21 Awesome Things To Do in Southern California This Weekend

Learn how to curl, meditate at a sound bath or run a new year's race to kick off those 2019 resolutions. You can also head to an old school arcade expo, a Lego convention, a reptile show or the Oshogatsu Family Festival.

FRIDAY, JAN. 4; 7:30 p.m.
Mary Poppins Returns / Chicago / Into The Woods
Egyptian Theatre -- 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Watch the magical nanny sing and dance her way into the hearts of the next generation then stick around for musicals Chicago (2002) and Into the Woods (2014). There's a discussion after the first film with the man responsible for all three films, director Rob Marshall.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, JAN. 4 and FRIDAY, JAN. 11; 8 p.m.
Mars InSight - First Looks
Santa Monica College John Drescher Planetarium -- 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica
Check out the latest images and info from the InSight Mars Lander and its first attempts to study the deep interior of the Red Planet. Each program throughout the winter 2019 session is preceded by The Night Sky Show at 7 p.m., which shares news in astronomy and space exploration as well as a family-friendly "tour" of the constellations.
COST: $6 - $11; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, JAN. 4; 10:30 p.m.
Internet Explorer: A Comedy Game Show
UCB Sunset -- 5419 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood
Joe Kwaczala hosts this new interactive game show where audience members are quizzed on their knowledge of the web's weirdest corners. The show includes obscure video clips, games and a segment with special guests Rich Sommer (Mad Men), Marg Helgenberger (CSI) and Diedrich Bader (Veep).
COST: $7; MORE INFO

Jeff Tweedy plays a few intimate shows at Largo, supporting his latest solo release, 'Warm.' (Photo: Whitten Sabbatini)

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FRIDAY, JAN. 4, SUNDAY - MONDAY JAN. 6 - 7; 8:30 p.m.
Jeff Tweedy
Largo at the Coronet -- 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove
The singer-songwriter, best known as Wilco's frontman, plays several intimate gigs at the club. He released his latest album, Warm, in November.
COST: $50; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, JAN. 4; 7 - 9:30 p.m.
Reductress Presents HAHA... WOW!
The Virgil -- 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., East Hollywood
The feminist satire website presents its monthly comedy show, hosted by Rekha Shankar and Janie Stolan. Hear comedy with a dose of female empowerment by Joel Kim Booster and Caroline Goldfarb. This show is 21+.
COST: $8 - $10; MORE INFO

Through SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Here
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery -- 4800 Hollywood Blvd., East Hollywood
It's the last weekend to view the group show that examines the "shifting physical/geographical and conceptual/imagined boundaries (and boundlessness) in, and around, the metropolis of L.A. and how those barriers act to prevent people from interacting." The exhibition includes works by 16 L.A.-based artists, including Umar Rashid, Anna Sew Hoy, Fran Siegel, Henry Taylor and Mario Ybarra Jr.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

The musical 'Come From Away' holds a Spanish-captioned performance this Friday. (Photo: Matthew Murphy)

