WHO’S IN TOWN
Amory Lovins: The environmentalist and Rocky Mountain Institute co-founder lays out his vision for a transition to a new energy era a shift that can be led by business for profit and requires no act of Congress, he says. [Noon, Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
Lectures
Laura Cunningham: The paleontologist, biologist and artist gives a talk titled “10 Millennia of California Ecology,” presented by the Long Now Foundation. [7:30 p.m., Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, S.F.]
Stephane Abrial: The French general and commander of NATO Allied Command, Transformation, gives a talk titled “Defense in an Age of Austerity.” [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
Jenny Greene: The Princeton University astrophysics professor gives a talk titled “Tiny but Powerful: The Smallest Supermassive Black Holes.” [7:30 p.m., California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, S.F.; RSVP: (800) 794-7576]
Literary events
Michael Ondaatje: The novelist, whose books include “The Cat’s Table” and “The English Patient,” appears in conversation with Michael Chabon. [8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Alice Hoffman: The novelist talks about “The Dovekeepers.” [7 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St., S.F.]
Khaled Hosseini: The “Kite Runner” author discusses his work and his personal foundation that provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. [7 p.m., Cubberley theater, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto]
At the colleges
Slavoj Zizek: The philosopher and cultural critic gives a talk titled “Hollywood Beyond Ideology.” [5:30 p.m., Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University]
At the public library
‘Barn Talk’: Hillbarn Theatre presents an evening examining the life and career of opera legend Maria Callas. [7 p.m., Foster City Library, 1000 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City]
Local activities
Plant life: The sleeping hibiscus is in bloom at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which is home to more than 8,000 types of plants from around the world. [9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Modern design: SFMOMA presents “Less and More,” an exhibit containing more than 200 models and objects created by influential industrial designer Dieter Rams and his team. [11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., 151 Third St., S.F.]
Nonfiction cinema: The San Francisco Documentary Film Festival continues. Films about heavy metal, South African artists, sperm donors and other subjects screen today. [2:45 p.m. onward, Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., S.F.]
