We got your weekend: Snow, sweets, and a singles launch

Thursday – Sunday /Brrr it’s cold in here : When NOLA’s “extreme” weather conditions — or, as they refer to it up North: winter — passes, a different cold front moves in. The Mudlark Puppeteers presents a full scale puppet production of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Snow Queen, at the Marigny Opera House. The production, directed and conceived by Pandora Gastelum, features an original music score, as well as participants of the Marigny Opera House’s production workshop with their puppets and set creations. The show is at 7 PM each day. Tickets have just been marked down 50% — $15 / $10 for students and seniors.

Friday / Shane’s shout out : Mississippi Rail Company at Gasa Gasa, 9 PM. $8 online or at the door

The guys of local rhythm and blues band Mississippi Rail Company celebrate the launch of their new singles project, which involves the release of a new single each month. At the show, expect to hear brand new music from the project, as well as the sounds of the Coyotes, who will open for Mississippi Rail Company. Read Shane Colman’s interview with Mississippi Rail Company frontman Travers Geoffray here.

Saturday / Have your cake : Answer the eternal Carnival question: Who bakes it best? at the annual NOLA Eats King Cake Tasting Party, at 6:30 PM at the Little Gem Saloon. Bakeries from all over the city will convene, each offering slices of their confections. The event will feature an official judges panel (though you can reach your own verdict), inclduing Poppy Tooker; prizes; a cash bar, and live entertainment. Tickets are $20 in advance / $25 at the door / $45 VIP.

Cafe Istanbul will showcase scores of creative talent at their Artistic Mashup night on Saturday.

Saturday / NOLA’ s got talent : Get your creative juices flowing for Cafe Istanbul‘s Artistic Mashup, which combines the sounds of three solo musicians and then invites guests to contribute their own instrumental and/or vocal talents. Tone deaf, but have other talents to share? No problem. Cafe Istanbul invites artists of all kinds — poets, dancers, comedians to showcase their art on Mashup nights. If you are interested in presenting, email Chuck Perkins. An MC, jazz vocalist, saxophonist and bounce legend Kelly Love Jones will all be present. The event starts at 9 PM.

The event is free; although, Cafe Istanbul is quick to warn “If you drink too much and miss work Monday, that could be costly.”

The Pot & The Palette Cookbook

Saturday / Palates and palettes : The Southern Food and Beverage Museum opens a new exhibit based on The Pot & The Palette Cookbook, a collection of 50 works of student art, inspired by over 100 recipes from various NOLA restaurants, including American Sector, Galatoire’s and Dooky Chase. The exhibit opening will feature some of the chefs offering the recipes featured int he book. The opening will run from 2 – 4 PM; it is free and open to the public.

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