☕️ Ever tried a bao bun?

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that's as reliable as your grandma showing up ten minutes early to everything.

In today's edition:
🎨 Art Center Waco is building Waco's next generation of creatives
🚣 Learn to Row this September
📅 3 Events to Circle This Coming Week
🏡 Home of the Week: 10108 Polo Park Circle
📝 Good Life: Aiming to Retire Early in Waco

Let's get to it!

- Sam Harper

Most people know Chevy of West for the trucks and SUVs on the lot. The real reason folks keep going back is the team inside.

Owner Leo Pacheco has built the dealership around relationships. General Sales Manager Mark Varia and his team, Ty Korenek and Adrian Aleman, are the people who answer the phone and remember your name the next time you walk in. That kind of consistency is why they've earned the Chevrolet Mark of Excellence award. One customer put it best in a Google review four days ago: "Ty was great! He always takes care of me, this is like the 4th car I have gotten from him and he always makes it simple. Thanks again!"

Whether you're buying your first truck or trading in your third, this is a team worth knowing before you need them.

👉View current inventory at Chevyofwest.com or come by this week.*

If you've driven down S. 8th Street near the Silos, you've probably seen Art Center Waco. What you may not know is just how much happens inside.

Yes, it's a place to see art. It's also a place where Wacoans of all ages can learn how to make it.

Art Center Waco offers hands-on art education for kids, teens, adults, families, and teachers. Kids can spend a Saturday creating. Teens can experiment with new materials through ArtVenture. Adults can try painting, pottery, drawing, or mixed media. Teachers can learn new ways to bring visual art into their classrooms.

There are a couple of good opportunities coming up, too. ArtVenture returns September 12 for middle and high school students, while Sip & Social returns September 19 for adults looking for an afternoon of making something new.

The education work reaches well beyond the building, too. This fall, Teacher Cohort 6 brings together 25 educators from 15 districts who collectively reach more than 5,200 students. That means more kids getting the chance to create, more teachers with another tool for engaging students, and more Wacoans finding a creative outlet.

It's one of those Waco places making an impact across our city that we should all know about.

👉 See what's happening at Art Center Waco
📍 701 S. 8th Street | Tue–Fri 11 AM–5 PM, Sat 10 AM–2 PM

Ever wondered what it's like to row on the Brazos?

Waco Rowing Center is opening two Learn to Row weekends this September for anyone ready to give it a shot. No experience is necessary. They'll provide the equipment and coaching.

Ages 12–18: Sept. 19–20
Adults 19+: Sept. 26–27
12–3 PM | Brazos Park East | Horseshoe Pits

You'll spend two afternoons learning the basics, getting comfortable in the boat, and putting it all together on the water.

$275 includes both days of instruction and all equipment.

If “I've always wanted to try rowing” has been sitting on your Waco bucket list, this is a great opportunity.

👉 Register for Learn to Row This September
^{One quick heads-up: registration requires creating a SportNgin account if you don't already have one.}

Saturday, Sept. 5 | 1 PM | Ferrell Center
A top-25 matchup is coming to Waco Saturday: No. 21 Baylor volleyball takes on No. 17 Florida at the Ferrell Center.

And here's the fun part: Waco Rush Pass members can get tickets for just $2. The pass is free for locals. 👉 Get your Waco Rush Pass or grab tickets for the game here.

Pro Tip: Baylor football kicks off against Auburn at 2:30 PM Saturday (playing in Atlanta), so you can make a full Baylor day of it. Catch the volleyball match, then head somewhere to watch the football game. Here are some great places to watch.

Friday–Saturday, Sept. 4–5 | Cameron Park, Redwood Shelter
Experience Cameron Park after dark and choose your challenge: 5K, 10K, 15K, half marathon, or a 10K ruck if you're feeling ambitious. Headlamp on, stars out.
Sign up here.

Thursday, Sept. 3 | 7 PM | Southern Roots Brewing Co.
The Junior League of Waco is bringing back Girls Game Night Trivia, with proceeds benefiting the Women's Empowerment Program, which helps young women in Waco build confidence and skills for the future.
👉 Get tickets

Welcome to Home of the Week, where we show you a Waco-area house, give you a few clues, and let you guess what it costs.

