DINING OUT
Zinnia: Chef Sean O’Brien recommends a winter dish that is proving popular: housemade pappardelle pasta with Texas wild-boar Bolognese and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano. For an appetizer, he suggests the braised octopus, with Madras curry sauce. [500 Jackson St., S.F.; (415) 956-7300]
PERSON IN TOWN
Comedian Bill Burr performs at the Fillmore. The evening is a live taping for Burr’s second hourlong Comedy Central special. [7 and 10 p.m., 1805 Geary Blvd., S.F.]
LECTURES
Close encounters: “Near Earth Comets and Asteroids: Finding Them Before They Find Us” is the subject of a talk presented by the American Geophysical Union. [7 p.m., Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon St., S.F.]
Howard Teich: The Quadrix Partners founder talks about how using your brain — all of it — can improve leadership capability and success. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F.]
LITERARY
Lara Starr: The cookbook author (“Frugal Foodie”) gives a reading and demonstration. [6 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia St., S.F.]
Neeli Cherkovski: The poet, biographer and memoirist reads from “From the Canyon Outward.” [9 p.m., Kaleidoscope, 3109 24th St., S.F.]
COLLEGES
Photography show: “Click! Create! Contrast!,” an exhibit and sale, contains work by student photographers. Partial proceeds benefit charities. [8 a.m. to 5 p.m., UCSF, Faculty Alumni House, 745 Parnassus Ave., S.F.]
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Kwanzaa family night: Evening features performance, poetry, music, film clips and an explanation of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. [6 to 8 p.m., Bayview Branch, 5075 Third St., S.F.]
Make spa products: Workshop participants can make bath scrubs and tub teas, decorate containers and make instructional tags for these products. The class is for teens. [4 to 6 p.m., Glen Park Branch, 2825 Diamond St., S.F.]
CITY
Yuletide chorus: The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presents an early-show edition of its 2009 “Home for the Holidays” spectacular. [7:30 p.m., First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin St., S.F.]
Science social: The Academy of Sciences hosts “Nightlife.” An end-of-the-year party, with DJs Mad Science and Al Kal, along with a report from Copenhagen, is on the bill. [6 to 10 p.m., Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Hanukkah celebration: A lighting of the Bill Graham Menorah takes place in Union Square, preceded by festivities. [Celebration starts at 4:30 p.m.; lighting is set for 5 p.m.; Post and Powell streets, S.F.]
