Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash
Life in Grad School isn’t completely about the academic grind?!?!? Can you even say that? Won’t you get, like, kicked out? We publish edgy stuff here folks, buckle up.
Your 2-7+ years spent in your graduate program include far more than just the classes you take, the papers you publish, and the defenses you sweat through. Those years will also hold countless oil changes, grocery store runs, haircuts, and far more banal life moments. Figuring out where to do your normal human being things in a new or unfamiliar town can be a challenge, so once again, we’re here to help.
Best Places for Automotive Needs
- Perales Brothers Automotive: Perales is hands down the best place for students to take their cars. Besides being fair, honest, kind, and skilled, Alonso and his team of mechanics offer a special discounted rate on labor for anyone with a student ID! It doesn’t get better than that.
- 1125 Austin Ave
- Fred’s Radiator and Auto Repair: Another popular option amongst students with excellent reviews from customers.
- 1726 Burnett Ave
- Freddie Kish’s Complete Car Care Center: A solid option with over 20 years of experience in the business. Centrally located in Waco.
- 5300 Franklin Ave
- Christian Brothers Automotive: For those who live closer to Woodway, a great option south of town.
- 101 Archway Dr
Best Haircuts in Town
- Salon Asylum: classy salon in Woodway. Specialize in high-quality cuts and color. Professional and friendly. Offer women and men’s cuts and styles. On the pricier side, but who wants to skimp on haircuts? Ask for Jesse or Shelby.
- 1221 Hewitt Dr, Suite B
- Monument Barber Co: Great little barbershop in the Austin Avenue neighborhood; charmingly located in an old Tudor-revival cottage. Free fun beverages while you wait!
- 2011 Washington Ave
- Downtown Barbershop: the owner has been cutting hair for forever, and provides a warm, inviting atmosphere for customers.
- 900 Austin Ave
- The Cutting Edge Salon: quality cuts/styles AND a full-service spa, so you can schedule a facial and a haircut!
- 2301 Washington Ave
- Scissors Salon: if our sources are correct, one of the stylists here has cuts Chip and Jo’s kids’ hair, so you can drop that little fun fact to your Fixer Upper-obsessed aunt at Thanksgiving!
- 1400 Speight Ave
- University Barbershop: the student who recommended this place says to ask for Curtis, who is apparently one of the best humans in Waco and apparently gives a good cut as well.
- 1325 S Valley Mills Dr
Best Places to Buy Groceries
Obviously, HEB is the major grocery store option here in Waco/all of Texas. It is not, however, the only option. Though some think of HEB as standing for “Heaven’s Earthly Blessings,” others who are non-native Texans, may want other options.
- Aldi: if HEB’s 17 ketchup options give you decision anxiety, guess what? Aldi offers only one! It will be cheap and it will do the job properly (though don’t ask a Pittsburgher to verify that – Yinzers will die on the Heinz ketchup hill). Besides, if you aren’t shopping at Aldi, are you even trying to save money?
- 1220 N Valley Mills Dr
- Eastern Market: do you love to cook ethnic food? Eastern Market stocks traditional Asian ingredients, spanning India, China, Japan, and more. They have exciting produce like Thai eggplants and enoki mushrooms, things you can’t find anywhere else in Waco. They also have a burgeoning deli where you can pick up tasty lunches to-go. And the best thing is that Eastern Market supports Urban Reap’s composting program, so anything they don’t sell never goes to waste.
- 6500 Woodway Dr, Suite 101
- Jubilee Market: Jubilee Market was established by Mission Waco in 2016 to eradicate the food desert in North Waco. By shopping here, you help support an important business and resource for Waco residents. Plus, Jubilee Market shares property with Urban Reap, where you can become a compost program member or shop for native Texas plants, pollinator-friendly flowers, and organic produce to grow at home!
- 1505 N 15th St
- Drug Emporium: Don’t let the name fool you; this isn’t just the place where your hypochondriac neighbor buys excessive quantities of supplements. Drug Emporium is actually a great place for people with very specific dietary needs to shop. They stock lots of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian goods. They have a massive selection of local kombuchas. They also have a perfumery, an large essential oil inventory, and a section devoted to salon-grade hair products. What can’t you find at Drug Emporium?!
- 5900 Bosque Blvd
- Finally, if you can’t live without a Trader Joe’s like a substantial cohort of us here at Baylor, then the Trader Joe’s in North Austin is a mere hour and twenty minute journey for the committed TJ’s devotee. There’s a Whole Foods within shouting distance, too. While you’re thinking about it though, click here to send a plea to corporate Trader Joe’s that it is about dang time Waco got a TJ’s. We have Magnolia, an NCAA championship win, and a Big 12 win. SURELY we have earned our own Trader Joe’s!
Best Places to Treat Yo’ Self
- Pura Vida Day Spa: want a massage to relax from completing your comps? Need a mani/pedi so you look like a million bucks for your dissertation defense? Pura Vida is a great place to go and relax, and if you check their Facebook on Monday mornings, they offer special deals on most of their services for that week, perfect for even the tightest grad student budget.
- 115 Franklin Ave
- Waco Axe Company: need a place to let out some cathartic rage? Book yourself a throwing bay at Waco Axe and pretend the target is the really mean “Reader A” on your rejected article.
- 1526 Washington Ave
- REFIT Studio: do you mourn the fact that there are farrrrrrr fewer dance parties in graduate school than in undergrad? Look no further than the REFIT Studio, where you can have fun while working out (crazy, right?). REFIT offers three unique formats and ~60 classes a month! Your first class is always free, and they offer special student rates on memberships.
- 1522 Washington Ave
- Yoga8: a dance party not quite your speed? Check out Yoga8, a holistic yoga studio where you will be rejuvenated and inspired to love yourself better. They offer a range of formats and endeavor to create a welcoming, healing atmosphere. Try a week for only $15.
- 5100 Franklin Ave D
- Heritage Creamery: Ice cream is necessary for success in graduate school, and Heritage has the best around (sorry Bluebell!). Locally sourced ingredients, seasonal flavors (including fun collaborations with Waco-businesses like Balcones Distillery and Native Sons Coffee), and homemade waffle cones; you just found your new addiction. After all, on good days, you deserve a treat. On bad days, you also deserve a treat.
- Now Two Locations: 1125 S 8th St or 13701 Woodway Dr
Anna E. Beaudry is a second-year English PhD student studying 19th-century American literature. Her primary area of research focuses on female writers in the New England regionalist movement and material feminisms. She earned her Master’s at Baylor University in May 2020. Anna is Baylor’s Graduate Writing Center coordinator and president of the English Graduate Student Association. She is also BearTracks blog editor for the Graduate School.