Beat the winter blahs with 31 days of fun in January

January is tough to love.

The holidays are over (and the bills come due).

The weather makes it feel at least a week longer than most months — at least February has the decency to last only 28 days (most years, anyway).

It’s tough to find the right weather to play golf or tennis or enjoy any time out of doors. And there’s nary a town festival or county fair.

But that doesn’t mean there is absolutely nothing going on in the area in January.

What follows is a calendar of suggestions for each day this month.

It’s not meant to be a comprehensive listing (for that, you can go to events.kansascity.com). It’s just a way to help you get your year started off right.

And if that’s not enough, remember that spring is only 81 days away.

Jan. 1

“Xtreme Bugs” (through April 12): You could spend the first day of the year watching football on television. Or you could go see real live giant fake bugs up close and personal. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Union Station, 30 W. Pershing. $7.50-$12.50; unionstation.org, 816-460-2020

2

“Murder on the Ornament Express” (through Jan. 3): Enjoy dinner between acts of Mystery Train Theater’s murder mystery. 7:30 p.m., Tiffany Ballroom, 903 Harrison. $64; kcmysterytrain.com, 816-813-9654

3

Jeff Richards (appears Jan. 2-3): “Saturday Night Live” alum was known for playing “Drunk Girl” on that show. 7:45 and 9:45 p.m., Stanford’s Comedy Club, 7328 W. 119th, Overland Park. $12-$35; stanfordscomedyclub.com, 913-400-7500

4

Alex Thomas (appears Jan. 2-4): This Los Angeles comedian broke into show business as a teenager, when he was a dancer on the TV show “Soul Train.” 7 p.m., Kansas City Improv, 7260 N.W. 87th. $17-$22; improvkc.com, 816-759-5233

5

Steamboat Arabia Museum: What better way to spend a cold Monday afternoon? 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 400 Grand. $5.50-$14.50; 1856.com, 816-471-1856

6

UMKC men’s basketball: The Kangaroos will try to bounce South Carolina-Upstate. 7:05 p.m., Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th. $5-$25; umkckangaroos.com, 816-235-2849

7

“The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky” (through Jan. 11): Be sure to see this exhibition, as well as “Across the Indian Country: Photographs by Alexander Gardner, 1867-68,” before it closes. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak. $6-$12; nelson-atkins.org, 816-751-1278

8

National World War I Museum: You can check out the temporary exhibit, “War & Art. Destruction and Protection of Italian Cultural Heritage During World War I,” along with much more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th. $8-$14; theworldwar.org, 816-888-8100

9

Kansas City Symphony (Jan. 9-11): Pianist Yefim Bronfman will join the Symphony in a performance called “The Rite of Spring, plus Bronfman Plays Brahms.” 8 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. $28-$76; kcsymphony.org, 816-471-0400

10

Missouri Comets: This indoor soccer team, 8-0 heading into a Dec. 27 match, will play the Tulsa Revolution. 7 p.m., Independence Events Center, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway, Independence. $15-$45; cometsindoorsoccer.com, 855-452-4625

11

Vinson Cole and Friends: The tenor, a Kansas City native, will perform opera classics with special accompaniment. 4 p.m., Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th. $20-$125; follytheater.org, 816-474-4444

12

“Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection” (through Feb. 22): The former secretary of state wore a variety of jewelry to communicate messages or her mood. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24, Independence. $3-$8; trumanlibrary.org, 816-268-8200

13

“Shear Madness” (through Jan. 18): For all you Richard Karn fans out there, he stars in this murder mystery in which the audience interrogates suspects and helps find the killer. 6 p.m., New Theatre Restaurant, 9229 Foster, Overland Park. $41-$54; newtheatre.com, 913-649-7469

14

Rebelution: This California band, which mixes rock, reggae and more, will be joined by Katchafire. 8 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachussetts, Lawrence. $20-$25; libertyhall.net, 785-749-1972

