Vegas StrEATS Takes Over Downtown With Its Food Trucks Festival

Every second Saturday of the month Location (http://vegasstreats.com/location/): Vegas Streats is Located in the beautiful Jackie Gaughan Plaza at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas.

Las Vegas ─ Downtown Las Vegas continues to change people’s perspective on what gourmet food and community are. Locals are calling Vegas Streats an adventure.

According to the public, Vegas Streats is a festival that is unlike any other known to Las Vegas. It happens every second Saturday of the month at 600 E. Fremont St., next to the El Cortez hotel and casino.

Vegas Streats is famously known for its variety of food trucks, but has become more than just food over the past year. It’s not just about street food, but about art, music and fashion that has its roots from the streets.

Originality is what Vegas Streats thrives on. It’s the one event that takes a step away from everything that is mainstream. Ric Guerrero, the owner of Slidin’ Thru, the leading gourmet burger food truck in Las Vegas, and a few of his friends knew their one time idea would turn into shttp://sincitynews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_1187-1024x742.jpg (http://sincitynews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_1187.jpg)omething big after the first event in March 2011.

Alonzo Valencia, one of the founders of Vegas Streats and a local DJ said he knew they struck gold when he saw how the event brought people together. “People were looking for something new and different. And Vegas Streats gave them that,” Valencia said.

“It’s not a carnival, it’s not First Friday. It’s different. Vegas Streats is giving the public things that are being overlooked by other events,” Keith McCoy, an employee of Vegas Streats, said. “We have a motto at Vegas Streats. It’s for locals, by locals.”

The first thing to be discussed about the event is what it’s most famous for, its food. The food trucks must meet a certain criteria. “There’s no corn on the cob, or here have a hot dog stuff. It’s real cuisine,” McCoy says.

The food is different from an elaborate restaurant on the Strip because most of the people making the food didn’t go to a fancy culinary school, but instead learned from their mom. “It’s definitely your mom and pop’s food down here ─ he kind you can’t get anywhere else. It’s comforting, unique and delicious,” McCoy said.

“Vegas Streats is all about being unique. In order to be a vendor you must be local and do what you do well,” McCoy says. “It’s not about making things up; it’s about having a passion that you’re ready to market. Give us something. Show us who you are.”

Evidently, no two tents, vendors or food trucks are alike. Each one has their own flair and customization. Vegas Streats is more than just food, too.

At Vegas Streats, musicians and artists are getting a chance to do something different. Juan Muniz, a famous local pop surrealism artist, says “When I first started with Vegas Streats I felt a change; a different vibe. Yes there’s First Friday, but there was something different in the air here ─ something that hasn’t been in Vegas before.”

Muniz is not the first to mention this different vibe. John Ynigues, owner of Grouchy John’s Coffee, said, “It’s a community down here. It really is. You get the same people here every month and new people every month. You get to make new friends and have a good time.”

Vendor after vendor, food truck after food truck and artist after artist all agree that Vegas Streats is helping their business and building a better downtown community at the same time.

William Swaney, a spokesman for the “Beyond Neon” documentary of downtown Las Vegas, agrees. “People really want things to happen down here. At Vegas Streats it’s about everyone helping each other and if you spent one day down here of just hanging out, you would really experience that,” Swaney said.

“Downtown over the past year has done a 180 from the sketchy downtown you used to know,” says McCoy. “It’s more safe and family oriented. And Vegas Streats had a lot to do with that. It’s so much more than food. You will not experience a community vibe like you do down here at Streats.”

Many of the vendors at Vegas Streats are very proud to be a part of this change. “The only way we can help our community is if we all come out and support events like this,” Muniz said. “With Vegas Streats, expect the unexpected. You never know what you’re going to get here. Expect to see something you never expected to see in Vegas and I promise you’ll be glad you did.”

“Vegas Streats is a best kept secret,” Alonzo Valencia says. “Don’t critique it until you see it yourself. We’re only going to get bigger and better. It’s all about the journey here not the destination. We’re here every second Saturday of the month so join the experience.”

http://sincitynews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_1192-300x221.jpg (http://sincitynews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_1192.jpg)

Links:

http://vegasstreats.com/

https://www.facebook.com/VegasStrEATS

https://twitter.com/VegasStreats

MAP- Location (http://vegasstreats.com/location/): Vegas Streats is Located in the beautiful Jackie Gaughan Plaza at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas.

600 E Fremont St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101

INFO -

For Parking: Use Fremont St. Experience parking garage next to heart attack grill. You can get it validated at Golden Nugget, Four Queens etc. for $1; El Cortez parking garage cost $5 after 5 p.m. BRING: Cash, comfortable shoes, appetite, patience and dress appropriately Admission is Free; event is rain or shine

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