Who's in town
Sugar Sammy: The comedian kicks off a string of appearances in San Francisco. [8 p.m., Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St., S.F.]

Lectures
Peter Gleick: The Pacific Institute president talks about the impending world water crisis and its impact on social, financial and environmental stability. [6 p.m., World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St., S.F.]

Literary events
Authors at the mint: The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society launches its Author’s Forum at the Old Mint, hosted by Charles Fracchia. [4 p.m., 88 Fifth St., S.F.; RSVP: (415) 537-1105, ext. 100]

Carol Sklenicka: The biographer talks about “Raymond Carver: A Writer’s Life.” [7:30 p.m., Booksmith, 1644 Haight St., S.F.]

At the colleges
‘Stanford Pioneers in Science’: Douglas Osheroff, professor of physics and a 1996 Nobel Prize recipient, speaks. [7:30 p.m., Cubberley Auditorium, School of Education, Stanford University]

Local activities
Symphony events: The San Francisco Symphony performs music by Schubert and Ives, and launches “Music Without Borders: A Tribute Week for the People of Haiti.” [8 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Filmmaker salute: “The Parallel Dimensions of Terry Gilliam,” a three-Wednesday salute to the filmmaker, begins. Today’s double feature: “Brazil” (1985) and “12 Monkeys” (1995). [4:30 and 9:40 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F.]

Dining out
Cliff House: Three-course Wednesday dinner specials ($25) are back in the restaurant’s Bistro. Today, chef Kevin Weber is starting things off with a baby-arugula and fennel salad with shaved Parmigiano-
Reggiano, caramelized walnuts and Meyer lemon dressing. “Lazy Man’s Cioppino” is the main course. For dessert: banana bread pudding with caramel sauce and chantilly cream. [1090 Point Lobos, S.F., (415) 386-3330]