Can you believe it? A new year? Yep, we’ve made it to 2022 folks. This month isn’t the craziest we’ve seen when it comes to events but between concerts, the arts, and opportunities to eat, there is plenty to do. Here are 30 of the absolute best things to do in & around Seattle this January.
Concerts
Early 2000’s indie rock, Seattle seems to love it. Maybe you’re a part of that bandwagon or maybe not. Either way, it’s a great concert to kick your 2022 off with, especially if you’ve yet to attend a concert since the pandemic.
When: January 15th
Where: 1426 1st Ave
Cost: $57+
Francophiles, Canadian pop artist Charlotte Cardin is coming to town this month. If you’re looking to hear new tunes in one of Seattle’s best venues this show might just be for you. Why not check it out?
When: January 23rd
Where: 925 E Pike St
Cost: $21+
Chillwave artist Washed Out aka Ernest Greene, is taking over The Showbox later this month. You’ll get to hear his departure from synthesizer-heavy sounds to a more band-driven sound of some of his newer work. Probably don’t want to miss this one.
When: January 25th
Where: 1426 1st Avenue
Cost: $28+
Arts
Visit a major piece of land art
Robert Morris’ Johnson Pit #30 was included in the National Register of Historic Places last year. That’s a huge deal as it’s a first for a contemporary land art piece. So you might as well give it a visit this month and show it some love. Who knows, it might just become your new favorite piece of art.
Where: 21610 37th Place S, SeaTac, WA
Da Vinci – Inventions at MOHAI
Chances are that most of us know all about Da Vinci’s crazy creations. However, it’s just as likely that you’ve never seen those inventions brought to life in true scale. Grande Experiences has created an exhibit that will offer you a look at the creativity of the ultimate Renaissance man.
When: Until January 3rd
Where: 860 Terry Ave N
Cost: $17-$22
This unique show highlights the beauty of natural stones. You’ll be able to see 30 stones of various shapes and sizes at the Pacific Bonsai Museum. The stones were collected in 6 states including CA, ND, NM, SD, OR, and WA. It sounds niche but it’s sure to be one of the more unique shows you’ll see this year.
When: Until January 9th
Where: 2515 S 336th Street, Federal Way, WA
Cost: Free
Get in the holiday spirit with a show full of classic beauty and flirtatious artistry. Expect an intimate theatre turned into a whimsical winter chalet. It’s an unforgettable holiday experience paired with food, wine, and spirit menus carefully crafted with local market-fresh winter ingredients.
When: Until January 9th
Where: Can Can, 94 Pike St
Cost: $100+
Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Art
Love the Frye? Well, their collection is growing! You can check out 7 recent artworks by Juventino Aranda, Rokni Haerizadeh, Rose Nestler, Mary Ann Peters, Cauleen Smith, Anthony White, and Ko Kirk Yamahira. All of these works were acquired by the museum in 2019 and are being shown together now.
When: Until January 11th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
Duane Linklater: mymothersside
Linklater works with a range of mediums to address the contradictions of contemporary Indigenous life both within and beyond settler systems of knowledge, representation, and value. This exhibition brings together a range of the artists’ work including sculptures, video works, and digital prints on linen from the last decade.
When: Until January 16th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
Paper Dialogues: The Dragon and Our Stories
This unique exhibition at the National Nordic Museum is an artistic collaboration between Bit Vejle and Xiaoguang Qiao. The two explore the papercutting traditions of both Danish and Chinese cultures creating a truly unique exhibit. It’s only on through January so be sure to check it out while you can.
When: Until January 31st
Where: 2655 NW Market St
Cost: $20
Imogen Cunningham: A Retrospective
This is the first major US retrospective of PNW-raised photographer Imogen Cunningham’s work. You’ll see “portraits of artists, musicians, and Hollywood stars; elegant flower and plant studies; poignant street pictures; and groundbreaking nudes”. It’s sure to be a beautiful show.
When: Until February 6th
Where: 1300 First Ave
Cost: $32.99
Diana Al-Hadid: Archive of Longings
Al-Hadid’s work explores the interplay between the female body and the European art canon. The exhibition is showing sculptural works ranging from 2010-2021. If you’re looking to see new sculptural works this is for you!
When: Until February 6th
Where: 15th Ave NE and NE 41st St
Cost: Free
Boren Banner Series: Sadie Wechsler
This piece is outside, it’s free to visit and you can do so at pretty much any time of day. Plus Wechsler’s new piece explores the history of Seattle’s own First Hill. The artist consulted the Burke Museum and members of the Duwamish Tribe in order to create a photograph that represents the ecological history of the area.
When: Until April 17th
Where: 704 Terry Ave
Cost: Free
BAM Biennial 2021: Architecture & Urban Design
Explore BAM’s juried exhibition which focuses on the work of established and emerging Northwest artists, craftspeople, and designers, with an emphasis on new work. This year’s biennial focuses on specific fields and areas of studies within the realm of art, craft, and design.
When: November Until April 24th
Where: 510 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA
Cost: $15
Culture
The Breakfast Club – New Years Day
Head to monkey loft to enjoy an all-day party welcoming the new year. From 4 am to 4 pm you’ll be able to enjoy 3 stages and 12 hours of nonstop music. If you want to enjoy a day party instead of a late all-night one on the 31st, this might just be your best bet.
