PLAZA DEL SOL

TO HOST

FLAMENCO SHOW

TONIGHT

Bethesda's upstart Mexican restaurant, Plaza del Sol, is pairing fine cuisine with Spanish music and dance tonight at 7 and 8 PM.

Guitarist Miguelito backs dancer Sarah Louisa. This is the second week in a row, so maybe this will become a weekly event at Plaza del Sol. Which would be great. I'm a Spanish guitar fanatic, but strangely, the only flamenco piece I've recorded is one of those B sides I've never officially released.

One interesting thing about Plaza del Sol is that they use mesquite wood from Mexico for cooking. It doesn't get more authentic than that! When I heard that, the first thing I thought of was the Copper Canyon train from Arizona to Mexico. The chefs bring logs aboard for their wood-burning stove. Mexican railroading is probably the most exciting in the world, because it is less regulated and they have so many classic locomotives in service.

While I'm on a Latin streak here, let me tell you about two great nights - tonight and Saturday night - at The Parva, on Woodmont Avenue. Tonight is a holiday (Navidad) theme, with DJ Blackstar and DJ Mike Miasma working the turntables. "Dress to impress," they say. Saturday night is a Colombian night with great music, cuisine by Chef Andy and the famous Colombian Mojito!