The kind of news a neighbor would text you about — new openings, adoptable pups, and the quiet shifts shaping the lake. Pulled each week from The Current.
The Lake Travis Chick-fil-A has been closed for renovations since August. State filings point to an October 31 completion, with a bigger drive-thru and refreshed interior on the way.
Federal authorities are seeking to seize a Lake Travis mansion, a 2021 Azimut yacht, two planes, a Rolls-Royce, and more than $581,000 tied to an alleged multi-state drug trafficking operation. At least 14 people have been charged in the case.
Mac is a 12-pound Terrier mix with two speeds: backyard zoomies and serious couch time. At 1½ years old, he's gentle, easygoing, and good with other dogs.
Three LTISD campuses — Rough Hollow Elementary, Lake Travis Middle, and Bee Cave Middle — temporarily lost water pressure last week as the West Travis County PUA struggled to refill its storage tanks. Stage 3 restrictions are now in effect, limiting sprinklers to one assigned morning a week.
Studio84 Hot Yoga is now open in the former Hill Country Hot Yoga space in Lakeway, with classes ranging from Original Hot Yoga and vinyasa to hot Pilates. Drop-ins start at $26.
Dino is a uniquely colored cuddle bug with a weakness for stuffed toys and a strong preference for having a canine sidekick. He's looking for an active home with another playful dog to keep the good times going.
Austin Restaurant Weeks runs August 28–September 13 with 100+ restaurants offering prix fixe menus benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. Two are right in our backyard: Café Blue at the Hill Country Galleria ($50 three-course dinner) and Taco Flats in Lakeway ($25 lunch).
Travis County is under a burn ban as dry conditions raise wildfire risk. If you're outside city limits, it's worth checking the rules before anything involving an open flame.
Phoenix was found in rough shape at a construction site; after months of care he's healthy, happy, and living up to his name — now he just needs the home to complete the comeback.
House of Shan is going permanent with its first brick-and-mortar location, House of Shan Cottage, opening August 28 on Bee Cave Road. Pop-up no more.
COTALAND officially opens September 26 at Circuit of the Americas with 30+ rides and attractions, including Texas' first tilt coaster. Apparently the racetrack wasn't enough adrenaline.
Poco is a one-year-old Dachshund mix with short legs and, presumably, very big plans. He's currently accepting applications for a new address.
A car crashed through the front of Tikka House in Lakeway this week, leaving a hole where the entrance used to be. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The restaurant is staying open through repairs, which could take several months — a few extra takeout orders would probably go a long way.
Gavino Dermatology is now seeing patients in Lakeway, offering everything from acne and skin cancer treatment to cosmetic services like microneedling, fillers, and chemical peels.
Kasey is a puppy with unlimited confidence, a serious fetch habit, and an uncanny ability to go from full-speed zoomies to asleep in your lap in under 30 seconds. Meet him at the Austin Pets Alive! adoption event this Saturday, August 15.
Lakeway is weighing a modest property tax increase to help close a projected $1.6 million budget gap driven by rising costs and slower revenue growth. For the average homeowner, it works out to about $80 a year.
Texas Hill Country was named the No. 3 Best Wine Region in the country in USA Today's annual readers' poll, climbing six spots from last year. Not bad for a place better known for barbecue and bluebonnets.
Boone is a three-month-old Pointer/Hound mix who's equal parts curiosity and cowboy charm. He gets along with kids, dogs, and cats, and is ready to make himself at home.
The proposed White Rocks amphitheater hit another snag after Travis County commissioners opposed a key state permit, reminding everyone that building a venue can take almost as long as waiting for the encore.
Lake Travis ISD approved the sale of 17 acres near Lakeway Elementary, turning unused land into long-term support for teachers and the district.
The Lake Travis Community Library is looking for teen volunteers this summer. A few hours of shelving books beats spending the whole break scrolling — and looks considerably better on a college application.
Delilah is Austin Humane Society's longest-stay resident. Seven years old, wonderfully well-mannered, and somehow still waiting for the home she's deserved all along.
Bee Cave Parkway is getting a fresh layer of asphalt beginning July 19. Overnight construction will run for 4–6 weeks between RM 620 and Hwy 71, with lane closures now in exchange for a smoother drive over the next decade.
“Informative. Organized and easy to read. Thanks!” — a reader. Short, sweet, and very appreciated.
Bodhi is a young pup with a gentle heart, a growing toy collection, and a few puppy manners still under construction. He's looking for a family to help him finish the job.
The Lake Travis Chamber's third Taste Lake Travis lands on September 26. Early bird pricing is open now, and the ticket includes everything you'll eat and drink there.
