Bywater

THE BYWATER

Known for its colorful street murals, the Bywater neighborhood has a bohemian vibe, with plenty of outdoor cafes, boisterous dive bars and hip restaurants.

 

The Bywater is located only minutes away from the French Quarter.  It has become a haven for preservationists and do-it yourself renovators.  The area is between the Faubourg Marigny and the Holy Cross districts, and it sits atop some of the earliest land grants in the city.

The Bywater is overflowing with character and charm from residents who proudly call this trendy, young neighborhood home. The residents are a mix of long-time locals and recent transplants, many of whom have an artistic bent. The neighborhood is full of bright, colorful houses and greenery. Enjoy a scenic view of the Mississippi at Crescent Park.

The traditional boundaries of the Bywater are:  the Mississippi River to St. Claude Avenue, and the railroad tracks along Press Street to the Industrial Canal.

The Bywater is in full bloom. The neighborhood du jour, which has drawn comparisons to Brooklyn’s Bushwick, is part of a citywide post-Hurricane Katrina renaissance, which has welcomed an influx of musician transplants to New Orleans, from Solange, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, to Rickie Lee Jones, Ani DiFranco and The Pogues’ Spider Stacy.

During Mardi Gras, the Society of Saint Anne's marching krewe starts their procession on Mardi Gras morning in Bywater, gathering marchers as it travels through the French Quarter, and ending at Canal Street. This walking parade of local residents, artists, and performers is preceded by the Bywater Bone Boys Social Aid and Pleasure Club, an early-rising skeleton krewe made up of writers, tattoo artists, painters, set designers, musicians, and numerous other pre-7 a.m. revelers. 

DINING

The Bywater is home to some of the city’s trendiest restaurants and bars, many of which also host live music. Area restaurants feature upscale dishes made with local produce, craft cocktails, carefully selected wines, gourmet pizza, po-boys, barbecue and everything in between.

Pizza Delicious is a neighborhood favorite, serving its authentic Brooklyn-style pizza from the heart of the Bywater neighborhood. Bacchanal Wine is another well-known destination, serving wine and small plates accompanied by live music on its outdoor patio.

MIRLITON FESTIVAL 

The mirliton, a humble green pear-shaped fruit beloved by Creole cooks, is the self-proclaimed emblem of the Bywater neighborhood. Residents with a true sense of humor celebrate this under-appreciated food with a festival every fall, one of many quirks that proves the Bywater neighborhood captures the essence of its lively city.




Sources:

“15 Things A Solo Traveler Must Do in New Orleans.” Astrid, astridtravel.com/blog/2017/10/24/15-things-a-solo-traveler-must-do-in-new-orleans.

“Bywater Homes, The World of Colorful Homes and Doubles in New Orleans.” Nola Neighborhoods, 20 Sept. 2017, nolacondos.net/2017/09/20/bywater-homes-the-world-of-colorful-homes-and-doubles-in-new-orleans/.

Carter, Nikki, et al. “NOLA Neighborhood Top 10: The Bywater.” GoNOLA.com, 14 Sept. 2015, gonola.com/things-to-do-in-new-orleans/arts-culture/nola-neighborhood-top-10-the-bywater.

Doug MacCash, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. “Gentrification of Bywater and St. Claude Avenue was sped up by flood and 2008 economic slump.” NOLA.com, 25 Jan. 2013, www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2013/01/the_long_term_gentrification_o.html.

“Faubourg Marigny and Bywater.” NewOrleansOnline.com, www.neworleansonline.com/tools/neighborhoodguide/marigny-bywater.html.

Revolvy, LLC. “"Bywater, New Orleans" on Revolvy.Com.” Trivia Quiz, www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Bywater%2C New Orleans.

“Why Bywater Is New Orleans' Hottest Neighborhood.” Billboard, www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7841826/bywater-new-orleans-hottest-neighborhood-list.

Page created by Jessica Aaron