Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that feels better than finding the perfect parking spot at HEB on the first try.
In this edition:
🍽️ Dinner Club Round Two
🧇 Waffle House News from Hillsboro
⚖️ City Council + Election Day Highlights
🎶The Best Live Music and Events Happening This Week
🏅 Baylor Sports Roundup
Let’s get to it!
— Sam Harper
Presented by Arise Construction
Waco keeps growing and Arise Construction is behind some of the projects shaping that future. From revitalizing Gibbon’s Island at Cameron Park to restoring the New Road Crossing, supporting Baylor University, and advancing renewable energy, Arise Construction delivers more than buildings. They deliver results.
Their formula is simple: clear communication, professional execution, and a promise to finish on time and on budget. That’s why clients across Waco count on them for everything from local developments to large-scale builds.
If your next project needs a partner who gets it done right, head to AriseBuilt.com or call (254) 481-0228.*
BUZZWORTHY NEWS
🍽️November Dinner Club
Last month, 80 neighbors sat down with strangers and left as friends.
That’s the heart of the Waco Buzz Dinner Club, and round two happens Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Here’s the idea: Waco’s growing fast, but it can still feel hard to meet people. The Dinner Club changes that. You’ll be matched with five other locals who share similar interests and life stages, then meet for dinner at a surprise restaurant revealed that morning.
The goal? To make Waco feel smaller and help you meet your new favorite neighbors.
👉 Take the quiz & grab your seat ›
If you’ve been wanting to meet new people in town, this might be the easiest (and most fun) way to do it.
🚣 Olympic Rowers Coming to Waco
Waco’s about to have some international company on the Brazos River. Different Olympic rowing teams will train here ahead of the 2028 Summer Games, a major nod to how ideal our stretch of the Brazos river is for the sport.
Before the pros arrive, locals can try it out themselves. The Waco Rowing Center is hosting Learn to Row sessions next week, Nov. 10–15, for youth and adults ($250).
This Sunday, the club will also host a Head-to-Head Regatta at Brazos Park East — a full day of races worth watching before you sign up to give it a try.
🧇 Waffle House Heads North of Town
The long-vacant Hillsboro Outlet Mall is coming down, and developers confirmed that a Waffle House will open on the site next summer. It’ll be the closest location to Waco — another sign that the chain’s long-awaited local debut is probably not far off.
✈️ Fall Flight Deal: Waco → Miami $222 RT
If you’re craving palm trees instead of pecan trees, this week’s standout airfare is Waco to Miami round-trip for $222.
Parking at Waco Regional Airport is still just $5/day, making this one of the cheapest getaways of the season.
Where Are We?! 📸
Watch this space for a random picture from somewhere in Waco.
Where in Waco are we?
Civic News
🗳️ Election Day — Tuesday, Nov 4
Polls are open across McLennan County for a special election day. Two major school bond packages are on the ballot — China Spring ISD and Midway ISD — both drawing strong opinions online over recent weeks.
🗺 Find polling locations and full election info here.
⚖️ City Council Meeting
On the agenda for Tuesday’s Waco City Council meeting:
💰 $110 Million City Bond Plan – Council will discuss issuing new Certificates of Obligation to fund 2025–26 capital projects: street repairs, park improvements, and infrastructure upgrades citywide.
🎨 Public Art Update – Creative Waco will present progress on several city-backed art projects, including the new Fire Station #4 sculpture and Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center murals.
🏘 Affordable Housing Project – Vote on $35 million in bonds for the Shady Acres Bungalows development near Airport Road to add more workforce housing options.
🧭 Annexations & Growth – Two large voluntary annexations (totaling ~780 acres south of Highway 6 and Speegleville Road) could set up future neighborhood expansion and infrastructure needs.
Location: Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum – John Knox Memorial Center
Time: 3 PM Work Session | 6 PM Business Session
View full agenda ›
🚲 More Bike Lanes Are Coming
If you’ve driven down Cobbs Avenue lately, you’ve seen the new bike lanes and judging by the messages I’ve gotten, you definitely have thoughts.
A few of the most common: “Does anyone even use these?” and “Why would they put bike lanes on such a busy road?”
