Bordered by the Mississippi River at its foot and the Intercoastal Industrial Canal at its downriver (sort of eastern) flank, this explains how ‘Bywater’ got its name. Now a National Historic District about one mile from the Esplanade side of the French Quarter, the neighborhood is mostly working class and multiracial. It is growing ever more popular with gays and lesbians, artists, musicians, crafts people, professionals, transplants from other regions, and others who appreciate the diversity and sense of community in the neighborhood. We are home to the exciting and beautiful new campus of the New Orleans Center for Contemporary Arts; Studio Inferno, which makes hand blown glassware; the pottery and sculpture at AB Jackson Designs; Fountainview Industries, which creates steel and cast iron for homes and gardens; the work and sales space of outsider artist "Dr. Bob" Schaffer, famous for his "Be Nice or Leave" signs; and many other galleries and studios.

In addition, Bywater restaurants are frequented by New Orleanians from all parts of the City: the very Southern breakfasts at Elizabeth’s; the barbecue and patio dining at Bywater Barbecue, the far too generous plates of seafood at Jack Dempsey’s, and traditional New Orleans cooking at Mandich’s. New Orleans brass band leader Kermit Ruffins plays at Vaughn’s in Bywater every Thursday night, and usually feeds everyone too. The Cafe Picasso coffee house walls are filled with local art. What is not "here" is close by because, along with the Marigny and the French Quarter, Bywater is a downtown neighborhood.