Who's in town
Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence, provides an inside look at the workings that occur at the highest levels of government and discusses his key priorities and challenges. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Lectures
Book arts: Book artists discuss traditional and contemporary intersections accessible today, along with book-arts opportunities offered at the San Francisco Center for the Book. [Noon, Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
 
Literary events
Nicholas Schmidle: The author and journalist talks about “To Live or to Perish Forever: Two Tumultuous Years Inside Pakistan.” [6 p.m., Marines’ Memorial Club, 609 Sutter St., S.F.]
 
At the public library
ITVS Community Cinema: “D Tour,” a documentary by Jim Granato about an aspiring musician and his search for a kidney donor, screens. A talk follows. [5:45 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., S.F.]

At the colleges
Bookstore open house: Celebration features bookstore tours and refreshments. [11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stanford Bookstore, Stanford University]

Dining out
Joey & Eddie’s: As part of a region-specific cuisine of Italy series taking place Tuesdays, chef Joseph Manzare highlights the cooking of Venice. Menu selections include radicchio salad with pancetta and toasted walnuts; beet and ricotta ravioli with poppy seeds; grilled cuttlefish with black-ink risotto; and peach tiramisu. [1652 Stockton St., S.F.; (415) 989-7800]

Local activities
Cross-cultural arts: Noh Space presents “Fox Hunts and Freedom Fighters: Korean and Western Women in Seoul 1894-1920,” a performance from pansori singer Chan Park and puppeteer-director Kathy Foley. [8 p.m., 2840 Mariposa St., S.F.]
 
Stand-up show: Comedian Ngaio Bealum performs. [8 p.m., Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St., S.F.]