- nbhd -
dumbo, brooklyn heights, vinegar hill

DUMBO for me will always be the “Brooklyn” of Gossip Girl era. Ridiculous real estate name aside, DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is barely Brooklyn. For anyone who actually lives in Brooklyn, it’s just a tourist destination. A place you go when you have visitors in town. Physically closer to Manhattan than it is to most of the rest of the borough. That’s not to say it’s not liked. Crowds and TimeOut Market aside, it is undeniably beautiful with some of the most iconic views of the city. The historic architecture, cobblestone streets and panoramic cityscape does win over even the most cynical New Yorker. And admittedly, outside of the crowded tourist traps along the water, there are some spots that even locals seek out in the area. And it makes for a nice weekday excursion.

DUMBO is flanked by two other picturesque neighborhoods. Vinegar Hill is a more residential neighborhood with Federal-style row houses lining the quiet blocks. Brooklyn Heights has some of the most beautiful blocks of grand brownstones and a tree-lined promenade overlooking the river that make it easy to romanticize the city. It’s no wonder so many of the rich and famous Brooklynites choose to live here. On a nice day, there’s nothing quite like walking through the tree lined historic brownstone blocks, and making your way toward the promenade to look over the city, Governor’s Island and the Statue of Liberty far beyond.

In terms of public transportation it is perhaps one of the more inconvenient neighborhoods in spite of its popularity. Unless you’re arriving via ferry or walking/biking across the bridge, you’ll likely be arise just far enough for it to be annoying. But once you’re there, it’s all very walkable and you can easily spend the whole day there, forgetting why you need to leave. Because at the end of the day, this is where you go to fall in love with the city. To get a real good look at it, and to pick out your dream stoop, to weasel your way to a rooftop and watch the sun set over the skyline of this great city.