I always placed country line dancing and a Thursday-night bowling league on the same platform, one of routine that I will eventually reach at a point in my life when that's all I'll have to look forward to. This is extraordinarily cynical, and fortunately a thought of the past...at least the line dancing part. The Roost in Henrietta brought me to the light.

Owner David P. Ives, a.k.a. "Buck," has experience in the country bar business; he also owns The Corral in Batavia. Located beside the Day's Inn at 4853 West Henrietta Road, you'll find The Roost behind grand wooden doors that welcome you into another world --- that of the saloon-style bar. The Roost is a huge facility with seating for up to 50 people for its country-style fare, with massive burgers and a slew of appetizers on the menu. You're likely to find a crowd --- a very large one, in fact --- circling around the full bar and packing the dance floor six nights a week, with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. I'm not kidding. You want to know where everyone in Rochester has been hiding? Put your dancing shoes on and check this out.

At the bar you'll find men who look like they just stepped off the ranch sitting beside Joe College. On the dance floor, men and women --- a lot of women; attractive women --- dance to all kinds of music, from classic country to hip-hop. Yes, you'll find line dancing, and two-step, but also country cha-cha, waltz, and swing. My companion (I've always wanted to say that) mentioned this was the biggest meat market he's seen in Rochester, and judging by the crowd and the fun nature of the whole scene, I could see his point.

And in terms of entertainment, The Roost offers plenty of options including karaoke, tug-of-war and horseshoe contests, pool and dart leagues, live country music on weekends, and dance lessons. If you want to see the best of the 35-and-under crowd, check out Thursday nights. If you want to meet new people and perhaps gain a new perspective (like I did), head out Monday-Saturday after 3:30 p.m. And be prepared to party.