Who’s in town
Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti performs with his group. The Stanford Jazz Festival show also features Kendrick Scott and his ensemble. [8 p.m., Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Drive, Stanford University, Stanford]
Lectures
Arts forum: The panel explores how the arts have played a central role in examining issues involving race in the United States. Speakers include jazz artist Marcus Shelby. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
‘Week to Week’: Event features a panel discussion of political and other major news, plus an audience discussion of the week’s events and a news quiz. [6:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
LaborFest: The festival welcomes author-instructor David Duckworth, who has written about protest movements throughout U.S. history that have involved occupying public space. [6 p.m., Green Arcade, 1680 Market St., S.F.]
Literary events
Book group: The Hands on Bay Area Book Club discusses “Life, on the Line,” by Grant Achatz. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 301 Castro St., Mountain View]
John Brandon: The novelist celebrates the release of “A Million Heavens.” The book party includes a bluegrass performance by the Neckbeard Boys. [6:30 p.m., Amnesia, 853 Valencia St., S.F.]
At the colleges
Amir Weiner: The historian talks about his new book, “Getting to Know You: Domestic Surveillance in the Soviet Union.” [4 p.m., Hoover Institution, Room 115, Lou Henry Hoover Building, Stanford University, 580 Serra Mall, Stanford]
At the public library
Urban watersheds: The program, presented by SFWater.org and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, covers local watersheds, stormwater runoff, the sewer system and more. [7 p.m., Sunset Branch, 1305 18th Ave., S.F.]
Older Writers Laboratory: The poetry writing group welcomes seniors. [3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Bernal Heights Branch, 500 Cortland Ave., S.F.]
Local activities
Dance showcase: The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance’s summer series presents “A Thousand Natural Shocks,” featuring the dancers of Sharp & Fine, and “Bells and Whistles,” a Joy Prendergast solo. [8 p.m., Z Space, 450 Florida St., S.F.]
Community concert: Redwood City’s Downtown Jazz series presents its weekly summer concert. The Anton Schwartz Quintet performs. [6 to 8 p.m., 2600 block of Broadway, Redwood City]
Summer music: People in Plazas, a series that presents free concerts in plazas in downtown San Francisco, welcomes Larry Walker, performing world fusion music. [Noon, 101 California St., S.F.]
Artist documentary: “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry,” a documentary film about celebrated Chinese artist and digital-age dissident Ai Weiwei, is showing at the Embarcadero Center Cinema. [1 Embarcadero Center, S.F.; (415) 267-4893]
Plant life: Salvia leucantha (or Mexican bush sage), a shrub with velvety purple blossoms, is in bloom at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where more than 8,000 types of plants are on view. [9 a.m. to 7 p.m., 1199 Ninth Ave., Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Baseball game: The Giants play the New York Mets. [7:15 p.m., AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, S.F.]
Dinning out
Jardiniere: A three-course “Ragin’ Cajun” dinner is on the bill today. Dishes include boudin balls with crispy pork sausage and sauce remoulade, jambalaya and pecan praline with peach ice cream. [300 Grove St., S.F.; (415) 861-5555]
