Tostas with prosciutto and smoked salmon and a cheese plate. (Photo by Kathy Tran)
THE WILD DETECTIVES
The Wild Detectives hosted the first ever Bar Politics, which is like a live, local version of “The Daily Show.” Shakespeare at the Bar packs the house every time it’s scheduled. There are cumbia dance parties, jazz quartets, feminist poetry readings, movie screenings and kids’ story time.
Since opening in 2014, the place has become a de facto cultural center of Oak Cliff.
A weekday afternoon inside the Wild Detectives. (Photo by Kathy Tran)
“We’re proud of the work we’re doing to promote local culture,” says Andrés de la Casa Huertas-San Martín, an employee who handles publicity and events. “I think that’s how we became a space that everyone is talking about.”
The Wild Detectives is a bookstore, a coffee shop, a bar and an event space.
Plus, there’s food.
The shop doesn’t have a kitchen, but the bar turns out snacks from a toaster oven — tostas with prosciutto, avocado, turkey, salmon or honey with cream cheese.
It also offers a cheese board and pastries from Rush Patisserie. In the mornings they serve breakfast tacos from El Padrino.
During the week there are college students and people working on laptops. But on the weekends, the Wild Detectives turns off its wifi. “Weekends are about disconnecting,” a message on the chalkboard instructs.
“People can enjoy each other’s company, talk, meet strangers,” Andrés says. “Interesting things can happen.”
The Wild Detectives
314 W. Eighth St.
214.942.0108
thewilddetectives.com
Ambiance: Library chic
Price range: $4-$10
Hours: 2 p.m.-midnight Monday, 8:30 a.m.-midnight Tuesday-Saturday and 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday
