The nacho sombrero Waco needs 🏟

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like finding one more Reese's egg hiding in the Easter basket.

In this edition:
🎶 Levitt AMP Concert Series Returns Thursday
🏀 Baylor Hoops Wraps Up in Vegas
🍕 Little Caesar's Opens, Nightlight Closes
🚀 The STEAM Center is taking off
⚾ The nacho sombrero Waco deserves

Let's get to it!
— Sam Harper

Spring is here, your car survived winter, and now it's about to face a Texas summer.

If your tires are looking rough, the service team at Chevrolet of West will meet or beat any tire price you find. Bring them a better price and they'll match it. Find a better deal within 30 days and they'll refund the difference.

You don't have to drive a Chevy to use their service department, and you're only 20 minutes up I-35. Bonus: kolaches on the way home.

Browse current specials at ChevyofWest.com or call 254-826-8436.

🎶 Levitt AMP Concert Series Kicks Off Thursday

Free live music is back at Bridge Street Plaza. The Levitt AMP Waco Music Series returns this Thursday for its fourth year, running April 9 through June 4 with five free concerts featuring local and touring artists across rock, blues, gospel, hip-hop, Latin, and more. Bring a lawn chair and the family. Going to Bridge Street on a concert night is one of the best free things to do in Waco.

🚀 The STEAM Center Is a Hit
Artemis II flew behind the Moon yesterday, breaking Apollo 13's record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. If that gives you chills, Waco's Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center has an actual SpaceX Dragon capsule that spent 98 days in space sitting inside the building. The Wacoan just ran a great cover story on the impact it's already having. The space-themed playground outside is worth the visit alone if you've got kids. Free, open to all ages, 300 N. MLK Blvd.

Tonight (Tuesday) the STEAM Center is hosting LaunchPad: Environmental Science Edition from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Middle and high school students can meet local environmental scientists, try hands-on career simulations, and learn about degree pathways at local colleges. Free food, free to attend.

Waco → Charleston, SC roundtrip for $336
It's Masters week, so golf is on everybody's mind. Charleston is a three-hour drive from Augusta, where Tiger Woods' brand new 9-hole short course, The Loop at The Patch, just opened at the renovated Augusta Municipal. It's public, and you can book a tee time. Even without the clubs, Charleston's food scene alone is worth the flight.
See Flight Deal →*

If this flight deal caught your eye, Denae at Traveluxe can handle the flights, hotels, and insider perks at no cost to you. Just email [email protected] and she’ll take it from there. ✈️
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🍕 Little Caesar's Opens on N. 19th
The new Little Caesar's at 3923 N. 19th is in soft opening mode this week. The official ribbon cutting is May 2 at 10 a.m., and the first 50 people in line get pizza for a year (one pepperoni or cheese pizza per week for 52 weeks). Mark the calendar.

🍩 Nightlight Donuts Closes Retail Location
Sad news for croissant donut fans. Nightlight Donuts has closed its retail storefront by JD’s and DiCampli’s. The building is looking for a new owner. You can still find their donuts at Common Grounds locations around Waco, and they say a food truck spot is in the works.

🍽 Motown Eatz Is Now Open
New restaurant Motown Eatz is officially open at 1801 N 25th St taking over the former Rufi’s Cocina space. Check out the menu at motowneatz.com. Looks like their speciality is Detroit style coney dogs and their Motown Waffle n' Wing Dingz.

🥩 Spice Rack Halal Meat Coming to Hewitt
Spice Rack is opening soon between Little Land and George’s in Hewitt with quality halal meats and authentic spices. Grand opening date TBD.

🍬 Exotic Snack Guys Landing at Richland Mall
If your TikTok feed has you curious about rare international snacks like Dubai chocolate and drinks from Japan that you can't find anywhere else in Waco, Exotic Snack Guys is opening at Richland Mall soon.

What City Council Is Looking at Today

Council meets today (Tuesday) at 3 PM (work session) and 6 PM (business session) at the Bosque Theatre in the Waco Convention Center. Here's the quick version:

💰 Capital improvement projects under discussion, the big-picture look at where infrastructure money goes this year and beyond.

🗳 May 2 city election getting finalized: judges, clerks, ballot board, and a contract with the McLennan County Elections Administrator.

🚬 First reading on an ordinance updating smoking regulations to define and allow cigar bars.

🏗 A nearly $1 million increase to the city's development agreement with Mission Waco for infrastructure and a military veterans plan.

See Full Agenda

📍 100 Washington Ave. Open to the public in person.

Every day you're being persuaded by headlines, images, and algorithms without even noticing it.

Dr. Leslie Hahner is a Baylor professor whose work on propaganda and visual persuasion has landed her in The Atlantic, BBC World News, and a TEDx talk. Her students describe her lectures as ones that "never get boring" and leave you thinking differently about the world around you. This Thursday evening, she'll take us from WWII posters and Cold War messaging all the way to today with AI-generated content shaping how we see what’s happening in the world. Doors open at 6:00, lecture at 7, Q&A and mingling after.

👉 Get tickets here.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Looking Ahead

🏟 The Nacho Sombrero Needs to Come to Waco

The Texas Rangers just unveiled the "9th Inning Rally Sombrero" at Globe Life Field. It's a giant nacho platter shaped like a sombrero that you can also wear on your head. If that doesn't make the drive to Arlington worth it, I don't know what does. I've already sent a message to Baylor AD Doug McNamee about getting this added to concession stands across Baylor stadiums. No response yet. Doug, if you're reading this, the people need this.

🏀 Bears' Season Ends in Vegas
Baylor men's basketball fell to Oklahoma 82-69 on Saturday in the College Basketball Crown semifinals in Las Vegas. The transfer portal opens this week, so the offseason money fueled chess match begins now.

🏃 Baylor Track Hosts the Baylor Invitational Friday
Baylor track and field hosts the Baylor Invitational on Friday, April 10. If you or your kids enjoy watching the Summer Olympics, this is a great local chance to see some high-level competition up close.

⚽ La Vega Boys Soccer Makes History
The La Vega Pirates are heading to the state championship game for the first time in school history after beating Marble Falls 3-1 on Friday night. They face off against Lake Dallas on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Georgetown.

🚗 Your neighbors at Chevrolet of West have been taking care of Waco drivers for years with new and pre-owned trucks, SUVs, and cars just 20 minutes up I-35 in West, TX. Stop by or browse their inventory today.

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Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something helpful, share it with your friend who would absolutely wear a nacho sombrero to a Baylor game and not think twice about it.

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