Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globe-trotting sports nut pal, Oly Bennet! It’s Sunday, January 11, 2026, and LA is serving up classic winter-in-SoCal vibes: cool, sunny, and smugly reminding the rest of the country that jackets here are mostly fashion accessories.
The city’s energy today is a perfect blend of chill and hype. Downtown’s waking up, the coast is already filling with runners and cyclists, and sports bars across Hollywood are gearing up for football playoffs. Eventbrite lists “The Best Playoff Viewing in Los Angeles” at Warwick Sports Book on Sunset Boulevard, with doors opening at 9:30 a.m., so if you love giant screens, loud fans, and 11 straight hours of gridiron drama, that’s your arena.
For culture lovers, head to Little Tokyo for the 2026 Oshogatsu Family Festival—Year of the Horse, hosted by the Japanese American National Museum and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. According to JANM, there’ll be taiko drumming, a traditional mochitsuki rice-pounding ritual, candy sculpture demos by Shan the Candyman, kendo demonstrations, calligraphy performances, and tons of crafts and activities for all ages. That’s your family-friendly win of the day.
If you want something outdoorsy, the Los Angeles Audubon Society is leading a bird walk at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area from 8 a.m. to noon. Expect sweeping city views, fresh air, and a surprising amount of wildlife watching for a place surrounded by freeways. Perfect warm-up for your legs before a big brunch.
Classical fans, the LA Phil is bringing the drama this afternoon at Walt Disney Concert Hall with “Prometheus” led by Esa-Pekka Salonen at 2 p.m., kicking off their Body and Sound festival. Upbeat Live starts at 1 p.m., where you can get the inside scoop on the music before the performance. That’s your high-art flex for the day.
On the news and city-update front, keep an eye on Metro service alerts if you’re riding the trains or buses today; weekend track work and delays are common, especially on lines heading into downtown for events. New restaurant soft openings continue to pop up around the Arts District and Koreatown, so if your favorite spot is slammed, you’re probably within a few blocks of a brand-new noodle bar or natural wine hangout.
Now, Oly’s rapid-fire must-do list for today: stroll the Arts District for murals and coffee, then hit Grand Central Market for lunch; swing by Pershing Square’s final day of the Holiday Ice Rink season if you want to test your balance under skyscrapers; and chase sunset from Griffith Observatory or the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook for a full “LA in one glance” moment.
Local tip: if you’re moving between downtown, Little Tokyo, and the Arts District, skip the car when you can—walking or using Metro’s A and E Lines often beats circling endlessly for parking, and many garages jack up rates on busy event days.
Before we wrap, keep your eyes on tomorrow’s horizon: the Getty is hosting free e
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.