By Claire Van Zee | ReporterKnown for its murder-mystery and improv comedy productions, Brazos Theatre of Waco is shifting its productions online in order to make the most of the pandemic-caused circumstances.“After all, the show must go on,” owner and director Beth Richards said.Since the county-wide shelter-in-place ordinance was put into action, the company has hosted a video conference improv comedy show and trivia night, both of which Richards said were great successes. In order to get in on the entertainment, people must purchase a “ticket” that will earn them a link to either a private Zoom meeting or access…
Author: Claire Van Zee
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterFrom missing out on May graduation to their last Dia Del Oso, this year’s seniors are feeling the weight of their last semester being cut short.While talking with a few current seniors, it’s no surprise that COVID-19 has thrown a curve ball into what they had envisioned their last few months in Waco would look like.When asked what they would miss most about their last semester at Baylor, all three seniors interviewed gave the same answer — graduation.Longmont, Colo., senior Emily Atwood said as a first generation student, she and her family were especially looking…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterAs students have transferred to online courses, certain majors are finding the transition to be more difficult than others. Often, what first comes to mind are labs and art classes that require the use of in-class facilities.However, students in majors such as interior design have also struggled in the transition, as they must adapt to completing their design work at home rather than in the Goebel building’s computer lab.Midlothian junior Sam Ferrington said her biggest worry going into online courses was her access to design software, such as Revit and CAD, that many of her…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterWith wedding season just around the corner, engaged couples around the world are scrambling to change their spring and summer plans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.Engaged Rock Hill, S.C., senior Sarah Mayfield is concerned about how the virus might alter the plans she and her fiance, Alum Alan Michael Le Grice, made for their May wedding. While family and friends were beginning to make arrangements to attend the Waco wedding after graduation this May, Mayfield and her fiance had to put everything on hold as they wait out these unprecedented times.“I’m really hoping…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterFor years, people have looked outside of Waco for their entertainment and arts experiences, but with the help of Creative Waco, the local arts agency, the city’s arts and culture scene is evolving into a hub of its own, and quickly becoming a place students might want to stay in after graduation.Current executive director, Fiona Bond and a group of locals came together in 2015 when there wasn’t any infrastructure supporting the art scene in Waco.“At that time, every arts organization was constrained by the lack of opportunity and advocacy,” Bond said.In order to make…
Claire Van Zee | ReporterTo the thrill of Taylor Swift fans everywhere, this month Swift released her intimate, revealing Netflix documentary “Miss Americana,” opening the doors to the personal life of one of the most talented, successful and misunderstood celebrities of our time. Swift speaks up about her personal struggles throughout her journey to becoming Taylor Swift in the most relatable, dare I say, humanizing way.In many ways, “Miss Americana” is a coming-of-age story. We all know the gist of the story: a small-town Pennsylvania girl makes it big time and revolutionizes the music industry. But the documentary isn’t so…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterKurbside Coffee, one of Waco’s newest storefront coffee shops, is bringing something new and different to the Waco coffee community.Located in Union Hall at 720 Franklin Ave., Kurbside is celebrating culture through their one-of-a-kind, culturally inclusive menu. The name Kurbside came about in honor of the traditional Mexican street sellers,“paleteros,” who sell items like ice cream, tacos and corn, said one of the four co-founders, Will Suarez.“We really just want to celebrate our heritage,” Suarez said. “Personally, I’m super grateful to my parents who immigrated here to give me a better future. There are so…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterThe Bill Daniel Student Center’s White Room doubled as the ballroom of fictional Bloodsworth Castle Tuesday night as around 15 students gathered for a masquerade-themed murder mystery party.The event was hosted from 7 to 9 p.m. by Baylor’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an English honor society. Prior to the event, students received an email explaining the theme of the party. The email assigned each student a character, which was associated with a color for them to wear, and gave them a taste of what the night would entail.This year, the mayor of Bloodsworth invited…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterWhen asked how she might describe InSite Theatre Co., founder and executive director Luann Jennings describes it in one word — scrappy. But in a good way.Established in 2017, InSite centered its initiative around the term “creative placemaking,” the idea of using art and design as tools for transforming communities, strengthening local identity and leading social change.