Valentine’s Day with the Flamingos

By Marisela Martin

To be honest, Valentine’s Day in college can definitely leave you feeling lonely if you don’t have that special someone or someones to spend it with. So this year I decided to take a proactive stance! I decided that I wanted to do something for someone else, instead of just focus on how lonely Valentine’s Day can be.

The co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega hosted a service project at the Cameron Park Zoo here in Waco. I had visited the zoo once before as part of an Environmental Class Lab, but nothing would have prepared me for what this service project would have entailed.

When we arrived, the coordinators told us that our options would include “dirty, dirtier or dirtiest,” work. That was definitely true. I volunteered to go with a group that would work with flamingos. Little did I know that I would be volunteering to clean out the flamingo habitat! From sweeping up leaves and mud to standing in muddy water to clean the drain. Leaving with soaked shoes and muddy clothes, my Valentine’s morning was one to remember!

But all the sweat and mess was worth it! The flamingos got to enjoy a clean area and I even was able to pet one – they are very soft birds. Needless to say, there is newfound respect for zoo caretakers; they are real heroes in ensuring that everyone can successfully enjoy the zoo! So next time you find yourself in Waco, definitely visit Cameron Park Zoo!

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take photos but here’s a link so you can check out more: http://www.cameronparkzoo.com/

Until next time, Sic’ Em!

A Morning at the Waco Farmers Market

By Maggie Malone

I am not a morning person. I could probably count good reasons for waking up early on one hand. The Waco Farmers Market, however, is most certainly one of the fingers on that hand.

A few of my friends from church and I piled into the car a couple Saturdays ago for my first trip to the Farmers Market. It was rather cold, so everyone was wrapped up in scarves and jackets. Yet everyone was cheerful as we chatted excitedly all the way downtown.

In the heart of Waco, under a small grove of trees, next to an old tower, sits the white tents of the Farmers Market. The cold didn’t stop too many of the locals as they gathered around the stalls with their children and dogs playing close by.

My eyes caught on a muffin stall, and my small group leader was kind enough to buy us some fresh baked mini muffins!

Emily, me, and our little treasure trove of muffins.

Emily, me, and our little treasure trove of muffins.

 

There was also purple cauliflower and delicious blueberry jam! Many lovely purple things. I also purchased, and devoured ravenously for the next few minutes, a strawberry and Nutella crepe. I hadn’t had a crepe in years, and luckily, the line for the famous crepe tent was short at the time.

Something a friend bought was a gourmet grilled sandwich called “The Boss,” with Gouda cheese, bacon, and basil on sourdough bread. She even let me try a bite! Unsurprisingly, it was absolutely wonderful. The sharp bite of the Gouda and the juicy follow up flavor of the bacon was perfection!

The sandwich isn't the only thing around here that's a boss!

The sandwich isn’t the only thing around here that’s a boss!

Besides all the food, it was nice to chat with friends and Wacoans alike, as everyone gathered under the trees and took a break from life. Sometimes it’s just nice to leave the Baylor bubble for a while and explore all the hidden gems that Waco has to offer.

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Why Second Semester Rocks at Baylor

By Susannah Morhrmann

Here are my Top 10 reasons second semester rocks! These are just mine, there are so many more!

  1. Common Grounds Cowboy Coffees: They are the perfect treat for a warm afternoon.
  2. The Garden of Contentment: It is next to Armstrong Browning Library and is a prime study spot.
  3. All University Sing: It is a great show created and run by fellow students, and always a blast!
  4. Dr Pepper Hour: AKA the best hour at Baylor (Dr Pepper + Blue Bell vanilla ice cream every Tuesday 3-4pm in the SUB).
  5. Diadeloso: It is the Day of the Bear, which is celebrated on-campus with tons of activities and FREE FOOD!
  6. The Bear Trail: Is a trail that wraps all around campus, and whether walking it or running it, it’s best in the spring.
  7. Baylor Basketball Games: DUH! There is nothing more exciting than to watch some Baylor Basketball at the Ferrell Center.
  8. Baylor Baseball Games: Is there a better get away on a spring afternoon than a day at the ballpark?
  9. Cameron Park Zoo: Yes, Waco has a zoo and yes it is awesome!
  10. Baylor Intramural Sports: Get much more competitive because this semester decides who the overall winner will be in the university intramural championship!

 

These are just my top 10 favorites from the spring semester, can’t wait for you to come and make your own!

