No, we’re not shouting – new New Yorkers might not realize it, but DUMBO is actually an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge. As the name suggests, DUMBO is right across the river from Manhattan, making it a real estate hotspot growing more coveted by the day.

Accessible via the A, C, and F trains, DUMBO is a daytime mecca for art and design studios and desirable neighborhood for families. The view of the Manhattan skyline isn’t bad either.

Popular attractions include:

Grimaldi’s Pizza. Famous for its smokey, coal-fired pizza, Grimaldi’s a New York institution. Frank Sinatra was a noted fan.

P.S. Bookshop. If you go there hunting for a specific book, you’re in trouble, but this used bookstore is great for browsing and discovering reads you didn’t know you wanted.

Zoë. For some off-Fifth Avenue shopping, it doesn’t get any better than Zoë, which features such brands as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Rag & Bone.

Image via Flickr

Do you love browsing for unique items such as costume jewelry, armoires, dishes, and mirrors? If so, you sound like an antiquer to me. But don’t run off to the country for some quaint antique shop just yet — whether you’re looking for a piece of jewelry or a piece of furniture, you can find what you need right in the city!

Before you begin your search, however, it’s important to remember the difference between antique and thrift stores. Although there are exceptions, most thrift shops tend to be stocked with items people simply didn’t want. This means that the quality is suspect, and the “history” behind each item is likely nothing special (unless you consider a vintage IKEA purchase a find). Antique stores, however, typically have higher standards on the items they’ll accept, making it easier for you to find high quality pieces.

In Brooklyn, we recommend City Foundry on Atlantic Avenue as one of the best antique and vintage stores in the area, featuring everything from furniture and appliances to light fixtures and decorative accents. Prices are a little steep here, but these items are certainly worth the added expense.

Additionally, a pair of stores called Brownstone Treasures and Yesterday’s News (both on Court Street) are known for their wide selection of affordable antiques, from Victorian era furniture to pulp fiction paperbacks and costume jewelry.

Last, period lovers will enjoy the Antique Room on Atlantic Avenue, which stocks 19th-century furniture, mirrors, lamps, and more.