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FRIDAY, JAN. 4; 8 p.m.
Come From Away
Ahmanson Theatre -- 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
The production's first national tour stop in L.A. finishes its run on Sunday. But on Friday, the Center Theatre Group offers Spanish-language translations on open caption screens. (Audience members who want to view the captions should request to be seated in the special seating area when buying tickets with the promo code CFASL.) With a book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the show tells the story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them after the attacks on Sep. 11, 2001.
COST: $55; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5; 8:30 p.m.
Fred Armisen, Stand up for musicians but everyone is welcome
Largo at the Coronet -- 366 N. La Cienega, Beverly Grove
The comedian, actor, writer, producer and musician performs stand-up, music and sketches tailored to an audience of musicians. He's following along the same thematic lines of his Netflix special, Standup For Drummers, released last year.
COST: $30; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 - SUNDAY, JAN. 6
Reptile Super Show
Pomona Fairplex/Los Angeles County Fairgrounds -- 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona
If reptiles and amphibians are your jam, this event features animals for sale as well as supplies, cages and educational workshops. The show also promotes conservation through education and captive breeding. Parking for the show is at Gate 17. Leave your pets at home.
COST: $9 - $14; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 - SUNDAY, JAN. 6
Retro City Festival
Pomona Fairplex - Expo Hall 9 -- 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona
Forget Fortnite. This family-friendly festival celebrates the history of OG games and gaming systems. Experience classic arcade games, pinball, a console play area and an interactive museum. Gaming titles include: Asteroids (Atari); BurgerTime (Bally Midway); Mario Bros (Nintendo); Mortal Kombat (Midway); Star Trek Pinball (Stern); Q-Bert (Gottlieb) and dozens of others. if you think you have the chops, enter one of the weekend's many tournaments.
COST: $25 - $50 (children 10 and younger get in free accompanied by a paid adult); MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5; 1 p.m.
Golden Globe Foreign-language Symposium
Egyptian Theatre -- 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
American Cinematheque and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association host a roundtable discussion with the directors of the five Golden Globe-nominated films. Listen to panelists Alfonso Cuarón (Roma), Lukas Dhont (Girl), Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (Never Look Away), Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) and Nadine Labaki (Capernaum).
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5; 8 - 10 a.m.
Forest Bathing
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden -- 301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku, learn how to slow down and awaken the senses while taking in the garden's natural beauty. A certified guide leads a walk in which participants find a way to interact with the land at the Arboretum. Each session ends with a tea ceremony featuring tea made from plants foraged on site. The sessions take place on the first and third Saturday of the month.
COST: $25 - $35; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5; 7 - 10 p.m.
Monte Vista Projects Open Call
1206 Maple Avenue, 5th floor, #523, downtown L.A.
The artists' collective holds an opening reception for its first show of the New Year. The group exhibition features L.A. artists who answered the "open call" to submit up to three works for inclusion. The selected works will be on view through Jan. 28.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The Yoga Expo
Pasadena Convention Center -- 300 E. Green St., Pasadena
The day includes unlimited yoga, meditation and exercise classes as well as workshops, live music and access to a marketplace with tools, apparel and healthy foods.
COST: Passes start at $35; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, JAN. 5 - SUNDAY, JAN. 6
Bricks LA 2019
Pasadena Convention Center -- 300 E. Green St., Pasadena
Also at the convention center: Lego fans of all ages are invited to wander the 19,000 square feet of the convention center to check out fan-built models and creations. Shop vendors selling new and old Lego sets, parts, minifigures, accessories and jewelry.
COST: $5, children 5 and younger get in free; MORE INFO

Take a walking tour along Fairfax while listening to the history of Jews in L.A., and their migration westward from Boyle Heights to Fairfax. (Photo: Steven Damron/Flickr)

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SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 12 - 2:30 p.m.
Jewish LA: From Brooklyn Ave. to Fairfax Ave.
Canter's Restaurant, Bakery, Deli and Bar -- 419 North Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove
Take a walking tour along Fairfax while learning about the history of Jews in L.A., and their migration westward from Boyle Heights, starting in the 1930s. The tour starts at Canter's and focuses on other restaurants, shops and institutions that relocated, including Schwartz Bakery, Solomon's Bookstore and the Museum of the Holocaust. Space on the tour is limited.
COST: $20; children 13 and younger are free with RSVP; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
India Festival of Kites
Bowers Museum -- 2002 North Main St., Santa Ana
The holiday marks the changes of seasons on the Indian calendar, and the museum presents a day of artmaking, face painting, dance and music. Listen to live music by SADUBAS, aka The Sadhus of Bass, a duo that merges classical Indian rhythms with '70s Bollywood vibes.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
2019 Oshogatsu Family Festival
Japanese American National Museum -- 100 North Central Ave., downtown L.A.
Usher in the "Year of the Boar" with a day of family-friendly activities at JANM, including origami-making, a scavenger hunt, lucky soba noodle sampling, Osechi-Ryori tasting, and mochi-making and taiko drumming. The museum offers free admission for exhibitions including Kaiju vs Heroes: Mark Nagata's Journey through the World of Japanese Toys (through March 24, 2019) and Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit (through April 28, 2019).
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 3 - 10 p.m.
New Year's Race
Grand Park -- 200 N. Spring St., downtown L.A.
If you've broken that new year resolution to get in shape, this is a good way to get back on the fitness train. Sign up for a 5K run and a post-race HIIT workout from Basecamp Fitness. Or, if you're already in beast mode, sign up for the 9.3 mile challenge -- the 5K followed by a 10K race.
COST: $50 - $95; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 9 - 9:50 a.m.
Curling Pop Up
The Rink in Downtown Burbank -- 150 N. 3rd St., Burbank
Learn how to curl, that funky Olympic sport where people hurls 42-pound granite stones down a 150-foot sheet of ice. Hollywood Curling's pop-up welcomes those who want to drop in for a few minutes and learn the basics or those who want more in-depth instruction. Wear comfortable (and warm) clothing and flat-soled shoes (runners or sneakers recommended). Thin-soled shoes (like Toms and Vans) are not recommended.
COST: $20; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, JAN. 6; 1 p.m.
Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day)
Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts -- 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
Many countries and cultures around the world celebrate the Day of the Kings, a day that commemorates the day Melchor, Gaspar and Balthasar followed a star to baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The festivities on the plaza include live music, a community procession, storytelling and tasty Rosca de Reyes (Kings' Cake).
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

How are you spending your weekend? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.

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