15

Eric Paslay: Not to be confused with Brad Paisley, but also a country singer. Backroad Anthem will play as well. 7 p.m., Kanza Hall, 7300 W. 119th, Overland Park. $15; oneblocksouthkc.com, 913-451-0444

16

Midwest Chamber Ensemble: Members will perform “Carnival of the Animals” with pianists Richard Jeric and Jessica Koebbe. 7:30 p.m., Bell Cultural Events Center, 2030 E. College Way, Olathe. Free; midwestchamberensemble.org

17

Harlem Globetrotters: We can pretty much guarantee the clown princes of basketball will win. (And will win again the next day at the Independence Events Center.) 2 and 7 p.m., Sprint Center, 1407 Grand. $25-$137; sprintcenter.com, 816-949-7100

18

Russian National Ballet Theatre: A 50-member ensemble will perform “Giselle” as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series. 3:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. $30-$80; hjseries.org, 816-415-5025

19

Doug Talley Quartet: Performance to honor Martin Luther King Jr. is part of a Brown Bag Concert Series. Noon, Community Christian Church, 4601 Main. Free; westportcenterforthearts.org, 855-201-9922

20

“Chicago” (Jan. 20-25): Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly might be murderers, but we love them anyway. Part of Kansas City Broadway Series. 7 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway. $65-$85; theaterleague.com/kansascity

21

“The Toughest Kid in the World” (Jan. 20-24): Theater for Young America presents a story of a youngster dealing with anger, conflict and violence, but in a fun way. 10 a.m., H&R Block City Stage, Union Station, 30 W. Pershing. $10; unionstation.org or tya.org, 816-460-2020 or 816-460-2083

22

“Always a Bridesmaid” (Jan. 22-March 8): Friends since high school, four women are still sharing weddings and other life experiences 30 years later. 8 p.m., Chestnut Fine Arts Center, 234 N. Chestnut, Olathe. $22-$25; chestnutfinearts.com, 913-764-2121

23

Missouri Mavericks: The home hockey team will play the Tulsa Oilers. 7:05 p.m., Independence Events Center, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway, Independence. $16-$38; missourimavericks.com, 816-252-7825

24

NewEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble: From classical to rock to jazz and beyond, this group covers all the musical bases. You might even see some dance or theater. 8 p.m., the Buffalo Room, 817 Westport. $10; newear.org

25

Groundhog Run: The weather is guaranteed to be comfortable, although you won’t see the sun, when you race underground in a 5K or 10K. 8 a.m., Midwest SubTropolis, 8300 N.E. Underground Drive. $45-$100; childrenstlc.org/event/groundhog-run

26

“Four Score and Seven Years Ago”: The Folly Kids’ Series presents the story of a young escaped slave who befriends a young Confederate soldier. 10 and 11:30 a.m., Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th. $6; follytheater.org, 816-474-4444

27

Seether: South African rock band will play with Kyng and Islander. 8 p.m., Midland, 1228 Main. $27.50-$33; midlandkc.com, 816-283-9900

28

“An Iliad” (Jan. 23-Feb. 15): This Kansas City Repertory Theatre production is based on Homer’s epic poem, “The Iliad.” 7 p.m., Spencer Theatre, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry. $20-$54; kcrep.org, 816-235-2700

29

Tango Buenos Aires: Argentine dance troupe will perform “Song of Eva Perón.” 7:30 p.m., Yardley Hall, JCCC, 12345 College, Overland Park. $15-$40; jccc.edu/theseries, 913-469-4445

30

“Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance” (Jan. 30-Feb. 1): The kids can see Elmo, Ernie and all the others dancing their hearts out. 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Sprint Center, 1407 Grand. $17-$61; sprintcenter.com, 816-949-7100

31

“That’s Entertainment: The MGM Years” (Jan. 16-Feb. 15): If you love old movie musicals, chances are you’ll enjoy this cabaret tribute to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 3 and 7:30 p.m., Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W. 10th. $31-$34; qualityhillplayhouse.com, 816-421-1700

This story was originally published December 31, 2014 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Beat the winter blahs with 31 days of fun in January."