Kensington Circus Pub

Albany's community living room: a fenced tot lot with sandpit, a big-kid playground with a corkscrew slide and ADA swing, redwood shade, summer concerts, and Solano Avenue takeout two blocks away for an outdoor dinner.

The old-school diner where breakfast, burgers, and a bakery case of pies do all the kid-bribing for you. The El Cerrito location has the most dining space and the easiest parking.

The school district's aquatic center, with open rec swim hours alongside swim lessons.

Build-your-own Korean rice bowls on Solano that hand out kid chopsticks, kid bowls, and little smoothies.

Taqueria next to a tot lot, with outdoor tables, sopes with mushrooms and fried plantains, and burritos that come close to feeding a whole family.

Neighborhood Chinese restaurant where Renee herself greets regulars of all ages.