The Black Penny Opens Tonight; Mardi Craws Will Cost You

QUARTER: Casual new neighborhood bar The Black Penny—from Bar Tonique's Ed Diaz and Erin Rose's Bert West— is now open at 700 N. Rampart.  They got over a dozen canned craft beers, but craft cocktails aren't the focus. [NOLA.com]

NEW ORLEANS EAST: Just in time for you to fully recover from Mardi Gras, Sarah Baird reports that the Versailles Vietnamese New Year Festival ie. Tet Fest returns to Mary Queen of Vietnam Church,  February 20-22: "My favorite offering each year is tiet canh, a dish made out of goat (or duck) blood and pieces of gizzard or liver topped with chilies, fish sauce, herbs and a squeeze of lemon." [Gambit]

NOLA: This week booze whisperer Elizabeth Pearce looks at the true "unsung heroes" of Mardi Gras, the bartenders: "Generally the only way to get Mardi Gras off is to work every other holiday during the year—and then cross your fingers." [Advocate]

NOLA: Here's a look at what crawfish will currently set you back, and oh yeah, there's also this sad bit of news concerning Carnival mudbugs: "Crawfish may remain in short supply as Fat Tuesday and Lent approach, in part because of changing temperatures in recent days... prices are expected to stay high until the weather levels out" in the 60s. [NOLA.com]