“We’re trying to build our arts and cultural offerings and community as a way to make people feel more attached to Waco, to care more about Waco and to care more about each other,” Jennings said.While the company is…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterThe Waco Downtown Farmers Market has provided locals with fresh, homemade goods for almost nine years. The market was established in 2011 when a group saw the need for a large community market where local farmers and artisans could sell their goods.According to the market’s executive director, Bethel Erickson-Bruce, the purpose of a farmers market is to provide a space that allows local producers to have an outlet for their sales. “It’s about keeping dollars local and keeping food local,” Erickson-Bruce said.At the time, the group was aware of a small farmers market, with three…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterWaco couple James and Kami Yasko are the brains behind the event and dining recommendation website, Waco Wise. Their slogan, “What. When. Where. Waco.” explains what visitors can expect to find on their site.The regularly updated site is full of thoroughly researched recommendations for everything in Waco from the best happy hours and meal deals to the best antique shops and museums. According to its Instagram, Waco Wise is “The Good Time Curators of Waco!”The site also contains a list of almost every event happening around the city for the next few months. When moving…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterWith over eight theater companies throughout the area, the theater scene in Waco is alive and well. Or at least it is according to Beth Richards, director and owner of the Brazos Theatre of Waco.Richards said she decided to open the theater back in 2013 in hopes of creating a space for fun and carefree entertainment.Growing up in Temple Richards went on to study vocal performance with a minor in theater at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Ever since, she has been involved in theater. Up until seven years ago, she worked mostly as a…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterThe downtown art gallery and event space, Cultivate 7twelve will kick off the month with a new, interactive exhibition titled “Intersecture” from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. today.Multimedia artists Morgan Eyring and Karina Thome hope to examine the intersections between architecture and contemporary art with their new space -transforming exhibit, which will be open for the rest of February.Through this installation, the pair aim to diminish the harsh boundary separating art and architecture.“By getting rid of those defining lines, we can start to see the art for its true essence, how it actually affects the…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterIs coffee the first thing you think of in the morning? If so, you’re not alone. A report from Acorns Money Matters, says the average American spends about $1,100 a year on coffee. That’s a lot of money, and a lot of coffee. According to Cody Fergusson, the director of coffee at Dichotomy, the coffee industry has progressed in waves.Currently, we are experiencing the third wave of coffee. A wave focused on intention, meaning you’re more likely to know exactly where your coffee came from and the precise technique used to brew it than in…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterAcross the world, hipsters and collectors alike continue to support the decades-old industry of vinyl records. Despite being one of the oldest forms of recorded music, vinyls continue to make a way for themselves in the age of streaming. In recent years, vinyl sales have been on a continuous rise in the United States, according to Statista’s data recording LP album sales between 1993 and 2019 in the United States. During a time when you can stream any song imaginable within seconds, this continual growth is somewhat of a phenomenon. Vinyl album sales in the…
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By Claire Van Zee | ReporterWith the topic of climate change being at the forefront of today’s concerns, it’s no surprise that people are beginning to take a step back to rethink the way they consume. One of these ways being how they participate in the fashion industry, which is often criticized for its incredibly large carbon footprint. While there are many sectors in the field of fashion, there is one sector that remains considerably wholesome in terms of its effect on the environment: thrift and vintage shopping. Thrift or vintage shopping actually falls under the category of sustainable fashion.…
By Claire Van Zee | ReporterIf you haven’t already heard the whispers of uncontainable admiration for “Little Women” slowly circulating the globe, then let me be the one to tell you it’s a must-see. “Ladybird” director Greta Gerwig’s retelling of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel (maybe you read it in middle school?) is unlike any retelling before. While the novel may already have three film adaptions, none compare to Gerwig’s brilliant rendition that premiered in cinemas on Christmas Day 2019. As I enter a year of hoping to improve my writing, I’ve never wanted to be more like Jo…