The winter holidays have largely come and gone. And what’s left is a whole lot of laying low and staying in from the cold. Yet, the chilliest season of the year still brings a bevvy of opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Or at least the opportunity to shuttle from your cozy living room to another indoor space that’s a little more festive. Make the first month of 2018 one to remember with this collection of events near AMLI apartments across the country.
Atlanta
Jan. 9: Museum Free Day
Families can enjoy the Children’s Museum of Atlanta for free on this day as part of Target Free Second Tuesday. Guests should register online for one of the two sessions offered.
Jan. 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March and Rally
Atlanta’s march and rally for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day assembles at 1:15pm at Peachtree St. and Baker St. The march steps off at 1:45pm.
Jan. 20: Atlanta Winter Wine Festival
Choose from one of two sessions occurring from noon-4pm and 6-10pm to attend the Atlanta Winter Wine Festival at City Winery. Attendees can sip from over 50 different wines, beers, and ciders and enjoy live music and entertainment provided by a DJ. No children are allowed at this ages 21 and up event and designated driver tickets are not sold.
Jan. 20-21: Callanwolde Arts Festival
This two-day arts festival features artists of all disciplines, including painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, and more showing off their wares. Artist demonstrations and performances will be available to attend, live acoustic music will be played, and food trucks offering healthy options will provide eats and drinks.
Austin
Jan. 1-Jan. 8: Free Week
Hundreds of musicians and bands invade local venues to perform all week long as part of Free Week, a city-wide music festival celebrating Austin’s wide berth of talent and kicking off 2018 with a slew of free concerts.
Jan. 15: Martin Luther King March and Festival
Austin’s MLK celebration begins 9am with a brief gathering at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus, continues on to the south steps of the State Capitol building, and then to Huston-Tillotson University for a festival and food drive benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank.
Jan. 16: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Attend a lecture titled “Cosmic Collisions” by beloved celebrity scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson in Dell Hall at the Long Center. The lecture will go over what would occur in the event that an asteroid or comet hit the Earth, the mechanics behind such an impact, and what preparations scientists are making.
Chicago
Jan. 7: Maxwell Street Market
After two weeks in fallow, Maxwell Street Market returns for the first market of the new year. Shop in a flea market-style atmosphere with an equally vibrant selection of vendors and goods to choose from.
Jan. 12-14: Cubs Convention
The 33rd annual Cubs Convention comes to the Sheraton Grand Chicago for three days of chock-full of player meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, autograph signings, and guest panels featuring Cubs’ staff, managements, and athletes.
Jan. 20: Polar Plunge
The Chicago Polar Bear Club hosts the city’s official Polar Plunge, which takes place noon at the iconic Oak Street Beach. The group has raised over 00,000 for the families they support since the event’s inception. All donations collected are given away.
Jan. 25: First Bites Bash
Kick off Chicago Restaurant Week with this official event in Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom. Enjoy tasting portions from 60 Chicago’s restaurants while celebrating the city’s world-class dining scene. The event is hosted by Boka’s Lee Wolen and a portion of proceeds go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Dallas
Jan. 11: Second Thursdays with a Twist
Every second Thursday of the month, the Dallas Museum of Art holds specially-themed evenings from 5-9pm. This month’s theme is “Ice Ice Baby” and focuses on everything from the ’90s, from floppy disks to Hammer pants.
Jan. 13, 20, & 27: Dallas Farmers Market Cooking Classes
The Dallas Farmers Market offers cooking classes hosted by area chefs from local restaurants throughout the month of January. This month features Stan Rodrigues of 60 Vines, Taylor Kearney of Dish, and Hugh Stewart of Whiskey Cake.
Jan. 14: Mochitsuki New Year’s Celebration
The calendrical new year might be over in time for this celebration, but there’s still time to celebrate the Japanese Year of the Dog. Experience and learn about the traditional Japanese New Year and it’s customs, food, music, and rich heritage.
Jan. 27: Travel to the Tropics Family Festival
Families are invited to learn more about the habits and habitats of butterflies and the countries they come from, as well as participate in crafts and enjoy encounters with the colorful winged insects.
Denver
Jan. 4: National Western Stock Show Parade
The National Western Stock Show returns for another nearly month-long bill of events and kicks off with this parade through downtown Denver. The march begins at noon at Union Station and proceeds for 15 blocks down 17th Street. The parade will be led by Bronco’s mascot Thunder and will feature longhorn cattle, horses, and traditional covered wagons.
