January 2019 events calendar for Los Angeles
Plan your month with our January 2019 events calendar of the best activities, including free things to do, winter events and our favorite concerts
With the holidays behind us, January normally sparks images of a long plod through gray skies and chilly temperatures. It's winter, after all; you can even still go ice skating. But let's be honest, the weather is still pretty perfect, even with a slight uptick in precipitation. In fact, take advantage of those clear, post-rain days with one of the best hikes in L.A. Or head to one of the city's best beaches while it's still deserted for the season. Start the year off right with the city's best activities and things to do in our January events calendar.
RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2018 and 2019
Testament of the Spirit + The Feminine Sublime + Homegrown
The PMCA rolls out a trio of new exhibition: Eduardo Carrillo’s Mexican-inspired magical realist paintings, a collection of large-scale feminist works and Ana Serrano’s domestic scenes of brightly colored cardboard and paper.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
Rose Bowl Flea Market
Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, hand-crafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium: for every eye-catching artwork, there's a ratty $5 T-shirt, and for each elegant craft there's a competing "as seen on TV" demo. But you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot. There are plenty of duds, to be sure, but come out early enough and you may go home with that perfect purchase. This destination flea market attracts bargain hunters, collectors, and antique aficionados from all over the county, so the organizers have instituted an extensive tiered entry/admission system, allowing professional and dedicated shoppers early access at a premium.
Melrose Trading Post
If Melrose Ave is LA’s sceney-est street, then the Melrose Trading Post is the epicenter of that scene. Every Sunday, hundreds of stylish Angelenos head over to Fairfax High School for the beloved Melrose Trading Post ($3 entry, free parking). Smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles, it's much more than a mere flea market: live music, a food court, and expansive grounds bring people out to wile away the day, chat with old friends, and yes, be seen. Fortunately, the Trading Post is also a world-class flea market. With the right balance of new and old, expensive and affordable , the many vendors hustling artwork, succulents, and vintage jackets fill a startlingly expansive space in an urban epicenter.  Â
Cub Scout
Given that Silver Lake is where the bears like to play, is it any wonder that the cubs have taken such a shine to the neighborhood as well? Cub Scout, presented by popular nightlife personalities DJ Chris Bowen and DJ Victor Rodriguez, is a monthly den of sexy fun with cheap drinks and a furry crowd on the first Friday of every month. But don’t be misled: This cruisy, no-frills party attracts boys from all parts of town and every stripe of the rainbow. Bears, cubs, otters, wolves and pups are all welcome and sure to find something—or someone—to cozy up to at this all out man-fest.
Elton John
For twice the length of Justin Bieber's entire life, Sir Elton John has answered to the title of Pop King. Thanks to his musical diversity and relevance, both artistic and cultural (need we mention the fact that he made Lady Gaga the godmither of his son?), Elton John has solidly maintained his royalty. In more recent years, we reveled in the unexpected delights of his recent collaboration album with Leon Russell and 2013's reflective solo release, The Diving Board, but we're sure glad to see Sir Elton play a big ol' greatest-hits show: Swoon along to "Tiny Dancer," make juvenile hand gestures to "Crocodile Rock" and smile meaningfully at your folks during "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." It might be one of your last in-concert opportunities to see Elton John do what he's done best for half a century. Don't miss it.
King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh
In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed an ancient Egyptian discovery that we’re still talking about and learning from 100 years later. To celebrate the upcoming centennial of the discovery, this traveling exhibition of artifacts from King Tut’s tomb makes its debut in Los Angeles. The exhibit marks more than triple the number of items that have ever been displayed outside of Egypt. Though you won’t see the iconic death mask or gilded coffins, the 3,300-year-old statues and pieces of jewelry are astounding to behold. Though King Tut’s otherworldy possessions have come to L.A. three times previously in the last half-century, this will in all likelihood be their final visit. The Grand Egyptian Museum, which will permanently house all of the 5,000-plus objects discovered, is slated to open in 2019.
Rick Bartow: Things You Know but Cannot Explain
The Autry presents the first retrospective of the late Native American artist’s highly personal and haunting large-scale paintings of animal and human forms.
Elton John
For twice the length of Justin Bieber's entire life, Sir Elton John has answered to the title of Pop King. Thanks to his musical diversity and relevance, both artistic and cultural (need we mention the fact that he made Lady Gaga the godmither of his son?), Elton John has solidly maintained his royalty. In more recent years, we reveled in the unexpected delights of his recent collaboration album with Leon Russell and 2013's reflective solo release, The Diving Board, but we're sure glad to see Sir Elton play a big ol' greatest-hits show: Swoon along to "Tiny Dancer," make juvenile hand gestures to "Crocodile Rock" and smile meaningfully at your folks during "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." It might be one of your last in-concert opportunities to see Elton John do what he's done best for half a century. Don't miss it.
King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh
In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed an ancient Egyptian discovery that we’re still talking about and learning from 100 years later. To celebrate the upcoming centennial of the discovery, this traveling exhibition of artifacts from King Tut’s tomb makes its debut in Los Angeles. The exhibit marks more than triple the number of items that have ever been displayed outside of Egypt. Though you won’t see the iconic death mask or gilded coffins, the 3,300-year-old statues and pieces of jewelry are astounding to behold. Though King Tut’s otherworldy possessions have come to L.A. three times previously in the last half-century, this will in all likelihood be their final visit. The Grand Egyptian Museum, which will permanently house all of the 5,000-plus objects discovered, is slated to open in 2019.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
