🍁 What Waco is grateful for

Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that hits like stepping into a kitchen that smells like cinnamon and butter.

Let’s get to it!

— Sam Harper

This past weekend I asked you to share one thing you’re grateful for about living in Waco, partly to help you get your Thanksgiving answer ready early. Your responses were the perfect reminder of what makes this place feel like home. A few that stood out:

• “Dr. Charles Schoultz who took care of me when I had my heart attack.”
• “It’s small but growing… small improvements that make a difference in quality of life.”
• “Less traffic than big cities.”
• “The annual library book sale.”
• “The people, they’re the reason you stay here.”

And what no one said they were thankful for? The Waco weather.

And now we get to enjoy one of the best parts of fall in Waco, cooler weather rolling in after a week in the mid 80s. Hopefully the rain stays away, because this is one of the best weekends of the year to get outside with Art on Austin Avenue taking over downtown.

🎨 Art on Austin Avenue this weekend

The Austin Avenue Art Fair returns November 22–23, turning downtown into a walkable gallery of local painters, sculptors, makers, and musicians. What started as Wendy Michelle Davis’s idea in 2023 has grown into a two-day event built around lifting up Waco artists and enriching the city’s culture.

Saturday also brings Art Walk of Waco (Art WOW), where the Waco Trolley shuttles you between four downtown stops hosting live music and artists creating in real time. Plus: the high-energy Art Duel is back, where artists have 20 minutes to cover a canvas and the crowd votes on who advances.

Mark your calendar, this one is always a hit with locals and visitors.

✈️ Flight Deal of the Week: Waco → Nashville

Round-trip flights from Waco to Nashville are hovering around $300, which is about as good as it gets. If you’ve been plotting a bachelorette weekend, a quick getaway, or just want an excuse to belt out 90s country hits on Broadway, this might be the cheapest shot Waco has had in a while. Check dates here.

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JD’s Café on Woodway Drive, is stepping deeper into the catering and events world with its acquisition of Pendley Productions, a Waco staple that’s handled weddings, parties, and celebrations for decades. Congrats to Joshua and the entire JD’s Cafe team!

🌮 New Eats

• Chilaquentes is now open at 9111 Jordan Lane.
• Sison Tacos is hosting its grand opening party today at 5 PM at 601 Franklin Avenue.

🏊 Indoor swimming takes a step forward
Two indoor swim options are underway in the Waco area. Swim Waco broke ground this weekend at 216 Kelly Dr (right next to Barnes and Noble and Discount Tire), and SafeSplash Swim School in Woodway opened this past Wednesday at 203 Collonade Dr.

🐴 Crossing Point Veterinary Services
There’s a new mobile veterinary practice in town focusing on acupuncture for horses and dogs. They handle everything from arthritis and soft tissue injuries to hormonal imbalances and anxiety, all from your home or stable. With experience and ability to restore balance and promote healing, this is a great addition to vet services in Waco. Follow them on Facebook to get $20 off your first treatment.

🏢 New Era Apartments open in Hewitt
A former hotel developer saw an opportunity on one of the last multifamily-zoned sites in Hewitt, and it’s now open as New Era Apartments. Cromwell Commercial Group secured the deal to make the project possible, delivering 180 new units, including 54 with EV charging capabilities. More info at neweraapartments.com.

💦Want to take on a construction business with strong cash flow?
A long-running pool construction and service company in McLennan County is up for sale, and it’s a solid performer. The business brings in about $1.3 million in revenue and $390,000 in cash flow, backed by 25 years of reputation and loyal customers. More info.

⚖️ City Council Meeting

On the agenda for Tuesday’s Waco City Council meeting:

💧 Riverwalk Redevelopment – A vote on a $27 million construction contract that would move the next phase of the Riverwalk forward with new paths, lighting, and public space improvements along the Brazos.

🧭 Major Annexations and Growth – Two large annexation proposals totaling nearly 780 acres near Highway 6 and Speegleville Road up for first readings, shaping future neighborhoods and long term city planning.

🎨 Public Art Policy Update – Council will consider adopting a new Artwork Acquisition Policy that sets the framework for how the city evaluates and accepts public art projects.

🌳 China Spring Park Upgrades – A change order adds restrooms, sport courts, and value engineering updates to the China Spring Park project, increasing the total budget to just over $4 million.

Location: Waco Convention Center – Bosque Theater
Time: 3 PM Work Session | 6 PM Business Session
View full agenda ›

Waco is putting a big spotlight on the Barron’s Branch District in 2026, and it’s quickly becoming the heartbeat of the entire downtown plan. And here’s the curveball. What used to be a “later down the road” idea is suddenly getting bumped way up the order — the Sports and Entertainment District, including the potential for a professional baseball stadium.

The city pulled in four proposals, none perfect yet, and is now working with developers to tighten them up before bringing real options to council. In other words, the next few months are where we find out if pro baseball in downtown Waco is something that can actually happen.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

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Saturday in McLane was rough. Baylor got steamrolled by Utah and the biggest storyline wasn’t on the field. It was a cluster of students way up in the top deck waving their whiteout shirts while the score kept climbing. Final: 55 to 28.
The Bears head west this week for a noon kickoff at Arizona on Saturday.

🏀 Basketball

Both squads handled business over the weekend and are off to strong starts.
• Women rolled Le Moyne 99 to 43 and edged UNLV 62 to 54.
• Men topped Tarleton State 94 to 81.

Upcoming:
• The women are at Walt Disney World this weekend for an early season tourney against Iowa and Davidson.
• The men get a practice week before heading to Las Vegas to take on Creighton on Monday.

🏐 Volleyball

Baylor sits at 15 and 9 overall and hosts Texas Tech on Thursday at 7 PM in the Ferrell Center.

⚽ Soccer

After falling in the Big 12 semifinal, Baylor bounced back with a clean 3 to 0 win over Texas State on Friday for the NCAA tournament opener. The postseason works just like March Madness with a 64 team field, single elimination.
Next up: fourth seeded Wisconsin on Thursday in South Bend.

🏢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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