110 Stories. Early Friday morning, while most of Lake Travis is just getting moving, local first responders will be climbing.
Each September 11, members of Lake Travis Fire Rescue and local law enforcement gather at the Hill Country Galleria to climb the equivalent of the World Trade Center’s 110 stories — a tradition that began here more than a decade ago. It isn't a race. It's 110 stories climbed in remembrance of the first responders who made that climb under very different circumstances 25 years ago.
This Friday marks a quarter-century since September 11, 2001. Around here, remembrance starts at 7:46 a.m., one step at a time.
Here’s what’s happening around the lake this week.
MAT PILATES | September 10, 9–10am | LTUMC Activity Center | FREE | Info
An hour of core work and finding out which muscles took the summer off.
9/11 MEMORIAL STAIR CLIMB | September 11, 7:46am | Hill Country Galleria | FREE | Info
First responders climb in remembrance.
Image from Hill Country Galleria website
ATX YOGA GIRL HALF DAY RETREAT | September 11, 9am–1:30pm | Lake Austin Spa Resort | $295 | Info
Floating meditation and crystal bowls at a spa that already has relaxation figured out.
GEORGIA O'KEEFFE IN THE FARAWAY | September 11, 10:30–11:30am | Lake Travis Library Lakeway | FREE | Info
How one trip to New Mexico changed what Georgia O’Keeffe saw — and painted.
MOONLIT MARGARITA SIP & PAINT | September 11, 7–9pm | MK Art + Design Studio | $34+ | Info
Paint a moonlit margarita while sipping something on theme.
SPICEWOOD COMEDY NIGHT | September 11, 8–10pm | Highway 71 Brewing | $25 | Info
Austin comics take the mic while the brewery handles the beer.
LAKE TRAVIS RUN CLUB: AUSTIN MARATHON KICK-OFF WEEK | September 12, 7:30am | Café Lago | FREE | Info
An Austin Marathon collab with swag waiting at the finish line.
LAKEWAY INDOOR GARAGE SALE | September 12, 8am–12pm | Lakeway Activity Center | FREE | Info
A morning of garage-sale hunting with the garages conveniently removed.
COMMUNITY CLEANUP | September 12, 8am–12pm | Lakeway City Park | FREE | Info
A morning devoted to leaving Lakeway better than you found it.
MOMMY (& DADDY) MEET UP | September 12, 9:30–11am | Peaches Coffee | FREE | Info
Coffee with people who also haven't slept.
BOOK FESTIVAL | September 12, 10am–3pm | Lago Vista Public Library | FREE | Info
Local authors get ten minutes each to make your reading list longer.
PECAN STREET FESTIVAL | September 12–13, 11am–9pm | Hill Country Galleria | FREE | Info
The Austin classic takes over the Galleria with art, music, food, and hundreds of vendors.
Image from Pecan Street Festival website
GALLOWAY ART RECEPTION | September 12, 1–2pm | Lake Travis Library Lakeway | FREE | Info
Hill Country photography, digitally reimagined, with the artists there to explain themselves.
BACKPACKS, BEDTIMES & BIG FEELINGS | September 16, 12–1pm | Lakeway Activity Center | FREE | Info
A lunchtime playbook for how to handle back-to-school and bedtime negotiations.
DISTILLER'S TABLE | September 16, 6pm | Angel's Icehouse | $75 | Info
Four courses under the oaks, with a tequila pairing for each.
MUSIC BINGO | September 16, 6–7:30pm | Lago Vista Brewing Company | FREE | Info
Bingo, except the numbers are songs you almost remember.
FREE INTRO TO LACROSSE | September 13, 2–3pm | Lake Travis Middle School | FREE | Info
One free hour to see if lacrosse becomes the next thing.
POKÉMON CLUB | September 14, 4:30–5:30pm | Lake Travis Library Spicewood | FREE | Info
Trading, battling, and a quiz your kid has unknowingly been studying for.
STORYTIME FOR BABIES THRU PRE-K | September 16, 10–11am | Lago Vista Public Library | FREE | Info
Stories, songs, and play for the crowd still measuring age in months.
TIM MCGRAW: PAWN SHOP GUITAR TOUR | September 10, 7pm | Moody Center | $52+ | Info
Three decades of hits, now back on the road.
Image from Moody Center ATX website
LEARN LACROSSE IN 30 DAYS | Sundays, September 20–October 18, 2–3pm | Lake Travis Middle School | $175 | Info
Five Sundays, a free stick, and a kid who suddenly plays lacrosse.
