Who's in town

“Radiolab” creator and host Jad Abumrad speaks about the creative process and the meaning of innovation in a City Arts & Lectures presentation. [7:30 p.m., Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]

Lectures

Ebola discussion: Dr. Paul H. Wise sheds light on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and its impact on global security. [7 p.m., Los Altos Youth Center, 1 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos]

Meet the artist: Laurie Regan Chase's exhibit of marine paintings, “Coastal Reflections,” is currently showing in the Commonwealth Club's Gold Room. [5:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Social justice: Charmian Gooch of Global Witness, winner of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, speaks about her work against traffickers of “blood diamonds” and illict lumber traders. [7 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St., S.F.]

Literary events

Reading 'Great Gatsby': Maureen Corrigan reflects on the undying appeal of F. Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby” in her new book, “So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures.” [6 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building Plaza, S.F.]

Indigenous perspectives: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz discusses her new book “An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States,” which channels decades of research into a history of the U.S. told from the perspective of Native Americans. [7 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus Ave., S.F.]

Crafting and activism: Crafters discuss “Make Your Voice Heard: The Intersection of Craft, Creativity and Activism.” [7:30 p.m., Booksmith, 1644 Haight St., S.F.]

At the public library

Salsa dancing: Dance expert Corey Raynor shows how to dance to Latin American salsa and bachata music. [6 p.m., Mission Bay Branch, 960 Fourth St., S.F.]

At the colleges

East Asia Library: A public reception marks the opening of Stanford's East Asia Library. [3:30 p.m., Lathrop Library, Stanford University, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford]

Food security: Roz Naylor, director of the Center on Food Security and the Environment, speaks about the challenges of feeding the world in the 21st century. [7 p.m., Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford]

Local activities

Free museum day: Explore the GLBT History Museum for free on the first Wednesday of every month. [11 a.m.-7 p.m., 4127 18th St., S.F.]

S.F. on film: “Dark Passage,” which stars Humphrey Bogart as a fugitive from San Quentin and Lauren Bacall as a mysterious San Francisco socialite, screens. [5 and 9 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F.]

Kings of Leon: Nashville, Tenn.-based rockers Kings of Leon are headlining a bill that also includes Young the Giant. [7 p.m., Concord Pavilion, 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord]

Stand-up comedy: Portland, Ore.-based comedian Ian Karmel, who has appeared on “Conan” and “Portlandia,” performs. [8 p.m., Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St., S.F.]

Rock show

New York band Living Colour is working on an album slated for release next year. [8 p.m., Independent, 628 Divisadero St., S.F.]