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The Wild Side | By Nicollette Niles
In a small shopping center in Hewitt you can purchase coatimundis (members of the raccoon family,) micro mini pigs, chinchillas, sugar gliders, leopard geckos and many more exotic animals. Established in 2012, Critters Exotic Pets brings an animal experience to the region unlike any other. Owner Tierny Krueger wanted to open an exotic pet shop…
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Watching a Dream Take Shape | By Kyndall Jirasek
Silver hair tied back in a loose ponytail, a few strands sweep across a woman’s face as she leans over the wheel. Wearing a red apron with the word “sister” stitched across the front, Titia Califano shares the journey of faith that led her to become a potter and an unexpected fudge maker. Califano’s passion…
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A Century of Barbecue | By Elizabeth Arnold
Nearly 100 years ago, Jasper DeMaria set up a fruit stand on the side of Waco’s interurban railway station, the last stop before Dallas. Weary travelers came to fill their hungry stomachs before continuing their long journeys. About three years after opening the fruit stand, Jasper expanded the business. He put up a building and…
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An Old-Fashioned Burger |By Ashlyn Thompson
Hair pulled back into a John Deere cap, a busy woman hollers, “Mom, more buns!” as she throws fresh patties on a sizzling grill. Antique pallet-framed photos line the wood paneling and half-empty white trash bags find their home stuffed in corners. Six generations of grandkids are slapped unevenly across the back wall. Outside, a…
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All Who Are Hungry |By Elizabeth Arnold
Inside the kitchen, a smoothly operating staff hustles to keep up with the rush of customers. They wear personalized white aprons speckled with faded yellow stains. The 15-by-15-foot space is crowded, walls stacked floor to ceiling with an array of pots, pans and canned vegetables. A worn paper sign above the serving window reads, “All…
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Metal Meets Jesus | By Ashley Altus
For young metal fans in Waco, finding a space to experience roaring vocalists and shredding guitars used to be challenging. All-ages venues closed their doors in recent years, making metal shows largely inaccessible to fans under 18. Instead of drowning in nostalgia because their favorite venues had vanished, two Waco natives took action by pulling…
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A Well-Worn History | By Liz Hitchcock
Stacks of National Geographic copies sit in front of the window as light pours through, illuminating the smallest brush strokes on a piece of white Canson paper. His glasses rest on the bridge of his nose and his curly black hair glistens in the light. If looking closely, paint stains decorate his blue button-down shirt…
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Renewing the Heart & Soul of Wacotown |By Rayne Brown
It’s hard to imagine downtown without the colorful murals, an abundance of local businesses and community engagement, but when Baylor alumnus Mike Trozzo lived in Waco, that was the reality. “When I was in school, the only part that was downtown was the Ninfa’s corridor,” Trozzo said. “It felt much less viable as a place…
