January 1 – January 11: Ice skating at Whole Foods on Lamar. Come enjoy Austin’s only outdoor skating rink. A $10 ticket includes a skate rental and 50 minutes of skating. Open from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
January 3: Super Happy Fun Monkey Bash at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz (downtown). View an entertaining 90-minute compilation of the weirdest clips from Japanese television. Show at 10:25 p.m.
January 4: Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs at Frank Erwin Center. This 60-piece orchestra plays rock music with a classical influence. Shows at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
January 7: High Noon Talks at the Harry Ransom Center. From noon to 1 p.m., the State Historian of Texas, Dr. Frank de la Teja, will be discussing the recreational activities among Tejanos in early San Antonio. The talk is free and will be held in the second floor lobby.
January 9 and 10: World-renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs music by three Russian composers, Mussorgsky, Dvorák and Rachmaninoff, with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. The Long Center, 8 p.m.
January 9 and 10: Comedienne and six-time Emmy winner Carol Burnett visits The Paramount Theatre with an interactive show, so be sure to bring questions for her. Show at 8 p.m.
January 9 - 11: 11th Annual Austin Spring Home and Garden Show. Come explore the largest showcase of home and garden products and services in the city! It will be at The Austin Convention Center from Friday through Sunday.
January 11: DRUMline Live, a stunning display of musical performers from America’s top historically black colleges and universities, is at the The Long Center at 8 p.m.
January 14 and 15: Jesus Christ Superstar, the famous musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is performed at The Long Center at 8 p.m.
January 20: Texas Presidential Inaugural Celebration/Gala . Hosted by the Texas Democrats, this event at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin will celebrate the historical inauguration of Barack Obama and feature dinner, dancing, live music, and a few speeches. Over 1,000 people are expected to attend. Event from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.
January 22: Artist Talk at the Austin Museum of Art. Sculptor Damian Priour discusses his career and current exhibit at the AMOA, the Texas Chair Project. He will be interviewed by the AMOA’s executive director/chief curator.
January 22: Rachel Resnick, author of the memoir Love Junkie, which is all about her struggle with love, speaks at BookPeople at 7 p.m.
January 24: John Legend, Grammy-winning R&B artist, performs at Bass Concert Hall with singer/songwriter/rapper Estelle. Show at 8:30 p.m.
January 24: The Longhorn men’s basketball team plays in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M. The game is at the Frank Erwin Center at 7 p.m.
January 24 – 30: The seventh annual Jewish Film Festival. The festival aims to explore Jewish culture and issues that affect Jewish people and the world community. The films will be screened at the Regal Arbor Hills Theater in the Arboretum. View the website for the schedule.
January 27: David Sheff and his son Nic Sheff have both written books about Nic’s battle with methamphetamine addiction and how their family coped. Come see the authors of A Beautiful Boy (David) and Tweak (Nic) speak at BookPeople at 7 p.m.
January 31: Canadian indie rock collective Broken Social Scene, which performs experimental music with horns and strings, will be at the Bass Concert Hall. Show at 8 p.m.
January 31: Carnaval Brasileiro. This annual event is one of the largest Brazilian carnivals outside of Brazil itself. For 32 years it has featured extravagant and colorful costumes, samba music, and endless dancing. If you don't mind crowds, you're guaranteed to have fun. It is at the Palmer Events Center. Tickets are $35 and can be bought online or in several local retail stores; see the website for more information.