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On Sunday, Thai Town hosted the 6th annual Songkran festival, or Thai New Year, which brought out the masses to brave the warm temps and take in the tastes and sights of a colorful and fun neighborhood gathering. Hollywood Boulevard between Western and Normandie was packed on Sunday, bringing together people from all parts of town to celebrate Thai culture and the glory of springtime.
Vendors' booths lined the street, offering up a variety of information, goods for sale, and of course all sorts of food. A boxing ring was center stage for Muay Thai boxers, a parade wove its way through the festivities, and the Miss Thai Town pageant was a sight to behold for many.
LAist was fortunate enough to be the guests of Singha Beer, one of the event's sponsors, inside the Beer Garden for the second year in a row. We were treated to the amazing food of Jitlada, one of our favorite stops way back when we "Thai-ed One On" in late '07, and, as it was revealed in today's Food Section, a favorite of the LA Times' S. Irene Virbila. We can't do the fun of Songkran or the deliciousness of Jitlada's food justice justice in pictures, since it's all about being there yourself, but we gave it our best shot.
Although Songkran won't be back for another year, Thai Town is always there for you to explore, and you can get your fix of tantalizing Southern Thai food at Jitlada year 'round. (Trust us, you'll want to order a Singha or two; it's a delicious way to balance your meal and take the edge of the mighty spice.)
