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@Voo Vinyl Nights
Welcome, {{secret_name | Secret Reader}}
Last week I ended up at Voo Lounge for Voo Vinyl night. DJ Bill Pile ran the room, spinning vinyl from way, way back, the kind that bumps. I made a few new friends and tried a few new drinks. If you go, order two.
The Dust Bowl is black tea–infused mezcal with ginger liqueur, rosemary sage, honey, lemon, and grapefruit bitters. Delicious! The Rendezvous is J. Rieger & Co. gin with Luxardo maraschino liqueur, blackberry mint syrup, and lime. It’s a local gin, bright and tart, with the blackberry doing the work.
Kansas City is fully in its Halloween groove this week. I’ll be at Black Flame Bash at Nighthawk on Friday. It runs from 7 PM to 2 AM and has a burlesque and drag showcase, a live band, a DJ, and a costume contest. After that, I’ll be at Assjamz and I might wear a costume!
Costume up, pace yourself, and get home safe.
I'll see you at the bar ☾
—Jay, SecretKC Editor
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🎃 Halloweekend
Dark Forest @Powell Gardens • Fri & Sat, trail opens 7 PM
A one-mile woodland walk with performance, music, light, and fog, made with Quixotic. Gates open 5:30; last entry 8:45. Rated PG-13, not recommended under 13.
→ Powell Gardens
Black Flame Bash @Nighthawk • Fri 7 PM–2 AM
Burlesque and drag showcase at 7:30, Talya Groves & The Boyfriends 8:15–9:30, then DJ Strawhat Yeti.
→ Nighthawk
Boo on the Bridge: The Penthouse Edition @Rock Island Bridge • Fri 7–11:30 PM
Costume party with DJs, skyline views, and a $500 costume contest.
→ Rock Island Bridge
Rewind: 2000s Halloween Rave @The Truman • Fri 9:30 PM
2000s pop, hip-hop, and electronic, in costume. Ages 18+, doors 8:30.
→ The Truman
Halloweekend @BOO Lounge • Fri-Sat
VOO Lounge is turning into BOO Lounge for our annual Halloweekend celebration, Oct 30–31.
→ Event page · Tickets
📖 The KC Pulse
You said yes. Last week I asked if you’d come out for a SecretKC night. Every single vote came back the same: yes, and I’m bringing someone. Nobody’s going solo, and nobody’s too shy,shy. Duly noted. Start thinking about who you’re bringing!
Rocks or neat?
Also, if you haven’t, take our SecretKC Year One survey!
🍸 The Weekend
Old Crow Medicine Show @Knuckleheads • Thu 7:30 PM
The string-band outfit at Knuckleheads, Thursday night.
→ Knuckleheads Saloon
Mo Betta @The Blue Room • Sat 8:30 & 10 PM
Two sets at the Blue Room on Halloween night, $10 each.
→ The Blue Room
Liberty's Beacon @National WWI Museum and Memorial • Fri–Sun 7:30 PM
Projection-mapped light and sound across the Memorial, all for the museum's 100th anniversary. Runs weekends through Nov 11.
→ National WWI Museum and Memorial
💃🏽 Date Nights
Carrie Cooley @Audrey's Wine + Bourbon Lounge • Thu
Live jazz in a wine-and-bourbon lounge.
→ Audrey's Wine + Bourbon Lounge
Rhythm & Boo's Halloween Dinner & Jazz Show with Lonnie McFadden & His Band @Lonnie's Reno Club • Sat 7 PM
Dinner-club jazz with a Halloween twist.
→ Lonnie's Reno Club
In My Jazz Era: Nosferatu @Tom's Town Distilling Co. • Sat 8–9:30 PM
The 1922 silent horror film scored live by Kansas City Jazz Orchestra musicians, in the Art Deco tasting room.
→ Tom's Town Distilling Co.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
Electric Poe @Union Cemetery • Fri & Sat 6:30 PM, Sun 5:30 PM
The Coterie Theatre stages Poe stories outdoors, one actor and one musician in front of the 1857 Holding Vault.
→ Union Cemetery
GloWild: Hidden Treasure @Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium • Fri–Sun evenings (Sat 6–10 PM)
A mile-long trail of illuminated lantern sculptures.
→ Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour @SEA LIFE Kansas City • Daily 10 AM–4 PM
An Animal Crossing: New Horizons aquarium visit with a stamp rally, photo spots, and critter panels written in Blathers' voice. Runs through Jan 3.
→ SEA LIFE Kansas City
Día de los Muertos Festival @Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art • Sun 10 AM–4 PM
Folklórico and mariachi, printmaking, artist demos, tamales, and the Path of Memories altar in Kirkwood Hall.
→ Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
🥃 Cocktail Destination Picks
The Monarch Bar
Serious cocktails and a clean handoff between dinner and the night.
→ The Monarch Bar
Club Cleo
Second-floor speakeasy-style cocktail lounge at 2000 Grand, known for its whiskey list. Drinks, not dinner!
→ Club Cleo
Jade Jaguar
Agave-focused, from the team behind The Mercury Room, Verdigris, and The Monarch. Bar seats, small plates, and friendly regulars to talk to.
→ Jade Jaguar
Where Kansas City Goes After 10 PM: SecretKC's Year One
Dinners done, but the night is young. Here’s your playbook to what’s next!
→ Read the guide
Check out our other SecretKC guides: All SecretKC Guides →
Last Call
The Rendezvous @Voo Lounge
—Stay Sharp KC, 🍸
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