There are plenty of great places to hit up.
Right now the King Tut exhibit is over at the California Academy of Sciences (De Young Museum). The San Francisco Opera is considered by some second only to the New York Opera if not equal and the season just started.
Since you'll be in the Bay in Novemeber try to get tickets to the Big Game between Cal Bears and Stanford. Loads of funs that weekend.
Other than that use SFWeekly.com sfgate.com or the SFBG to find stuff to do. For Oakland and the East Bay use the East Bay Express. The SFBG puts out a "best of" every year and it is on the money for the most part.
If you code, program or something you might want to hit a co-op work space or event and network. Most of them are free and have drinks, etc. Those you can find on upcoming.yahoo.com
Try to get a tour of Google or Apple. Tour SF in a double decker believe it comes with a pass that lets you ride buses unlimited for 2 days and get discounts on other stuff 30 bucks or so (tour included).
Burgers
Smokehouse in Berkeley It's on Telegraph Take Bart to MacArthur and then catch a cab. Sparky's 24 Hour Diner in the Castro on Church You can get there by Bart, Muni Train or Bus. Great milkshakes. Pearl's Deluxe it's on Post st. Take Bart to Civic Center and walk / Cab or take a bus up Van Ness.
The good clubs and restuarants have good drinks in the city. For drinks +views hit the hotels around Union Square, or the SF Marriott View Lounge (across from the Sony Metreon), the CliffHouse (Ocean view)
Bart is good till about 12 / 1 am on weekends it connects most of the "true" Bay Area. Cabs at night in the city for the most part. In the day time you can walk practically everywhere or take Bart or Muni (bus and subway system). As far as the Sillicon Valley there is CalTran which can bring you up to the City and take you back down there. San Jose, Palo Alto etc..
You can hit ChinaTown, believe its the largest concentration of Asians outside of Asia in the world. JapanTown small but it has a Benihanas, which is nothing like the Benihanas in Europe if you have ever been. You get served much more food and it is not as expensive. Also Manga, anime and toys.
Go to Oakland to get BBQ from Everrett and Jones. Get Soul Food from Hard Knox Cafe 26th st in the City. There is an underwater restaurant in pier 3o something. Might not still be there. Also hit Teatro Zinzani (5/7 course dinner and show). But you have to buy now since you are not a member if you are going in November.
Great veggie food at Cafe gratitude and Millenium. Sneakers and gear at HufSF, True and this other place in the haight ashbury which skips memory at the moment. Hit the farmers market at the ferry building, plenty of good food. There are ferries that go to Marin, great latin joint right outside the dock when you get there. Another latin spot is Poncho Villa in the Mission.
Hope your business venture goes well and that your trip is a pleasant one.
