With its graceful, imposing cast-iron buildings, vast, airy restaurants, charming cobblestone streets and assortment of inviting vest-pocket parks, TriBeCa manages to feel both quaint and cosmopolitan. By day, the area has a low-key energy that's welcoming, intimate and family friendly; by night, it takes a sexier, more sophisticated turn. Once an outpost of industrial warehouses and artist lofts, the neighborhood, whose name is short for "Triangle Below Canal," has retained its creative spirit through its numerous galleries and lively performing arts spaces. Restaurants such as Nobu and Bouley boast some of the culinary world's most daring chefs; casual daytime spots abound as well, like Le Pain Quotidien, which throws its doors open early to offer rustic breakfasts at sun-drenched communal tables. Shopping opportunities range from gourmet foodstuffs to upscale furniture stores to the much-beloved art-supply store Pearl Paint, and the nightlife scene offers everything from elegant wine bars to local dives frequented by off-duty firefighters. Boldfaced notables including Robert De Niro, Jay-Z and Meryl Streep have all taken up residency in this quiet downtown refuge, but you needn't share their tax bracket to gorge on a gooey slice of spinach-and-almond pizza from Saluggi's before wandering past the gorgeous restored 19th-century town houses on Harrison Street or taking a spin on the waterfront bike path at Hudson River Park. The Tribeca Film Festival, cofounded by De Niro as a way to rejuvenate the neighborhood after 9/11, has in 10 short years become a major player on the independent film circuit—a meeting ground for stars and industry insiders alike. —Ben Detrick