Welcome to the Krewe of Muses parade for 2007. Formed in 2000, this will
be the 7th ride of the Muses, an all women’s krewe that has quickly charmed
the city, becoming a favorite parade for many. Witty themes and amazing
throws are promised by the Muses! Hot throws to look for this year include the return of the plush spear,
pink satin sleep masks, puppy beads, fiber optic Muses leaf medallions,
light up red shoe beads, the shoe of the year bead, the shoe bracelets,
light up slap bracelets, new buttons, Muses footballs, new theme beads,
fabulous hand decorated glitter shoes and this year a special throw
to look for a limited edition comic book the Adventures of Super Muse.
This year’s cup features the design of Alison Lewis of McMain High School,
who won a citywide contest sponsored by the krewe. NOPD Mounted Patrol Unit Entergy Clearance Truck o NOPD Communications Van or Command Unit Metro scan Traffic Muses Balloon Jerusalem Temple Dune buggies Step n Style Riders Mississippi Valley State Flambeaux Walking Shoes A new addition to the 2007 Krewe of Muses Parade are
the phenomenal walking shoes, 12 fantastically lit shoe puppets specially
commissioned by the Krewe of Muses to dance their way down St. Charles
Avenue each Mardi Gras. Float #1 – The 9 Muses 2007 (Muses Officers) The Butterflies St Augustine High School Honorary Grand Marshal of the Krewe of Muses - Rita Benson LeBlanc Rita has taken an innovative approach in directing the Saint's marketing
development which has led the organization to reach a new record in season-ticket
sales in 2006. Her unique approach to government affairs, sales, community
relations, and youth programs, makes her stand out in league executive
circles. Float #1a – The Muses Shoe and Honorary Erato Osbey, who recently received the Louisiana Writers Foundation Lifetime
Achievement Award for Excellence in Poetry, was appointed poet laureate
in 2005. She is currently writer-in-residence at Louisiana State University. Xavier Prep High School Marching Band Lady Godiva Horse Unit Float #2 - The Bathing Muses O. P. Walker High School Marching Band Float #3 – Title Float – Super Muses Warren Easton Marching Band Float #4 – Wondering Woman Float #5 – Mighty Mouth Also featured on this float are the Wonder Twins – taking the form
of invisible advisors. John McDonogh High School Marching Band Float #6 – The Conservative Crusaders Float #7 – Spyderman and the Punisher East St. John High School Float #8 – Yatman & Robinette Yatman is ‘fightin’ fo da rights of yats da woild ova’
and Robinette is using his mega microphone to challenge the evil Riddler
who is armed with stacks of SBA and FEMA paperwork. Of course, there’s
our friend, Two-Face who is shouting “open the landfill/close the
landfill…let’s cancel Mardi Gras/let’s have Mardi Gras…we
need trailers/trailer moratorium.” Even Commissioner Jordan is getting in on the act…as long as Nightline
is not around. Float #9 – The Fanatic Four The Rolling Elvi Float #10 – Cooperman The Ninth Ward Marching Band Float #11 – Spawn Pink Slip - all female rock band Float #12 – The Mighty Gore Float #13 – Stupor Boy and The Flash The Pussyfooters Float #14 - Ex-Men I Float #15 - Ex-Men II The Camel Toe Lady Steppers & To Be Continued Float #16 – El Capitan America Float #17 – The ScAvengers The Bearded Oysters Float #18 – The Green Hornet Float #19 – Mr. Freeze The Big Easy Roller Girls Float #20 – Judge Dredded Float #21 – The Incredible Sulk Mo’lasses Float #22 – The Just-Us League Float #23 – Swamp Thing The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble Float #24 – Sirens
The Captain and Muses Officers lead the 670 riding members of
the Krewe of Muses parade. The entire organization is now over 1300 members
strong. The Captain of the Krewe of Muses, Staci Rosenberg, is in the
first position on the float. The nine Muses are Clio, the Muse of history,
Urania of astronomy, Euterpe of lyric poetry, Polyhymnia of songs to the
gods, Melpomene of tragedy, Thalia of comedy, Terpsichore of dance, Calliope
of epic poetry, and Erato of love poetry. The float is lit by fiber optic
Muse tiles across the front.
Rita Benson LeBlanc, Owner and Executive Vice President of the Saints,
is the woman behind the New Orleans Saints and is being honored for her
contribution to our city through her membership in the NFL community,
the New Orleans Business Council, Women of the Storm, and United Way.
She is the youngest owner in the NFL and one of few women to hold such
a prestigious position in the NFL.
The Muses Walking Heads from Crescent City Artists & N. O. Circus
School
This year, Muses honors Erato, Goddess of Love Poetry. As the embodiment
of Erato’s virtues, Muses has chosen a poet who has shown a great
love for New Orleans. The honorary Muse is New Orleans-born Brenda Marie
Osbey, Louisiana Poet Laureate.
Float #1b -The Mount Olympus Brass Band
Coolbone. A Muses favorite gives music to inspire.
Another signature float from the Krewe of Muses…the Bathing Muses
have become a Muses tradition and these bathing beauties bubble their
way down the avenue each year. 
