Solano Avenue is among the more exclusive of SF CA Bay Area neighborhoods, located in the Thousand Oaks district, in Berkeley. It is populated with the swish set of San Francisco population that is associated with the Berkeley Hills, whereas the nearby town of Albany represents the typical middle-class SF CA Bay Area. Solano is unlike most of the busy SF CA Bay Area districts as it is yet not intensively commercialized and is dotted with small businesses. Albany too has developed in a small but very enticing local attraction and is now counted among the popular hanging spots in the eastern half of SF CA Bay Area. Albany can be best described as a small and peaceful town that does not have the characteristic ethnic variety that is associated with the SF CA Bay Area. Visitors to Albany & Solano in the eastern SF CA Bay Area should definitely visit the following places:

Albany Twin (1115, Solano Avenue) and Oaks Theater (1875, Solano Avenue)
The Twin is among the few movie theatres in east SF CA Bay Area, that shows both foreign and independent films that are very different from the usual commercial movies screened in San Francisco. However, those who are searching for a decent Art Deco theater in East Bay should head straight to the Oaks. The ambience is safe for taking your family and the range of movies is simply amazing.

Bui (1647, Solano Avenue)
This has to be the best and perhaps the only Vietnamese-themed restaurants in the SF CA Bay Area. The menu of consist of all the traditional Vietnamese fare including spring rolls, soups and salads along with fresh servings of flower salad. It should be noted that the Bui is not your typical Chinatown-type oriental SF CA Bay Area restaurant and doesn’t fuse together all the south-Asian flavors. It is strictly Vietnamese in every sense and hardly detours from its specialty dishes.

Albany Waterfront Park
This water-park is also called the ‘Bulb’. Its location is a bit strange, being stuck between a racetrack and a freeway. However, the view offered from this park is hard to beat among all the other SF CA Bay Area green covers. The immediate view includes the Richmond neighbourhood along with the notorious Alcatraz. The Park is inhabited by many small birds, including some shore birds that are native to East Bay. There are no strict schedules but occasionally guerrilla art exhibits are also held here.

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