Austin, TX
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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.
AUSTIN, Texas — After Senator Charles Perry vowed to introduce another bill to ban THC in Texas next legislative session, an Austin cannabis shop owner is urging lawmakers to find a middle ground.
Estella Castro owns Austinite Cannabis Co., a family-owned shop that makes and sells cannabis and hemp products.
Austinite Cannabis Co. (Photo: CBS Austin/Audrey Wong)
Her business has faced a potential THC ban before. During the 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 3 attempted to enact a broad ban on all cannabinoids except CBD and CBG.
Castro says she was most worried for her customers. “It was a big initial hit of like, what are we gonna do? How are we gonna pivot? How are we gonna keep the doors open for everybody to keep their jobs?” she said.
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That bill passed, but was later vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott. Similar legislation failed to pass during the subsequent special session.
However, the possibility of a total ban bill being introduced and passed next session could spell trouble for Austinite Cannabis.
During a hearing Tuesday, July 7, Senator Charles Perry vowed to present such a bill next session as public officials, medical experts, and others discussed THC’s medical uses, effects on minors, and regulation.
Castro says over half of the store’s revenue comes from products that contain THC.
“I would say it’s about a 60/40 split: 60% THC and 40 CBD… So feel like it is a huge number that affects my store in so many ways,” she said.
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She feels that a total ban on THC would negatively affect multiple parties.
“Banning it is just hurting the consumer,” she said. “Making the consumer go and find a street dealer… killing any dispensaries… it’s gonna hurt your small business owner.”
If another THC ban bill is written, it will be introduced during the next legislative session, which begins in January 2027.
In the meantime, Castro’s two stores will continue to operate as normal. She hopes lawmakers will think twice about instituting a complete ban on THC.
“I feel like we’re better than that, you know, we’re Texas,” she said. “We need to find some middle ground where it’s not a complete ban, and we can still be able to come together.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Trevor Goosby is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft. The Texas offensive lineman anchors the group up front for one of the best teams in the country and was named a preseason All-American by Walter Camp.
But his football career felt in jeopardy when he was in high school.
“That was kind of my biggest question,” said Goosby. “I was really nervous because would I be the same football player coming back?”
Goosby was born with a congenital heart defect and had open-heart surgery when he was just 16 years old. He wasn’t sure how this would change his everyday life, including his football career.
“Definitely a lot of nerves just because you’re getting your ribs cracked open essentially and getting your heart worked on…It was a scary moment. I remember driving up to the hospital super nervous.”
Goosby was able to recover and become a great football player. He said not only has he become a person in learning to fight through adversity, but it helped him as a player as well with improved endurance.
Now, the star Longhorn is giving back as much as possible.
Goosby hosted a camp in Austin to benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation. The organization works to fund research on congenital heart defects.
The offensive tackle is matching all donations up to $20,000 made to the Children’s Heart Foundation through the event and campaign.
“It means a lot to me just because of the heart condition I did have back when I was 16. That just kind of changed my life. I just want to bring awareness to that.”
The camp was at Hyde Park High School in Northwest Austin. Goosby spoke about what he hopes the young campers took away from the event.
“I think it’s just more than football. Football is a big part of what I do but it’s not who I am…I just want to show all these kids that I’m just another great guy and just someone they can look up to.”
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