Today’s home is in Hewitt, a couple of blocks from Hewitt Elementary, and it has something you don't always get in a 1995 house: a lot of space.

Highlights include:

👉 Take your best guess at the list price, then peek at the answer here.

Ready to explore this home in person?
Connect with Lezlie Roark for your private tour.

Good Life in Waco is a series about how real Wacoans build their lives: money, health, and the relationships that make it matter.

Job: “I work as a part-time dental hygienist. My husband is the main income.”

Income: “We make $175k. As my husband has made more it’s allowed me to work less and be more present with my kids.”

Living situation: “We own. $1900 a month for a four bed, three bath, 2500 square foot. We did downsize and now live in a more humble home but the freedom of being mortgage (debt) free is so worth it. Once it’s paid off we will just owe taxes and insurance.”

Debt: “We only have the mortgage at this time. We haven’t had a car payment in years and when I met my husband we paid off his debts and never had credit cards again.”

Investing: “We have a financial advisor. We invest in 401k, Roth IRA, HSA, 529 for each kid. Any other work place’s investment opportunities, especially if they are matched.”

Money philosophy: “I’ve tried budgeting on paper but I find it very challenging. So basically I just budget in my head. I like to take advantage of work based savings that takes the money before I ever see it.”

Learned from: “Dave Ramsey, my grandma.”

Freedom number: “Once the house is paid off we will beef up our retirement savings and hopefully get my husband to a point where he can work less/ retire early. He wants to retire with enough to live our lifestyle off the interest in our investments. Basically the Dave Ramsey plan.”

Rich in Waco: “I think wealth is financial freedom. To not have to live by a budget. To be able to say yes to the trip or to the fun and not have to see if I can afford it. However, you have to say no a lot in the beginning in order to get to that point.”

What I wish I knew at 25: “Don’t live beyond your means. Be financially smart early on to get financial freedom sooner.”

Regret: “When I was younger we bought a house that was beyond our means and we bought brand new vehicles. It taught me that material goods are more about instant gratification and eventually I became a slave to my debts. A car is a depreciating asset and is a terrible investment.”

Health: “I try to eat well, get protein. I’d like to be better about working out! We go to church fairly consistently. I need a hobby and hope to find one soon.”

Best health decision: “Quit vaping.”

Building a life in Waco: “I’m working on this currently, hoping our kids sports will help us meet new friends.”

Local favorite: “Kids love the Launch Pad in Robinson. We like supporting local and faith based company.”

Goals: “Pay off house by Jan 2027, then invest 15% income into retirement, fully fund three 529s.”

👉 Have a Waco story worth sharing? Share it anonymously here.

Context: I had my first bao bun on a work trip to Raleigh a few years back and have been chasing that same bite ever since, ordering it off the menu wherever I see it. We went to The Butcher's Cellar to celebrate some friends' anniversary, and before we'd even opened the rest of the menu, their short rib version had already caught my eye.

What it is: A soft, pillowy steamed bun stuffed with tender short rib and pickled chilis, a little Asian fusion tucked inside a steakhouse.

What to order: Short Rib Bao Buns

Where: The Butcher's Cellar, 13701 Woodway Dr

Cost: $21

My take: The bun held up without falling apart, the short rib was fall-apart tender, and the pickled chilis cut through with unique flavor bringing it all together.

Pro tip: Go during happy hour for a high-end dinner without the high-end bill. $4 off specialty cocktails, mocktails, and wine by the glass, $3.50 off select beers, and $4 off select apps; weekdays from 4:30-6:30 PM.

🤔 Know a local dish I should try next? Hit reply and let me know.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something helpful, share it with the person you know who loves spicy food.

Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways to get more involved:

1. Dinner Club: Meet five other locals (recent movers and lifelong Wacoans) over dinner on September 17. You’ll make new friends regardless of stage of life and help make Waco a smaller town.

2.Want to reach Waco? This newsletter lands in 15,600+ local inboxes every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. Click the link or reply to this email to have a conversation.

3. Have an event you want to promote? Get it featured leading up to the event. Reserve yours here.