When: January 1st
Where: 2915 First Ave S
Cost: $30 – $50
Spacy: International Disco City Pop + More
Looking for a night of chill, international, city vibes at Timbre Room? You can listen to a diverse range of music from resident DJs Retina Burn and Michino. Expect tunes that everyone can dance to.
When: January 2nd
Where: 1809 Minor Ave
Cost: $7-$10
Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop
If you’ve ever wanted to see behind-the-scenes images of your favorite hip-hop artists, this exhibit is for you. MoPOP’s newest exhibit, Contact High allows visitors to see over 170 images of hip hop’s most influential artists like Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Tupac, and more. See four decades of photography, from the late 70s to today, documenting a revolution across different aspects of life.
When: Tuesday-Thursday 10 am–5 pm
Where: 325 Fifth Ave N
Cost: $30 – $32.50
Each first Saturday Kremwerk puts on SIN, a fetish, EBM, and industrial night. You can expect fetish performances, drinks, and dancing. Additionally, you can see features by Seattle Shibari and professional photography by Jason Renek. If you’re looking for something new, this might just be worth checking out.
When: First Saturday of each month
Where: 1809 Minor Ave #10
Cost: $15
Each week on Tuesday you can attend a drag happy hour at Chop Suey. You’ll be able to watch drag icon Jane Don’t and three of Seattle’s other premiere drag beauties do their thing. It’s sure to be the most fun you’ve had at a happy hour in a while.
When: Tuesdays
Where: 1325 E Madison St
Cost: Varies
Let the holiday magic begin! The Woodland Park Zoo is lighting up with an immersive, interactive, and larger-than-life light experience this holiday season. You’ll get to explore bugs, prehistoric life, jungle creatures, and a massive 200-foot long dragon. It’s well worth checking out if you want to deviate from traditional Christmas lights.
When: Until January 30th
Where: 5500 Phinney Ave N
Cost: $25.95 – $30.95
The Awesome Exhibition features 38 different models made from more than two million LEGO bricks, taking over 4,800 hours to build aka 201 days. If you think you’re a skilled LEGo builder just wait until you see models like a 24.5 foot tall NASA SLS Rocket and the first life-sized LEGO Harley Davidson.
When: Until January 16th
Where: 305 Harrison St
Cost: $20 per person
At Home
A new month means new Netflix additions. Ready to watch an old fave or a new release? Netflix has you covered on both fronts. So plan ahead, see what’s coming and get ready for a great month of streaming.
Where: Click above to see the new additions
Cafe Nordo’s Room Service brings the same level of experience you get at the cafe to your home in the form of a cinematic mystery-in-a-box. So far Nordo’s Room Service has created three different boxes each with a unique goal and theme. They include “Do Not Disturb” in which you must unlock a spectral curse; “Witching Hour” in which you must cast a spell to solve a riddle and decipher secret codes; and the latest, “The Interrogation of Alice” in which you must solve the future crimes of Alice.
Where: At home
Cost: $126-$162
Food & Drink
Treat yourself to a bowl of pasta
Sometimes we’re all in the mood for a bowl of pasta. While relatively easy to make at home, nothing beats a perfectly cooked and crafted bowl from one of Seattle’s amazing Italian restaurants. We even made a list of some of the best spots to check out.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Fall is here, why not treat yourself to a delicious bowl of pho? Everyone loves this flavourful Vietnamese dish and luckily for all of us, there are tons of places in Seattle to grab a bowl. Don’t worry about searching though because we compiled a list of the best.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Misc
Every Friday you can join Punk Rock Goddess, Wendy Colton to move your body. If one of your new year’s resolutions involves fitness or heading to the gym, maybe this is a good way to start. Definitely one of the more fun and unique options you can check out.
When: January 7th
Where: 1510 11th Ave
Cost: $13
What’s a more PNW date than the great outdoors? Skiing is always fun at Washington’s assortment of slopes and resorts. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned pro, a day spent skiing with your SO is a great break from the city.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Check out a roller rink
When was the last time you went rollerblading? You probably can’t remember and that’s okay. Why not try something new this year and give the wheeled sport a go? Can’t hurt right? Well maybe a little bit after your first few falls.
Where: Click above to see our picks
Want to show your crush just how many tricks you know on the ice? Well luckily, Seattle and its surrounding areas have a few ice rinks for you to check out. Whether you’re looking for a simple open skate or to take lessons like figure skating or hockey, these ice rinks have you covered.
Where: Click above to see our picks
During this exhibit, guests will be able to explore the “Hockey Science Lab,” where you can test your hockey knowledge through hands-on interactive activities on a scaled-down replica rink and test things like reaction time, speed, balance, coordination, and power all of which are crucial to the game of hockey. Additionally, you can explore a hockey locker room full of the game’s biggest stars.
When: Until February 27th, 2022
Where: 200 2nd Ave N
Cost: $24.95
Whether you’re looking to have a relaxing month, a month full of new experiences or a month of following resolutions, we hope you have a great one. We’ll catch you back here in February.
