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Ira & Carol Serkes
Pacific Union/Christie's International
Berkeley, CA USA
800-887-6668
510-526-6668
Skype Serkes

serkes@berkeleyhomes.com


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  Albany
 

A friendly welcoming city with great schools ... just north and west of Berkeley

www.flickr.com

Click on a photo to view a larger version and to see them on the map

Highly Ranked Schools, Lots of Parks and Trails, First Run Movies, a Community Center, and Terrific Restaurants

Albany has a great school district... and is a wonderful place to live.

Albany Library in the community center has a diverse selection of books and videos, the Albany Theater has superb first-run movies, and Solano and San Pablo has a great selection of restaurants and cafes!

On the 2nd Sunday of September, Albany and Berkeley host the Solano Stroll - a mile long block party. Music, food, performances and more - it's a real treat to attend.

The lucky folks on Albany Hill have some of the best views of ... the Berkeley Hills!

It was a magical moment when we were visiting one of our clients on Albany Hill.. and watched the full mooon rise over the Berkeley Hills! The moon always looks larger when it's low on the horizon.. and it looked huge!

And.. if you're on the other side of the hill (not the same as over the hill), you'll have outstanding views of the Golden Gate, Mt. Tamalpais, and San Francisco.

Here's what's for sale in Albany right now
The the latest list of Albany Homes for sale ... and the newest listings are at the top

Super Moon Over Berkeley UC Campanile Sather Tower Albany Hill Golden Gate Bridge Sunset
 
Moon rise over the Berkeley Hills ... and sun set behind the Golden Gate ... Both from Albany Hill

 


View East Bay Neighborhoods in a larger map

Albany California Street Map

 
 

 

Albany Homes For Sale


 

 

 

 

Solano Stroll Crowds Solano Stroll Desert Survivor Solano Stroll Parade
Solano Stroll Department Of Peace Solano Stroll Kids and Balloon Lady Solano Stroll Girls Scout Parade
Terrace Park Mural Albany CA Cornell School Mural Martial Arts Demonstration YMC
Jerome Blank Clock - Mr. Albany Albany Sauna Albany CA Fire Department Open House Child
Jerome Blank - Mr. Albany
Chinese New Year Kids in orange costumes Chinese New Yeark Women in Slik Chinese New Year Parade dragon and child
Chinese New Years
Five Little Monkeys Store Front Mangia Mangia Restaurant Cooks Dr. Robert Ammirati, Chiropractor & skeleton
Mangia Mangia
Sofia Cafe Matzoh Ball Soup Mangia Mangia Italian Restaurant Cugini Restaurant Calzone
Opal Staniek Tot Lot Slide Golden Gate Fields Albany CA YMCA
Club Monteros Salsa Catherine's Walk Sign
A joyful statue - no longe there
Albany 4th Of July Memorial Park Swing Memorial Day Park - Girl in Ball Children at Albany 4th of July
Neon Sign - Night - Hotsy Totsy Club Neon Sign - Night - Albany Bowl in the mist Neon Sign - Night - Albany Bowl
UC Berkeley Sather Tower Campanile Moon Cloudy Sky Golden Gate Bridge Sunset from Albany Hill UC Berkeley Sather Tower Campanile Super Moon over Berkeley Hills
Ç
 
  Albany Sites
  What makes Albany Unique
 
  Shopping, Sites, Restaurants & More
 
  Albany Shopping
CA


 
 
 
  Wheezles and Sneezles 1108 San Pablo Avenue F
Albany CA


510-514-7668
 
     
 
 
  City of Albany Development Department 1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-528-5760
 
 
 
  Albany On Line 1249 Marin
Albany CA


510-524-9283
City of Albany Web Site  
 
 
  Albany City Hall 1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-528-5710
 
 
 
  Key Shack Locksmiths 1089 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-524-8609
Efficient locksmith with a small parking lot - just south of Marin Avenue  
 
 
  Albany Kid's Corner 1123 8th Street
Albany CA


510-526-7637
 
 
 
  Albany Children's Center 1125 8th Street
Albany CA


510-525-9191
 
 
 
  Albany Children's Center 1140 9th Street
Albany CA


 
 
 
  Albany Teen Center 900 Buchanan Street
Albany CA


510-525-0576
 
 
 
  Albany Library 1247 Marin Avenue
Albany CA


510-526-3720
Pleasant library and community center with a good DVD & VCR selection. It’s part of the Alameda County Library System. You can reserve books online, they’ll search all the branches and call or email you when they arrive. What a great system!  
 
 
  Albany Library 1247 Marin Avenue
Albany CA


510-526-3720
Pleasant library and community center with a good DVD & VCR selection. It’s part of the Alameda County Library System. You can reserve books online, they’ll search all the branches and call or email you when they arrive. What a great system!  
 
 
  San Francisco Examiner Albany
CA


 
 
 
  Albany Sauna & Hot Tubs 1002 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-6262
Carol really enjoys the Albany Sauna... it's a tradiitional Finnish rock steam sauna  
 
 
  Albany Chamber of Commerce 1108 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-9171
 
 
 
  Albany Post Office 1119 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-649-3138
 
 
 
  Post Office 1191 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-649-3135
Small Art Deco post office... probably a WPA project.  
 
 
  Albany Unified School District 904 Talbot
Albany CA


510-558-3766
Albany has one of the highest rated school districts in the East Bay. When everyone was clamoring to buy an Albany home I coined the phrase "Albanian Pavlovians" - buyers who salivate at the thought of new Albany homes on the market.

