@ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. The Club will discuss Acid Test by Tom Schroeder, a book about the lives of the founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies and of a soldier who receives MDMA-PTSD treatment 7pm. dogearedbooks.com

@ Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JF Kennedy Drive. A public display of a light art installation every night through October at approximately 9:15pm. conservatoryofflowers.org

@ American River Rafting, 6019 New River Road, Coloma. The men of MAX and their friends will enjoy a two-day white water rafting and camping trip with tent setuptakedown and four meals provided.  maxsf.org

@ The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street. Compassion Is Universal is the theme of this annual benefit including a reception, silent auction, honor program and dinner. 6pm. shanti.org

@ Laurel Bookstore, 1423 Broadway, Oakland. Author Bonnie J. Morris will discuss the disappearance of lesbian culture and spaces, including concerts, festivals, cafes, bookstores and support spaces. 7pm. laurelbookstore.com

@ Foreign Cinema, 2534 Mission Street. A Venetian Carnival will be the theme for an evening filled with visual delights, sensual bites, sultry libations and unique burlesque and art performances from Hecklina and performers from San Francisco’s Mother, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Gregangelo and Velocity Circus. 7-11pm. foreigncinema.com

@ Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon Street. Smuin kicks off its 24th season with Dance Series 01, a program that includes the West Coast premiere of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s critically lauded and transcendent piece “Requiem for a Rose.” Continues through October 7. smuinballet.org

@ Bar Threefiftyfive, 355 19th Street, Oakland. The venue’s monthly fundraiser for September will benefit SPLC. 4-8pm. Bar Threefiftyfive on Facebook.