@XO Hifi
Welcome, {{secret_name | Secret Reader}}
Kansas City is officially in its holiday rhythm — the lights are up, the cocktail menus have gone festive, and every corner of the city is running on equal parts sparkle and nostalgia. This is the time of year when we check our lists twice: the jazz rooms we still need to slip into, the markets we want to browse, the pop-ups everyone keeps talking about, and the cozy corners we save for the people who matter.
This week’s featured image comes from XO HiFi—a cozy moment that is warm and easy, with silky vinyl spinning and sophisticated cocktails that make the holidays feel a little more grown-up.
I’ll see you at the bar.
—Jay, SecretKC editor
🕯️ Thursday — The Whisper
Jazz at Noon · Thu, Dec 4 | 12–1 PM — The Blue Room
A crisp midday set inside the American Jazz Museum — consider it your soft launch into the weekend.
🔗 https://www.visitkc.com/events/jazz-at-noon/
Ladies Night · Thu, Dec 4 | 7:30 PM — Sherri’s Executive Lounge
Cocktails, comedy, and smooth sax — Sherri’s on a Thursday is a KC secret worth guarding.
🔗 https://www.sherrislounge.com
Jazz Jam (Sebastian Arias) · Thu, Dec 4 | 7 PM — 1909 Club
A relaxed, musician-forward jam session in one of KC’s cleanest little jazz rooms.
🔗 Libations & Co.
The Village Prairie · Thu, Dec 4 | Evening — The Ship
A dance-leaning DJ night for those skipping jazz and heading straight for the party.
🔗 The Ship
House Picks
Our editor’s go-to rooms for cocktails, music, and unmistakable KC atmosphere.
The Monarch — Country Club Plaza
Gold-accented, elegant, and precision-driven. One of KC’s sharpest cocktail rooms and a flawless date-night opener.
🔗 themonarchbar.com
Libations & Co. / 1909 Club — Lee’s Summit
A true speakeasy: candlelit, quiet, and intentional. Serious cocktails, intimate pacing, and the kind of room built for leaning in.
🔗 Libations and Company
Brass Monkey — West Bottoms
Neon, vintage, playful. A cocktail bar with personality, unpretentious energy, and a touch of mischief.
🔗 instagram.com/brassmonkeykc
The Ship — West Bottoms
A back-alley institution pulsing with jazz, funk, and soul. Part bar, part club, fully KC.
🔗 theshipkc.com
Sherri’s Executive Lounge — East Side
Warm lighting, velvet R&B, and grown-night ambiance. A SecretKC anchor and one of the city’s great live-music lounges.
🔗 sherrislounge.com
TGIF!
Echos of the Soul Featuring Lydia Alem · Fri, Dec 5 — Sherri’s Executive Lounge
Lydia brings her First Fridays presence to the lounge with a deep, velvety set.
🔗 https://www.sherrislounge.com/
TubaChristmas 2025 · Fri, Dec 5 | 12 PM — Helzberg Hall
KC’s most joyful brass tradition, filling the Kauffman Center lobby with holiday cheer.
🔗 kc symphony
Crossroads + Westside Urban Hike · Fri, Dec 5 — Urban Hikes KC
A grounded way to open the weekend — murals, neighborhood stories, and skyline angles.
🔗 https://urbanhikeskc.com/
Evergy Festival of Lights @ Powell Gardens
A sweeping winter-lights walk-through across 100+ illuminated acres.
🔗 powellgardens.org/festival-of-lights
The Weekend List
Winter Wonder Band + DJ Kay Fan · Sat, Dec 6 — Nighthawks
Festive live arrangements followed by DJ Kay Fan’s late-night set — high-energy, not high-drama.
🔗 Nighthawks
DJ Luis Presents: Noche de Descarga · Sat, Dec 6 — The Ship
Latin-driven dance night at one of KC’s most charismatic rooms.
🔗 The Ship
The Yachties Show · Sat, Dec 6 — Knuckleheads (Garage Stage)
Smooth grooves and nautical swagger — a fun pivot from the holiday circuit.
🔗 https://knuckleheadskc.com/
🎄Holiday Pop-Ups & Festive Experiences
Monarch Bar Holiday Market · Sun, Dec 7 — The Monarch Bar
A high-style Sunday market with cocktails, makers, and Monarch’s signature holiday polish.
🔗 https://themonarchbar.com
Glimmer Pop-Up Bar · Sat & Sun — Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
A playful holiday pop-up with glowing installations and warm cocktails.
🔗 kansas city zoo glowild
Jolly’s Holiday Pop-Up Bar · Daily — Crossroads
A maximalist ornament explosion — bright, cozy, and perfect for a group night.
🔗 https://www.visitkc.com/events/jollys-holiday-pop-up-bar/
Skellington’s Christmas Pop-Up · Daily — Frost
Spooky-spirited Christmas energy for those who like their holiday a little twisted.
🔗 https://www.drinkfrost.com/events
Tinsel Tavern · Daily — KC Live! (Power & Light)
Holiday chaos in cocktail form — loud, fun, photo-friendly.
🔗 https://www.powerandlightdistrict.com/eat-and-drink/tinsel-tavern
Sippin’ Santa · Sat, Dec 6 — J. Rieger & Co.
Tiki on Christmas — strong pours and tropical holiday kitsch done well.
🔗 sippin-santa
Holiday Reflections · Daily — Union Station
Mirror halls, giant ornaments, immersive installations.
🔗 https://unionstation.org/event/holiday-reflections/
Crown Center Christmas + Ice Terrace · Ongoing — Crown Center
Skating + holiday shopping in KC’s seasonal center of gravity.
🔗 https://crowncenter.com/events/
🎶 Concert Hall & Stage
Handel’s Messiah · Dec 5–7 — Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center
A Kansas City Symphony tradition — performances Fri (7 PM), Sat (7 PM), Sun (2 PM).
🔗 https://www.kcsymphony.org/2025-26-holiday-concerts/
Kansas City Ballet — The Nutcracker · Dec 5–7 — Kauffman Center
A polished, full-scale holiday classic with multiple showtimes all weekend.
🔗 https://kcballet.org/events/the-nutcracker/
☀️ Family-Friendly & Daytime Adventures
Penguin March · Sat & Sun — Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Cold-weather chaos from the Zoo’s most charming residents.
🔗 https://kansascityzoo.org/events
Mecum Kansas City 2025 · Dec 4–6 — KC Convention Center
Collector cars, chrome, and a full weekend of spectacle.
🔗 https://www.mecum.com/auctions/kansas-city-2025/
Chiefs vs. Texans Watch Party · Sun, Dec 7 — Double Tap KC
VR bar meets game-day energy — a fun alternative to the usual sports bar.
🔗 Double Tap KC
Last Call
“I like to have a martini, two at the most...” — Dorothy Parker
The Whiskey Sour @Hand in Glove
It wasn’t flashy. No smoked dome, no seasonal syrup, no garnish auditioning for a close-up. Just bourbon, citrus, a touch of sweetness, and that silky egg-white finish floating on top like winter light. Simple enough that every note had to land; refined enough that someone behind the bar clearly cared. My first Whiskey Sour.
Understand that a classic isn’t just old — it’s earned. That a cocktail can set the tone. And that a room can slow time. That one good Whiskey Sour can pull you into a world you never quite leave. I did have another.
Hand in Glove did that. A quiet bar in Lee’s Summit, a winter night, a simple drink made well. Another stop on a long road in Kansas City cocktail culture — and the reason I’m still out here taking notes.
Stay sharp, KC ☾