Welcome, {{secret_name | Secret Reader}}
It’s the weekend, KC! I finally got to experience XOHiFi — vinyl spinning, cocktails on point (the M5 is SUPERB), and that smoked salmon toast? Perfect. Add in Post Clarity tearing it up at Nighthawk (Go Bryson!!), and last weekend was one for the books.
First Fridays is up at the Crossroads, and now we roll straight into a packed September: Fiesta Hispana, Sutton Foster at the Kauffman, a Gatsby-style Downton Abbey finale party, and tailgate culture turning up a notch before the Chiefs’ home opener.
Grab a drink, grab a friend — let’s dive in.
—Jay, SecretKC Editor
🕯️ The Whisper — Thursday Highlights
📍 XO HiFi · Thu, Sept 11
UK Street Soul Selections — DJ Adam Y curates a night of grooves on the XO sound system. Cozy listening bar vibes with cocktails and vinyl.
🔗 XOHiFi
📍 Libations & Co. - The 1909 Club · Thu, Sept 11 | 5:30–7 + 7–10 PM
Feel the groove at Soul Fundamentals with Julian Goff – live soul, funk, and R&B every other Thursday night at The 1909 Club
🔗 Event Info
📍 Le Lounge · Thu, Sept 11 | 9 PM–Late
Little Fridays w/ DJ SirQueen
Slide into the weekend early with KC’s own DJ SirQueen spinning soulful beats and late-night grooves. I’ll see you there!
🔗 Event Info
🥃 House Favorites
The spots I’ll never stop talking about—whether you’re looking for a moody booth, vibes, or simply great cocktails —I've got you covered.
VOO Lounge
📍 Downtown KC
📸 @voo.lounge • 🔗 vookansascity.com
KC’s OG lounge. Noir-lit décor, soulful live acts, and cocktails to match.
The Monarch
📍 Country Club Plaza
📸 @themonarchbar • 🔗 themonarchbar.com
Cocktail artistry at its peak, tucked inside hotel-lobby luxury. I’ll see ya there!
Noir
📍 Downtown KC
📸 @noirkc • 🔗 noirkc.com
This is KC’s speakeasy soul—intimate, sophisticated, and always on point.
🎭 First Friday!!
Crossroads Arts District — Galleries, studios, and pop-ups open late with local art and music.
🔗 Event InfoM-AAA Culture Lab — Art of the Wish reception, 6–8 PM, with artists Marn Jensen & Andy Newcom.
🔗 Mid-America Arts AllianceBelger Arts — Live clay & glassblowing demos, plus exhibitions and a pastry pop-up.
🔗 Event InfoParlor KC — Live set with Parking Lot Jungle, outdoor stage.
🔗 The ParlorThe Savoy — First Friday oyster special: 50% off all day.
🔗 Savoy KC
Can’t-Miss Weekend Plans 🎯
📍 Sherri’s Executive Lounge · Fri, Sept 12 | 8–11 PM
Date Night Live — Featuring Master Trumpeter Chalis O’Neal. Smooth, intimate, and RSVP recommended.
🔗 Event Info📍 Lauren Ashley @VOO Lounge · Fri, Sept 12 | 8–11:30 PM
A voice that shines like the KC skyline — soulful, smooth, and unforgettable.
🔗 VOO LoungeSummer in the City (Oppenstein Park, Downtown) — Free pocket-park activation with live printmaking by Viva la Tinta, an art market featuring Anita Easterwood & Tokeya Richardson, and music by Amado Espinoza.
🔗 Event Info📍Downton Abbey Grand Finale Party (Screenland Armour, NKC) — Dress Gatsby-style, sip themed cocktails, and watch the finale hosted by Kansas City PBS.
🔗 Visit KC📍Jazz at Noon (American Jazz Museum) — Free midday set in 18th & Vine.
🔗 Visit KC📍East Side Street Art Discovery Tour · Fri, Sept 12 | 6 PM — Explore KC’s hidden murals with Just One Day Tours.
🔗 Tour Info📍Fiesta Hispana (Downtown) — Food, music, dancing, and cultural exhibits. Runs Sept 12–14.
🔗 Visit KC
Sunday Comfort
📍 Beer Kitchen — Chicken Fried Sundays
Hand-breaded cube steak, neckbone gravy, Yukon gold brunch potatoes, and eggs your way.
🔗 Beer Kitchen
Eagles @ Chiefs · Sun, Sept 14 | Arrowhead · 3:25 PM
It’s more than football — Arrowhead turns into the city’s biggest block party. Tailgate ON KC!!
Last Call
XO.HIFI
Hoshi Zora
M5
🍹 @XO.HiFi
Tucked into the neighborhood but worth seeking out, XOHiFi is equal parts cocktail bar and listening lounge. The curated vinyl collection is incredible — Dexter Gordon’s Go and Jim Hall’s Concerto sounded like new discoveries through their hi-fi system.
The cocktails? Standouts across the board, but the M5 stole the show — balanced, bold, and one I’ll be recommending. Pair it with the Smoked Salmon Toast small plate, a quiet knockout.
The space itself shifts effortlessly: a woman reading when I arrived, friends catching up by the end of the night, and me dancing into my Uber. Cozy, inviting, with a patio — the kind of spot that works just as well for a date night as it does for unwinding solo.
XOHiFi has officially earned a place on the SecretKC Cocktail Tour map.
Stay sharp.
— Secret KC ☾