Herb Caen's Column

Ever heard of "Albanian Pavlovians"? The term was invented by Ira Serkes, demon East Bay salesman, who writes in the Multiple Listing Service that, "I've got clients who salivate at Albany Listings. They've got the cash so I'll be there in a flash!" Smart boy, that Ira, He's going places.
Herb Caen, San Francisco Chronicle

Albany has some very good restaurants - Cugini (great calzone), Fonda (name/address), Mangia Mangia, and Bela Nissa??

The main shopping street is Solano Avenue, which goes up the hill into Berkeley's Thousand Oaks neighborhood. On the first Sunday after Labor Day Solano Avenue hosts the Solano Stroll... a mile long block party which attracts exhibits, music, performers, food vendors, and about 100,000 people!

A builder by the name of Mc Gregor built a lot of homes in Albany. They're characterized by large, distinctive, living room windows, interesting fireplaces (usually circular, and of brick), and split level design (bedrooms over the garage).

The distinctive hill on the west side of Albany is the real "el cerrito" (little hill) in spanish. The city of El Cerrito is actually the just to the north.

Horse racing fans will enjoy visiting Golden Gate Fields, just west of I-80
 
 
 
  Albany Twin Theater 1115 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-524-5656
Part of the Landmark Theater chain... be sure to look into the discount card.  
 
 
  Blockbuster Video 505 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-528-1584
Front Row Video on Solano, or Movie Image on Shattuck (or netflix.com) are far better, but sometimes you just have to go to Blockbuster, so here it is  
 
 
  Five Star Video 1501 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-527-3324
 
 
 
  Albany Landfill / Waterfront Park
Albany CA


510-
We've never been out to "the bulb" but Janine & Tyler Band said that it's really an interesting place... with lots of native and exotie plants... old chunks of concrete (it was once a landfill) and contemporary art.  
 
 
  Albany Hill Belmont and Lassen
Albany CA


Albany Hill Park... is actually accessible from the north in El Cerrito! The stream (which marks the border between Albany and El Cerrito goes right through it  
 
 
  Albany Swimming Pool 1311 Portland Avenue
Albany CA


510-559-6640
Stop by if you like to swim. When Carol used to swim there, she used to use their swim cards.  
 
 
  Albany Veterans Memorial Park 1325 Portland Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-9316
Large park with Soccer fields, slides, and tennis courts  
 
 
  Nizza La Bella 825 San Pablo
Albany CA


510-526-2552
 
 
 
  Al’s Big Burger 437 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-527-1523
Great burgers and fries in a corner drive in  
 
 
  La Val's Pizza 751 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-528-6100
 
 
 
  Mangia Mangia 755 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-526-9700
We have several great Italian Restaurants in the area - Mangia Mangia on Solano, and Cugini on Solano. Enjoy!  
 
 
  Danang Vietnam/Thai Restaurant 905 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-524-6837
Friendly folks and very good Vietnamese food.  
 
 
  Celadon Fine Teas 1111 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-524-1696
Fine Teas in Albany.. with a tea room and tea tasting! They even have cultural activities  
 
 
  Royal Grounds 1127 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


Coffee and Bakery  
 
 
  Cafe Raj 1158 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-524-5667
Cafe Raj has some of the finest Indian food in the East Bay. It's one of our favorites, along with Breads of India  
 
 
  Cafe Eclectica 1309 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-527-2344
It's a place for teens, run by students.  
 
 
  Rendez-Vous Cafe 1389 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-526-6069
 
 
 
  Zand Market 1401 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-528-7027
One of our favorite Mid Eastern Markets

http://www.zandpasteries.com/ or http://www.zandpastry.com are not working yet
 
 
 
  Tsing Tao 1479 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-526-6223
 
 
 
  Bistro 1491 1491 Solano Avenue
Albany CA
Another of Albany's Institutions  
 
 
  The Pub - Schmidts Pub 1492 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-1900
Pleasant pub on Solano Avenue - I’m no smoker, but I always enjoy the smell of pipe and cigar tobacco. There's no smoking allowed anymore, but it's still nice to open the humidors and smell the tobacco.  
 
 
  High Tech Burrito 1497 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-527-7222
Good Mexican Food... they also have a store on College Avenue, just south of Alcatraz.  
 
 
  Fonda 1501 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-559-9006
A pleasant restaurant in Albany's Gourmet Ghetto (Solano Avenue)!  
 
 
  Cugini 1556 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-558-9000
This delightful Solano Avenue restaurant is owned by cousins... hence the name Cugini. They have wonderful calzone from a wood fired oven. Check out Cugini and Mangia Mangia on San Pablo Avenue for excellent Italian Food  
 
 
  Solano Cellars Wine Bistro 1580 Solano Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-0379
Pleasant neighborhood bistro. They have very good food, and also serve beer and wine  
 
 
  Albany High School
Albany CA


 
 
 
  Albany School Care
Albany CA


 
 
 
  St. Mary's College High School 1293 Albina Avenue
Berkeley CA


510-526-9242
An Albany/Berkeley Catholic High School founded by the Christian Brothers  
 
 
  Albany Pre-School 850 Masonic Avenue
Albany CA


510-527-6403
 
 
 
  Talbot Street School 919 Talbot Street
Albany CA


510-528-4401
 
 
 
  Albany Senior Center 846 Masonic Avenue
Albany CA


510-524-9122
 
 
 
  Golden Gate Fields Racetrack 1100 Eastshore Highway
Albany CA


510-559-7300
Racing season is November to March... and off track betting during other seasons  
 
 
  Century Cable 992 San Pablo Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-9567
 
 
 
  Albany YMCA 921 Kains
Albany CA


510-525-1130
 
 
 
  YMCA-Albany 921 Kains Avenue
Albany CA


510-525-1130
Smaller sister of the Berkeley-Albany YMCA  
 
 
  Kid's Club YMCA 1001 Santa Fe Avenue
Albany CA


510-527-7668