Here is a quick key to the neighborhoods referred to in this guide:

French Quarter, Also know as "the Quarter(s)" or the Vieux Carré ("Voo-cah-ray")
—Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, and the river and North Rampart Street

Fauberg Marigny ("fau-berg mare-ah-nee")
—Esplanade Avenue to Elysian Fields, and the river to St. Claude Avenue

Central Business District, known as the CBD or downtown
—Canal Street to Lafayette Street, and the river and I-10 expressway

Warehouse District, also known as the Arts District
—Lafayette Street to Howard Avenue, and the river and Baronne

Lower Garden District
—Howard Avenue to Jackson, and St. Charles Avenue to Tchoupitoulas.

Garden District
—Jackson Avenue to Louisiana Avenue, and St. Charles Avenue to Magazine Street

Uptown
—Louisiana to Carrollton Avenue, and the river to S. Claiborne Avenue

River Bend, also known as Carrollton
—Carrollton Avenue to Leonidas, and the river to S. Claiborne Avenue

All of the above areas are along the river and on higher ground and suffered little flood damage.

Mid-City
—I-10 expressway to Esplanade, and N. Claiborne Avenue to City Park. Most of this area suffered greatly from flooding after Katrina but is slowly coming back.

The Preservation Resources Center has a map of these and other neighborhoods on their website, with information about the architecture and history.

Christy's Guide to New Orleans

Overview, weather, getting around, etc. | City regions defined | Fun stuff | Art and culture | The dark side | Kids and kids at heart | Dine like a local | Bars and clubs | Live music | For java heads