Secret KC

08/27/2026

Bird would've turned 106 on Saturday. Don't miss out on the party — the Folly's closing out a summer-long Charlie Parker tribute, Science City's gone full Sword and Sorcery, and there's a night market on the Rock Island Bridge.

This week's issue just dropped — Catch it; link in bio.

I'll see you at the bar, 🍸

08/21/2026

Two festivals worth your Friday and Saturday — the 47th Ethnic Enrichment Festival at Swope Park, where dozens of communities cook their own food on their own terms, and the Heart of America Hot Dog Festival benefiting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Four jazz spots also cooking. Steve Cardenas at Ted's Taproom Friday, home from a career that ran through Paul Motian's band. Sonsof Brazil Saturday in the same room. Kevin "Church" Johnson holding down in Lee's Summit. Amber Underwood in the
Josh Tatofi runs through Sunday; get caught up in it!

And a piece on why you keep talking yourself out of dessert; get a slice at SecretKC.com — link in bio.

08/14/2026

816 Day is Sunday!!
J. Rieger & Co. runs noon to eight — $8.16 cocktails! Strawberry Swing's vendor market in the Atrium, live music out in Electric Park. Zona Rosa opens the day with a free block party at Central Park, 11 to 1, mural painting and kids' activities and deals at the shops. Then Art in the Loop closes it out at City Market from 6 to 8 — four KC acts, free, presented with the KC Streetcar Authority.

Lonnie's Reno Club has Armstrong show Saturday at 7. Friday sold out. Saturday is the last seat on this run, and it will not be there long.

Wicked is in residence at Music Hall through August 30 — two shows Saturday, two Sunday. Lifted Spirits Distillery hosts Hot Girls Telling Lies Friday at 8, which involves comics, a panel, and Nerf guns. The Blue Room does Jazz @ Noon Thursday with Nneoma Lanea, no cover. The 1909 Club has Soul Fundamentals Thursday at 7. Chaz at the Raphael has the Jackie Myers Duo Thursday evening. PH Coffee runs Neighbor Night Friday, 6 to 10.
It's the weekend Baby!
Where are you spending 816 Day?

08/07/2026

Friday, the whole Crossroads turns into a gallery for First Fridays, Ne-Yo and Akon roll through Morton Amphitheater, and Café Corazón's teaching salsa before the crowds show up. Saturday, Logan Richardson brings a piece built around Charlie Parker to the Gem Theater, which is the kind of night that makes you understand why 18th & Vine wanted its 5 AM hours back too.

Whatever the city decides about the clock, don't wait on it. Go find your late night this week the old-fashioned way — on purpose.

P.S. Get those deviled eggs at 3rd Street Social; we ran two plates!!

— I’ll see you at the bar ☾

08/06/2026

Caught the J. Love Band there this week — soul, funk, R&B, story and nostalgia.
J.Love's got it all. 10/10 —let's do it again!

— I'll see you at the bar🍸

07/31/2026

Last night of July means Moon Market on the Rock Island Bridge — artist booths, vintage racks, pay-what-you-can produce, free to walk through. Sound Mandala closes its Unicorn Theatre run this weekend, a hundred speakers and a dark room, last chance to take the trip.

Saturday, Celebrate AMERI'KANA brings Making Movies and Rosie Flores to Concourse Park, free with reservation. Sunday, Young the Giant and Cold War Kids close out the weekend at Starlight on the Victory Garden Tour.

And if you missed Tuesday — Prime Social's National Tequila Day flight with Don Fulano was one of the better nights out this month. Full recap in the newsletter.

What's the move this weekend — the bridge, the festival, or Starlight Sunday?
https://www.secretkc.com/p/three-tequilas-one-very-good-tuesday

Discover KC's Tuesday vibe: Don Fulano tequila at Prime Social, Young the Giant welcome, and KC Restaurant Week's $125K impact for local housing. Pure KC magic!

07/30/2026

Tuesday night, three cocktails, three categories of Don Fulano Tequila and Prime Social Rooftop putting in that work around what each tequila does best instead of pouring one bottle six different ways and calling it a tasting.

Reposado in the Espresso Martini. Blanco in the Strawberry Fields Margarita. Añejo carrying the whole Jalisco Heat Old Fashioned. Small plates to keep everyone upright, new friends made at the bar, and a swag bag I didn't expected to care about this much.

If you missed it🤷🏿‍♂️ maybe they'll run it back!
-I'll see ya at the bar 🥃

07/24/2026

A four-story steam locomotive parked at Union Station this week — Big Boy No. 4014, the largest ever built, open for anyone who wanted to walk up and gawk. That's the mood heading into this weekend.

Kansas City Fringe Festival wraps its closing weekend across the metro. Thursday night, catch a silent jazz-fusion concert at the Kemper or the launch of Hailes' new residency at In The Lowest Ferns. Friday, Sarah McLachlan plays Starlight, Brass and Boujee brings big band jazz to the West Bottoms, and Prime Social runs a hands-on National Tequila Day cocktail class with Don Fulano —I'll see you there!!

What's the move this weekend — Fringe Fest, live music, or shaking your own margarita?