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Welcome, {{secret_name | Secret Reader}}
If you’re still outside after Christmas, you already know what time it is.
The city slows down this week. Crowds thin out. Bartenders aren’t rushing. The music feels more intentional. This is the pocket — when Kansas City shows you who it really is without all the noise.
I like this stretch because nobody’s trying to impress anyone. You’re not fighting lines or pretending a drink is better than it is. You’re just in a room, with good music, decent people, and a cocktail that actually makes sense. This issue isn’t about big moments or must-see hype. It’s about places that feel right after 8 PM. Spots where the band is locked in. Lounges where the bartender knows what you meant when you said “something brown.” Nights where you stay out because you want to — not because you planned to. So when the band starts playing like it’s past last call but nobody’s moving, you’re in the right room.
If you go out this weekend, don’t overthink it. Pick a spot. Sit at the bar. Tip your bartender. Let the set finish. And if somebody tells you about another room down the street, listen — that’s usually how the best nights start anyway.
I’ll see you at the bar.
—Jay, SecretKC editor
🎄 Christmas Night & Weekend Jazz Picks
Christmas Night Jazz Jam · Thu | 8:30 PM
The Blue Room
Late-night Christmas jazz jam with KC’s top players sitting in after the holiday calm.
🔗 Event Details →
Christmas Night Groove Session · Thu | 9 PM
Green Lady Lounge
Classic organ-driven jazz sets in a candlelit room — one of KC’s best post-Christmas traditions.
🔗 Venue Info →
VOO Christmas Night Jazz Session · Thu | 8 PM
VOO Lounge
Intimate jazz session with rotating musicians and a packed downtown crowd easing back into nightlife.
🔗 VOO Lounge →
Friday Night Live: James Atwood Band · Fri | 7 PM
Sherri’s Executive Lounge
Polished soul and jazz-forward lounge set with cocktails, cigars, and grown-folks energy.
🔗 Sherri’s Event Listing →
Jazz Orchestra Late Set · Fri | 9:30 PM
The Phoenix
High-energy jazz orchestra night — dancing encouraged, drinks flowing late.
🔗 The Phoenix →
Black Dolphin Holiday Session · Fri | 8 PM
Black Dolphin Lounge
Straight-ahead jazz with a relaxed, neighborhood-insider feel.
🔗 Black Dolphin Lounge →
Jay’s Favorite Spots
Our go-to rooms for cocktails, music, and unmistakable KC atmosphere.
The Monarch — Country Club Plaza
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: big vibes and intentional. Serious cocktails, sociable staff.
🔗 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
🥃 Special Shout-Out
Quick nod to Something Good downtown — the Gen-X afterparty spot that doesn’t need explaining —IYKYK.
This is where the night lands when you’re done everything else and just want a strong pour, a real conversation, and your people. No rush. No cosplay nightlife. Just grown folks Gen-X energy and drinks that do what they’re supposed to do.
Save it for last.
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🎷 Holiday Weekend Standouts
Saturday Night Live: Kenny Glover Band · Sat | 7 PM
Sherri’s Executive Lounge
Smooth jazz and soul standards — one of the weekend’s most polished lounge bookings.
🔗 Sherri’s Event Listing →
Organ Trio Saturdays · Sat | 8:30 PM
Green Lady Lounge
Classic KC organ-trio jazz with two packed rooms and nonstop sets.
🔗 Venue Info →
Saturday Jazz Spotlight · Sat | 9 PM
The Blue Room
Feature artist night highlighting modern and traditional KC jazz styles.
🔗 Event Details →
Crossroads DJ Night · Sat | 10 PM
Vye Cocktail Lounge
Fashion-forward crowd, DJ-driven night perfect before or after live music stops.
🔗 Vye Cocktail Lounge →
Lonnie’s Holiday Show · Fri & Sat | 7 PM
Lonnie’s Reno Club
Get into the holiday spirit with Old-school blues, big band swing, and a true KC nightlife institution.
🔗 Lonnie’s Reno Club →
Sunday Night Jazz Jam · Sun | 6 PM
The Blue Room
Early-evening jam that draws serious musicians and dedicated listeners.
🔗 Event Details →
🎁 Holiday Extras & Pop-Ups
Food Drive with Bishop Sullivan Center · Dec 25–31
Support the community with donations benefiting Bishop Sullivan Center.
🔗 Learn More →
Skellington’s Christmas · Dec 25
Frost
A spooky-fun Christmas cocktail night with themed drinks and décor.
🔗 Event Info →
Tinsel Tavern · Dec 25
KC Live! Block
Holiday bar takeover with festive cocktails and Christmas chaos.
🔗 Details →
Sippin’ Santa · Dec 25
J. Rieger & Co.
Tropical-meets-Christmas cocktail experience — reservations recommended.
🔗 Reserve Here →
KC Walking Mystery History Tour · Dec 27
Guided walking tour blending KC history with interactive mystery elements.
🔗 Sign Up →
Penguin March · Dec 27–28
Kansas City Zoo
Watch penguins parade through the zoo in a winter-only tradition.
🔗 Event Info →
Holiday Classic Movies: The Polar Express · Dec 27–28
Union Station
Seasonal big-screen screenings inside Union Station’s Grand Hall.
🔗 Movie Schedule →
Weekend Brunch · Dec 27–28
The Savoy at 21c
Elevated brunch classics in one of KC’s most beautiful dining rooms.
🔗 Brunch Info →
🥂 Last Call
“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” — Charles M. Schulz
Egg Nog, Reconsidered
Egg nog gets a bad rap — chalky, cloying, something you tolerate once a year because tradition insists. But done right, it’s not a novelty. It’s a cocktail.
The best versions lean boozy, cold, and restrained. Think fresh nutmeg, real cream, and a base spirit that actually shows up — aged rum, brandy, or bourbon pulling the drink back from dessert territory. When bars treat eggnog like a serious build instead of a punch bowl afterthought, it becomes rich without being heavy, festive without being sticky.
KC bartenders understand this. Holiday menus around town upgrade the formula: sharper spice, less sugar, better booze. If you see a house-made nog, it’s usually worth the order — especially late in the night, when the winds are sharp and the room feels a little slower.
Rule #1: if it comes from a carton, keep walking.
If it’s freshly mixed, properly chilled, and dusted with nutmeg like someone cared — that’s your huckleberry!
—Stay sharp, KC ☾