One of New York City's original residential neighborhoods, Tribeca was initially settled back in the 1700s. The area has undergone several transformations since then. In the 19th century, it became an industrial and commercial hub, By post-World War II, it was a ghost town with only a few hundred residents, and block after block of empty warehouses. Thanks to all of that available and eminently affordable loft space, artists and bohemians flocked to Tribeca in the 1980s and by the 2000s it had been reinvented once again as one of Manhattan's most affluent and amenity-filled areas.

Today, this unique neighborhood is in high demand with families thanks to its great public schools, the beautiful waterfront Hudson River Greenway in Hudson River Park, a plethora of locally owned businesses, kid-friendly restaurants and a funky downtown vibe that is quickly disappearing from NYC. The area is also home to the famed Tribeca Film Festival, which was created after September 11 to help spur lower Manhattan's financial recovery. Every spring, in addition to screening a slew of movies, the fest hosts many special events for families, including one of the city's biggest annual celebrations for kids, the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair. Meanwhile, on Halloween, the ritzy stores on Duane, Reade, Greenwich and Hudson Streets welcome trick-or-treaters and hand out some seriously awesome swag.

Tribeca is an acronym for the triangle below Canal Street, and as such the neighborhood has fairly specific borders: Canal Street to the north and Vesey Street to the south between West Street and Broadway. This month, we'll offer an in-depth look at everything Tribeca has to offer families, including our favorites spots to eat, play, shop and our top 30 things to do with kids in the neighborhood.

If you live in the area or are thinking of moving there, join Hudson River Park Mamas (HRPMamas), a terrific social group for downtown families, and bookmark Tribeca Citizen, a website and newsletter that will keep you in the loop about everything going on in the 'hood.

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