Austin is a Spaniel/Beagle mix who will launch himself through the air for a treat that isn't his, then melt into your arms like nothing happened.
Gracie the giraffe, whose disappearance had plenty of Central Texans doing a double take, has been found safe. We were all a little more invested than we'd like to admit.
Bee Cave approved early plans for a five-story apartment building at the Village at Spanish Oaks, complete with a dog park, fitness center, plunge pool, and swim-up bar. The 81-acre mixed-use development continues to take shape.
“You target things to do right in my stomping grounds of the Spicewood area. It’s great to be informed and support the local businesses.” — a reader comment from last week’s newsletter.
Meet Goose, a lovable pup with plenty of personality who’s ready to trade shelter life for a backyard, a couch, and someone to throw the ball one more time.
A new outdoor concert venue called White Rocks Amphitheater is taking shape off Highway 71, built into the natural limestone cliffs of the Hill Country — already drawing comparisons to Colorado's famous Red Rocks.
Two Texas icons are teaming up for Apple TV+'s new comedy Brothers, premiering in September. The series follows fictionalized versions of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson living together on a Texas ranch.
Verde's Mexican Parilla off Hamilton Pool Road appears to have permanently closed, catching many regulars off guard. One day it was open; the next, it wasn't.
“Spicewood is great! Lots of different experiences, wide range of personalities, we all agree that it’s a great place to live, and all of us value our freedom!” — a reader on what they love most about their neighborhood.
Meet Harper Lee, a thoughtful retriever mix who’d rather earn your trust than demand your attention. A trail walk, a calm home, and a confident dog friend are pretty much her idea of a perfect day.
Dynamic Sports Medicine is now open in Bee Cave, offering sports rehab, chiropractic care, dry needling, cupping, shockwave, and red light therapy. In other words, help for whatever happened during pickleball, golf, or simply sleeping wrong.
We featured Pongo months ago, and honestly, we were surprised to see he's still looking for a home. After being shot and losing a leg, he somehow never lost his joy — and we're hoping the right person is reading this.
The splash pad at Hill Country Galleria is officially back after years of sitting dry. It's now open daily from 10am to 6pm, giving parents one more weapon in the ongoing battle against summer boredom.
Not exactly Lake Travis, but close enough to matter: Snooze A.M. Eatery has opened in Arbor Trails, bringing another outpost of its famously indulgent breakfast menu to Southwest Austin.
Noa Pilates and Wellness has opened in Lakeway, pairing Pilates with one-on-one physical therapy and a focus on core, mobility, and posture — three words your spine has been quietly waiting to hear.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lakeway will soon close its maternity unit, leaving local families with one fewer option close to home for labor and delivery. The hospital cited declining birth volumes and ongoing staffing challenges; the practical effect is a longer drive on what is rarely a patient morning.
Rooted Salon Suites is opening this September in Lakeway with private suites for stylists and wellness pros — basically coworking, but everyone has better lighting.
A warm winter followed by a late freeze has Hill Country peach growers bracing for one of the roughest seasons in years — fewer peaches, higher prices, and probably a few emotional roadside-stand conversations this summer.
Austin City Limits Music Festival released its day-by-day 2026 lineup breakdown, giving everyone exactly what they needed: a reason to spend the next week debating which single-day ticket is the move.
Bravo is heading to the Texas Hill Country with a new reality series, Secrets, Lies, and Texas Wives, following wealthy Boerne women balancing ranches, families, social calendars, and apparently quite a bit of drama behind polished front doors.
Bella Loma, a new family-owned agave distillery, just opened its tasting room in Spicewood — house-distilled blanco and reposado, margaritas and Mexican martinis, with añejo, mezcal, and whiskey on the way. Dogs welcome, BYO snacks, and one more good reason to wander west.
Bee Cave’s newest interior design shop, Sicara Design, opens with a launch party Friday evening, May 1. Drinks, bites, and an early peek at unique designs before the rest of the Galleria catches on.
Canyon Ranch in Spicewood is bringing in chef Val Cantu of Michelin-starred Californios to lead its new concept, Estella — proof that “healthy” no longer has to mean underwhelming.
Bee Cave City Hall hosted a community business round table this spring — a short, useful, no-frills chat about what’s growing, what’s slowing, and what locals are noticing along 71. The kind of meeting that quietly shapes the next year of Bee Cave.
A new opening, a closing worth marking, a neighbor doing something quietly great — if it belongs in the bulletin, send it our way. Real tips from real locals are what make this section work.
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