Talk of the Town 
Imagine attending a dinner party with the president of Cornish College and the artistic director of Intiman Theatre catered by James Beard nominee Ethan Stowell. For its annual fundraiser, Town Hall organizes 10 such high-profile dinners at swanky homes across Seattle—and you’re invited. Mar 7, various venues, townhallseattle.org

SAM Remix
Seattle Art Museum stays open for a late-night art party with live music, dancing, cocktails, artmaking, and entry into the new Rembrandt exhibit. DJs J-Justice and Jaymz Nylon supply the soundtrack to the evening. Mar 8, Seattle Art Museum, seattleartmuseum.org

Steampunk Exhibition Ball
If there was ever a time to wear a top hat, this is it: Seattle’s steampunk community breaks out its finest Victorian duds for the annual gala, a fundraiser for the Center for Sex Positive Culture, where the absinthe flows freely and burlesque dancers compete for your attention. Mar 9, Museum of History and Industry, steampunkexhibitionball.com

Penumbra Beer Bash
The Stranger hosts a new music-and-beer festival designed to get us out of our winter funk (“penumbra” means “shroud” or “a space of partial illumination—as in an eclipse”). Lighten up with suds from nearly 30 regional breweries and live music by local bands Champagne Champagne, Pleasureboaters, Tacocat, and more. Mar 16, King’s Hall, penumbrabeerbash.com

Rappers W/ Cameras 
When Blue Scholars’ Prometheus Brown (aka Geo) and fellow rapper Thig Natural of the Physics discovered a shared love of photography, the Seattle hip-hop artists started hosting parties at their studio to showcase their art across mediums. The party gets bigger and better at Town Hall, where Geo is now an artist in residence. Mar 21, Town Hall, townhallseattle.org

The Rite of Spring
Billed as a night of “avant-garde glamour,” Velocity Dance Center’s benefit party celebrates the centennial of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Nijinsky’s accompanying choreography, once called a “crime against grace,” with a musical performance by Mark Haim and Beau Van Kirk. Plus: Comedian Matt Smith (Almost Live!) leads the live auction and Seattle’s wildest performance artists (Saint Genet, Zoe | Juniper) serve as honorary chairs. Apr 5, 415 Westlake, velocitydancecenter.org

Live at Benaroya Hall: Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart
Days before the Wilson sisters are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they treat their hometown to an acoustic concert and Q&A with music writer/biographer Charles Cross. We’re betting Seattle’s rock royalty turns out in support. Apr 9, Benaroya Hall, benaroyahall.org

BAMignite
Much like Seattle Art Museum’s late-night Remix, Bellevue Arts Museum hosts its own after-hours party with DJs, dancing, live performances, and admission to the chic spring exhibit of midcentury Italian design, Zoom. Italian Design and the Photography of Aldo and Marirosa Ballo. Apr 12, Bellevue Arts Museum, bellevuearts.org

Seattle International Film Festival: Opening Night
Seattle’s biggest red-carpet event welcomes all, but big money gets you access to the prescreening party, reserved seats for the opening-night film (as yet to be announced), and a ticket to the gala dance party after the show. May 16, McCaw Hall, siff.net

Summer Bonus!

Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee
The record label that birthed Nirvana, Mudhoney, and the Postal Service celebrates 25 years of badass local music with a party in Georgetown. This event is still in the works, but a Sub Pop release reports: “We are fairly certain there will be some combination of…actual live bands, playing actual live music! Some sort of art-related something or other! Like, in a gallery space, we’re thinking! A record fair–type event! Food! Beer and wine!” Sounds good to us. July 13, Georgetown, silverjubilee.subpop.com