Jan. 10-14: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
Watch one of the premiere snowboarding and skiing events in the United States at Snowmass. Winter athletes compete in various events to be named to the U.S. Olympic team.
Jan. 1-15: Her Paris: Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism
It’s your last chance to see this exhibition featuring work by female painters and artists from the years 1850-1900, one of the most tumultuous times in culture and society in the Western world. Over 80 paintings are showcased from 37 women artists from the U.S. and Europe who emigrated to Paris to be at the center of the city’s radiant art scene.
Houston
Jan. 5-7: Houston Symphony Fantasia performance
Catch the Houston Symphony playing the soundtrack to one of Disney’s most iconic films. The performance includes selections from the Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 films projected onto a movie screen while the orchestra plays the accompanying live score.
Jan. 7: Chimney Rock Market
Find all sorts of goods, products, services, and foods available from local Texas farmers, artisans, and crafts people at this outdoor market specializing in unique and small-batch items.
Jan 24-28: Houston Auto Show
Swing by what’s billed as the largest auto show in the South. Held at the NRG Center, the show promises a show floor of a whopping 700,000 square feet packed with the latest and greatest cars from the world’s premiere automotive brands.
Jan. 26-28: Felines, Football, and Fun
The Jimmy Burke Activity Center in Deer Park hosts this feline-focused event with opportunities to meet nearly 50 different kinds of cats, adopt your own pet on-site, enroll in the cat costume contest, and more.
Seattle
Jan. 15: Free State Parks Day
In observation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday all of Washington’s more than 100 state parks are free to enter. National parks also have free admission in recognition of the holiday.
Jan. 19-21 & Jan. 26 & 27: Winter Chamber Music Festival
Seattle Chamber Music Society holds this five-concert series featuring accomplished chamber musicians playing a variety of compositions at at Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall. Prior to each concert is a free recital show for those looking to dip their toes in the water before committing to a full program. Music played ranges from Mozart to Robert Schumann to Richard Strauss.
Jan. 25-Feb. 10: Children’s Film Festival Seattle
For the 13th year running, the Northwest Film Forum has scoured the globe for the children’s films and shorts screened at this annual festival that also includes lives performances and hands-on workshops.
Jan. 26 & 27: Strange Brewfest
More than 30 breweries gather to share their oddest, strangest beers at the American Legion Hall in Port Townsend. Over 60 taps will be available for sampling and a roster of local bands will provide live music.
Southern California
Jan. 6: Artists Village Art Walk
Downtown Santa Ana art galleries open their doors for this recurring event happening on the first Saturday of the month in tandem with local theaters, studios, artists, musicians, and performers. More than 150 institutions located in the historic downtown area participate.
Jan. 7-12: Pasadena Cheeseburger Week
Forty Pasadena restaurants give thanks to local inventor of the cheeseburger Lionel Sternberger, who changed the world of fast-food dining at his Pasadena burger stand Rite-Stop in 1924 with a single beef patty and slice of cheese. These restaurants offer various deals on signature and specially-made cheeseburgers for an entire week.
Jan. 27: Snow Day
The City of Fullerton hauls in literal tons of snow into Brea Dam Park for a lucky 900 participants to enjoy. Attendees will be able to throw snow balls, sled down a 75-foot run, build snowmen, and enjoy crafts and games.
Jan. 28: Museums Free-For-All
Dozens of museums throughout the SoCal area forgo all admission charges and allow local residents and visitors to peruse their exhibits for free. Participating museums include The Broad, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Getty Center, and a whole lot more.
South Florida
Jan. 6 & 7: Las Olas Art Fair, Part 1
Attend the first Las Olas Art Fair of the year! Attendees can talk with the artists and creators who have their work on display. Best of all, these one-of-a-kind pieces of art are available at affordable prices. Over 150 artists have their work on display at the 30th annual rendition of this fair.
Jan. 19-21: Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society Show
The 60th annual Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society Show takes place at the War Memorial Auditorium and promises to wow guests with opportunities to see and purchase some of the finest orchid specimens available in the state. Orchid growers and international vendors display their plants and have supplies for sale, orchid raffles allow attendees a chance of taking a few plants home, and there will be American Orchid Society accredited judging.
Jan. 20: FLIPANY Walk/Run/Paddle
Choose from 5K, 10K, and paddleboarding events at Hollywood North Park Beach. FLIPANY (Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth) is an area non-profit that seeks to promote fitness and healthy eating among South Florida youth.
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