Waco Insider #84

Texas Music Cafe, Home for the Holidays Gift Market, and Tru Jamaica

Over the course of 25 years, Texas Music Cafe has recorded hundreds of live shows at venues across Texas. Now, the acclaimed music series is relocating to downtown Waco’s Cultural District, with its own studio and performance venue on Washington Avenue.

Runako Gee talks with Texas Music Cafe Executive Producer Chris Ermoian about what makes the show unique, its future plans, and this weekend’s inaugural performance by Steve Howell and The Mighty Men.

Read the article at Waco Insider.

Starting your Christmas shopping now may seem like jumping the gun—after all, it’s still September and almost 100 degrees outside—but if you’ve got the urge, check out the Home for the Holidays Gift Market this weekend at the Waco Convention Center. Featuring over 100 vendors, you should be able to find something for virtually everyone… and be able to kick up your feet and relax once December arrives.

Drive down Taylor Street in East Waco and Tru Jamaica emerges like a shimmering island in an ocean of fields, industrial loading docks, and residential cottages. Step inside and its gentle magic takes hold—soft reggae music wafts past murals of Black families fishing azure waters, the smell of curried meats seasons the air, and as the lunch crowd trickles in, guests greet each other like old friends.

Waco Insider food writer Angelica Mazé takes a close look at Tru Jamaica’s menu as well as Vivia Charles, the driving force behind the restaurant.

Read the article at Waco Insider.

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Waco Insider is produced in collaboration with Creative Waco as well as the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Upcoming Events

Events subject to change. Visit Waco Insider for complete event details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.

Have an event you’d like listed? Visit our event submissions page.

Thursday, September 22

• Hobbit Day | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Introduction to Watercolor Painting | Art Center Waco | Register | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Intermediate Watercolor Painting | Art Center Waco | Register | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

• Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet | Waco Convention Center | Tickets | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Musical Theatre Audition Masterclass | Waco Civic Theatre | Register | 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm

• Adult Member Appreciation Night | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Bugs & Brews | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• STORIES Music Night: Steve Howell & Dan Sumner | Anthem STORIES | Tickets | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Thursday Night Ride: Cameron Park Hills | Bicycle World Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Tupps Brewery Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Eric & Thomas Unplugged | PeeWee's Crabcakes On The Go | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

• $3 Thursday College Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 2:00 am

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night | Truelove Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Jacob Augustine | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Katherine Center | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Kayla Ray | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Pints & Planks: Hammer & Stain Public Workshop | Freight Bar | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

• Waco Brew Theology: Yom Kippur & Accountability | Bare Arms Brewing | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

• Waco Famous Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

• Karaoke | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

• Madstone | Old Chicago | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Bailey Zimmerman with Lauren January | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Friday, September 23

• Artist Talk: Steve Scott | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am – 11:15 am

• Home for the Holidays Gift Market | Waco Convention Center | Tickets | 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Meet the Clubs Night | Bicycle World | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Readers Theatre | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

• Michael Saldana & Joel Wood | Pivovar | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Caroline Spence | Poage Park | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Macramé Pumpkin Pot Plant Hanger Workshop | YOUtopia Essentials | Tickets | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

• Tha Johnny Joes | Fuzzy's Taco Shop | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• Darrell Ray | Sunday's Caribbean Oasis | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Friday Night Dinner | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Hannah Rose | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Holly Tucker | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Jonna Mae | Camp Fimfo Waco | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• The Ballou’s Cats | Triple B's Smokehouse Bar & Grill (Hewitt) | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• The Light in the Piazza | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Divas’ Dragaret | Brazos Theatre | Tickets | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Fenix Theory | Lakeside Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm

• John Austin | Blue Dog Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Lauren January & Luke LaGrange | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Sanger Heights Blues Allstars | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Seth Sammons | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Touch of Grey | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Gary Hobbs | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

Saturday, September 24

• Skittles Waco Wild West 100 | Heritage Square | Register | 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

• 7th Annual Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show | China Spring Tabernacle Community Center | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

