Brooklyn is the second most popular neighborhood in New York after Manhattan, home to 2.5 million people, and the number is growing - from wealthy citizens looking for stately mansions in Carroll Gardens, to young band members lured by cheap rent payment in Williamsburg.
According to many, this self-governing peripheral urban area has long been Manhattan's successor in terms of toughness and livability. From sandy beaches and inviting sidewalks on one side to gourmet cafes and restaurants on the other, plenty of ethnic neighborhoods, world-class entertainment, imposing architecture, and endless shopping, Brooklyn rivals Manhattan.