A member of the Krewe of Muses tosses beads to a spectator on Magazine Street. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Uptown parade route saw its thickest crowds of the Carnival season so far on Thursday night when the Knights of Babylon, the Knights of Chaos and the Krewe of Muses delivered their highly anticipated shows.
Babylon’s 20 floats toured the British Isles, touching on literature, geography and history. The Knights of Chaos, steeped in the satiric tradition of Momus, made a mockery of every political topic at hand. Finally, the Krewe of Muses put on their wildly popular spectacle, combining topical floats tied together by a “Muses Go Shopping” theme with the light and music show that has earned them their reputation.
The anticipation for the Muses was evident on Twitter, where more than 700 comments and photos were logged with the hashtag #muses throughout the day and long into the night.
The Knights of Babylon
The Knights of Babylon's King Sargon LXVII rides up Napoleon Avenue.(Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Riders in the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" float. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Jesters float rolls up Napoleon Avenue in the Knights of Babylon parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider on the Jesters float prepares to throw beads to the crowd below on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The "Midsummer Night's Dreams" float in the Knights of Babylon parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider in the Knights of Babylon parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Crowds along Napoleon Avenue clamor for attention from the "Wordsworth's Daffodils" float at the end of the Knights of Babylon parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Knights of Chaos
An advance rider in the Knights of Chaos parade on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Knights of Chaos parade rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The "Junior League" float in the Knights of Chaos parade mocked City Hall. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Mayor Mitch Landrieu was the target of the "Rising Son" float in the Knights of Chaos parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Republican presidential field was mocked by the "Pole Dancing" float in the Knights of Chaos parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
President Obama's policies were derided as "Falsie Hopes" by the Krewe of Chaos. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Tulane's plans for a new football stadium were also lampooned by the Knights of Chaos. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Muses
A member of the Krewe of Muses tosses beads to a spectator on Magazine Street. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Thick crowds begged for shoes and other signature throws from the Krewe of Muses. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Singer Theresa Andersson rides a swan over Magazine Street in the Krewe of Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Muses' "Banana Republicans" float rolls down Magazine Street. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Muses' "Bed Bath and Begone" float. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Muses celebrated the Saints with the "Forever XLIV" float. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Muses rolls down Magazine Street. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Riders on Muses float "Crooks-A-Million," a play on Books-A-Million, pass out throws to the crowd. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses parader passes out throws to thick crowds on Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Bearded Oysters dance troupe make their way down Magazine St. during the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses rider throws beads out to the crowds on Magazine St. (SabreeHill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses float reading "Bourbon Outfitters," a play on Urban Outfitters passes down Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A International School of Louisiana's circus arts students walk on stilts down Magazine St. during the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses rider looks out to the thick crowds on Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A parade goer holds up a sign reading "Shoe Me" during the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses float called "Bald & Noble" depicting "Da Mayor" passes down Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Sophie B. Wright marching band passes down Magazine St. during the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses float reading "J.Crude," a play on J.Crew passes down Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Huge crowds gather on Magazine St. for the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses rider smiles at a little girl and asks her if she really wants a shoe moments before she hands her one. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Ray Cannata, from Krewe of the rolling Elvi," strikes a pose during the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Muses celebrated the Saints with the "Forever XLIV" float. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses float reading "Sayless," a play on Payless rolls down Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Pussyfooters dance down Magazine St. during the Muses parade. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A Muses float reading "Roach," a play on Coach travels down Magazine St. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider on Crooks-A-Million smiles out to the crowd. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
A phalanx of flambeaux light the way for the Krewe of Muses on Magazine Street. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Actress and New Orleans native Patricia Clarkson, honored as the "EveryMuse," rides in the krewe's signature shoe float on Magazine Street (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
