Can't Miss It: Wednesday

TOP BRASS: The Rebirth Brass Band hails from New Orleans, and we're told by someone in the know that "they put on the most fun live show you will ever see in your life. EVAR." The 9-member ensemble features a trio of trumpets, two trombones, a saxophone, a tuba, a snare drum, and a bass drum. They're the only band on the bill and they're "playing all night"--which may not be hyperbole--so prepare to get brassed out.

9 p.m. // Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Avenue Northwest // Tickets $20

OPERA PREVIEW: Sticking with our Ballard theme, there's a free preview of Seattle Opera's upcoming show The Pearl Fishers (opens January 10) at the Ballard Library. It's a French opera by Bizet about a ménage à trois (if we're not being redundant there). There's a beautiful priestess named Leila and the rather more unfortunately named Zurga and Nadir, the Jules et Jim of their day.

7 p.m. // Ballard Library, 5614 22nd Avenue Northwest // FREE

Non-Profit Night: There are about two dozen non-profits that make their home in the Joseph Vance Building downtown, and they invite you to drop in tonight for food, drinks, and "for a good cause" hobnobbing. We know about this because Sightline, Seattle's sustainability think tank, is there and they sent us a special invitation. So we're leaning towards going. With Sightline, you know it's going to be a rager.

5:30-7:30 p.m. // Vance Building, 1402 Third Avenue // FREE