Rejuvenate in January

By Elizabeth Morse Read

January may indeed be the dead of winter, but there’s still plenty of lively activities and unique events to warm your heart and soothe your senses.

Explore the frosty outdoors, warm your hands on a mug of hot cider or cocoa, listen to music by the fireplace, or bring together family and friends for a bowl of hearty homemade soup on a cold, snowy day! And don’t forget that the days are slowly getting longer!

Bundle up and get walking!

Get outdoors and explore with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island! Go on Wednesday Bird Walks or Owl Prowls at locations across the state (asri.org). Explore the trails, wildlife and scenery of the Mattapoisett River Reserve (leashed dogs welcome!) – show-shoe, bird-watch, cross-country ski or hike (savebuzzardsbat.org/discover). Get in touch with nature at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown! Go on a free, guided Bird Walk or gather round for “Cider and a Fireside Chat: Herbalism and Winter Wellness” on January 15 (normanbirdsanctuary.org). Stay healthy this winter! “Walk with a Doc” on Saturday mornings at the Dartmouth Mall, part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative – masks required (nbewell). “Discover Buzzards Bay” offers an online portal with information about more than 100 public places to walk, bird-watch, kayak/canoe, fish, snowshoe or cross-country ski (savebuzzardsbay. org/discover). You can find other outdoor recreation spots along the South Coast at thetrustees.org and massaudubon. org, asri.org, riparks.com, or stateparks. com/rhode_island.

Enjoy live music indoors!

Stomp your feet at Fall River’s Narrows Center for the Arts this month – enjoy Funky White Honkies January 1, Pearly Baker Band January 14, Chris Smither January 21, Neal and the Vipers January 28 (narrowscenter.com). Stay warm indoors at the Spire Center in Plymouth and enjoy the music of Say Darling on January 6, Louis Apollon January 13, John Smith January 20, and Lisa Bastoni January 27 (spirecenter. org). Head for the Zeiterion in downtown New Bedford to hear the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra perform “Rituals” on January 8, Get the Led Out January 20, or Mariza on January 22 (zeiterion. org). Don’t miss the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at The VETS in Providence on January 21-22 (riphil.org). Check out who’s on stage at Taunton’s District Center for the Arts! Enjoy John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band January 8, Aquanett January 22, LoVeSeXy January 29 (thedistrictcenterforarts.com).

The shows must go on

Enjoy Broadway show performances on the South Coast! Head for the Providence Performing Arts Center to see “Rent” January 14-16 and “Jesus Christ Superstar” January 25-30 (ppacri.org)! Rediscover the thrill of live theatre with the new season at Your Theatre in New Bedford! Enjoy “The Outsider” January 14-16, 21-23 (yourtheatre.org). Don’t miss Trinity Rep’s performances of “Tiny Beautiful Things” January 13-February 13 in Providence (trinityrep.com).

Try something completely different Don’t miss this year’s virtual Moby Dick Marathon, with readers from around the globe, on January 7-9, sponsored by the Whaling Museum in New Bedford! (whalingmuseum.org) Take a bite out of winter! Check out the menus during Providence’s Restaurant Week January 9-22 (goprovidence.com/rw). Start planning for springtime at the two workshops sponsored by Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol this month – “Meadow Making” on January 22 and “Basic Garden Design” January 29 (blithewold.org). Gear up! Head for the “360 Collective Outdoor Show” January 10-13 at the RI Convention Center (riconvention.com)!

Mark your calendar!

Plan ahead for these events in February! Take the kids to see Monster Jam on February 4-6 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence (dunkindonutscenter.com)! Relax and listen to the “English Folk Song Gala: The Music of Grainger, Holst and Vaughn Williams,” performed by the Tri-County Symphonic Band, on February 13 at Old Rochester Regional HS in Mattapoisett (tricountysymphonicband.org)! Celebrate American craft beers on February 5 at the Rhode Island Brewfest at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence (ribrewfest.com)!

Be prepared!

Many South Coast venues have successfully reopened, but Covid19 safety precautions still apply – whenever you’re indoors, wear a mask and keep your distance as much as possible, even if you’re fully vaccinated and boostered. Some venues may require proof of vaccination or Covid-19 test results. Always check the event/ attraction’s website for ticket pre-purchase information, last-minute cancellation or scheduling changes and their refund policy. And remember – if you don’t feel well that day, stay home! [sidebar} Fun on the ice and snow! You’re never too old to build a snowman or have a snowball fight! Get out the sleds and toboggans and put on those boots and mittens. It’s time to lace up your ice skates (or rent them) at indoor skating rinks in Fall River (Driscoll Arena 508-679-3274), New Bedford (Hetland Arena 508-999-9051), Taunton (Alexio Arena 508-824-4987) or Plymouth (Armstrong Arena 508-746-8825) (fmcicesports.com/rinks). Or enjoy ice skating (and bumper cars!) at The Providence Rink at the BankNewport City Center – twice the size of the Rockefeller Center rink in New York City (theprovidencerink.com). And for outdoor skating with a great view, try Gurney’s Ice Skating Rink in Newport (gurneysresorts.com).

IN JANUARY! Rejuvenate By Elizabeth Morse Read