MISS BETHESDA BIKINI CONTEST LAUNCHES JULY 11 AT HANARO LOUNGE

A bikini contest in Bethesda - that's not something you hear often. But for the first time, one woman will be crowned Miss Bethesda this summer at Hanaro Restaurant and Lounge, on Norfolk Avenue. The first annual Miss Bethesda Bikini Contest will open next Friday, July 11, with registration at 10:00 PM.

Registrants will compete in Round 1 starting at 11:30 PM that night. You can register or RSVP in advance by emailing Hanaro. 

The semifinals will be July 18, and the finals on July 25. When Miss Bethesda is chosen on the 25th, she will receive a $1000 cash prize.

There will be drink specials, a live DJ, and the kitchen will stay open until 1 AM. Patio seating is also available.

For the finals on the 25th, there will be celebrity judges and giveaways by liquor sponsors of the event. No word yet if I will be named a celebrity judge...

Hanaro Restaurant and Lounge

7820 Norfolk Avenue

301-654-7851

STELLA ARTOIS IS SEARCHING FOR THE BEST BARTENDER IN MoCo THIS SUNDAY IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

Watch out, Tom Cruise: This Sunday, February 16, in Bethesda, world-renowned brewer Stella Artois is going to crown the best bartender in Montgomery County, from 7:00-11:00 PM at Hanaro Restaurant and Lounge. Elite MoCo bartenders will be invited to compete against each other in the categories of mixology, speed pouring and...flair.

Are you one of the best? You have until 11:00 PM Saturday to email the competition to consider your eligibility.

Not a bartender? You can still have a great time at this event, with free Hors d'oeuvres, Stella samples and giveaways, Happy Hour pricing, and a chance to help judge the mixology portion of the contest.

The winning bartender takes home $500, with lesser cash prizes also being given away.

You can RSVP for the event here. The event is free to attend.

Hanaro Bethesda, 7820 Norfolk Avenue.

HANARO SUSHI'S ROLL OF THE MONTH - BETHESDA SUSHI

Stop by Hanaro and try their Roll of the Month:

HANARO SUSHI'S ROLL OF THE MONTH: DANCING CRAB ROLL - BETHESDA SUSHI BAR

Hanaro Sushi's Dancing Crab Roll - which has nothing to do with the Tenleytown restaurant, and everything to do with fresh seafood and a fabulous diversity of flavors - is their August Roll-of-the-Month:

Which is the top

 restaurant for

 sushi in 

Bethesda, 

in your opinion?

JAPAN MEETS MEXICO IN HANARO'S SUSHI ROLL OF THE MONTH

Hanaro's sushi roll of the month spans the Pacific in a fusion of Japanese and Mexican cuisine.

Tobiko is flying fish roe, by the way.

You'll be saying Domo arigato to me after trying this muy delicioso roll at Hanaro.

And DJ Alkimist will be (wo)manning the turntables at Hanaro tonight, starting at 9:30, because weekends start Thursday night in downtown Bethesda.

Hanaro, 7820 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda.  301-654-7851.

HANARO SUSHI ROLL OF THE MONTH: STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

Don't miss this unusual but ultra-fresh roll at Hanaro.  Perfect for welcoming summer in downtown Bethesda.

Hanaro, 7820 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda.  301-654-7851.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK

PREVIEW:

BETHESDA'S NEWEST

PARKING LOT

St. Elmo Avenue Public Parking Lot 8

Aims to Ease Bethesda's Parking Nightmare

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

You can't park there.

But you can take in the majesty of downtown Bethesda's newest parking lot in these super-exclusive photos.

Montgomery County's St. Elmo Avenue Public Parking Lot 8 is nearly ready to receive its first (paying) customers. The last step is to add the lighting (Capital Properties could learn a thing or two from the county in that regard!).

Lot 8 is small and tucked away off St. Elmo Avenue behind The Corner Slice. It's just past the intersection at Norfolk Avenue on your left. While most attention is on the April 1 closing of two public lots on Bethesda Avenue, Lot 8 is more directly a replacement for a just-closed surface lot in the Del Ray/Auburn Avenue area of "Old Town" Bethesda.

Lot 8 offers traditional parking spaces on the left side, and parallel spaces on the right. Meters max out at 2 hours, and, of course, disabled parkers will find a space here, too.

This is a good lot to use to visit Rock Bottom, Union Jack's, Hanaro or BlackFinn - but please limit yourself alcohol-wise if you're getting back behind the wheel!

Speaking of alcohol, Lot 8 is also perfect for a quick stop at Capital Beer and Wine, or to pick up a hot pizza pie at the aforementioned Corner Slice.

Dining-in at Annie's Bistro Francais, Chef Tony's or the Red Tomato Cafe is made easier by Lot 8, too. A 2-hour time limit is more reasonable than those 1-hour jokers you often find among Bethesda parking meters.

Lot 8 is the Revenge of Surface Parking Lots. And that's great news for Bethesda drivers. If you can snag a space.

So check out that fresh asphalt and paint! Will you be the first to park in Lot 8?