Browsing: Arts and Life

As Texas residents prepare for an upcoming winter freeze, isolation can begin to set in. But fear not, there are plenty of activities that Waco has coming up that will keep you both warm and entertained!

Roni’s Mac Bar opened its second Waco location earlier this month, expanding beyond its store inside Union Hall with a standalone storefront designed to reach a wide variety of customers. The new location provides more space, a drive-thru and a restructured menu, offering a different experience than the original downtown spot.

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.

Whether you’re looking for new tunes to add to your playlist or curious as to what other students are listening to, it’s fun to discover new music. As the 2026 spring semester begins, it’s crucial to make sure you have good music for studying, walking to class or hanging with your friends.

While professors Sam Henderson and Maverick Moore have worked extensively in the short film space — while also co-teaching a class on it in the film department — the most recent project for the duo, a short film titled “Ado”, has made the shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film at the Oscars.

From post-apocalyptic sci-fi to “Girls with Guns,” Film & Digital Media Professor Dr. Michael Korpi has taught classes on a variety of topics and interests. However, in the spring of 2026, Korpi will revive a subject he last taught eight years ago – anime.

We’re keeping it moody and mellow for Tunesday this finals week. Just find your study zen, put on the headphones and hit play on these underground weekend releases from Charlotte Day Wilson, spilltab and Mother Soki. You got this.

Downtown Waco glistened with holiday cheer this weekend as Waco Wonderland returned to Heritage Square for its 13th year, drawing large crowds of families, students and local vendors. With the ferris wheel lighting up Austin Avenue, expanded food truck options and a busy Mistletoe Market, this year’s event blended familiar traditions with new features that kept visitors circulating through the plaza.

For generations, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” has been a staple of holiday traditions. From classic films to stage productions, Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from miser to redeemed man returns each December, boasting familiar lessons and a sense of warmth. This year, Baylor University added its own twist, bringing the tale to life inside the Carroll Science Hall during Christmas on Fifth with an immersive, walk-through performance that invited visitors to step directly into the story.

Who needs studying when there are all these fun holiday events in Waco this weekend? Just kidding — don’t neglect hitting the books, but sneak a little fun into your study breaks by exploring all that downtown has to offer.

The songs on this week’s Tunesday are a little bit farther off the beaten track than the usual pop hits featured in this column. Give these rising artists a chance, and you might just find your new favorite song to add to your playlist.

For many out-of-state Baylor families, the hardest part of sending a student to college isn’t the distance — it’s the feeling of being completely on their own in a new place. That gap is exactly what Becky DeGracia, founder of Mama Bear College Mom, set out to bridge.