The Leander branch of Maggie Mae’s restaurant and bar closed permanently in mid-November.

The details: The restaurant, located in Leander’s Old Town district, first opened Dec. 15, 2021, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The business served a variety of American food, including burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, wings and sides, in addition to a selection of alcoholic beverages at the bar.

Maggie Mae’s still operates a location at 323 E. Sixth Street in Austin.

• Closed in November
• 105 W. Willis St., Ste. 4140, Leander

The history: Sandra and Clifton Lott, Jr. opened Thirsty Chicken in Leander in 2021 after a visit to New Orleans where they were inspired by the chicken and daiquiri spots they visited. 

On the menu: The restaurant serves chicken wings with an array of sauces, called Bird Baths, to toss them in. Side items include fried pickles, fried cauliflower bites and the Clucked Up Fries, or chili cheese fries with the option to add chopped chicken tenders on top. 

The restaurant also sells alcoholic and nonalcoholic daiquiris for the whole family to enjoy. Thirsty Chicken serves a variety of cereal-flavored daiquiris, wine daiquiris and a build-your-own option.

Looking ahead: To celebrate their fifth anniversary next year, they hope to expand the business with a second location, Sandra Lott said. One of the limitations of the current location is that the kitchen can only house three fryers, she said, which can make wait times longer for customers. 
104 W. Willis St., Leander
 

Nonprofit organizations and churches will host free Thanksgiving meals across the Austin area, including events in Dripping Springs, Bastrop, Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown and more. Volunteers are also encouraged to get involved by reaching out to organizations directly. 

United Way for Greater Austin:  United Way for Greater Austin will host its annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing, providing the community with turkey and trimmings. 

• Nov. 25, 4-8 p.m.
• Free
• 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is moving forward with a set of permanent rules designed to prohibit the sale of consumable THC products to anyone under 21 years old.

The overview: The proposal is similar to emergency rules adopted Sept. 23, which are currently in effect and prohibit Texas alcohol retailers from selling intoxicating THC products to minors. The state health department adopted similar emergency rules in October.

The context: The existing and proposed THC rules are the result of a September executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott, who called for age restrictions on THC sales and tighter guardrails on the multibillion-dollar industry.

Earlier this month, federal lawmakers approved a ban on most consumable THC products, which is set to take effect in November 2026. The ban is part of a federal funding package that became law Nov. 12, ending a 43-day federal government shutdown.

Next steps: Texans can weigh in on the TABC's proposed permanent rules during a Dec. 11 virtual public hearing or submit written public comments through Jan. 4.