Columbia Pike | ARLnow.com

Columbia Pike’s New Late Night Hub

Published May 23, 2011 at 12:20PM

The first of the three new businesses to open will be Xsport Fitness, a 12,000 square foot, 24 hour per day, 365 day per year gym on the ground floor of the Siena Park apartment complex (2301 Columbia Pike).

If you’ve driven by during the day, you’ve probably seen muscle-bound Xsport representatives promoting discounted pre-opening memberships. General manager Matt Minuth, who can apparently bench press 900 pounds, says the company is offering free enrollment and a lifetime monthly rate of $19.95 for customers who sign up in advance. (Normally there is a $99 enrollment fee.)

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 19, 2011 at 8:41AM | Updated May 19, 2011 at 9:04AM

New Massage Business on the Pike — A new massage parlor on Columbia Pike is advertising its services in the ‘Adult Entertainment’ section of Backpage.com. “Friendly and well trained sweet Asian staff are waiting for you!” the ad says. [Pike Wire]

Was the Internet Really Invented in Arlington? — County officials have been touting the role of the Arlington-based Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in the creation of the internet, but does DARPA — and Arlington — really deserve credit as the birthplace of the internet? In an article entitled “Mythbusting,” We Love DC’s Tom Bridge says that he’s skeptical. [We Love DC]

News

Accident Involving Electric Car on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published May 17, 2011 at 3:06PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:02PM

We don’t usually report on minor accidents that have no traffic impact, but it’s not every day you see an accident involving an electric car.

A Global Electric Motorcars GEM e4 and an SUV were involved in an apparent rear-end collision at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Quinn Street this afternoon.

Around Town

Opening Date Set for New Columbia Pike Giant

By ARLnow.com

Published May 13, 2011 at 10:56AM

An opening date has been set for the new Giant supermarket in the Penrose Square development.

The 60,000 square foot store, located at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Adams Street, is planning to hold its public grand opening on Friday, June 24.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 5, 2011 at 8:52AM | Updated May 5, 2011 at 9:57AM

Arlington’s Modest Manager Reception — About a year ago, Arlington spent $600 to hold a reception for now-former county manager Michael Brown. By comparison to Savannah, Ga. — where Brown had held the position of city manager before jumping ship for Arlington — that reception seems like the pinnacle of modesty. Savannah is holding a reception for Brown’s replacement as city manager tonight. Locals are objecting to the fact that the reception — which includes keepsake wine glasses for guests — is costing the cash-strapped city more than $7,500. [Savannah Morning News]

New Pike Gym Selling Memberships — Xsport Fitness, a new 24-hour gym opening in July on the 2300 block of Columbia Pike, is selling $19.99 per month memberships out of a temporary office in the Siena Park apartment building. Xsport will be the second gym to open on the Pike this year, after World Gym opened in January on the ground floor of the Halstead apartment building. [Pike Wire]

Around Town

Food Truck Company to Open Restaurant on the Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published May 4, 2011 at 1:48PM

The restaurant will be located at 4707 Columbia Pike, formerly the home of Bob & Edith’s Diner II and a Roy Rogers. Workers are busy prepping the building for a possible late May/early summer opening.

Yesterday we reported that two of Sauca’s District-based food trucks were for sale in the building’s parking lot. Last night, owner Farhad Assari confirmed that the trucks were being sold so he could focus on the new restaurant.

Around Town

Where Food Trucks Go to Die

By ARLnow.com

Published May 3, 2011 at 10:24AM

It appears that two District-based food trucks are dying an inglorious death in a Columbia Pike parking lot.

The trucks — Meathead Mobile Eatery and La Gloria Mexicana — were spotted cooling their heels last night in the parking lot of the former Bob & Edith’s Diner II location at 4707 Columbia Pike. Once free to roam the streets of D.C. and serve meals to hungry office workers, now they sit food-less on the Pike with “for sale by owner” signs in the window.

News

Vehicle Crashes into Columbia Pike CVS

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2011 at 5:39PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:03PM

A car crashed into the front of the CVS Pharmacy at 5017 Columbia Pike just after 5:00 p.m. today, injuring two people.

The car hopped the curb, smashed a low stone wall and broke several large windows. Only part of the front of the car actually entered the store.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2011 at 9:38AM

Above: A look back at last year’s presentation of a steel beam from the World Trade Center at Arlington County Fire Station 5. Firefighters from Fire Station 5, in Pentagon City, were among the first to respond to the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

School Budget Approved — The Arlington County School Board has approved a new $475 million budget for FY 2012. The budget funds pay raises for teachers and staff, expands professional learning activities for teachers and eliminates ‘early release Wednesdays’ at four elementary schools. It also includes $1 million to study options for addressing the school system’s looming capacity crisis. [Arlington Public Schools]

Around Town

Grass Comes to Penrose Square

By ARLnow.com

Published April 26, 2011 at 2:48PM

What was once a muddy construction pit is now a lush, grassy field.

Sod was recently planted at the Penrose Square development on Columbia Pike. The sidewalk in front of the development, which was once completely blocked by construction, is now navigable by pedestrians.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 26, 2011 at 8:37AM | Updated April 26, 2011 at 9:57AM

The Salsa Room relaunched with a new food menu in 2011

The Salsa Room Starts Serving Mexican Cuisine — Best known as a dance club, The Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike) has relaunched with a new food menu. Gone is the Bolivian food from the location’s days as Cecilia’s Restaurant. In its place are Mexican dishes like fajitas, chimichangas and fish tacos. A Sunday brunch menu will launch on June 5. Yesterday the restaurant offered a 50 percent off Groupon (the deal has since ended).

New Library Hours — Starting July 1, the library will expand the hours at certain branches on certain days. Among the branches with new hours: Columbia Pike, Shirlington, Westover, Aurora Hills, Cherrydale, and Glencarlyn. Central Library hours will not change. [Library Hours]

Around Town

Off the Beaten Path: Cafe Sazon on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published April 22, 2011 at 10:09AM

Sazon means “seasoning” in Spanish, which is a good way to describe the contrast of the cafe’s smartly-decorated interior to the rather drab section of Columbia Pike outside its windows. Open since January, Cafe Sazon specializes in South and Central American food and baked goods, with a few American items thrown into the mix.

Co-owner Adriana Torres, who has not left the area since she moved from Bolivia to this section of the Pike as a seven-year-old kid, says that business has started out slow but is picking up. Thanks to a favorable mention on the “22204” email listserv, she says her customer base — primarily Hispanic — has gotten a bit more diverse lately.