Sunnyside

I've lived in the neighborhood for 8 years. Queens Boulevard dissects the slightly more "gentrified" North side (Sunnyside Gardens) from the multicultural and vibrant South side. The 7 train, while crowded, offers quick and easy 15 min access to Manhattan as do the Q60 and Q32 buses (although slightly longer commute due to usual NYC traffic). Easy to get to Astoria, Long Island City, and Greenpoint/Williamsburg BK (B24 buses will get you there in about 15 min). I'm not sure what other posters are complaining about lack of cabs, cabs are DEF easy to come by; you just have to go to Queens Boulevard to get one. Sunnyside is affordable by NYC standards, and downright cheap compared to other neighborhoods with similar commutes to Manhattan.

This is a very small area, but stands out in its friendliness. You will know your neighbor, and people here are not shy to smile to you on the street once you become a recognizable face. There's 3 area parks, one with a dog run. Sadly though, none of them are "green" with grass. For such a small neighborhood, there is a variety of great dining and bar options. "Newer" establishments tend towards a sort of upscale hipster style, while classic ethnic eats abound. There's a strong Irish, Colombian, Tibetan/Nepali, Ecuadorian,Turkish, and Romanian presence here. Lots of pubs, but don't expect anything fancy in terms of nightlife. Probably not a great place for a 20-something to get their "party" down, but great affordable option for someone looking for a bit of a more relaxed, neighborhood vibe.

Schools are considered to be good, and there's a very strong middle class family presence here; many jokingly refer to the neighborhood as "Cheap Park Slope" due to the amount of baby carriages. Lots of social options for fathers, mothers and children such as "mommy and me yoga" classes, infant play groups, day care events, and two great play spaces (Sunnyside Plays and Sabrina's Play Space).

The North Side's area called "Sunnyside Gardens" is a historic gem, and offers the only other private park in NYC besides Gramercy Park. It makes the townhomes in that area very desirable and hence pricier than the rest of the neighborhood.

On the downside, while the neighborhood has the basics, it lacks in diverse shopping options. Also, streets can be very dirty; I don't know why I find this neighborhood unusually filthy and have personally contacted the city about the issue.

Biggest problems: (1) public transportation is completely unreliable -- you're stuck with #7 train, the #32 bus, or the #60 bus, and all three suck. I struggle to get to work in Manhattan everyday, and many weekends there's track work, so you're stranded or forced to take the excruciatingly slow bus, if it ever shows up; (2) parking is impossible, and there's only one garage, which raises its rates by 10-20% every year, so you have to rely on the unreliable public transportation; (3) traffic on the Queensborough Bridge is epic; (4) no decent grocery stores; (5) most restaurants close way too early.