By JP Graham | Reporter Pinewood Coffee Bar is hosting its first annual block party and music festival Friday afternoon from 2 to 9:45 p.m., an event open to the public and conveniently scheduled for the last day of the spring semester. Located at 2223 Austin Avenue, the block party will include live music, food trucks, face painting, drinks and games that come with the purchase of a ticket. General admission is $5 and includes entrance to the event, including live music. VIP tickets are $15 dollars, which additionally includes two free coffee drinks and other beverages. Cassie Spivey, general…
Author: Jp Graham
By JP Graham | ReporterThe Northern Triangle Art Exhibit by Borderland Collective is dedicated to shining a light on the Central American refugee crisis beginning April 19. At the Mayborn Museum, the exhibit uses art to express thoughts and feelings surrounding the thousands of people fleeing Central America. Borderland Collective is an art and education project focused on bringing attention to troubling topics and creating a space for meaningful conversations. Borderland Collective was founded by school teacher Ryan Sprott and artist Jason Reed in 2007 in Big Lake, Texas. The founders have since collaborated with numerous artists and contributors to…
By JP Graham | ReporterWhether someone takes a few hours to make a decision or only a few minutes, deciding what to wear for the day can become a monotonous task over time. Usually, the last accessory put on before departing and an afterthought for some are shoes, yet choosing between discomfort and self-expression can tell you more about a person than you might think. As someone who is obsessed with shoes, I shy away from the term “sneaker head” because my collection is more than just sneakers. From boots to brightly colored basketball shoes to slippers, I have a…
By JP Graham | ReporterMaking instrumental beats is one of senior Tim Arterbury’s hobbies, one that sparked the idea of wanting to create a “virtual instrument.” Using retired controllers and technology from gaming systems around his house, Arterbury created software that allows users to play instruments using 3-D tracking technology called “MoveMidi.” Arterbury began working on his software in Dec. 2016, when he figured he could put some old remotes to use. Combining the PlayStation Move remotes and the 3-D camera that registers movement from the remotes, Arterbury created a system in which customers can use the remotes to play…
By JP Graham | ReporterThe traveling blockbuster exhibition Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is scheduled to open June 2 at the Mayborn Museum. This is much to the delight of museum employees, whose jobs entail a variety of tasks that ensure the success of both traveling and permanent exhibitions.Assistant director of communication for the Mayborn Museum, Rebecca Nall, said the Mayborn hosts two or three exhibits per year, and that she is one of the people in charge of selecting which exhibits will be featured. Nall said balancing the exhibits is the Mayborn’s primary focus, ensuring that all museum-goers are represented…
By JP Graham | ReporterLeander sophomore Joey Tkach was selected as one of 11 winners nationwide at the 2018 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition. Yamaha Corporation of America, the world’s largest manufacturer of instruments, annually recognizes 11 students between the ages of 18 and 22 who have potential for becoming professional musicians. Tkach and other winners in this year’s competition received an all-expense-paid trip to the Music for All Summer Symposium in Muncie, Ind., this March. There, Tkach will perform in front of thousands with Yamaha Performing Artist Allen Vizzutti. He will also receive access to workshops and clinics, where…
By JP Graham | ReporterChills 360, a Thai-inspired ice cream shop that originated in Dallas, is the newest addition to the strip of shops on Speight Avenue and 16th Street. Opening just two weeks ago on March 23, it has taken the Baylor community by storm. Chills 360’s popularity could easily be attributed to its unique product — ice cream rolls. Customers can choose from four different flavors – vanilla, coffee, tarra and matcha – which is then mixed with selected toppings and spread thin onto a plate that is negative 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The plate eliminates the need for…
By JP Graham | Reporter Caritas Waco, a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and miscellaneous goods to the Waco community, is celebrating 51 years of service with their annual “Feast of Caring” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Waco Convention Center. The event will feature local restaurants in a soup cook-off and a dessert cook-off, in addition to silent and audible auctions for various prizes. The Feast of Caring is Caritas’ major fundraising event of the year. The “Soup Cook-Off,” the main event of the night, will feature local restaurants and caterers who have prepared choice soups for those…
By JP Graham | Reporter The Baylor Libraries hosted the Heavenly Voices Gospel Choir for the third annual “Voices and Vinyl” concert Tuesday afternoon, performing versions of classic gospel music inspired by the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University. The Heavenly Voices Gospel Choir performed versions of “Deliver Daniel” by Dexter Walker, “Don’t Cry” by Kirk Franklin, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” by Thomas A. Dorsey and “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” by Andrae Crouch, a crowd favorite from last year. The harmonization of the Heavenly Voices Gospel Choir created a contemporary feel to these original…
