We got your weekend: From pastries to pop-up storytelling

Bring Your Own offers live storytelling in a unique context

Thursday / Fit for a king : If Carnival is a game to see who can acquire the most stamps in their king cake passport before Mardi Gras’ arrival (that is everyone’s objective, right?), then the Alliance Francaise’s Mardi Gras Dégustation is a flight around Planet Gallete de Rois (which, by the way, is the original king cake).

In partnership with the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, the Alliance Francaise will host a king cake and champagne tasting to not only commemortae the seasonal pastry but also the organization’s 30th anniversary. As guests sip and nibble, SoFab President and Director Liz Williams and Fran Barrineau, of Maurice French Pastries, will present an educational feature about the history and origins of king cake. The event is from 7 – 8:30 PM at the Old US Mint. The event is free and open to the public; food and beverage priced individually.

Friday / Story time : Get ready for a one of a kind house party. Bring Your Own, a live storytelling series that pops up anywhere from a personal living room to an after-hours store front, is hosting an unlikely event this Friday- no storytelling, just partying. The evening will be held at Aquarium Gallery and Studios (934 Montegut Street) and kicks off with gallery time and live music from the Swamp Lilies, followed by fellow-string bandees Lost in the Holler. Then party like it’s 1999 (or whatever year you find to have been especially rousing) with bonfires, beer and original cocktails for sale, and food (including the works of Communist Swine Taco Social). RSVP here. Donations and sliding scale food and beverage are appreciated to maintain the upcoming 2014 events.

For an audio sample of what you can expect at Bring Your Own, click here.

Catch Eddie Roberts at the Maple Leaf on Saturday| Photo © Marc Pagani

Saturday / Shane’s shout out : Eddie Roberts at the Maple Leaf Bar — 10:30 PM

Sunday / I still have a dream : Honor Martin Luther King Jr., as well as six local community leaders working to non-violently raise cultural awareness through music and arts, at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse‘s 5th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Jazz Awards, in the Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta. One honoree will be 11 year old Maya Major, whose Christmas wish involved distributing socks to the homeless. Following the awards ceremony, guests are invited to stay for a special presentation of Lu and Charlie’s Revisited, featuring Germaine Bazzle. The awards start at 7 PM; the performance starts at 8 PM. The event is free and open to the public.

Monday / Melodic Monday : Transition from the weekend back into the week with a brand new, classical concert form Musiaca, a non-profit chamber ensemble founded by LPO musicians with Loyola and Tulane Universities. The performance will feature Franz Schubert’s famous “Trout” Quintet and Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” Fantasy for piano and flute, in addition to new works by local composer Ellis Marsalis and New York composer Chris Cerrone. 7:30 pm at Munhollands Methodist Church (1201 Metairie road). The show is free and open to the public; there is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. The concert will also be offered Wednesday; more info here.

Chelsea Lee is associate editor at NolaVie.com. Email comments to her at chelsea@nolavie.com.