We're Hot Stuff

More outside validation that San Fran is the place:

--To Visit

We're the best city in the U.S. to visit, according to the Condé Nast Traveler's 2009 Readers' Choice Awards.

Actually, nothing new here; this is the 17th year in a row that the magazine's readers have awarded this title to SF. Our restaurants are a big factor, but we also rate high in atmosphere/ambiance, culture and sights, friendliness, accommodation and shopping.

After us come Charleston, S.C.; Santa Fe, N.M.; New York; and Chicago.

--For Brains, or Brain Studies

In neurotechnology (the study of the cranium and nervous system), the Bay Area is the world's leader, ahead of such rivals as Boston, New York, London and Los Angeles.

The Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO)'s ranking considers a place's neuroscience-centric companies, local risk capital and related infrastructure (universities, hospitals, research institutions).  Neuroscience is big business; nearly 2 billion people worldwide suffer from neurological disease and mental illness, NIO says.

Naysayers might grumble that SF had a home-team advantage, though, because NIO is based here.