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@Plate
Welcome, {{secret_name | Secret Reader}}
From the Bar
I finally made it to Plate—it’s been sitting on my list for a while. Friendly, sharp, a little chaotic in the best way—the staff all had different opinions on what to order, which somehow made it better. Nothing scripted, just people who actually care. I’d go back! From there, Verdigris. Another one I’d been meaning to check off, and was not disappointed! Low light, unique and fabulous drinks! I’d run that back.
I’m curious about the Paranormal circus this weekend—something slightly off-center feels right. And it looks…like you might not come out.
There’s a good rhythm in the city right now. Public art showing up across neighborhoods, rooms filling back in for live music, people actually going out again.
Tax day’s creeping in the background. Handle it—but don’t let it rush you out of a good night.
I’ll see you at the bar ☾
—Jay, SecretKC editor
🥃 The Can’t Miss List
Rooms that always understand the assignment.
The Lobby Bar of KC · Evening
Bar Stillwell
Grown Ass Bar Energy
Best place to begin and end adventures.
Cocktail-first lounge · Evening
The Mercury Room
Skyline cocktails.
Personal Favorites · Evening
The Monarch Bar
Serious cocktails, intentional energy.
A clean handoff between dinner and night.
Cardiologists: Try This Sugar Trick For Looser Pants Fast
For many people over 40, weight gain does not start because they suddenly eat more. It often begins when the body handles sugar differently after meals.
Cardiologists say repeated blood sugar spikes and crashes can push the body to store more energy as belly fat, even when daily habits stay mostly the same.
Read the report on the sugar pattern researchers are studying.
🍸 The Weekend
Blues & Funk Fridays · Fri Night
Live band running blues into funk with extended, danceable sets that build as the night goes on.
→ Uptown Lounge
Lori Tucker · Fri Night
Vocal-led jazz set inside a dinner club setting—Yes, Please!
→ Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille
The M80s · Sat 8PM
Live ‘80s cover band—high-energy setlist, big hooks, and a crowd that leans into it.
→ Knuckleheads
Gimme Gimme Disco · Sat Night
DJ-driven disco and throwback dance night—ABBA, Bee Gees, and full singalong energy.
→ Warehouse on Broadway
Paranormal Cirque Inferno · Weekend Evenings
Traveling circus blending acrobatics, horror themes, and theatrical effects under a big top setup.
→ Paranormal Cirque Inferno
¡Happy Hour! · Early Evening (Weekdays)
Tacos and drink specials in a casual setting—quick stop before shifting into the night.
→ Taco Naco KC
💃 Date Nights
Plate · Evening
Seasonal, ingredient-driven menu in a polished dining room
→ Plate
Verdigris · Night
Small, cocktail-focused bar with a curated feel.
→ Verdigris
Whiskey Dynamite — (Only a couple weeks left!!)
Short run, great immersive show — catch it while it’s still around.
→ Whiskey Dynamite
Craft Day @ Frost · Sun
Casual daytime activity with hands-on projects inside a bar setting.
→ https://www.drinkfrost.com/
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
Hare and Tortoise @ KC Starlight · Sat 11AM
Daytime theater production geared toward younger audiences—short, accessible, and story-driven.
→ https://www.kcstarlight.com/
Lilly and the Pirates @The Coterie · Thu
Family-focused stage production with music and adventure elements.
→ The Coterie
Yaya’s Alpaca Farm Tour · Daytime
Guided farm visits with alpaca interactions—slow-paced, outdoors, and hands-on.
→ Yayas alpaca farm
Crossroads Flea · Sun
Outdoor-style market with local vendors, vintage goods, and food stalls.
→ https://www.mildredskc.com/crossroadsflea
Last Call 🍸
The New York Sour@Verdigris
Got to check Verdigris off my list.
It’s done up by the same people behind the Mercury Room, but this feels like the grounded version—less skyline, more street level. Low light, tight bar, and a crowd that looks like they chose the place.
I started with the Oaxaca Old Fashioned—mezcal leaning, a little smoky, still clean. Then the New York Sour, I was in that state of mind. There’s something about a whiskey sour when it’s done properly—balanced, not too sweet, citrus sharp enough to wake it up, and that float on top if they care enough to do it right. It’s a classic for a reason.
The spot is great for people watching. Noticed pretty quickly—tattoos everywhere behind the bar. Not in a performative way, just part of it. I dig it. We got into a conversation with the couple behind us being nosy. That kind of place. Easy to talk, easy to sit back and just watch the room move around you.
I’d come back for the New York Sour alone!
Stay sharp, KC ☾