Waco's Damned If It'll Be "Texas' Largest Bathroom Break" Anymore

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Sep. 14 2010 at 5:17 PM

Categories: Development

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Portland-based urban planner John Fregonese's name should ring a bell -- he's the guy behind the Forward Dallas comprehensive plan, now in effect four years last June. Saw his name again today in the USA Today: Waco's done hired him too to create a plan "that includes mixed retail and residential downtown development, green construction and high-density, 'walkable' communities that discourage driving." Well, sure, why not? It's all the rage.

That thing's a monster -- 138 pages and counting known as Imagine Waco: A Plan for Greater Downtown, the most recent version of which just went up at the end of last week. Reports USA Today, hundreds of folks have attended public meetings since the July '09 kickoff, and ...

The consensus: develop the banks of the Brazos River, attract the young and empty-nesters from Baylor University's growing student body and faculty, and highlight tourist attractions (Waco Mammoth Site archeological dig, Dr Pepper Museum and replica of the drugstore where the soft drink was invented, an 1870 suspension bridge over the Brazos, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum).

Incidentally, I was in Waco two weeks ago. Can't believe I spent four years driving back and forth between here and Austin and managed to miss Cupp's.

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I have her phone number and she still texts me every now and then. She claims she loves me. I know better. But play along pretending I'll send money. But no way should anyone ever send her money. Email me. Id like to hear from others she ripped off. Especially since she texts me almost daily
Yea she's a slut. Did she fuck your brains out too and make you believe she loved you. She stole about 15k from me. Watch her she's a snake. You can email me at jrivs5927@gmail.com. I know where she's at
Lyeth I'd like to contact you regarding Colvin. Any way to get in touch w/ you? I lost 40k to the woman
For those looking for Lisa Colvin hearon beeches adress in an attempt to collect debt. Go to 2101 N Haskell street she lives there till evicted
Watch out for Lisa Colvin. She will Rob you blond. She is a sweet coniving girl. I knew she was a crook. But still managed to get taken. If your searching her name. You already figure somethings wrong. Look up Losa Hearon on dallas online request. Under marriage and property. She literally stole her exes house from him. She will do the same to you.
Do you know Lisa Colvin. She's such a slut and user. Did she rob you blind too. Watch out for her. Look her up in the Dallas county website. She's a convicted felon and will end up in jail eventually. She does have a very nice pussy though and will fuck you as you have never been fucked. I only warn you. Don't give her money. She will only want more.
I always assumed Old Blevins was associated with Mother Neff somehow, and at one time I endeavored to construct a mythology of "Old Blevins and Mother Neff tales."
Old Blevin's Road is for lovers. #whoswithme
Seeing my parents live in rural hill co at the crossroads of FM 71/FM 31(Hubbard TX for those keeping score) they always drive down to waco for the weekly grocery run, as they have the best HEBs in the area. Myself, I lived there for a couple of years for school and have to say, Waco has serious potential. It has a compact downtown area thats an ideal walking environment, a decent park system along the brazos river AND a mayor/city council that willing to work together on the project
With respect to your happy memories and full bellies, for me, the best thing to come out of Waco is I-35.
I used to stop at the Elite Cafe and eat like a farmhand and ogle the Baylor co-eds and urinate copiously until I became a wanted man in McLennan County. Now I piss in West; I piss in Temple; hell, I'll piss in the weeds at the exit known as "Old Blevins," I'm no head of state.
Haven't taken in the Mammoth site yet, but I'll betya that the lil 3 yo girl that lives in our our will be all over it when we get a chance. I went to George's a couple of weekends ago prior to the Westfestivities..(Westfest-see what I did there?) The big O's are still cold and the Crazywings are my favorite entree in the Great State. I also used to compete in the Salsaritafest, Ft Worthless won three People's choice trophies and Two out of four years we took hom First Place Margaritas...I love me some Waco, would drink my beer and eat Crazywings everyday if there was a George's in Northside FTW or 1/2 way in between Weatherford and Granbury.
Back before the interstate was completed (early 60s) you had to navigate the traffic circle to get from DFW to Austin. I remember we would stop and eat at the El Chico on the Circle. There was a sign across the circle at the Elite Cafe that said "Elite Eat Here". I asked my mom what 'elite' meant. She said 'important people'. I figured it was some kind of steak and lobster joint with mink coats and limosines.
The bushes right near mile marker 330 are great.
Oh, I don't know. Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville is also another good bathroom break.
Oh, puhleeze. Everyone knows the biggest bathroom break in Texas is the Czech Stop in West. Waco, pfft.
My memories of Waco include burgers at Cupp's, a Big-O at George's with my chicken fried steak and quarter beers at Wolf's on Wednesday nights. Cupp's is worth a stop if you want a burger and can't wait till you get all the way to Austin. Great atmosphere.
Leslie's chicken shack was all kinds of good. Can't bring myself to go by Bush's Chicken for a variety of reasons when I'm visiting family.
The family plot is in Waco, so the only time I ever went to Waco was for a funeral. We go down to Elm Mott once a year for that Homestead Heritage Craft Fair. I don't have to visit the family plot anymore, it's full.
Mmm, I can usually hold it until Austin, thanks though.
I went to camp in Bruceville. But, by far, the best part of each summer was a swing by Leslie's Chicken Shack to and from camp. By far. Well, that and Lisa Colvin.
The tornado of 1953 pretty much devastated Waco's old City Hall square. There has been some recent infill, but it is still pretty sparse. Austin Avenue has some potential. Very walkable, the Hippodrome, etc. Waco has been as bad as Dallas at tearing down some of their best historic architecture. Good luck to them.
I've never been to Cupp's either. When I was a kid my dad would usually stop at the Elite Cafe on the traffic circle or very rarely at Health Camp. Years later I would stop at Denny's or Whataburger. It seemed like I always ran into old high school classmates when I went to the Waco Whataburger. Nowadays it's IHOP in Hillsboro and then straight through to Austin or San Antonio.
It's big, it's empty and it's all kinds of kick-ass spooky. And: It's across from a playground/fountain/EZ-Bake Oven.
I think my boy is Wilonsky's boy's soul brother. He forced me to take him to Waco last weekend because he was tired of blowing through this city. Had a wonderful time at the Dr Pepper museum and the best chicken fried steak ever at George's. And Robert-what is it with young boys and the Statler Hilton? I've spent 3-4 Sunday afternoons walking around that place trying to figure out the allure!