Tribeca

Most people associate Tribeca with one of its most notable residents -- Robert DeNiro, who started the Tribeca Film Festivals. Now that they are well known, people often flock here and admire the lovely cobblestone streets, such as Greenwich, Washington and Harrison Streets. Details like this make this neighborhood a lovely place to stroll through especially during the nicer months. Living here though is definitely for those who can afford it. Given the loft spaces, the rich often feel like they have the space they need both in square footage and in privacy. Transportation is easily accessible, and cabs abound. Things are very pricey in this area but if you are looking for bargains you can always venture in minutes to another part of town. It's best to stroll the streets, admire the architecture, the restaurants and bars, and absorb the personality that is solely Tribeca.

It can be a bit quiet here for some, so you may just want to stay for a short bit and mosey along, but you will definitely get some nice pictures.

Take note that traffic can be a monster in this area due to the proximity of the Holland Tunnel which takes commuters over to New Jersey, but if you don't mind a little bumper to bumper traffic (should you venture there by car) then no matter. You will have a blast of a time regardless.

Tribeca (which stands for the triangle below Canal Street) is a beautiful part of Manhattan that Robert DeNiro has made famous by naming his restaurant after it and starting a film festival in the neighborhood after 9/11. Tribeca is just north of the Financial District on the west side, so it suffered a bit after the attacks on the nearby World Trade Center.

The neighborhood was primarily industrial until the 1960s. Then, like SoHo, artists started to move into the area, using the empty commercial spaces. As a result, it slowly gentrified and became a hip, upscale neighborhood. It isn't as youthful as SoHo, Greenwich Village, or the East Village, but it has great restaurants and shops. Its proximity to the Hudson River can make it windy, though. A good friend of mine lives there, and whenever I visit her, I get pummeled by the wind as I walk toward the river.

A lot of famous people have lived or live in Tribeca. The most visible famous resident was John F. Kennedy, Jr. He may even be partially responsible for its resurgence, as his presence gave the neighborhood even more allure. Rents are not inexpensive in Tribeca, but you might be able to find something within your price range. It's certainly a great neighborhood to live in for just about anyone.

One of my favorite things about Tribeca is the Hudson River Park, which is a long strip of interconnected parks and gardens that runs from Battery Park City and up along the Hudson. You can run or bike along the path in real tranquility, away from the usual hassles of the city. There are several piers in Tribeca, where you can play golf or go fishing, and at two of the piers you can actually do free kayaking during the summers (Pier 26 and Pier 64), but you have to get up pretty early in the morning, since there are usually more people than there are kayaks. Known for its large and expensive loft style residences, Tribeca has many great bars and upper end restaurants that cater to the residents. I really like Odeon on West Broadway. Back in the 80's it was supposed to be one of the trendiest restaurants in the city. It has remained popular to this day because they have great food and a chic but not completely pretentious atmosphere. Another draw for me is the Taste of Tribeca, an annual event where Tribeca's finest chefs prepare their signature dishes, and are then available to sample all along Duane Street.

Tribeca, how do I love thee, let me count the ways--is it those big boxy buildings, the corrugated ceilings, the truly downtown attitude, or the fact of spotting Robert De Niro going to the grocery store? Yes, it's all of those things and more. You can find huge, gorgeous lofts in this area like you can't imagine, but to live in one of them, ah, perhaps you'd have to star in Raging Bull too. This neighborhood suffered some serious setbacks after the September 11 attacks, but was also the site of some major neighborhood revitalization efforts afterward. Two such projects were the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Institute, intended to draw the big-shots, and along with them, some big-shot investors. Another cultural draw is the Tribeca Performing Arts Center which focuses on new dance and theater work. Some of the huge thoroughfares, especially near Canal Street and the congestion off of the Holland Tunnel are truly hate-able. On the other hand, the piers and quietude of the waterfront views are worth falling in love all over again. Bars like the Danube on Hudson Street, a kind of Viennese confection with gold and mosaics, are well worth an evening outing even if you don't live in this area..

The term Tribeca is an acronym that is commonly used to describe an area located in downtown Manhattan that encompasses a space that lies in the Triangle below Canal Street. This area which was once the manufacturing and warehouse center of the city now is one of the most coveted neighborhoods of the city which is populated with gargantuan loft residences that have been fashioned out of converted abandoned factory and industrial buildings and quaint cobbled streets.
The boundaries of Tribeca extend down south from Canal Street until Versey Street and from Broadway until the Hudson River. The area is home to several celebrities but perhaps its most famous patron is Hollywood actor Robert De Niro who revived the neighborhood after the devastation of 9/11with a string of ventures like the Tribeca Film Festival, the Tribeca Grill and the beautifully restored Greenwich Hotel which is located on 377, Greenwich Street and hosts the excellent Locanda Verde restaurant. In fact Tribeca is home to several fantastic (and expensive restaurants) like Megu, Nobu, Bouley, Upstairs at Bouley , Bouley Bakery, Blau Ganz, the Harrison and many more.
Aside from its many fine dining, shopping and entertainment options, Tribeca is also known for its excellent schooling facilities and the area hosts schools like the P.S. 234 which is a highly ranked elementary public school in New York city and the H.S. 475 Stuyvesant High School which is renowned as Manhattan’s most competitive high school that specializes in Math and the Sciences.

The loft, hangout vibe of SoHo didn't translate to TriBeCa where the nightlife and restaurants are trying so hard to emulate. The neighborhood rolls up the streets surprisingly early for NY, probably a holdover from keeping bankers hours.

The schools are really great, with outrageously wealthy PTA members adding perks to the kitty. (eg: The Alvin Ailey dance company comes to the elementary school to teach a dance class, a macbook for every student....)

This is still a neighborhood in flux. The heavy construction in the giant hole down the block is incredibly invasive. Because it is still trying to be the center of the universe, much of the truck traffic is relegated to night hours. The same goes for street construction- the jackhammers start at 9pm and go through the morning.

Overall, you cannot beat the square footage in some of the apartments, but if you are trying to keep up with the Joneses, bring your credit.

The Triangle Below Canal Street is a pretty cool little slice of Manhattan; it’s close enough to the World Trade Center to have suffered some financial hits after the planes hit, but it certainly maintains its picturesque charm. It’s a fairly residential neighborhood – and it’s close to all the wonders of the twenty-something sect (it’s not far from the Village or the Lower East Side). It’s also close to the downtown area, so if you work downtown but want to be close to the party, then this is a great neighborhood for you.
This is also where you can (obviously) catch the Tribeca Film Festival, one of this country’s biggest film fests.