Sorry this is late, but clip and save for next year: how to win your Oscar pool. Short answer: follow the wisdom of the crowds.
Pairing San Francisco neighborhoods with New York neighborhoods. For instance, North Beach --> Little Italy, Hayes Valley --> Chelsea, and Mission --> Wiliamsburg.
Cameron tells us about the peak-end rule, whereby you remember an experience by the high (or low) point and the ending. "Having recently been on a vacation, it strikes me that this heuristic is of utmost importance in planning long events." The p-e rule is probably also something to keep in mind for event/conference organizers...end on a high note. Oh, and some restaurants do this really well: they send you home with a delicious something to enjoy the next day, extending the experience and ending on a high note with a yummy breakfast.
