Who’s in town

Author Salman Rushdie talks about “Luka and the Fire of Life.” [7 p.m., Kepler’s Books and Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]

Lectures

Kate Rutter: The senior practitioner at Adaptive Path talks about how a workplace can become an environment that promotes teamwork and creative thinking. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]

Mass transit in Taipei: Chi-Hsin Shao, president of the CHS transportation consultancy firm, provides an overview of Taiwan’s successful transit systems. [12:30 p.m., SPUR, 654 Mission St., S.F.]

Literary events

Investigative writers: Journalist Russ Baker (“Family of Secrets”) and writer-researcher Peter Dale Scott (“American War Machine”) talk about their books. [7 p.m., City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Ave., S.F.]

World AIDS Day: Michael Thomas Ford, Lucy Jane Bledsoe and Monica Nolan appear on an LGBT author panel and sign copies of their books. [12:30 p.m., Borders, 400 Post St., S.F.]

Sandra Lehti-Culjak and Natalie Hoogasian: The author and the photographer talk about “In This My Beautiful Egypt.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Merla Zellerbach: The novelist talks about “The Missing Mother.” [7 p.m., Books Inc., 3515 California St., S.F.]

At the colleges

World AIDS Day: Information tables in the Quad remind people that HIV has not gone away and that there are many things still to be done. [10 a.m. to 2 p.m., SFSU, 1600 Holloway Ave., S.F.]

At the public library

Jazz night: Steve Snelling provides an evening of jazz. [7 p.m., Parkside Branch, 1200 Taraval St., S.F.]

Author talk: Richard Cohen discusses “Chasing the Sun: The Epic Story of the Star That Gives Us Life.” [6 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., S.F.; RSVP: (800) 794-7576]

Local activities

World AIDS Day: An observance of World AIDS Day takes place at the National AIDS Memorial Grove. Leadership award recipients include Jeanne White-Ginder, activist and mother of the late Ryan White. [Noon, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]

Menorah lighting: Hanukkah begins and is celebrated in Union Square with a ceremony and lighting of the Bill Graham Menorah. [4:30 p.m., Post and Powell streets, S.F.]

Holiday boutique: Kohl Mansion hosts its Christmas at Kohl Boutique. The evening features gifts, food and drink, and a tour of the decorated mansion. [5 to 9 p.m., 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame]

Music salon: Soprano Heidi Melton performs a concert. The evening is part of San Francisco Performances’ Salons at the Rex series. [6 p.m., Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter St., S.F.]

Dining out

Mixing well: Fillmore Street restaurants and mixologists create cocktails at the Fillmore Holiday Cocktail Crawl, a benefit for the African American Art and Culture Complex. [6:30 to 9 p.m.; www.brownpapertickets.com/event/138991]