a rapidly dying breed of Texas...