JP Graham | ReporterThe “Deep in the Heart Film Festival” concluded Sunday afternoon with a “short and sweet” Encore viewing of selected short films shown throughout the week. Festival co-director Samuel Thomas said there was so much talent at this year’s festival that they wanted to make sure as many people were able to see the favorites as possible. “We wanted it to be a highlight of the festival for people who maybe didn’t get a chance to come out,” Thomas said. “Or for people who did get a chance to come out, but because we had two screens, they…
By JP Graham | ReporterThis year marks Baylor’s 24th annual Beall Poetry Festival, an event hosted by Baylor’s English department that invites famous poets from around the world to read their poetry aloud to students. The Beall Poetry festival includes a student literary contest, a poetry panel where students can ask questions directly to featured authors, and poetry readings by famous authors at 7 p.m. from March 21 to March 23 in Kayser Auditorium.The student literary contest on Wednesday afternoon had two categories: fiction and prose. Fiction pieces were judged by author Sarah Bird, and poems were judged by poet…
By JP Graham | ReporterThe name “Deep in the Heart Film Festival” alludes to two truthful concepts: it is located deep in the heart of Texas on Austin Avenue in downtown Waco, and the featured films during the four-day event are selected to be meaningful to their audiences, striking emotion “deep in the heart.” The film festival begins March 22 and runs through March 25 and will screen more than 100 short and feature films at two locations, the Waco Hippodrome and Cultivate 7twelve. Founded last year by co-directors Samuel Thomas and Louis Hunter, the festival is becoming a tradition…
By JP Graham | ReporterThe final round of the Semper Pro Musica Organ Competition took place Tuesday night in the Jones Concert Hall, where a trip to New York City was on the line. With roughly 30 minutes to perform, each of the finalists played their selected pieces in hopes of convincing judge Paul Jacobs, the only organist to ever have won a Grammy and Chair of Julliard’s Organ Department, to select them as the winner. At the end of the night, Houston sophomore Jared Cook emerged victorious. Cook competed against New York graduate student Jillian Gardner and Shenzhen, China…
By JP Graham | Reporter The Mayborn Museum is home to multiple exhibits, interactive activities and artifacts that reveal the history of Waco. This week in particular, the Mayborn is also home to Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign launched by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. Visitors are invited to explore the exhibit’s games and brain teasers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this week at the museum on University Parks Drive. Nancy Minter, coordinator of Portal to the Public for the Mayborn Museum, reached out to the neuroscience department at Baylor University last year to begin planning this…
By JP Graham | ReporterIf you have ever met someone that plans their day around a sporting event or sneaks a glance at their phone to check the score of a game at the dinner table, you know someone like me. While the National Football League and Major League Baseball take precedent for most of the sports fans I know, my first stop in checking scores is the National Basketball Association. A frequent response I get to sharing this unpopular opinion is that the NBA doesn’t get interesting until the playoffs start. With certain teams resting star players periodically throughout…
By JP Graham | Reporter Comedians were given only five minutes to draw a laugh from an audience of more than 40 people on Saturday night at Pinewood Coffee Bar. Wacoans and Baylor students filled the enclosed courtyard in front of the raised wooden stage to support the 12 brave performers willing to step up to the microphone. From scarring parental encounters to joking about one’s own weight, nothing was off limits for these comedians. Baylor graduate Mitchell Heffington hosted the stand-up comedy open mic night for the Waco community. Heffington frequently visits his friends in Waco, and during a…
By JP Graham | ReporterWhat do Scooby-Doo, the Rugrats, Winnie the Pooh, the Flintstones and George of the Jungle all have in common? Animator and cartoon director Ron Campbell helped create each of these cartoons throughout his 50-year career. Campbell frequently tours the country to exhibit his work and meet his fans, and his collection is currently on display right here in Waco. “The Beatles Cartoon Show,” Campbell’s one-man traveling exhibition, is a collection of Campbell’s work throughout his career. The Beatles Cartoon Show travels every other month and visits two major cities during each respective outing.Campbell planted himself and…
By JP Graham | ReporterThe 90th Academy Awards is less than two weeks away, and predictions of the winners are swirling through the media. The most prestigious of the 24 categories is Best Picture, for which nine nominees are anxiously awaiting results. It might be hard to see each of the nine nominated movies before the ceremony on March 4, but it is certainly possible if you get a head start. After all, it is important for any Oscars viewer to be familiar with the nominees. Many of the films nominated for Best Picture have additionally been nominated for other…
