Who’s in town

Photographer and MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Carrie Mae Weems discusses her work on the opening day of a retrospective at Stanford University. [6:30 p.m., Cemex Auditorium, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, 641 Knight Way, Stanford]

Lectures

Crisis in Washington: The town hall meeting addresses the recent federal government shutdown and its implications for the future. Speakers include UC Berkeley’s Alan Auerbach. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Crystal Chang: The UC Berkeley lecturer discusses China’s key decision-makers and how they are steering their country. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Steve Blake: The nutrition scientist discusses the significant connection between what you eat and your chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. [Noon, Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Energy security: The panel discusses energy security on the 40th anniversary of the Arab oil embargo. [6:30 p.m., World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St., S.F.]

Cassie Doyle: Canada’s consul general in San Francisco talks about North American energy issues and related Canada-U.S. relations. [6:30 p.m., Los Altos Youth Center, 1 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos; www.worldaffairs.org]

Marc Maron: The comedian and podcast host appears in conversation with Mythbusters co-host Adam Savage. [7:30 p.m., Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F.]

Literary events

Kelly Luce: The fiction writer discusses “Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail,” her debut story collection. [7:30 p.m., Kepler’s Books and Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]

Paul Koudounaris: The art historian and photographer discusses “Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints From the Catacombs.” [5:30 p.m., Loved to Death, 1681 Haight St., S.F.]

At the colleges

Film benefit: The event, benefiting the Artemis Rising Invisible War Recovery Program, features a screening of the documentary “The Invisible War.” [6:30 p.m., California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth St., S.F.; www.invisiblewarrecovery.eventbrite.com]

At the public library

Opera lecture: A musicologist from the San Francisco Opera Guild discusses the opera’s upcoming presentation of “The Flying Dutchman” by Richard Wagner. [Noon, Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin St., S.F.]

Art reception

An opening reception takes place for “Twisted Sisters,” an art show celebrating the 10th anniversary of Zurich and San Francisco’s sister-city relationship. [5:30 to 7:30 p.m., City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F.]

Local activities

Uruguayan musician: Singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, whose music combines traditional styles from his native Uruguay with bossa nova, pop and jazz, appears at the SFJAZZ Center. [7:30 p.m., 201 Franklin St., S.F.]

Folk-punk artist: Punk, pop and folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner, appearing with the Sleeping Souls, performs to promote his fifth studio album, “Tape Deck Heart.” [8 p.m., Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., S.F.]

Lions, tigers, bears, oh my: The first North American tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” opens a limited engagement at the Orpheum Theatre. [8 p.m., 1192 Market St., S.F. ]

1760: Bucatini with uni, garlic, red pepper and bread crumbs is a recent pasta highlight. For an always popular signature item, look for the fried duck sandwich with slaw, pickles and spicy aioli. [1760 Polk St., SF.; (415) 359-1212]