We got your weekend: A printing press, a beer’lympics, and Mario Kart

Wednesday /It’s kind of a long story : Performing arts ensemble Compleat Stage presents a new storytelling series, Roots, from 8 – 11 PM at 2344 Audubon Street.The inagural showing will be a performance of The Story of Echo and Narcissus with original music by Raúl Gómez on violin and electronics, followed by a short lecture entitled Reflections of Ourselves in the Myth of Narcissus by Aaron Yarmel, and the premiere of Gómez’s Narcissi, a piece for string quartet and Instagram. There will also be a visual art display by New Orleans’ Chet Overall and Nancy Smith from Atlanta, GA. Free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

2013 Wizard World Comic Con convention attendees. Photo credit: Scott Forbes

Friday / Wizard after-parties : Sci fi geeks will be taking over the Warehouse District this weekend as the New Orleans Wizard World Comic Con stakes out ground at the Convention Center. But don’t expect the wizarding festivities to stop when the convention closes at night. Ohm Lounge will co-host a Drink and Draw event with artist Rob Prior. Professional and amateur comic con artists and drawers will battle it out on paper for prizes and bragging rights.

Next door at Barcadia, a ‘sportier’ set of comic con nerds are invited to compete in a Mario Kart 64 Tournament at 7 PM. The competition is free and open to the public; prizes will be awarded.

Saturday / Shane’s shout out : Tab Benoit + Big Chief Monk Boudreaux at Publiq House, 9:00 PM. Tickets $17-20

Publiq House on Freret has been steadily making a name for itself by attracting more high profile artists every month, and this weekend brings some of the biggest names to date. One of NOLA’s finest musical treasures, Tab Benoit, takes the stage this Saturday for some of his trademark Cajun blues. Throw in an opening set from Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and you got yourself the perfect Mardi Gras season mix tape. Recommend snagging a ticket beforehand here.

Saturday / N’OLympics : New Orleans celebrates nearly every occasion — Halloween , crawfish season, Thursdays… — with booze-oriented events. So it seems only fitting that Winter Olympic festivities in the Big Easy are, accordingly, commemorated with a beer Olympics.

A group of New Orleanians have organized the ultimate beer-game marathon at Mid City hybrid bar-arcade Shamrocks from 11 AM – 7 PM. Teams of five, each representing a different nation (costumes encouraged!), will compete against one another for prizes in beer-oriented games such as beer limbo, beer hula hooping, flip cup, musical beers, and beer boat race. Pizza will also be served — because you’ll probably need it. Registration (inclusive of unlimited beer, pizza, and participation in all events), which closes Friday night, is $30 per person / $150 per team of five; if you want to drink and eat and not play (hey, we’re not all athletes) the cost is $20 per person at the door.

Inside Baskerville

Saturday / Press it : Remember a simpler time when books had pages? Baskerville, a new, classically-inspired letterpress and book arts pied a terre — the only one of its kind in the city — officially opens its doors at the Inferno Warehouse (3000 Royal) Saturday evening. From 8 – 11 PM book nerds, artisans, and curious souls are invited to explore the printing shop’s 100-year-old presses and type collections and speak with the founding printers. Food, drink, music will also be provided. Free and open to the public.

Read more about Baskerville on NolaVie tomorrow, in a guest blog from founder Amelia Bird.

Sunday /Sweet tooth : Harrah’s frequently bears a distinct odor of cigarettes, cheap booze, and desperation, but this is nothing a little — excuse me, a lot — of chocolate can’t mask. WYES presents their 12th annual Chocolate Sunday from 3 – 5 PM in the casino, where guests can indulge in an extensive chocolate smorgasbord, with offerings from Blue Frog Chocolates, Tableau, Haydel’s, The Melting Pot, NOLA Snowballs, and more. The event will also feature a chocolate-inspired fashion show, silent auction, a visit from the Elmer bunny, and performances by the MuffALottas and Mardi Gras Chorus Girls. Advance tickets are $35 per person / $30 per person for groups of 6 or more / $50 for VIP (includes all food). General admission goes up to $40 per person if purchased at the door. Attendees must be 21 to enter Harrah’s.

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