Who's in town

Mike Farrell: The actor and human-rights activist explains his belief that the death penalty is an ongoing human-rights violation and discusses the punishment’s moral and policy failings. [5:15 p.m., Commonwealth Club,
595 Market St., S.F.]

Lectures

Daniel Kahneman: The psychologist and Nobel laureate discusses the two systems that drive the way we make choices — one fast and intuitive; one slower and logical. [7 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St., S.F.]

Life after economic growth: Cambridge University’s Paul Gilding and the Post Carbon Institute’s Richard Heinberg talk about the economic road ahead. [12:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Maya astronomy: “Sun, Maize, and the Maya Calendar” is the theme of a talk featuring astronomer Isabel Hawkins and Yucatec Maya elder Dona Maria Ávila Vera. [7:30 p.m., California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]

Literary events

Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Gary Snyder: The renowned poets get together to read their work in a benefit for San Francisco State University’s Poetry Center. [7 p.m., Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd., S.F.]

Fabrizia Lanza: The cookbook author talks about “Olive: A Global History.” [6 p.m., Omnivore Books on Food, 3885a Cesar Chavez St., S.F.]

At the colleges

Nicole Eisenman: The New York-based artist discusses her work. [7:30 p.m., San Francisco Art Institute, 800 Chestnut St., S.F.]

Ryue Nishizawa: The cofounder of the award-winning Tokyo architecture studio SANAA discusses the studio’s work. [7 p.m., California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth St., S.F.]

Chinese calligraphy: Qiu Zhenzhong, professor at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, examines Chinese calligraphy as it relates to contemporary art. [5 p.m., Encina Hall West, Room 208, Stanford University]

Local activities

Piano recital: Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi performs a solo recital. [8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Benefit show: Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation presents a “One Night Only Benefit Cabaret” featuring cast members from “Hair.” Special guests include Bruce Vilanch. [7:30 p.m., Marines Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St., S.F.]
 
Gay-marriage plays: American Conservatory Theater presents “Standing on Ceremony,” a free program of short plays about marriage equality, in tandem with other theaters nationwide. [5 p.m., 415 Geary St., S.F.; RSVP: (415) 749-2228]

At the public library

‘First Monday Movies’: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Notorious” (1946) is November’s featured film. [6:30 p.m., Excelsior Branch, 4400 Mission St., S.F.]

Aging positively: The library’s Access Services hosts “Staying Engaged for a Lifetime,” a course focusing on how to age positively as social relationships change. [1:30 p.m., Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Room, 100 Larkin St., S.F.]

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