HOUSE OF MILAE KOREAN RESTAURANT INSTALLS SIGNAGE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Future Korean restaurant House of Milae installed its storefront signage yesterday. Bethesda has long been known for not having any Korean restaurants. House of Milae will be the only traditional Korean restaurant in town.

Kraze Burger at Bethesda Row is a Korean chain, and has served a few Korean-influenced burgers. But, perhaps the days of having to drive to Rockville or Annandale for real Korean food are finally over. Will soju be on the beverage list? Let's hope so.

House of Milae is taking over the former Plaza del Sol restaurant space on St. Elmo Avenue.

PLAZA DEL SOL CLEARED OUT IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Lots of closed restaurants moving out this week in Bethesda, it seems. Two in two days, and Friday it was Plaza del Sol on St. Elmo Avenue.

PLAZA DEL SOL CLOSED, BETHESDA RESTAURANT SPACE NOW FOR LEASE (PHOTO)

It appears the currently-shuttered Plaza del Sol restaurant on St. Elmo Avenue won't be reopening.

The front window now has a prominent FOR LEASE sign displayed.

It appears the "dispute" the Mexican restaurant's owners referred to has been resolved, and not in their favor. Clearly the landlord is seeking a new tenant.

PLAZA DEL SOL CLOSED IN BETHESDA - FOR GOOD?

I noticed Plaza del Sol was closed this past weekend, and then again last night. The Mexican restaurant on St. Elmo Avenue opened to positive reviews last year, and there was no indication the business was in trouble.

But last night, I found the ominous note below attached to the front of the restaurant.

In essence, it says the restaurant is closed indefinitely, but that the owners would like to reopen "once we have resolved matters."

What those matters are, they have not shared. But the note says they cannot access the telephone or voicemail for the restaurant, which suggests they are locked out of the building.

Hopefully they can get whatever the issues are resolved. Plaza del Sol has perhaps become best-known for its weekly flamenco concerts, featuring guitarist Miguelito and a revolving cast of dancers, a rare find in downtown Bethesda.

COOL OFF IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA WITH THESE ICY BEVERAGES (PHOTO)

It's only April, but it feels like June. Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row to the rescue, with some new, icy drinks to cool off with in downtown Bethesda.

Dunkin' Donuts at Bethesda Row has 2 new iced coffees with Baskin Robbins ice cream flavors.

Enjoy a Mint Chocolate Chip or Butter Pecan iced coffee today on Bethesda Avenue.  And enjoy it with some trivia: Long before Haagen Dazs, Baskin Robbins was the king of major ice cream chains in Bethesda. Competing with Swensen's (which took a wrecking ball in the now-demolished Bethesda Square Shopping Center) and Gifford's, Baskin Robbins served up 31 flavors and ice cream cakes at 2 Bethesda locations: Arlington Road (wrecking ball again - it was in a strip shopping center where the Bethesda Row Giant stands today), and in the Westwood Shopping Center on Westbard Avenue.

My question to Dunkin' Donuts:  How about Peanut Butter and Chocolate or Baseball Nut as the next iced coffee flavor?

For a decidedly more adult beverage, head to Plaza del Sol on St. Elmo Avenue.

There you will find the Margarita Loca, which you can order frozen or on-the-rocks. Flavors include Strawberry and Lime.

Stay hydrated!

AIR FLAMENCO IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA AT PLAZA DEL SOL (PHOTO)

You may have caught the weekly flamenco performance by guitarist Miguelito - and his revolving cast of talented dancers - at Plaza del Sol restaurant.  But you've never seen the show like this, from several stories in the air, above the restaurant's St. Elmo Avenue patio last Saturday night:

Click photos to enlarge!