When people think of Brooklyn, typically what comes to mind is Park Slope: leafy streets lined with historic brownstones, intimate eateries with Manhattan-caliber menus and a wide-ranging live-music scene. From the high ridges and meadows of Prospect Park—a 585-acre urban oasis designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux as their follow-up to Central Park—the neighborhood's "slope" runs gently downhill toward the waterfront to the west. In earlier times, the Battle of Brooklyn was fought here. Unable to contain the Redcoats at Battle Pass (designated by a historical marker in the park), the Americans retreated down to the harbor and back to Manhattan (you can see artifacts at the historic Old Stone House on Fifth Avenue, the site of particularly fierce fighting). These days, things are much more peaceful in the neighborhood, which is consistently ranked among New York City's most desirable. Find out why by checking out our picks of Park Slope must-sees, including a literacy nonprofit that stocks superhero supplies, a Parisian-inspired bar with an eclectic lineup of music from around the world and one of the City's best cups of coffee.