Brooklyn has come of age.  From tony Brooklyn Heights to untouchably cool Williamsburg, it has become a magnet for Manhattan expats drawn to its loft apartments, stunning views of lower Manhattan and outstanding cultural diversity. A sizzling mix of Caribbean, Jews, Italians, Russians, Vietnamese give the region an undeniable energy, and with chic restaurants, fine dining, a bourgeoning arts scene, as well as a newfound sense of pride, it is finally emerging from New York City's shadow.

And nowhere is this emergence more profound than DUMBO, the latest borough neighborhood to undergo a cultural renaissance.  This once neglected industrial zone has been transformed in a grand way and is poised to become the next SoHo.  An influx of film directors, fashion stylists, photographers and tech entrepreneurs has reshaped the area into a thriving artistic cultural center and a vibrant 24 hour community. Eclectic boutiques and retailers have moved in as well as the inevitable presence of Starbucks to ensure that the good old days of cheap loft spaces are a thing of the past.   

Forget tales of subway muggings and taxis refusing to cross the bridges. These days the hippest Big Apple neighborhoods are found beyond Manhattan.