• McLennan County Master Gardeners: Gardening with Kids | Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Flourish: Learn, Grow, Thrive | Republic Gun Club | Tickets | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

• Home for the Holidays Gift Market | Waco Convention Center | Tickets | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

• West Warrior Kids Foundation & Teacher Appreciation Weekend | Western Belle Farm | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Oktoberfest | Brotherwell Brewing | 10:30 am – 9:00 pm

• Waco Uptown Art Walk | Susan L. Sistrunk Fine Art Gallery | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

• JD Hicks | Last Chance Bar | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Freightober Fest | Freight Bar | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

• 2nd Annual Goodwill Gala | Baylor Club | Tickets | 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Hidden Creatures Mystery Adventure | Cameron Park Zoo | Tickets | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Stephany Chavira | Fuzzy's Taco Shop | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• Bohemian Pirates | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Brazos Brothers | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Cody Johnson & Friends | Extraco Events Center | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Elvis Tribute | Sunday’s Caribbean Oasis Sports Bar & Grill | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• JD Johnson & Cody Ellinger | Triple B's Smokehouse | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Steve Howell & The Mighty Men | Texas Music Cafe | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Waco Out of the Darkness Walk | Brazos Park East | Register | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

• Waco Pride Pageant | Nexus Esports | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• The Light in the Piazza | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Billy Bone & The Variance | Mac Daddy's Pub | 8:00 pm – midnight

• KCD Band | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm

• Stand-Up Comedy Showcase | Brazos Theatre | Tickets | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Star Party | Waco Mammoth National Monument | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Blue Houdini | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Greg Schroeder | Freight Bar | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Kolby Cooper with Logan Jahnke | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Steve Dansby Band | Elk Hall | 8:30 pm – 12:30 am

• Tha Johnny Joes | JRG's Bar & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

• Oktoberfest After Party with A Night Out, Dog Bite & Bed Time Stories | Brotherwell Brewing | 9:00 pm – midnight

Sunday, September 25

• Brunch of Queens | Cricket's Grill & Draft House | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Knife Marathon League | Waco Axe Company | Register | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Home for the Holidays Gift Market | Waco Convention Center | Tickets | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Floating Mercado | Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

• Teacher Appreciation Weekend | Western Belle Farm | Tickets | 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

• Community Day | Mayborn Museum Complex | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Duals Axe Marathon League | Waco Axe Company | Register | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• The Light in the Piazza (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm

• Waco Center for Youth Charity Event | Topgolf | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

• Karaoke & Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – midnight

Monday, September 26

• Story Time: Elephant! | Cameron Park Zoo | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Dance for Musical Theatre 101 | Waco Civic Theatre | Register | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Monday Funday with the Brazos Brothers | Hemingway's Watering Hole | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Monday Night Lights Mountain Bike Ride | Bicycle World | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

• Music Association of Central Texas Jam & Meeting | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Keep Waco Loud Open Mic Night | Stay Classy Waco | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Tuesday, September 27

• Little Learners Music Class | Waco Civic Theatre | Register | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

• Books & Brews: Come Fly the World | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

• Karaoke Time! | Old Chicago | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Lauren de Silva | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

• Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Beer For Brains Trivia Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Wednesday, September 28

• 1 Million Cups Waco | Hustle Co-Working | 9:00 am – 10:00 am

• Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am

• Acoolstic Happy Hour with The Union Revival | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

• Lauren January & Luke LaGrange | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• Trivia Night | Old Chicago | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• Goddess Grooves Dance Class | Cultivate 7twelve | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

• Music Bingo Night: Greatest Hits | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Amélie | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• CTJS Jazz Jam | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Witty Wednesday BuzzTime Trivia | Hemingway's Watering Hole | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Burlesque Strikes Back | Truelove Bar | 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Need to know when to staff up for large events? Click here to view business and social events that may not be listed above.

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Coming Next Week

Waco Cultural Arts Fest, Good Dogs Night Out, and Gil Shaham

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