Outside Baylor: Exploring Downtown Waco

By Maggie Malone

With all its tradition, fellowship, athletics and activities, Baylor’s a pretty great place. But outside of the Baylor Bubble is the city of Waco, another beautiful place all by itself. Waco is sometimes forgotten by Baylor’s students. It’s small, and at first glance, there doesn’t seem to be too much to do. But Waco is a city of character, and it’s most certainly worth leaving campus to go explore.

One of my favorite parts of Waco is downtown. There’s just so much there! From the Dichotomy coffee shop to cozy restaurants to gorgeous architecture, there’s quite a bit to explore. Armed with our cameras, my friend Catrina and I did just that on a bright Saturday afternoon. It was absolutely glorious.

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One of the tallest buildings for miles around.

 

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This mural by Café Cappuccino downtown is not only a great photo spot, but it also gives you a compliment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Waco Hippodrome is currently undergoing renovations, but it’s opening up very soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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But most of all, it’s great to get away from the usual surroundings and try something new. And what better place to start than where you live.

No Place I’d Rather Be

By Cody Frohman

It’s that time of the semester – we’re way past the excitement of starting a new round of classes and the nervousness of taking our first tests of the semester. We’re close to the end of the semester, but too far to start celebrating. This is often the part of the semester that’s hardest for me – routines feel monotonous, my discipline level has gone way down and I’m tired of that one class I just can’t do well in. I’m ready for Thanksgiving to be here, finals to be over and for Christmas break to mark the beginning of new and exciting things all over again.

While in the middle of overwhelming myself with thoughts of the future, I was reminded of how valuable my time at Baylor has been. I am at one of the best universities in the world (arguably the best), and I’m spending part of it wanting time to go faster! So instead of focusing on all the things I don’t like about school right now, I decided to focus on the things that I love about Baylor. Here are three of the things I came up with.

1. The Tradition – Everyone has a favorite Baylor tradition, but everyone at Baylor could argue that we have the best traditions. From Line Camp, to Christmas on 5th Street, to Diadeloso and everything in between, these are things that are unique and integral to a Baylor experience.

2. The Campus – Baylor may not be on a cliff overlooking the ocean. In fact, it’s right by a major freeway with a lot of construction going on. However, I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. There’s nothing like seeing the majesty of Pat Neff lit up green with the sprawling Texas sky behind, or looking over Founder’s Mall in the spring as it starts to warm up from the winter or driving on University Parks as you come up to campus and are welcomed by the grandeur of the Baylor Sciences Building.

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3. The Location – Now, this may not be a popular opinion, but I am a strong supporter of the idea that Waco is a wonderland. Waco doesn’t always have a ton to do, but it has some great things to do – like getting breakfast from the farmer’s market on Saturdays, driving through Cameron Park, going to the waterfall or exotic pet store (it’s a thing, and it is super cool) in Woodway, or even just walking around downtown. Waco is a prime location, and it is only going to get better.

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Yes, this is in Waco. You just have to look for it!

 

Baylor is always going to be a special place to me, and even though the days are sometimes long, the months and the semesters are flying by. I want to make sure that I make the most of it and appreciate and remember why I chose Baylor.

Finding a Place to Serve

By Derek Byrne

Without a doubt, Baylor holds itself to high academic standards. Courses here are challenging and offer students outstanding educational opportunities. However, some of the best chances to learn can be found outside the classroom. I’m continually learning what it means to serve people and communities during my time at Baylor.

Meeting community needs and serving effectively can be complex issues, and educating yourself on what it means to serve is an ongoing process. Even so, there are a few concepts I’ve learned during my time in college that are now foundational to my perspective on service.

Serving is a powerful learning tool. The university and its various departments offer numerous opportunities to combine your studies in the classroom and the greater needs of the community in a practical way. It could be on a discipline-specific mission trip, a class project that utilizes a partnership with a local nonprofit or a discussion on service and learning hosted on campus. During your time here, you’ll have plenty of chances to discover how your field of study can contribute to the greater good of society. 

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There’s a place for each of us to serve. Service can be motivated by other interests and passions. At Baylor and in Waco, there are chances to serve in nearly any field imaginable. If you love working with kids, you can tutor children after school. Have a green thumb? There’s a community garden for you. For me, working with people who have special needs is a huge source of joy. Since freshman year, I’ve had the chance to work with Baylor Urban Missions’ special needs ministry. I get to do what I love with people I love, and that’s what service can be. Finding passion in what you’re doing is so valuable, and there are plenty of chances to do that at Baylor. Below is a video of Urban Missions’ Fall Ball Masquerade from last October. This was a great way to give back to the special needs community while also having a lot of fun!

