Silicon Valley guides for hackers looking for startup work?

I would suggest doing what curt said: find some startups you are interested in and send the CEO an email. Most startups are small enough that they will love to speak to you via email - if not to hire immediately, then at least to build a relationship with you for the future (when that funding comes through!)

Maybe spend some time trying to find a job before you visit, during your visit, and after you go back. That way you will hopefully have a job lined up when your house sells (might be a while :P)

Good luck kirbman - feel free to email me too if you'd like (though I'm not in SF)

Just moved here a week ago. Housing is the biggest pain in the butt, had a Craigslist sublet fall through on me twice. Now looking for a sublet in October.... It's a pain.

I've found there are a ton of networking events (106 miles, Hackers and Founders, etc) on meetup. Also if you find an interesting company just email the CEO. In the Mission district of SF right now and I really like it. The tech scene here is really hot, if you've got skills just email the company you're interested in, they'll talk to you.