No Bad Days. For about 35 years, Randall "Poodie" Locke was the guy standing between Willie Nelson and everyone who wanted something from him. His real talent, the story goes, was pitching ideas so Willie thought they were his own. In 1997 Locke bought a hilltop bar in Spicewood so the road crew had somewhere to land, and Willie showed up to play about a dozen times.
Poodie died in 2009, but his favorite saying, “No bad days,” outlived him. This Sunday, the bar that still carries his name throws its 12th annual Poodie's Party: two stages, twelve hours, $20 at the gate, all of it going to Highland Lakes nonprofits.
Here's what's happening around the lake this week.
The forecast may reshuffle a few plans this weekend. Be sure to check event pages before heading out.
AUSTIN FREELANCER & CONSULTANT MIXER | October 1, 6pm | FUSE Workspace | FREE | Info
Referrals traded among people who set their own hours.
BOEING-BOEING | October 1–4; Thu–Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm | TexARTS | $57.55+ | Info
A 1960s farce about three fiancées and one very tight flight schedule.
HILL COUNTRY FALL FESTIVAL & PUMPKIN PATCH | October 1–4, 10am–7pm | 5300 Lohmans Ford Rd, Lago Vista | FREE | Info
A brand-new patch opening with a maze, a tractor train, and baby goats.
SMOKE & OAK: TEXAS BBQ & WHISKEY FEST | October 3, 12–4pm | TR Restaurant & Bar, Lakeway Resort & Spa | Info
An afternoon devoted to two things Texas takes fairly seriously.
HIGHWAY 71 BREWING OKTOBERFEST | October 3 | Highway 71 Brewing | FREE | Info
A Hill Country Oktoberfest with the beer already handled.
LAKE TRAVIS EDUCATION FOUNDATION CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC | October 5, 10am | Flintrock Falls Golf Club | Info
A scramble where the money goes to LTISD teachers and the coaches show up.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT | October 6, 4–7pm | High Five Exchange | FREE | Info
Lakeway police trade patrol cars for bowling, laser tag, and arcade games for the evening.
Photo from lakeway-tx.gov
LITTLE ICONS PORTRAIT POP-UP | October 2–3 | My Poterie | Info
No posing, no pressure — just your kid being exactly themselves.
Image from @mypoteriestudio
FIREFIGHTER PRESCHOOL STORY TIME | October 5, 10:30–11am | Lake Travis Library Lakeway | FREE | Info
Real firefighters, a real fire truck, and thirty minutes of undivided preschool attention.
FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME | October 6, 10:30–11am | Lake Travis Library Spicewood | FREE | Info
The same story time, different day, different location.
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL | October 2–4 | Zilker Park, Austin | $170+ | Info
The first weekend migration to Zilker begins.
KALAHARI FOOD & (NOT JUST) WINE FESTIVAL | October 4, 12–4pm | Kalahari Resorts, Round Rock | $125+ | Info
An afternoon of chef tastings in a place better known for waterslides.
MAHJONG LEADERSHIP RETREAT | October 16–18 | Fredericksburg | $975 | Info
Mahjong gets a leadership retreat, complete with vineyards and plenty of evening play.
HOT LUCK FEST | October 16–17 | Franklin Barbecue, Mohawk & Assembly Hall, Austin | Various pricing | Info
Aaron Franklin gathers chefs, live fire, and live music for one very Austin weekend.
TWO STEP INN 2027 | April 17–18 | San Gabriel Park, Georgetown | $229+ | Info
Ella Langley and Brooks & Dunn headline a weekend stacked with country heavyweights.
Image from Two Step Inn website
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Oct 1st – Oct 4th
ANGEL’S ICEHOUSE (Spicewood)
Fri: The Square Grooves | 6pm
HIGHWAY 71 BREWING (Spicewood)
Fri: Sky Zito | 7-10pm
IRON WOLF RANCH (Spicewood)
Sat: Garrett Jay Brown | 2-5pm
JULES DESIGN BAR (Bee Cave)
Fri: Brian Andrew Lee | 8pm-late
LAKEWAY ACTIVITY CENTER (Lakeway)
Sun: Piano Trio | 4-5:30pm
LITTLE WOODROW’S (Bee Cave)
Sat: Robert Wagner Trio | 7:30-10:30pm
LT CORNER PUB (Lakeway)
Fri: Karaoke + DJ w/ KJ Kevin Young | 9pm-2am
LUCKY RABBIT (Jonestown)
Fri: Maverick Drive | 7-10pm
Sat: Isabel Suarez 2-5pm | Rock & Roll Rebel 7-8:30pm | Madhatter 9-10:30pm
POODIE’S ROADHOUSE (Spicewood)
Thu: Gus Miller Duo 6pm | Dukes of the Hill Country 8pm
Fri: James Hyland 7:30pm | Bob Schneider Band 9pm
Sat: Dakota Spellman 6pm | Lane Bricker 8pm | Silo Road 10:30pm
Sun: The Annual Poodie’s Party, both stages | 12pm-12am
Image fron Poodies’ website
SAF WINE BAR (Lakeway)
Thu: Frank Cavitt | 7:30-10:30pm
Fri: Shawn Matthews | 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 | 7:30-10:30pm
Sat: Anders Drerup | 6:30-9:30pm
Sun: Mike Gonzales | 6:30-9pm
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Last Week’s Poll Results. We asked for your favorite Dolly Parton song, and I Will Always Love You won by a country mile, taking nearly half the vote. Jolene came in a distant second, followed by 9 to 5—though as one reader put it, “This was a tough choice!” With Dolly, the wrong answer was making you pick one!
From Dolly to Willie: in honor of the man who kept his show on the road for 35 years, we’re settling the big one.
For the Cooler Weather: Lake Travis Run Club is taking pre-orders for their new sweatshirts and hoodies, and the timing feels optimistic in the best way. Pre-orders close October 2, so order now and let the hoodie wait for the first morning under 70 degrees.
Dumplings Now, Dumplings Later. If you’ve passed T’s Dumpling Bar at the Bee Cave Farmers Market without stopping, fix that this weekend. The dumplings are served fresh and hot, but the real Good Find might be the frozen bags you can take home for the nights when cooking isn’t happening.
For Date Night: My Poterie has a pretty good fall date-night formula: pick a pumpkin or haunted house to paint, then head next door to SAF Wine Bar for wine and charcuterie. Fall in Lakeway, without pretending it’s cool enough for a sweater yet.
Here Comes the Rain. After a long stretch of mostly dry weather, Lake Travis is in for a soggy end to the week. A Flood Watch is in effect Wednesday evening through Friday evening, with heavy rainfall and localized flooding possible across the area.
Wine Not? Postino opened its newest Austin-area wine café in Westlake, bringing its signature bruschetta boards, shareable plates, and very easy-to-justify afternoon glasses of wine a little closer to our side of town.
Quoted. “There’s something for everyone!” and “Always fun to read! Love!” Two reviews we’ll happily print.
Adopt Me. Meet Yoda, a seven-year-old Yorkie mix whose ambitions are refreshingly modest: a pleasant walk, a few toys, and a permanent position warming your lap. She’s housebroken, good with kids and other dogs, and wise enough to know she deserves to be spoiled.
A Little Too Thrilling. COTALAND opened Saturday, and its new Circuit Breaker coaster wasted no time making news. Videos show riders being evacuated after the coaster stopped at the top of its vertical drop. Everyone made it down safely.
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