Service is bigger than me. Easily the most valuable thing I’ve learned through my time serving at Baylor is that service is not about me. In fact, it’s not about any one person. Serving is about moving communities forward and improving lives. Service organizations and events on campus offer chances for reflection and discussion. They create places where students can consider the work they are doing and how it fits into the bigger picture of benefitting communities.

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Baylor is a university that is uniquely committed to service and located in a city that offers unparalleled opportunities for service-oriented partnerships. Don’t miss the chance to study the world around you by finding a place to serve during your college years.

Shamelessly Addicted to Coffee

By Emily Martin

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Coffee has gotten me through a lot of rough days during my Baylor career, so I guess it’s a good thing that there are about a million coffee shops in Waco. This past weekend my best friend (and her adorable puppy named Dixie) from Texas A&M came to visit me, so obviously we had to try (literally) every coffee house in Waco.

Disclaimer: DON’T DO THIS ALL IN ONE WEEKEND. Seriously. We were so jittery and my heart was beating so fast that I thought I was going to die. Space out your coffee shop visits. Maybe just do one per weekend? Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

First, we went to Common Grounds. CG is my all-time favorite place to study in Waco because they have great drinks and the atmosphere is different from any other coffee shop I have ever been to. Also, the people who work there are extremely inviting and kind. They even know my order, which is a plus for me!

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The second place we went was the Olive Branch (located underneath Spice Village). This is my favorite place to go to for breakfast. They have amazing pancakes and even better coffee. Their 254 roast is to die for! Hannah and I ended up each buying a pound of it so that we could have it at home. So on top of already being hyped up on Common Grounds and Olive Branch coffee, my car even smelled like a coffee shop because we left out bags of coffee in it.

We decided to take a little break from our Coffee Excursion and headed over to Junque in the Trunk, a little antique store on La Salle that is only open Friday to Sunday. Of course when we walked in we were offered free Dr Peppers (who can resist that??), so we gladly took them and poured even more caffeine into our bodies. I had never been to Junque in the Trunk, but it was definitely worth the visit! We also visited Magnolia Market, the shop that Joanna Gaines (from HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”) owns. Her shop is worth a visit! I love the show Fixer Upper because the couple met at Baylor and are doing some pretty amazing things to the homes of Waco.

Back on the Coffee Tour, we headed over to Outdoor Waco to test out their coffees. I was surprised at how good it was! I didn’t know how it would be since it was made in a bike shop, but I ended up really enjoying it! Plus, while you’re there you can walk around and check out their shop.

Our coffee day came to an end at Dichotomy, a small coffee shop in downtown Waco. Their coffee was a little pricy, but it was tasty! Hannah and I both got iced mochas, which I would definitely recommend. I would also recommend going upstairs to sit and enjoy your coffee. They have a balcony that is really pretty.

We may have missed a couple of places, but I honestly don’t think that either of us could handle another ounce of caffeine that weekend. On the positive side, however, Hannah now wants to transfer to Baylor because she loves Waco so much…mission accomplished.

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Waco’s Best Restaurants

By Michael Allen

After growing up outside of the big city of Dallas, I was shocked at the restaurant selection in Waco. I have never been much of a chain restaurant kind of person, and it seemed like all Waco had to offer were average chain restaurants! However, after meeting older students during my freshman year, I quickly found out that Waco has many great and low cost restaurants.

Pic 2The first restaurant I have to brag on, which is only located in Waco, is George’s Restaurant. George’s offers a large menu, great “comfort food” and a fun atmosphere. It doesn’t matter if you order a chicken fried steak or a burger; you are guaranteed to leave George’s full and satisfied. My favorite item on the menu is the baked potato covered in fried chicken and queso. It’s not the healthiest item on the menu, but as long as you visit the Student Life Center (SLC) afterwards, you won’t have any regrets!

These next two restaurants I am going to group together, because they are both hole-in-the-wall burger restaurants. The first one is called Dubl-R Burgers, which is far down 17th street. It is definitely a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, because from the outside, you would almost be afraid to walk in. However, when you do, it almost looks like an old diner. There are booths along one wall and a short bar that overlooks the grills and the cooks. Every employee is very friendly and helps make the restaurant seem like a welcoming environment. Of course, the thing to order here is the burger and fries. They also offer a variety of shakes. The other hole-in-the-wall burger restaurant in Waco is called Kitok. It is located a little closer to Baylor than Dubl-R, but it is still on the same road. The thing that sets Kitok apart from Dubl-R is its oriental fries, which are a mix of real fries, onion rings and fried vegetables. They are a delicious in addition to one of its burgers. Both restaurants are affordable and always busy, which in my eyes are two good things!

