Who’s in town
Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun performs at the Great American Music Hall. “It All Starts With One,” a platinum hit in Norway, is her latest album. [8:30 p.m., 859 O’Farrell St., S.F.]
Lectures
Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein: The political pundits discuss the nation’s dysfunctional political system and offer ideas for remedying the problem. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
Fair trade: Social entrepreneurs Paul Rice, of Fair Trade USA, and Ahmed Rahim, of Numi Organic Tea, discuss the impact of fair trade and the power of “triple-bottom-line business.” [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
Ariel Rubissow Okamoto: The journalist and author answers questions from her new book, “Natural History of San Francisco Bay.” [7:30 p.m., Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, S.F.]
Literary events
‘Springtime in Paris’: Authors Cara Black, Ellen Sussman and David Downie discuss their literary love affair with the City of Light. [7 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St., S.F.]
Marty Brounstein: The Bay Area author and speaker discusses “Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust.” [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books and Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
Gideon Lewis-Kraus: The nonfiction writer talks about “A Sense of Direction: Pilgrimage for the Restless and the Hopeful.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
At the public library
‘Thursdays @ Noon Films’: Akira Kurosawa’s “Dreams” (1990) is the featured film. [Noon, Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., S.F.]
Arisa White: The Oakland-based poet reads from “Hurrah’s Nest,” her debut collection. [6 p.m., Gay and Lesbian Center, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., S.F.]
Local activities
False impressions: NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences presents “Art of Illusion NightLife,” an evening featuring a pop-up art show, DIY optical illusions, magic tricks by Patrick Martin and more. [6 to 10 p.m., 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Sure bet: “Monte Carlo Night,” benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, features food, drinks, gambling and entertainment. Featured musical act: Super Diamond. [7 p.m., Yoshi’s, 1330 Fillmore St., S.F.]
Local premiere: “Deadline Every Second,” a documentary following 12 Associated Press photojournalists in eight countries as they cover war, political clashes, financial markets, natural disasters, sports and human interest stories, screens. [7 p.m., City Club Cafe, 155 Sansome St., 10th floor, S.F.; RSVP to mary@thorsby.com]
Film retrospective: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts launches “War and Remembrance” featuring the cinema of Aleksei Guerman, a highly regarded Russian filmmaker born in the Soviet era. The 1998 film “Khrustalyov, My Car!” — a fever-dream meditation on the crazed final days of Stalin’s regime — opens the series. [7 p.m., YBCA screening room, 701 Mission St., S.F.]
Dining out
Wexler’s: Smoked marinated Monterey squid and barbecued eggplant “caviar” are new appetizers. Entrees include slow-roasted smoked salmon. Desserts include apple-huckleberry pie. [568 Sacramento St., S.F.; (415) 983-0102]
At the colleges
Holland Cotter: The Pulitzer-winning art critic covers the impact and influences of non-Western art in the American art museum. [6 p.m., Annenberg Auditorium, Cummings Art Building, Stanford University, 435 Lasuen Mall, Stanford]
Chancellor’s Concert Series: The Del Sol Quartet, above, performs Evangelista’s “Spanish Garland,” Scodanibbio’s “Mas Lugares” and Ward’s “La Sangre de la Luna.” [Noon, UCSF, Genentech Hall Atrium, 600 16th St., S.F.]
Jacqueline Widmar Stewart: The environmental and travel writer talks about “Parks and Gardens in Greater Paris.” [6 p.m., Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post St., S.F.; RSVP: rsvp@milibrary.org or (415) 393-0100]
Music
‘Moombah Marathon’: The evening includes sets by DJ Theory, Manics, Andy P and Oh Beats. [9 p.m., Public Works, 161 Erie St., S.F.]
