Wednesday Happenings

Russians

-- It's fall; there is no way to deny it any longer. The Boston Symphony Orchestra opens its 2008-2009 season with a showcase of pieces composed by Russians (Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky). James Levine conducts. Boston Symphony Hall, 6:30 p.m.

Reasons to Hide the Straight Razors

-- Slow core gloom rockers Low will make people reconsider why they wake up in the morning. They're playing in real life theater, so there won't be any room to sit on the floor. If you go, please be sure to keep quiet: There will be rock music on stage. Performing with Tulsa. Museum of Fine Arts, 7:30 p.m. $20/$16.

Drinking Anachronistically

-- Vintage cocktail nerds and anybody else who's read David Wondrich's Imbibe have long been frustrated by the extinction of Old Tom Gin (from whence the Tom Collins gets it name). Recently resurrected from an old recipe in the Hayman's archives and imported by Haus Alpenz (known for trafficking in violet liqueur, pimento dram, and other delicious esoterica), Old Tom will be available for tasting this evening at Deep Ellum. 477 Cambridge St., Allston, 8-10 pm. Free. (CF)

C. Fernsebner contributed to this post.