Dumbo

Dumbo

Though a small neighborhood, DUMBO fits a lot of shopping onto mostly cobblestoned streets, many of which are still embedded with the long-abandoned rails of the old Jay Street Connecting Railroad. You'll find boutiques and flagship outposts of a curated few national brands—a tasteful smattering that hardly dominates the scene. What isn't a neighborhood original is at least likely to be an NYC-owned enterprise with other locations in the city. Restored and repurposed 19th-century buildings house some offices, a collection of dining options, and performing arts institutions. There is actually quite a bit going on down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, too: The DUMBO Archway has become a plaza that plays host to street fairs, live music, art exhibitions, and even film shoots. Maybe that acronym is just trying to point everyone toward where all the action is.