Start off the New Year with a laugh at the brand new comedy club Roar at MGM Springfield, offering nationally known comedians as well as rising stars. Explore the new and improved Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame showcasing the latest technology for visitors to enjoy. Be sure to visit the Springfield Museums and enjoy access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. For more information, visit explorewesternmass.com.

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Forget the chilly temperatures and snow-covered fields. January is a great time to escape winter weather with a stroll through the galleries of the region's museums and art galleries! While memories of sugarplums still dance in your head, visit the Museum of Russian Icons' exhibition Corncobs and Cosmonauts and experience holiday seasons in the former Soviet Union. Explore Furniture in Contemporary Art at the Fitchburg Art Museum. Or see what local artists and craftspeople have been creating, in the cozy galleries of the Petersham Art Center. Let it snow! There's plenty to explore indoors!

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Internationally recognized hip-hop dancer and choreographer Amirah Sackett takes the stage Saturday, January 12 at the Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs!  Amirah Sackett explores and embodies her Muslim American identity through combining hip-hop movement and Islamic themes inspired by the 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. Her newest heartfelt piece - Qadar - explores the barriers we create within ourselves and appealing us to always choose love. Performances at 2 pm and 7 pm. Cost is $25 adults; $15 students, seniors & military; $5 children.

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From Starfield to MARS: Paul Manship and His Artistic Legacy is on display at the Addison Gallery of American Art now until January 20. The exhibition celebrates the artistic legacy of this early twentieth century artist. Celebrate comedy and locally crafted spirits & cider January 17-19 at The Salem Comedy & Spirits Festival! The three-day festival features top area performing comedians at a variety of renowned Salem venues.

The North & South Rivers Watershed Association invites you to join them every Wednesday night in January for a free public lecture series focused on the natural and human history of New England waters. The Waterwatch Lecture Series will be held at the South Shore Natural Science Center in Norwell on the following Wednesdays at 7 pm: January 9, 16, 23, 30. For more information visit nsrwa.org or call the NSRWA Office at 781-659-8168.

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Paint the town to explore an abundance of theatre, music, dance, comedy and nightlife. Boston theatres offer an extensive selection, from award-winning Beautiful, The Little Foxes and An Inspector Calls to family favorite Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. An iconic visual legacy of Ansel Adams In Our Time is on view at the MFA, while at the PEM never-before-told stories and never-before-seen treasures illuminate female power and influence in the Empresses of China. The Boston Symphony Orchestra features a robust lineup of performances with guest artists, while the city's jazz clubs ward off the winter blues. The Boston Wine Festival celebrates the 30th year of the grape and January 21 honors Martin Luther King, Jr. with many notable events, including an annual concert with the Harlem Gospel Choir. Remember to make time for a few spins on Frog Pond Skating Rink!

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