by Patricia Handschiegel

The Bay Area tech industry is known for its young moguls and swank parties where founders from huge websites I know you've heard of rub elbows with journalist types and cute publicists while noshing on wine and mini-cheeseburgers and talking about their next big thing. That was the scene of Friday's back-to-back industry parties, starting with Gawker sister-site Valleywag's going away gala for video blogger Natali Del Conte and the Crunchies internet awards after party, both held in San Francisco. The Silicon Valley's best and brightest were turned out in style at both, including New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporter Paul Boutin, Digg.com founder Kevin Rose, MC Hammer and a worthy crowd of famous industry faces. But it was the attendance of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg that had tongues wagging most. Though rather than being excited like everybody else, I found myself fixated on the flats being worn by his girlfriend and what a smart choice they were since she's nearly the same height as he is. The night was finished off with crab cakes on the fringe of the city's famous shopping district, Union Square. How better to end the evening than cuddled next to Neiman Marcus, Barneys and Saks?