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed,
average New Orleans woman and member of the Krewe of Muses waded through
toxic soup to her New Orleans home. Once inside she set to the task of
cleaning out her refrigerator. “How bad could it be?” she
thought to herself. When she opened the refrigerator (POW!) the volatile
mixture of baking soda, champagne, spoiled milk, nail polish and old Chinese
food exploded giving her super powers and making her SUPER MUSE! She has
the power to lift tons of debris, super boots give her the ability to
fly over BS and red tape and she can even read the minds of politicians.
Now she sets out to Save New Orleans and meets a variety of other super
heroes and super villains along the way…
You’ve heard of Wonder Woman – well we have Wondering
Woman…wondering if she should send in the troops, wondering if she
should veto the bill; wonder if she should put out the fire in her office…
A beloved mild mannered cable executive was transformed during
a political accident into Mighty Mouth! “Here I come to speak my
mind!” Able to blow funding in a single statement! That’s
our Mighty Mouth – busting out of his giant Chocolate Bar!
Vitterman and Jindalboy are here…men in tights saving
the world from men in tights. They are fighting all things liberal. Better
hurry Vitterman – someone is about to watch Fahrenheit 911 in your
district.
You never know when Spyderman will show up…or if he is
already around. He’s using his super powers to keep track of your
phone calls and suspicious goings on. And beware of The Punisher. 
You’ve heard of Batman and Robin – well down here
we have Yatman ova in da parish and Robin-ette on the radio, fighting
red tape and bureaucracy!
The Fanatic Four live in their white house hideout…they
are the Decider, sporting his Mission Accomplished cape, Inquizical woman,
The Sting and the Human torture.
Thank goodness Cooperman has arrived – he’s here to save us…one
photo op at a time. 
Future super heroes honing their powers until they are grown
– it’s Spawn…children of celebrity breeding. Spawn includes
TomKat, Brangelina, and K-Sped, the children of Brittany Spears…whom
she is chasing promising to start wearing underwear. Even Michael Jackson’s
own “Blanket” is one of Spawn!
You’ve heard of the Mighty Thor…well meet the inconvenient
truth of the Mighty Gore! He has the amazing power to turn a Power Point
presentation into a 2 hour feature film and the ability to put you to
sleep.
Once New Orleans tourists became a rarity they became heroes
to us…that’s Stupor Boy and The Flash…those wild college
kids here to save New Orleans…in their own way.
You may have heard of X-Men (with an X) but have you met the
Ex-Men (with an EX)? Leave it to an all-female krewe to point them out.
We have Magento – you thought he was straight when you married him,
Wolferine – the wandering eyed cheater, Cable – he stays home
and watches cable all day, and Iceman – not the most warmhearted
if you know what we mean.
Because we always love a sequel here comes Ex-Men II –
Not Re-elected. They are being led by Kimberly Williamson Butler who,
after a rocky election season and brief jail visit, has transformed into
the Jerk of Court! Beware.
Roofer by day and champion of cheap labor by night – it’s
El Capitan America – the newest hero in town. His Hispanic, he’s
illegal and he is fighting for the American way!
Forget the Avengers – here in New Orleans we have the ScAvengers…dumpster
diving heroes. The Scarlet Witch is convincing the National Guard that
she belongs there, Hawkeye can spot knick-knacks from miles away, Wonderman
has a flair for decorating with found objects and Ironman can sense the
value of the copper in a building. It’s the ScAvengers!
It ain’t easy being green. The Green Hornets have arrived
and their leader George is in town from Oklahoma and pea green with envy
over the Saints super successful season! Saints owner Tom Benson offers
some advice… “Georgie don’t be green – get a betta
team!”
Here comes Mr. Freeze and the FBI is hot on his trail. He’s
freezing cash, trying to freeze investigations, freezing whatever he can.
And now he has a sidekick…Sheriff Freezo – certain to be there
for him in the event of re-election. Hmmmm. Sounds familiar.
He is judge, he is the jury…he is Judge Dredded…offering
outrageously low bail for hardened criminals. 
Don’t make him sad…you wouldn’t like him when
he’s sad. The Incredible Sulk…The Engine of Depression. He
wanders the devastated neighborhoods of New Orleans looking for antidepressants.
Sulk sad…Sulk need cymbalta!
The Justice League they ain’t! Meet the Just-Us League.
Super Muse will find little help to save New Orleans among this crew,
which includes the Profiler, Super Strain, who is busy looking for Dr.
Chee-Weez and his sidekick, the Evil Dredlock, the biddy who wants a tax
free city, who is fighting welfare queens and of course the Gretna Police
Department.
Swamp Thing has a problem…he is vanishing and it is beyond
his control. This must be the work of the evil Oilman and the watery mess
that is Mr. Go. Nutria Boy wants to help…but whenever he gets hungry
he takes another bite our of poor Swamp Thing. 
The Sirens float, a Muse tradition, has been redesigned this year. The
float features Super Muse and she is reminding us all that “You
have the Power to Save New Orleans!” This is your duty as the hero
in each of us saves the city we all call home. Volunteer! Work together!
Together we can thrive!
" Happy are they whom the Muses love." Hesiod