SFist Interviews: Sunnyside Blogger Steve Robles

Anyway. We asked Steve a few questions about the neighborhood that is Sunnyside. Here's what he had to say.

Is the neighborhood called "Sunnyside" or "The Sunnyside?" (We've been burned before for using "The")

You know, I hadn’t considered it before, but I’ve never used “the,” nor have I heard anybody else use it. I think anytime someone in the city is talking about our neighborhood and not calling it Glen Park, it’s a good thing. So I’ll never burn you for using the “the.”

Why did you choose to live in Sunnyside?

I kind of stumbled into this neighborhood after having lived all over the city. I moved in with my girlfriend at the time, and she owned a car, so we liked the idea of being able to park somewhat closely to our apartment. Um, and no bums, to avoid the parlance of our times.

Over the years, I’ve learned about Sunnyside’s history, which is rich. And the view from my big south-facing windows is nice! I’ve even seen it portrayed in “All Over Coffee,” which was fun.

What is Sunnyside's best kept secret?

I really wish I could say Friends [Bar] with a straight face, but that place kinda skeeves me out. Seriously, though, transit, transit, transit. Short walk to BART, three bus lines (though we’re getting clobbered by the MUNI cuts), and the J-Church streetcar. If you’re a car person, there’s enough leftover elements of the pre-Freeway Revolt projects to make things pretty car-friendly (though this will change when the Glen Park Community Plan kicks in over the next few years). Suck it, P-Hill!

Which neighboring neighborhood is most full of itself?

Well, Glen Park suffers from an inferiority complex from being so close to the more hipster-friendly Noe Valley, and St. Francis Wood is just too easy a target. So just to start a friendly rivalry, I’ll say Westwood Highlands. What’re you snobs lookin’ at?!

Have you ever had any run-ins with Sunnyside's infamous handyman Tony? If so, what happened?

No, but now I won’t rest ‘till I find out what that’s all about. Actually, that’s not true, I’m about to take a nap. But right after that …

What is the most exciting thing going on in Sunnyside today?

Uhhh … well … the sun came out today, so the name isn’t ironic at the moment! Very exciting for this time of year. And the sound of construction from the Sunnyside Conservatory renovation project wafts down Monterey Blvd. And stuffed bell pepper soup is on sale at Safeway. Yeah. We don’t really DO excitement around here, at least on a daily basis. But that’s kind of the appeal, innit?

If you had to sum up life in Sunnyside in one word, what would it be?

Creamy! (Original developer Behrend Joost called Sunnyside “the crème de la crème of San Francisco subdivisions.”)

Creamy. We like this guy. Check out his witty and informative blog at sunnysideherald.wordpress.com.

Photo: Friends of the Sunnyside Conservatory