Suggest targeting 2-3 individuals, local experts who might be able to help with your business or career goals. Offer to pay for 1 hour of their time for advice & counsel. Most people will be flattered, appreciate the sign of a respect and will waive any fee. Bonus, you'll get some great insights and potentially make a new friend.
Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
31–40 of 46 posts
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#32Be safe: My wife and I have been to SF twice. The first time a bar fight spilled out into the street while we were walking to church at 9am on Sunday morning . One of the guys pulled a knife, but someone talked him down before there was any blood spilled. The second time my wife was about 20' away from a shooting near the convention center. I am sure its a great city, but I haven't had the best experience there.
Third time is the charm. I have no doubt these things happened, but they're not usual.
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#33I rented a bike from one of the bike shops and proceeded to get lost cycling around San Francisco. It was really fun! I only barely made it back in time for the conference I was presenting at though...
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#34Forget all of that. The most interesting people in tech are largely not in San Francisco (and the ones who you find are loud, while the ones who are interesting you won't find). Instead: SF is a stellar place to unwind. Do that. Catch a Giants game. Drink fantastic coffee (Sightglass, Blue Bottle, Epicenter, Four Barrel, Ritual, etc.) Get a Chocolate Shot at Tcho, Ice Cream at Humphry Slocombe, a burrito in the Missi…
But the OP said specifically: "What meetups/cafes/events can I go to to network" The goal appears therefore to be to network. Not to do interesting sight seeing things. Nor to meet "interesting people" unless those interesting people are specifically for networking purposes. Add: How does a three day visit for networking jive with "Catch a Giants game. Drink fantastic coffee". You can do all that in the city that I l…
True, it's not answering the OPs original question.
I think people are responding to the implied idea that you can just show up in San Francisco and bump into VCs all over the place, and that this is all the city has to offer. SF people love their city for other reasons, and get a bit defensive about this attitude that tech is the only worthwhile thing about it. It's partally a part of the ongoing angst about the changing nature of the city with the influx of so many tech folks.
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#35PG has a guide if you're more broadly interested in seeing Silicon Valley: http://paulgraham.com/seesv.html
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#36Be safe: My wife and I have been to SF twice. The first time a bar fight spilled out into the street while we were walking to church at 9am on Sunday morning . One of the guys pulled a knife, but someone talked him down before there was any blood spilled. The second time my wife was about 20' away from a shooting near the convention center. I am sure its a great city, but I haven't had the best experience there.
I've found the city to be hugely disappointing, but compared to NY and London it is substantially smaller (maybe that's why). There are only ~800,000 people there.
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#37Visit Cha Cha Cha on Mission. Fantastic food and drink. My favs, all from the Tapas menu (small plates): fried plantains, chicken Piard, and the best fried calamari in the world. The Sangria is excellent. It's a couple of blocks from BART on Mission and 18th.
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#38Check out meetup for interesting things happening. You can find people immersed in their laptops at any coffee shop in the city, especially SOMA.
But yes, since the weather will be nice you should get outside. Rent a bike, go to the GG Bridge, Twin Peaks, etc. It's a beautiful town.
How do I know? I live here and work in FiDi in tech. I've yet to meet a VC at a coffee shop.
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#39Check out this SF city guide https://hackpad.com/San-Francisco-City-Guide-aAFL7mTH9M2
Re: Ask HN: I'm visiting SF for 3 days, what do I do?
#40Suggest targeting 2-3 individuals, local experts who might be able to help with your business or career goals. Offer to pay for 1 hour of their time for advice & counsel. Most people will be flattered, appreciate the sign of a respect and will waive any fee. Bonus, you'll get some great insights and potentially make a new friend.
Friend speaks my mind^