A new monthly pop-up in San Antonio is giving animal lovers a chance to sip coffee, hang out and meet creatures usually seen from behind the glass.
SAN ANTONIO — A new San Antonio event is bringing coffee, community and plenty of cute creatures together in one spot.
Once in a Wild, a San Antonio-based animal education company, is launching a new monthly pop-up called Cafe & Cuddles with a big goal in mind: helping make San Antonio the most animal-literate city in the country.
The kickoff event is set for Sunday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Refuge Coffee + Beer Garden on Shaenfield Road.
Organizers say the event is designed to feel more like a laid-back hangout than a traditional zoo visit. Guests can grab a drink, spend time with friends and get surprisingly close to animals they would usually only see from a distance.
That could include giant rabbits, tortoises, reptiles, guinea pigs and other animals, all introduced by the zoologists and zookeepers who care for them.
The idea is to create a welcoming space for teachers, parents, biologists, zookeepers and anyone who proudly considers themselves an animal lover.
The event is free to attend, but guests who enter the animal encounter area are asked to make a $15 donation to help support animal care. Coffee, beer, food and vendor items will also be available for purchase.
Cafe & Cuddles will be held at Refuge Coffee + Beer Garden, located at 11011 Shaenfield Road.