DUMBO

It's darn near impossible to get lost while traveling the cobblestone streets of DUMBO, or so it's said. The unique geography enjoyed by the neighborhood -- whose name is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass – makes finding a familiar landmark easy. Visitors are simply reminded that the entire neighborhood slopes downhill toward the river and heading in that direction will bring them to the waterfront, Manhattan Bridge, or the Brooklyn Bridge. As long as they know where they want to be in relation to any of those iconic landmarks, they're good to go. 

The fact that it takes so little time to travel from DUMBO into Manhattan is only one reason the neighborhood is in demand. Sure, it's nice to be able to get into the city via train, ferry, or on foot, but the real draw in DUMBO is the neighborhood itself. Residents are surrounded by a mix of artist lofts and some of the most innovative start-ups in the county. And then there are those cobblestone streets leading to 95 neighborhood buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and a spectacular waterfront with unobstructed views of Manhattan. 

For a relatively small neighborhood, DUMBO has a lot to offer. Not only has it emerged as one of the region's premier art districts – with not-for-profit institutions like St. Ann's Warehouse and the first all-female artists cooperative in the United States, A.I.R. Gallery – but DUMBO's 40 or so blocks are also a foodie paradise. There's Juliana's Pizza, founded by Patsy Grimaldi, and those who swear that a slice from his new eatery changed their outlook as to what constitutes great pizza. For upscale, old-school dining you can head to The River Café where the dress code is strictly enforced and the cuisine is elegant. To top it all off, DUMBO has bragging rights as home to Jacques Torres Chocolate where you can end the day with a handmade gourmet chocolate or Mexican-style hot chocolate with cinnamon and ground chili peppers. 

Historically, the neighborhood has been known by a number of names, including Rapailie, Olympia, Walentasville, and Gairsville (named for Robert Gair who invented the cardboard box on Washington Street). The best neighborhood-naming story though may belong to the 1978 "naming committee" of Crane Davis, Selby Beebe, Monte Davis, and John Donovan. After a few beers and a great deal of consternation regarding what was to become of their down-home artist community, the foursome decided on the moniker DUMBO, mistakenly assuming the name would scare off investors. As it turns out, the foundation they (and others like them) laid for an artsy, intellectually-stimulating neighborhood was simply too attractive to be ignored – silly name and all.