HBO's 'Treme' explained: 'Carnival Time'
By Dave Walker, The Times-Picayune
http://www.nola.com/treme-hbo/index.ssf/2011/06/hbos_treme_explained_carnival.html

Best Night Parade (also voted best night parade by Gambit readers)
Best Overall Parade
Favorite Themes

Muses — 5 crowns
Muses' 2009 parade was truly inspired. Muses' treasured throws — always among Carnival's best — never seemed more plentiful. The satirical theme, "009: License to Swill," unleashed a cavalcade of clever James Bond puns (in the sequence of the films' releases). I barely had time to notice how cleverly each float conveyed this year's theme, what with the neon pendants, high-heeled bracelets and sequined pumps whizzing past my head every moment. Among the 27 floats were classic standbys such as the sudsy bathtub and monster-sized shoe. The 15 bands, including those from St. Augustine and Warren Easton high schools, hit their notes with moxie, and the Camel Toe Lady Steppers were on point as always. My favorite memory of Muses 2009 will be the sight of Mrs. Antoinette K-Doe and her beloved Ernie riding in a Carnival parade for the last time. Godspeed, Empress. May all your days be Mardi Gras.

(http://bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A51788)

NOLA.com readers also chose Muses as the best parade in a poll on their website. The results were:

Muses 882
Endymion 696
Other 503
Bacchus 326
Zulu 289
Krewe du Vieux 146
Rex 140
Tucks 106
Total votes: 3088

(http://www.nola.com/mardigras/index.ssf/2009/02/nola_readers_choose_muses_as_u.html)