the BEAT of the week: LA Street Food Fest.

It's back! Just as its website says, this is the first and the original of the numerous amounts of street food fests that now populate L.A.'s calendars. And the LA Street Food Fest isn't slacking on its game. This year, the truck lineup includes: Border Grill, Nonna's Kitchenette, Gravy Train Poutinerie, Waffles de Liege, Kogi BBQ, Frysmith and more. Restaurants like Haven Gastropub, Short Order, Lazy Ox Canteen, Starry Kitchen and Playa are even getting into the action. And of course, for dessert -- look out for Longboards Ice Cream, Mother Moo Creamery, Short Cake, Coolhaus, Beachy Cream and other icy delights. There'll also be Singha beer and wine and tequila tastings on site as well.

Suffice it to say, the LA Street Food Fest knows what it's doing. It's all taking place this weekend at the Rose Bowl, so get your all-inclusive tickets for $45 here. (or go VIP for just $65) Check out all the detail here, and happy eating!

LA Street Food Fest takes place this Saturday, July 21st from 5pm-9pm at the Rose Bowl, located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. in Pasadena.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: Hester Street Fair in Hollywood.

The Hester Street Fair is a huge outdoors market that's become a prime attraction on the weekends, offering lots of vintage and contemporary jewelry, clothing, art among food and entertainment. Sounds fun, right? The only problem? It's in New York City, on the Lower East Side.

Until now. Hester's finally headed west, and will be taking over Hollywood this summer. On four separate Saturdays -- beginning this weekend -- Angelenos will finally get a peek at what the hype's all about. First up is this Saturday's Bite Size Food and Craft Festival, with booths from L.A. restaurants and food trucks showing off their stuff in bite-sized goods. Then in July, there's the Hollywood Night Market, which will, appropriately, take place a little later at night and focus on a more intimate shopping experience among the booths. In August, there'll be the Indie Design Market, where independent goods will get a spotlight. And the last weekend in August will be the closing event, the Good Night Hollywood Blvd. Music & Indie Crafts Festival, the big soiree to end it all. Look out for a craft beer festival and music at all the weekends, too.

New York? Fuggedaboutit. Time to show that L.A. is where it's at -- and convince the Hester Fair it should stay! Check out all the info for the events here.

The Hester Street Fair kicks off this Saturday, June 2nd from 11am to 7pm at the parking lot at Argyle Ave. and Hollywood Blvd., located at 6200 Hollywood Blvd.

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. LA Street Food Fest.

L.A.'s food truck boom seems to have calmed down a bit now, but all that really means is that the best have stuck around. And many will surely be showing up for the grand L.A. food event: this year's LA Street Food Fest.

It's only the second year for this big foodie extravaganza, but last year's fest was an astounding success, so be prepared for a huge step up. The participants haven't even been announced yet, but they're already boasting more than 80 different street food vendors among celebrity chefs and L.A.'s own best restaurants. And what will be special this year are the different sessions, limited to 1,500 attendees each, so there won't be overcrowding, and participants will be able to enjoy their food and experience on a much more comfortable level. Two of the sessions are family-friendly, while the night one is 21+ only. But no matter what session you attend, the $60 price is all-inclusive, which means, yes: food, beers, cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, parking, music -- everything you'll need for the event. So all you've got to do is show and eat! Hooray!

Considering its popularity last year, and the limitations set for this year, tickets are sure to sell out fast. Pick your session now and get ready to grub.

The LA Street Food Fest is taking place July 16 at Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl, located at 360 N. Arroyo Blvd. in Pasadena.

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. LA Times Food and Wine Fest.

There's never been a better time than now to be a foodie in Los Angeles, but with the plethora of food trucks and food fests all over the place, it can definitely feel overwhelming. If you're curious but too busy or lazy (or both) to try and weed through all the options, the L.A. Times may have the answer for you.

The newspaper (full disclosure: we three here at the BEAT were previously employed there) is set to hold its Celebration of Food and Wine event on Sept. 5th (Labor Day weekend), and the schedule is packed with demonstrations, tastings, signings and discussions from the best and most popular chefs around. Among the many exciting names of those scheduled to appear: Michael Voltaggio (trust me, you won't want to miss his food), Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Mark Peel, Suzanne Goin and Betty Fraser, as well as food trucks like Coolhaus and The Buttermilk Truck. And on top of all that, there'll be a concert with the awesome She & Him.

Tickets for the entire event are $55 each, which may seem a bit steep at first, but considering you'll be stuffed with delicious grub and get to see great entertainment, it isn't so bad. And if you're not interested in any food (though upon arrival, you may find this decision regrettable), you can catch the concert alone for $40.

The L.A. Times Celebration of Food and Wine takes place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on Sept. 5.

-- Chau Tu