Solano Stroll at 50: A day in pictures

It was my first Solano Stroll, and my toddler spent a good chunk of it next to a toilet.

Her father and I didn’t mind spending a half-hour at the Mr. Rooter Plumbing tent while she stuffed inanimate objects down the porcelain throne. Soon a gaggle of children gathered, stunned to witness what a toilet actually does — a usually opaque process suddenly on full display. Meanwhile, adults stopped by to ask about plumbing services and rates.

Attendance figures for this year’s Solano Stroll have yet to be released, but the festival was noticeably well attended, and the celebration of the small and large businesses that make up the Albany and Berkeley communities was everywhere.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing had the good sense to bring its own toilet to the street, but there were more surprising setups: Grubb Co. had an interior designer stage an inviting living room on the pavement, StretchLab offered stretches for "text neck," and PG&E gave away free low-growing plants that won’t interfere with power lines.

But what really stood out was the scrappiness and resilience of the small businesses along Solano — the longstanding and new restaurants, cafes and shops that Albany residents, as I’ve learned from the tips and story ideas that have come in since our launch, adore so much.

Below, we've featured photos from readers (thank you!) and some of our own.

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