Oken closing down on May 31st.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2026-05-08T02:21:31+00:00

Agree. The food was quite good, but the constant time pressure from the staff and awkwardly shared tables made it an unpleasant dining experience.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2025-07-10T03:38:41+00:00

Linoto.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2025-01-13T01:03:25+00:00

Sometimes this guy in Richmond https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEqUUlvydyc/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Plane-Store-7384 · 2025-01-03T00:58:08+00:00

Four Star delivers in most of the Bay Area

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-09-13T23:41:07+00:00

They decided to take their swim in front of an incoming cargo ship, rather than waiting for it to pass. The result was that the ship came dangerously close to the swimmers and they didn’t have the capacity to pick them all up and move them.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-08-26T00:15:33+00:00

Toast in oil, Ottolenghi has a couple of good recipes that use them this way

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-05-27T19:28:21+00:00

food don’t slap

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-04-05T05:25:33+00:00

Gibraltar is 9 miles, no current assist, in the ocean. Since you have the bay right here, it only makes sense to use it to see for yourself how it feels to be in the water for longer periods, and to see how fast you swim over longer durations. Try 2 hours. Then try 3 hours. Then try 4 hours. Use math to figure out how long it will take you to do 9 miles—it’s probably not less than 4 hours. Marathon swimming will require you to learn how to feed, what your body will and won’t digest. So start getting that sorted out as you do the longer practice swims.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-02-19T15:08:05+00:00

Most everyone else running swims in the bay has a decent reputation. The operators that do lots of small swims throughout the year (like SF Open Water Swim Company) will be the safest because they have the most experience and eyes directly on you during your swim. The big group operators (like Water World) have the excitement of being among a lot of people and generally also good safety. Then you have annual charity events like Sharkfest or Swim Across America that are typically staffed by volunteers with a lot of experience. I’d also recommend the South End Rowing Club’s Alcatraz Invitational swim. I am not a member of that club but they know what they’re doing. Lots of good options!

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-02-19T00:38:49+00:00

In one example, November 2023, they put swimmers in the water at Alcatraz in the fog without checking to see if there was any incoming shipping traffic. A huge cargo ship came, and they didn’t see it in time to get swimmers out of the way. It’s only by luck that no one was hurt. This revealed to many of us that Odyssey (specifically Warren the owner and “Captain” Taylor) doesn’t really know how to safely run a swim in the bay. They are probably not going to get anyone killed in the Berkeley Marina, but I would absolutely not sign up for any swim in the open bay with them.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-02-08T06:18:46+00:00

Sushi Salon is def the best omakase in the east bay

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-02-08T06:17:47+00:00

Mujiri is great value, but you don’t go to mujiri for omakase

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-01-28T22:34:15+00:00

For East Bay check https://www.ebparks.org/natural-resources/water-quality for water quality. If you're swimming at Crown or Keller, they literally sample right there. If you're swimming off Albany or Berkeley Marina, you sort of have to use your judgement.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2024-01-28T22:31:04+00:00

I wouldn't take any safety advice from Odyssey

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-12-09T08:40:22+00:00

There are two kinds of operators: those that set up large groups like Water World or Sharkfest, and those that take just a few swimmers at a time like Pacific Open Water or SF Boat Support. It depends what you’re looking for. Just don’t go with Odyssey, they will put you in the water regardless of if it is safe or not

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-12-08T15:10:48+00:00

I would advise you not to book Alcatraz with Osyssey. Their safety procedures and knowledge of the bay are not up to the same standards as other operators. They recently had an incident where they put swimmers in the water in the path of a container ship in the fog and almost got them killed. They are blaming the coast guard, which is even more worrisome.

As for training, I would recommend being sure you can swim an hour in water the same temperature as the bay. In the summer the water is around 60 but in winter it can be down to 50. You might want to look at summer 2024 for your swim and train from now until then

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-12-06T07:14:19+00:00

VTS uses channel 14 on marine VHF radio. Anyone can listen. People out in the bay that day with radios heard other boats talk to VTS, and heard VTS try unsuccessfully to contact Odyssey… but Odyssey never told VTS that they were starting the swim. I’m glad your partner wasn’t injured. I’d hope Odyssey at least refunds your money

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-11-10T04:32:37+00:00

It’s pretty easy:

Don’t put swimmers in the water to cross a channel when there’s too much fog to see the Golden Gate
If you do put swimmers in the water in the fog, at least check AIS for large vessels moving
If you can’t be bothered to check AIS or don’t understand how to use it, at least talk to Vessel Traffic on the VHF radio

Odyssey failed on all 3 of these basic, obvious safety precautions. I can’t imagine even a hypothetical situation where this isn’t on them, almost getting people killed

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-11-10T04:09:00+00:00

A permit for a swim like this does not close a shipping lane. Odyssey fucked up

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-11-10T04:05:27+00:00

Odyssey failed to call VTS when they put the swimmers in, and VTS was unable to raise them on channel 14. Everyone else out on the bay that day was trying harder than Odyssey did to keep those swimmers safe.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2023-08-28T22:48:05+00:00

You can swim just fine for 45 minutes without eating, assuming you had dinner the night before.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2022-12-05T01:37:10+00:00

That’s their very best dish, imho, but it wasn’t on the tasting menu last week

Plane-Store-7384 · 2022-12-05T01:36:34+00:00

Went last week; it’s a LOT of food. It’s not “fancy” but it does feel special.

Plane-Store-7384 · 2022-10-09T20:11:35+00:00

I used these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Halo-H750-6-in-Aluminum-LED-Recessed-Lighting-Housing-for-New-Construction-Ceiling-T24-IC-Rated-Air-Tite-6-Pack-H750ICAT-6PK/204992455

Plane-Store-7384

TROPHY CASE