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A great breakfast restaurant in Waco is Café Cappuccino. There are two locations and a guaranteed wait on any weekend morning. While the service is not always the best because they are so busy, the food is amazing. I always get the breakfast quesadillas with salsa! They are filling and made with delicious ingredients. I am not a coffee drinker, but have heard that the cappuccinos are good too!

I know that these are only a few restaurants, but Waco has many others that are sure to amaze you. For most students, you’re only in Waco for four short years, so it’s important to try these Waco hot spots while you can and avoid the big chain restaurants!

The Weekend Escape

By Joe Bridgeman

One of the nice things about Baylor is its location. Waco is a wonderful, blossoming mid-sized town itself, but another benefit of living in Waco is your close proximity to some of the bigger cities of Texas like Austin and Dallas. So, for my birthday weekend, I decided to take an excursion to Austin to see what the city had to offer.  Being from out-of-state, I had no idea what to expect.

RenFair'We set off for Austin early on a Saturday morning. After about an hour and a half of driving, we arrived at our first destination: the Sherwood Forest Faire. Turns out that this place is one of the largest medieval villages around with more than 100 permanent structures. I definitely felt transported back in time as I walked around and was heckled by shopkeepers and gypsies. I had to exercise the utmost self-control to not purchase a whole set of hard leather armor and a large sword. Oh, and we had a lunch feast in a castle. That was different.

sunsetAfter the feast, we waddled out of the village to go sample some more of Austin proper. This included inspecting the antiques inside a shop on south Congress Avenue, gawking at the capitol building, strolling through Zilker Park and watching the sunset on the edge of a cliff overlooking the river, the Austin city skyline and the rolling green hills surrounding the city. Yeah, such a place exists!

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We headed back home to Baylor after a pleasant dinner, and I thought to myself how nice it was to be able to take a simple one-day weekend excursion to one of these unique, Texan big cities. Weekend excursions to either Austin or Dallas are a favorite among the student body because the cities have much to offer, and Waco is placed right in-between the two!

If you find yourself getting antsy during the school year, just remember: a mini-vacation is just a drive away.

Ten Most Wonderful Things About Waco

By Torie Abbott

Waco is a wonderland! I know it does not always seem that way…but below I have outlined what I believe to be the 10 Most Wonderful Things About Waco!

1. Cameron Park. The park is a must, especially when the weather is beautiful. It is a great place to run or throw a ball around. It is also a great place to picnic and do homework for those less sporty students.

2. Common Grounds, a local coffee shop next to campus. I am an avid Common Ground-ser. Get the Iced No Bull, and you will not regret it. You will also have eight hours of insane energy.

3. Café Cappuccino AKA Café Cap. This Sunday morning hot spot is a must-go-to breakfast restaurant with so many lattes you never have to get the same thing twice. Try going during the week; it is not as busy as it is on the weekend.

4.  Starplex is the best place to go for the new movies! And only $5, WHAT A BARGAIN!

5. Katie’s Frozen Custard. By far the BEST frozen custard I have ever had! The Reese’s cyclone is THE thing to get. It is an after-game favorite and a hot spot on the weekends. When the weather is nice, it is such a great place to sit outside with some frozen custard and hang out with friends.

6. The Baylor Marina. The marina has limited hours due to weather and such. But, when it is open, it is such a fun place to go for canoeing, kayaking, playing volleyball or just hanging out in the sun. It is free to students, so take advantage of that asset.

7. Outdoor Waco. It is off campus over by Spice Village and the Suspension bridge. Biking is the funnest thing to do there, and I seriously recommend it. You can also buy hammocks for relaxing on campus.

8. The Suspension Bridge and Tortilla Tossing. Tortilla tossing is a Baylor tradition. Legend has it that if you can make a tortilla on a pillar your first time, you will find you true love during your time at Baylor! Good luck!

9. SUB Bowling Alley. Seriously one of the most underrated things at Baylor! The cost is hardly anything, and the bowling alley is so nice. 🙂

10. Armstrong Browning Garden Area is the perfect place to study. Armstrong Browning Library itself is absolutely beautiful! And, the garden area outside is so pretty. There are also tons of picnic tables where you can eat your lunch or do some homework.

I hope this has helped you to get a better idea as to why Waco is so wonderful! 🙂