Advance Notice. Global Street Food Fest.

Los Angeles, of course, is never short of global food options. But with the rise in popularity of the food truck came the arrival one thing we may have been missing out on: street food. Obviously, we've all been exposed (/tortured) by those wonderful-smelling carts on street corners selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs and other sizzling goodies late at night, but what is honest-to-goodness street food exactly? And why should we care?

That'll surely be some of the questions posed by Evan Kleiman, L.A. chef and KCRW host, as she heads up the Good FoodGlobal Street Food fest on May 1st. There, she'll be conversing with a few foodie experts, including OC Weekly's Gustavo "Ask a Mexican" Arellano and food writer Robyn Eckhardt, about street food and how it can shape a culture or city (the subject of Los Angeles, I'm sure, will be touched upon). And then, after that intellectual enlightenment, guests will get to savor that street food firsthand, with tastings available from five food trucks: India Jones Chow Truck, Mariscos Jalisco, Piaggio Gourmet on Wheels, Let's Be Frank and the Nom Nom Truck.

Get to understand the food, and indulge afterward. For better or for worse, you may never look at a bacon-wrapped hot dog in the same way again.

The Global Street Food Fest is taking place May 1st at the Broad Stage, located at 1310 11th St. in Santa Monica. Tickets are on sale now for $40-$42.50.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at the Broad Stage.

As far as Shakespeare goes, you can't do much better than seeing a show at the recreated Globe Theatre in London. But if you can't quite make it over to the Old Country any time soon, Santa Monica's Broad Stage is offering the next best thing: a run of "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

The production is put on by the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre group, which means that you'll basically be getting the same performers and show as London. It's the first time the group has done an international tour like this, and the Broad Stage is its first stop. And being at the Broad Stage has a major plus -- besides being a pretty nice venue -- you also don't have to worry about being a groundling.

"The Merry Wives of Windsor" runs starting tonight until Oct. 24 at the Broad Stage, located at 1310 11th St. in Santa Monica. Buy your tickets here.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Broad Stage