Author: Stacie Boyls

For local hairstylist Katelyn Rankin, beauty and aesthetics have always attracted her creative eye. Noticing a deficiency in the Waco hair scene, Rankin started planning to build a clientele for colorful designs.

If you’re tired of hitting Panda Express at the SUB, fear not, Waco has a budding collection of locally run Asian restaurants. From poke bowls to sushi and bubble tea, these beloved spots offer Baylor students affordable, flavorful options just minutes from campus.

Madelyn Gregg pursued watercolor and yearbook design as a hobby while primarily focusing on athletics in high school. Art was always present in her life, but it wasn’t until her senior year that it bloomed into something more intentional that has now become a side hustle and passion for Gregg.

From Sing beef to parking complaints, Yik Yak has once again found its footing on Baylor’s campus — delivering everything from lighthearted memes to anonymous drama.

The object of this article is not to scrutinize your personal upbringing, family or church; however, if your own questions were routinely shut down and reframed as a “lack of faith,” you might consider the uncomfortable reality that you were indoctrinated into your beliefs.

All-University Sing is a spectacle built on visuals as much as it is on vocals and choreography. While set pieces and lighting establish atmosphere, costumes often serve as the clearest bridge between concept and character.

Under the bright stage lights and carefully guarded themes, first-time All-University Sing participants at Baylor discover newfound excitement and appreciation for performing arts.

In a college culture dominated by notifications, infinite scrolling and algorithm-driven outrage, a growing number of students are quietly opting out of the digital agenda. Instead, students are turning to analog hobbies to reclaim attention, creativity and mental clarity.

For avid concertgoer and obsessive poster collector Larry Cartmell, the brilliance of these artistic displays was obvious. This February, that collection steps out of Cartmell’s personal space and onto the walls of Art Center Waco in “If These Walls Could Talk.”

The Baylor Wind Ensemble is traveling through the cinematic ages this week with its upcoming concert, “A Night at the Movies,” a film-focused program set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Jones Concert Hall. The free concert marks the first time in Baylor Wind Ensemble history that an entire program is dedicated to movie music.

Swig, a Utah-based soda chain known for its customizable “dirty sodas,” is set to open its first Waco location near Baylor University. The drive-thru shop is expected to open May 15 at 1011 S. 10th St., Suite 170, according to Waco city records and a reel posted on the official KCEN News Instagram page.

St. Louis junior Ava Janes is starting the Waco Symphony Student Ambassadors, a new organization aimed to provide career advancement for anyone interested in arts management nonprofit organization, and hands-on experience in a professional setting.

Creativity and entrepreneurship run wild with Sherman junior Mazie Ann Petelski, who reframes artistic success through her work as a tattoo artist. Petelski, a fine arts major with a concentration in printmaking, is also a first-year tattoo apprentice at Southpaw Ink in Waco.

Between strict housing rules, tight budgets and limited square footage, decorating can feel more stressful than exciting. Still, your living space plays a huge role in your comfort, productivity and overall happiness, making personalization worth the effort. No one wants damage fees or a lame dorm or apartment, so check out this curated list of renter- and dorm-friendly renovation ideas that will personalize your space without breaking the bank.

From sweet to spice, the chai latte has been a reliable coffee alternative for drink enjoyers across the U.S. While Waco has a wide variety of drink spots, I set out to find the best chai, ultimately rating them based on affordability, presentation and taste. Each category is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with five representing an average. This week, Common Grounds, Brú, Pinewood Coffee Bar, Heritage Coffee and For Keeps were put to the test of creating a delicious coffee house staple.

With the new year upon us, major planetary shifts and refreshed energy mark the perfect time to reflect on and manifest your goals. If you’re at a loss for where to start, Austin astrologer Laura Cowan provides professional insight for each zodiac sign and what to expect for this coming year.

For many of us, the holidays are a sore reminder of what could have been. Lean on the supportive members of your family if you can. Cling to those who love you and accept the help they offer. You are not a burden, and family is all around you, even if you haven’t met them yet.

Once the holidays rolled around this year, Dichotomy Coffee and Spirits transformed into a whimsical festive display complete with life-sized “gingerbread” details, floating presents, Whoville-style décor and this year, an igloo home to plush penguins.

Five Waco hot spots were put to the ultimate hot chocolate test. Each beverage was ranked on a scale of 1-10, with 5 being the average point, on its creativity, affordability, presentation and taste. Here are the results.

With emotions running high, engagement in slow, thoughtful activities such as crafting can provide the fun de-stressor your mind is craving.

Here are some recipes that are simple, foolproof and perpetual crowd pleasers that will soften the blow of your holiday cooking obligations.

The one-night-only performance blends live instrumentation, immersive sound design and curated lighting effects into what the pair calls an “audio-cinematic journey.”

The production is a collaboration with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, and tells the enthralling life story of 19th-century singer, pianist and composer Pauline Viardot, a forgotten musical genius once praised for her incomparable talent by Franz Liszt and now rediscovered through Ching’s modern lens.

To put this monumental celebration in perspective and to celebrate the development of student press over these years, here are 10 important historical developments that succeed the birth of The Lariat.

Being cringe in a world choked by judgment is an act of bravery. Be brave. Embrace your inner child. Maybe you will discover a new interest, and being cringe is actually fun.

According to the current owner of the greenhouse, Ashli Robken, Bonnie was a born-and-raised Wacoan and plant lover. Bonnie had originally started the greenhouse as a casual neighborhood shop, later growing her passion into a blooming business and local Waco staple.

As the weather chills, grab a hot drink, your favorite blanket and dive into one of these curated books below.

This fall marks the official launch of the Baylor varsity esports team, a fully sanctioned collegiate-level competitive esports program designed to blend community, technology and performer excellence, all under a green and gold banner.

After two months of waiting following the album announcement on Aug. 12, the much-anticipated release of Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album is upon us. Last night, Swift reintroduced her love affair with spectacle and storytelling through twelve tracks of a dazzling pop refresh, all wrapped up in a glittering 41 minutes.

After a week of voting and deliberation, Katmai National Park and Reserve announced the Fat Bear Week winner yesterday. Bear 32, a brown bear also known as “Chunk,” was crowned the fattest of them all, weighing in at over 1200 pounds.