By JP Graham | Reporter Valentine’s Day is dedicated to telling those you love that you love them, be it through flowers, chocolates, a night out or a simple gesture; Some take it upon themselves to go the extra mile by making more extravagant purchases, especially those ready to pop the big question. Virage Goldsmiths, a new custom jewelry store at 608 B Austin Ave., engages in the jewelry-making process from start to finish, repairs damaged jewelry and refurbishes family heirlooms. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Virage tells about the process of creating engagement rings and gives tips to…
By JP Graham | ReporterWhen it comes to enjoying the weekend, the importance of a good playlist parallels the importance of good company. DJs face this task every night as they try to balance the requests and opinions of diverse crowds. Dallas senior Daniel Nzeakor sought this challenge with little to no prior experience under his belt. Nzeakor has been creating music since he was in middle school. Nzeakor picked up the double bass and began to write his own music shortly after. Nzeakor’s promising orchestral career was cut short in sixth grade when he left his double bass leaning…
By JP Graham | ReporterBaylor University’s Wind Ensemble performed alongside director of bands Dr. J. Eric Wilson Monday night in the Jones Concert Hall, accompanied by tuba soloist and associate professor of tuba/euphonium Dr. Kent Eshelman.Wilson and the Wind Ensemble dedicated a section of Monday’s performance to Wilson’s former high school band director, William Kenneth “Bill” Goodson, who passed away in January. Wilson shared that Goodson inspired him to commit to music as a craft and an art form. “Through practice and private lessons, he helped me see that I could be serious about this. It wasn’t just about having…
By JP Graham | Reporter Dr. Tammy Kernodle, professor of musicology at Miami University, is set to perform at 7 p.m. Thursday in Baylor’s Bennet Auditorium, where she will kick off Black History Month by covering such artists as Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples and Roberta Flack. Kernodle was recently elected president of the Society for American Music, which makes her the second female African American president in the organization’s history. To round out her resume, Kernodle was invited to speak at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this past fall about her work involving the Gospel Blues…
By JP Graham | Reporter Cultivate 7twelve hosted one of Waco’s most established and respected jazz musicians, pianist Dave Wild, Wednesday night for a rare solo recital full of original pieces. Curated by guitarist Chuck Jennings, Wild played for an hour and a half and only performed two cover songs. Cultivate 7twelve left the front door open and provided seating for the audience, allowing Wild’s talent to flow onto Austin Avenue and inviting intrigued passerby to step in. Wild has been performing for over 45 years and has lived in places such as Michigan, San Juan and Los Angeles. He…
By JP Graham | Reporter It’s safe to say Baylor students have probably seen at least one “Cavalier” hoodie or T-shirt on campus. Anyone who knows Cameron Allmond knows the clothes he makes through his clothing brand The Cavalier Collectives represent his passion for music and his brand. If not, then one has likely noticed a minimalistic brand with catchy combinations of color. Boise, Idaho senior Cameron Allmond is a communication studies major. Growing up in an area rather deprived of rap music, Allmond said he predominantly listened to rock instead. When his family moved to Texas in 2006, he…
By JP Graham | ReporterGolf is a sport that does more than it is given credit for. People of all ages enjoy it, yet it still seems to be overlooked for its advantages. It helps develop a multitude of relationships, can serve as a distraction from the stresses of everyday life and helps people stay active in an enjoyable way. This is coming from someone who grew up around the sport and began playing at the age of 9. My whole family enjoys the sport, and we frequently spent our spring Sunday evenings either around the TV watching the final…
He’s a Management Information Systems major, the Founder and President of Baylor Intellectual Property Organization, the son of missionaries, and somehow finds the time to produce and write music. Philippines senior John Sung has been surrounded by music since he was young, and his familiarity with it has only grown over time. He wrote his first song with his brother at the age of six, though he admits it wasn’t any good. Despite having picked up many instruments over the years, including the drums, the guitar and the piano, his true passion lies in songwriting and producing. What started out…
By JP Graham | ReporterThe Waco Hippodrome is a landmark to the city of Waco, yet many of those unfamiliar with the area are unaware of the goings on inside. Driving down Austin Avenue, tourists might notice it because of the construction; However, if one expects to see ads on TV, or a billboard on Interstate 35 advertising this hidden treasure, they likely won’t. The Hippodrome, a historic entertainment venue and dining destination, began a process of expansion this past fall. In order to increase capacity, The Hippodrome is adding three screens to their repertoire, totaling to five throughout the…
As an out-of-state student at Baylor, I certainly had to adapt to an unfamiliar cultural setting when I moved to Waco. ‘The Branch Davidians’ and ‘David Koresh’ were names that I had heard in passing conversation, but I had never taken the time to truly understand the story behind the names. ABC first aired their documentary “Truth and Lies: Waco” on Jan. 4 of this year, which included a cross-section of sources and contributors from the Branch Davidians and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ABC successfully interviewed members of multiple parties involved in the standoff,…