Austin, TX
Texas beef experts host Austin 'smoke lab' to teach barbecue greatness
There’s one piece of the Antlers Lodge at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa that visitors will remember above all — bet you can’t guess what it is. But the restaurant space around the huge, three-tiered antler chandelier was in need of an update.
After significant renovations to the surrounding space, the dining room is looking less like a hotel event room and more like a chic, modern restaurant. Along with the visual changes, the restaurant on the western edge of San Antonio is also debuting a new chef and an updated menu.
Previously cloaked in brown and beige, the semi-rustic dining room looked a little more country before the renovation, but the hotel walls were unmistakable. Now with a cool gray carpet, gray and floral seating, and much darker walls, the space has a more wintery upscale look without fully leaving the woods behind. The mounted deer head pops much more on its white mantle.
The chandelier pops more against the darker tones.Photo courtesy of the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
Most eye-catching are the patinated mirror tiles above the open kitchen, which continues to display its copper cookware and the hard work of the kitchen team.
The rustic look pays homage to the more than 100-year-old Rogers Wiseman cattle ranch that was previously located where the ranch stands today. Now the award-winning resort is keeping up with its luxurious
Native San Antonian Joseph Lambert is the new chef de cuisine in charge of making sure the food matches the chic new atmosphere. Having worked his way up the ranks from washing dishes, he’s been with the Hyatt Corporation for six years, according to a press release.
“I am excited to join the incredible team at Hyatt Regency Hill Country’s Antlers Lodge,” said Chef Lambert in the release. “My goal in my new role is to foster an environment of creativity and passion for the food our team prepares for our guests. I look forward to helping guests make lasting memories through delicious dining experiences.”
The open kitchen keeps the culinary excitement up.Photo courtesy of the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
Some of the new menu is reserved for exactly what diners would expect in a restaurant so fully adorned with antlers: center cut filet mignon, Lone Star bone-in ribeye, and a variety of creatively prepared game like bison meatballs, chili-rubbed elk tenderloin, chili coffee-crusted elk carpaccio, and South Texas antelope.
But not all the dishes are from so far inland, and they don’t all center around meat. Lighter fare includes vegan garden ravioli, seared haibut, and elote shrimp from the Texas Gulf. Of course, any restaurant with such outdoorsy inspiration must include s’mores, which in this case sandwich the toasted marshmallows between brown butter graham crackers, chocolate ganache, and a whiskey chocolate sauce.
This renovation is part of a much broader, multi-phase project that’s transforming the resort as a whole. In 2023, it completed a $50 million phase that updated the rooms with hardwood, better tech, and walk-in showers. Austinites may recognize the resort for its lazy river, which bridges the gap between the outdoorsy Hill Country and the tourist-ready city with competing hotels.
More information about the Antlers Lodge (9800 Hyatt Resort Dr., San Antonio) and reservation links are available at antlerslodge.getbento.com.
Juneteenth celebrations are happening across the city this weekend. The events will mark the 161st anniversary of the day Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement on June 19, 1865, came more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19 — known as Juneteenth — became a federal holiday in 2021.
From historical bike rides to Austin’s annual parade, here are seven events taking place in Austin.
Annual Juneteenth FunRun, June 19
The city of Austin’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility will host a fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at East Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Leona Street, and concluding at Hargrave Street near the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex. Participants will have one hour to complete the course. The route is the same as the parade through the African American Historical Cultural District that will start later that morning. Runners and walkers of all ages and levels can participate.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival, June 19
The annual Juneteenth parade will take place Friday and begin at 10 a.m. at East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street and will travel down to Chicon Street before turning on Rosewood Avenue. The parade will feature floats, live music and performers.
A Very Juneteenth Comedy Jam, June 19
The Velveeta Room, Austin’s longest-running comedy club, will have shows highlighting Black voices Friday night at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 18+ event will feature comedians like Freddy Do Less and Roderick McDaniel. Tickets for both shows are around $23.
Sistas Walk And Talk: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
Texas Sistas Society will host a 3-mile walk and talk Saturday at 515 S. Pleasant Valley Road starting at 7:45 a.m. Texas Sistas Society is an Austin-based community created for Black women and women of color. Attendees are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors: red, yellow, green or black, and to RSVP ahead of time.
The Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
The George Washington Carver Museum in Austin is dedicated to creating a “space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated.” The museum is hosting a free celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with barbecue plates, live music, vendors and activities for all ages.
Black Auteur Film Festival, June 20
The Black Auteur Film Festival, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black filmmakers in Texas, is hosting its third annual film festival to showcase short films directed by Black Texans at AFS Cinema on Saturday. One filmmaker will win the $1,000 “Best of Fest” award, and attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to win Austin Film Society memberships and movie tickets. The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14.
Juneteenth Social Ride, June 21
Black History Bike Ride, an Austin nonprofit teaching people about the city’s Black history through cycling, is hosting its seventh annual Juneteenth ride starting at the Haskell House on Saturday at 10 a.m. Austin-based historian Harrison Eppright will serve as the ride’s guide. Registration is required for all attendees. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data analyst Corey Yeung created the ATX Running Guide to help runners find community across Central Texas. What started as a personal project has become one of Austin’s most comprehensive running resources.
Looking for a Run Club? There’s a Map for That
When Corey Yeung moved to Austin three years ago, he had a simple question:
“How many run clubs are actually out there?” The answer wasn’t easy to find. While several websites listed local groups, Yeung felt none offered a complete picture. So, he decided to build one himself. What started as a spreadsheet evolved into ATX Running Guide, a website and social media platform that helps runners discover clubs throughout the Austin area.
“The list would be more useful if it were a map and search tool,” Yeung said. “The Instagram page was simply a way to communicate those free resources to the community.”
Today, the guide covers running groups from San Marcos to Hutto and serves as a one-stop resource for runners looking to connect. In this episode of KXAN’S Plus Simple Health, Corey Yeung walks us through everything you need to know about the 200-plus running clubs in Austin.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Volts are off to a rough start in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, but maybe a little home cooking can help them get right.
After playing their first five games on the road, the Volts open play at Dell Diamond in Round Rock at 6 p.m. Thursday against the Utah Talons, kicking off an 8-game homestand.
It’s the first season the Volts will call Dell Diamond home. In the league’s inaugural season last year, the original four teams competed with a touring schedule that included a stop at Dell Diamond. This is the first year that the AUSL, now a 6-team league, will play in home markets.
They have a roster peppered with local stars, including 2-time NCAA national champion middle infielder Leighann Goode from the Texas Longhorns. Aliyah Binford, a New Braunfels native, played collegiately for Ole Miss and former Texas State pitcher Jessica Mullins made an appearance in the Volts’ previous series against the Carolina Blaze.
Goode said there’s been a bit of a learning curve, but she credits her teammates for helping her adjust to the league.
“This group has brought me in and taught me stuff, taken me under their wings,” she said. “They’ve done an awesome job.”
Legendary Texas pitcher Cat Osterman is the team’s general manager, and the head coach is Texas State’s Ricci Woodard.
“We’re ready to rock and roll at home,” Woodard said. “I’m anxious to see what happens now that we get to play in our own place.”
Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 draft, joined the team last weekend after a brief contract holdout.
The Volts are 1-4 this season, picking up their lone win over the Oklahoma City Spark on June 10. They’ll face the Talons in a 3-game series, the Chicago Bandits for a pair June 23-24, and finish the homestand with a 3-game set against the expansion Portland Cascade on June 26-28.
Ryan Sanders Baseball, the organization that owns and operates the Round Rock Express, is an operating partner with the Volts and an investor with the AUSL.
-
Los Angeles, Ca14 seconds agoArmed, dangerous CHP pursuit suspect tied to double homicide in Pomona
-
Detroit, MI18 minutes agoFirst responders honored after rescuing 12 people from capsized sailboats near Belle Isle
-
San Francisco, CA30 minutes agoOakland man faces hate crime charges for Castro District attack
-
Dallas, TX33 minutes agoAt least 4 injured after vehicle drives into Dallas crowd, driver arrested
-
Miami, FL38 minutes agoMiami Central students prepare for life changing trip to Zimbabwe amid funding challenges
-
Boston, MA45 minutes agoGiannis to Boston is a possibility. Should the Knicks be worried?
-
Denver, CO48 minutes agoDenver Public Schools’ decline in enrollment continues to reshape district
-
Seattle, WA53 minutes agoWoo twirls 7 scoreless innings in bounceback outing vs. Orioles
