You may not realize it, but Arlington was once home to the biggest, baddest radio towers in the world.
The U.S. Navy Radio Station was built in 1910 on what is now Columbia Pike, overlooking the nation’s capital. The 600-foot high, 100,000 watt towers were monsters, able to transmit signals much farther than your standard AM or FM broadcast today.
Simply put, P. Brennan’s is massive. The soon-to-open Irish pub occupies a total of 8,000 square feet on the ground level of the Halstead apartments at 2910 Columbia Pike, next to Lost Dog Cafe and across from Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse.
With a legal capacity of 360 people, P. Brennan’s is quite possibly the largest bar on the Pike. That’s remarkably ambitious, especially for an area that’s still in the “revitalization” phase.
On this day 200 years ago, congress chartered the Columbia Turnpike Company, which built the road that would eventually become the modern-day Columbia Pike.
To celebrate the Pike’s bicentennial, the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization is holding a birthday bash at The Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike), starting at 6:00 tonight.
Once again, there are plenty of events to choose from this weekend. Here are a few options:
Laugh. Kristen Schaal, best known as the Flight of the Conchords’ only fan, will be performing her stand-up comedy act tonight at Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike). Tickets for the 9:45 show cost $20. She has two additional performances scheduled for Saturday night.
A county traffic engineer was seriously injured in an accident on Columbia Pike around 10:30 this morning.
The engineer was in a cherry picker, working on the traffic lights at the intersection of the Pike and South Wakefield Street, when a moving van clipped a part of his truck, according to Arlington police spokesperson Det. Crystal Nosal.
The Columbia Turnpike Company, which built the Pike, was chartered by congress on April 12, 1810, when Arlington was still part of the District of Columbia. The Pike has since been a thoroughfare for soldiers during the Civil War, the site of a freedman’s village, and a location for a World War II prisoner-of-war camp (some of the German soldiers held there helped to repave the Pike at one point).
On Monday, April 12, between 6:00 and 8:30 p.m., the Pike will celebrate its history at the Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike). The free event, which is open to the public (RSVP here), will feature speakers, a birthday cake and a cash bar. Speakers include Arlington historian Sara Collins, county board vice-chairman Chris Zimmerman, and Dr. Talmadge Williams of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington.
Starting at 10:15 a.m. there will be a class called “Garden Soil Testing! How and Why” that will include a free test kit for all participants. Later in the day, at 3:00 p.m., a class titled “How to Catch a Squirrel: Solutions to Common Garden Problems” promises valuable tips for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
There’s a ton to learn about gardening — proper mulching, watering, fertilizing, etc. — but these free classes should be a good start for any green thumb looking to keep their yard pristine and make their garden yield better results.
Update at 9:00 p.m. — This article is presented as first published. Police now say the man shot himself as soon as officers arrived on the scene.
“He just told me my baby is dead!” the mother wailed out, as neighbors watched from across the parking lot. A detective just broke the news that her son had been shot and was lying dead on a sidewalk. Another detective allowed a family member he was questioning go console her.
CPRO has been busy lately, supporting new stores and developments, sponsoring the upcoming Arlington Home Show and Expo and advocating for the planned Columbia Pike streetcar line.
The Columbia Pike revitalization also received some (mostly) positive attention from WAMU radio Friday.
Update at 5:10 p.m. Monday — Police now say they know who the suspect is.
Two cousins, a man and a woman, were stabbed around 8:00 Sunday night at the Dorchester Apartments on Columbia Pike.
The annual Arlington Home Show and Expo will return next month with numerous opportunities to learn about the latest trends in home improvement and green technology.
The expo is being held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, at the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th St. S.).
In its place, however, P. Brennan’s sister pub, McGinty’s, will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day “extravaganza” featuring a live radio broadcast, a band flown in from Ireland, dancers, specials and giveaways. McGinty’s, located in the Market Square at Potomac Yard development near Crystal City, says it hopes to be “the greenest spot in the county.”
More details on the festivities at McGinty’s and 15 other bars can be found in our St. Patrick’s Day Guide.
