Muses has become a community force since its founding in 2000. It now boasts more than 1,000 members. Named for the nine daughters of Zeus, the krewe has become known for its flair and creativity, often including a satirical theme, and incredibly creative logo throws. That includes the ladies’ shoes painted and decorated by krewe members and gently tossed from floats to a lucky few. Civil rights figure Ruby Bridges will ride as honorary muse, in the red shoe float. Also, look for the many walking clubs in the parade. Muses also prides itself on its community involvement (including hosting an annual contest to have a local student design the artwork for its cups). Last year, the women of Muses proved they’re about more than just a parade. They staged a special mini-parade for a young girl who was bullied and teased along the parade route, in an event that became known as “Emily Gras,” named for the young girl who brought smiles to everyone who heard the happy ending to her unfortunate story. This year, in addition to its long list of clever throws and clever float titles, the krewe will again feature its signature floats: the famous fiber-optic red shoe float, the Sirens float and the bathtub float.
