Barn Burner

If you think barns are for cows and chickens then you haven't been to Pie Ranch for the barn dance. On the third Saturday of the month this blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot on Highway 1 blows the roof off. The nonprofit farm teaches sustainable practices and gives attention to something commonly overlooked in our Web 2.0 world: (offline) community. At 6 p.m. a potluck starts things off. Bring a dish to share, spread a blanket and strike up a conversation. At 7 p.m. the band starts: guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and a dance caller set the barn bouncing. A few seasoned line dancers are in the mix, but generally footloose beginners take to the floor and go with the flow. Before you know it you'll be promenading, dosey-doing, and finding your two left feet: Grab your partner go round and round… down the middle… It's a barn good time, and that's not pie in the sky!

Pie Ranch, 2080 Cabrillo Highway (Hwy. 1), Pescadero; 650-879-0995. It's midway between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz and 8 miles south of Pescadero. The barn dance happens on the third Saturday of the month. Admission is $7 to $20 depending on the band. No dogs.