To help answer that, the City of Waco’s Communications team shared this background from Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Ph.D., Director of Mobility and Planning:
The lanes are part of Waco’s Active Transportation Plan, the long-term framework guiding where and how the city adds bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Placement is based on factors like traffic speed, proximity to schools and parks, connectivity between neighborhoods, and existing safety data.
Speed limits matter most. National guidelines recommend standard painted lanes on roads 35 mph or below; faster roads usually need protected or buffered lanes to keep cyclists safer.
The city often adds lanes when resurfacing or restriping streets — keeping costs lower and minimizing disruption.
The goal isn’t just to paint lines — it’s to build a network that connects neighborhoods, parks, and schools so people can bike or walk safely if they choose.
So, love them or hate them, the new Cobbs lanes weren’t random, they’re part of a broader effort to connect Waco in new ways.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
💛 Support the businesses that keep The Waco Buzz free — and tell them you saw them here!
🏢Whether you’re buying, selling, or scouting your next space, Cromwell Commercial Group helps Waco businesses find their perfect fit — no guesswork, just expertise that moves deals forward.
🏗️ From Waco landmarks to new local favorites, Arise Construction builds projects that last — combining precision craftsmanship with a reputation for getting it done right, on time, and with integrity.
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LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN & MIDWEEK EVENTS
Coming up this week 📆
Tuesday:
November Homeschool Day @ Western Belle Farm - 9 AM
Waco Life Drawing @ The Performing Arts Community Center - 6 PM
Tuesday Trivia Night @ Dancing Bear Pub - 7 PM
Beer Garden Yoga @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM - $15
Smarty Pints Trivia @ Southern Roots Brewing Co - 7 PM
Wednesday:
The Meetup @ Startup Waco – 9 AM
Story Time @ Carleen Bright Arboretum - 10 AM
Fabled Story Time @ Fabled Bookshop & Café – 10:30 AM
Indigenous ACE @ Mayborn Museum Complex - 11 AM
Stan Wilfong @ Segovia Wine Bar - 6 PM
Trivia Night @ Hemingway’s Watering Hole - 6 PM
Slap Stix Trivia @ Torchy’s Tacos - 6:30 PM
Churchill @ Waco Hippodrome Theatre - 7:30 PM Tickets
Thursday:
4th Annual Lights of Love @ Waco Suspension Bridge - 5:30 PM
Music Bingo @ Waco Ale Co. - 6 PM
Abundance 2025 Supporting World Hunger Relief Farm @ Milo - 7 PM
Trivia Night @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
Thursday Dance Hall Night @ The Will - 7 PM
Frozen: The Broadway Musical @ Waco Civic Theatre - 7:30 PM Tickets
Open Mic Comedy Night @ Southern Roots Brewing Co. - 8 PM
Looking Ahead
🎶 Camp Fimfo Concert Series — Nov 7–8
A 2-day live-music weekend at Camp Fimfo Waco. Grab your friends, camp or just come for the show. More details & tickets
📚 Friends of the Waco‑McLennan County Library Book Sale — Nov 13–16
Thousands of books, DVDs, audiobooks and more, benefitting the local library. Event info & sale details
🎨 Austin Avenue Art Fair — Nov 22–23
Art booths, live music, community vibes in downtown Waco at this creative weekend. Learn more about the fair
SPORTS
Baylor Sports This Week
🏃♂️Remembering Coach Clyde Hart
Baylor lost a legend. Clyde Hart, the architect of Quarter Miler U, passed away Saturday at 91 after a long fight with cancer. In 56 years, he coached 34 national champions, 566 All-Americans, and nine Olympians who brought home 17 medals.
💚 Baylor tribute →
🏈 Football (5-4)
Baylor crushed UCF 30–3 on Homecoming weekend, capping a complete performance on both sides of the ball.
Next: vs. Utah — Nov. 15, 6 PM at McLane Stadium
🏀 Women’s Basketball (1–0)
Opened the season in Paris with a 58–52 win over Duke which is an impressive debut against a top-ranked team.
🏀 Men’s Basketball
Hosts University of Washington on Sunday at 7:30 PM at Foster Pavilion as the season kicks off.
⚽Women’s Soccer
Played Texas Tech to a 1–1 draw in the Big 12 Tournament opener while playing on their home field.
THANKS!
Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something helpful, please share it with the best musician you know.
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