THE FLOATING FITNESS EXPERIENCE | September 24, 9am | The Wake Stop Hudson Bend | $75 | Info
Drop the kids at school, then trade the studio for a paddleboard.
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September 10th – September 13th
ANGEL’S ICEHOUSE (Spicewood)
Fri: Amber Lucille | 6pm
GRAVEYARD POINT ICEHOUSE (Lakeway)
Fri: Jacob Kyle | 7:30pm
HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA (Bee Cave)
Fri: Brooks Forsyth | 6-8pm
HWY 71 BREWING COMPANY (Spicewood)
Fri: Josh Field | 7-9pm
IRON WOLF RANCH (Spicewood)
Sat: Men of Madam Radar | 2-5pm
JULES DESIGN BAR (Bee Cave)
Fri: Andrea Marie | 8-10pm
LAKE TRAVIS LIBRARY (Lakeway)
Fri: Matt Tedder | 3-4pm
LT CORNER PUB (Lakeway)
Fri: Karaoke w/KJ Kevin Young | 9pm-2am
LUCKY RABBIT (Jonestown)
Fri: Feed them to the Lions | 7-10pm
Sat: Sophia Johnson | 2-5pm
Sun: Jazz Brunch w/ the Jazz Daddies | 12-3pm
PLATE BY DZINTRA (Bee Cave)
Thu: Tanya Winch | 6-8:30pm
POODIE’S ROADHOUSE (Spicewood)
Thu: Erik Flores & Amelia Rose 6pm | Dukes of the Hill Country 8pm
Fri: Ricke Brothers 6pm | Chris Beall 8pm | Ru Coleman & The Big Hurt 10:30pm
Sat: Dakota Spellman 1pm | The Greers 6pm | Jason Kane White & The Lonesome 8pm | Louisiana Surf Department 10:30pm
Sun: Switcharoos 4pm | Chuck Shaw 7:30pm
SAF WINE BAR (Lakeway)
Thu: Frank Cavitt | 7:30-10:30pm
Fri: Dean Seltzer | 8:30-11:30pm
Sat: Phil Luna | 8:30-11:30pm
Sun: Emily Shirley | 6:30-9:30pm
STEINER RANCH STEAKHOUSE (Steiner Ranch)
Thu: Robert Wagner | 6:30-9pm
Fri: Howlin’ Waters | 6:30-9pm
Sat: Christine Baird | 6:30-10pm
Sun: Mike Gonzales | 6:30-9pm
THE OASIS (Lake Travis)
Fri: Halie G & Tumbao Orquesta | 7-10pm
Sat: Mary Said | 7-10pm
Sun: Shakedown | 6:30-9:30pm
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Last Week’s Poll Results. We asked if summer was really over, and most of you aren’t buying what the calendar is selling. The first cool front is the official finish line, although most of us will be waiting until Halloween for it.
Until then, we’ll take our fall where we can get it — college football. More specifically, Texas vs. Ohio State.
Where are you watching the game this weekend?
Pumpkins, Delivered. Farmer Dave’s in Spicewood is booking 2026 pumpkin displays, with delivery, setup, pumpkins, and hay bales all handled for you. Packages range from $375 to “The Big One” for roughly 120 pumpkins and eight hay bales — less “fall accent,” more full commitment. Removal costs extra, which feels like a problem for future you. Peaches, pears, and weekend pies are still on the stand.
The Better Bean Run. Asha Coffee Roasters brings its small-batch roasts to the Bee Cave Farmers Market, and the Bonneville Espresso Blend is worth taking home. It’s a medium roast with notes of baked apple, molasses, caramel, and cookie sweetness. It’s smooth enough for straight espresso, but even better with milk — basically the bag to grab if your home latte has been feeling a little flat.
We Miss You, Waffle Fries. The Lake Travis Chick-fil-A has been closed for renovations since August, and yes, we miss it too. State filings point to an October 31 completion, with a bigger drive-thru and refreshed interior on the way.
Not Your Average Lake House. 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. Quite the forfeiture list.
Adopt Me. Meet Mac, 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. If your couch has room for one more, Mac would very much like to fill it.
A Major League Listing. Former Red Sox pitcher and two-time World Series champ Clay Buchholz has listed his Steiner Ranch estate for $10.7 million. The 12,444-square-foot home sits on three acres along Lake Austin and comes with an indoor basketball court — apparently retirement means switching sports.
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