The Essential Silicon Valley?
keefe: There's nothing hugely interesting posted yet, but SDForum http://www.sdforum.com/ often has interesting events with lots of networking opportunities. One big advantage is that many conferences are here - for example Google I/O just one week before you arrive, which is something to keep in mind if you have not booked tickets. I have hear that the four seasons in palo alto gets various luminaries staying there, but that could simply be a vicious rumor. You should visit Moffett Field itself - I work there, all you need to get in is a government ID. They'll ask you where you are going - tell them to building 19, it is where all the contractors go and they will just wave you through - though I think telling them you want to see hanger one is equally valid. If you ask, the guard will also get you a map that could point you there. It's more interesting for historical reasons than anything else, fyi. You can't get back to ames, though. I guess one advantage is the community of developers and investors that happen to be around here, which is something that is difficult to see on a short visit. For coffee in mountain view I recommend red rock and blue bottle in SF, barefoot down further south in san jose. The bars in mountain view and sunnyvale are not worth visiting, some in palo alto may be and definitely downtown SF - check yelp for details.