<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->The popular Columbia Pike Farmers Market will re-open for its 15^th delicious year on Sunday, May 3.  Come check out the fresh, ripe produce coming in from local farmers every Sunday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in Pike Park, at the corner of S. Walter Reed Dr. and Columbia Pike. This year, in addition to farm favorites like Creek Side Produce, Twin Springs Fruit Farm, Smith Meadows Fresh Organic Meats, James Laughlin Dairy, Toigo Orchards, and Westmoreland Produce, we are pleased to welcome Cibola Farms who specialize in naturally raised bison, and Everona Dairy who are makers of artisanal sheep’s milk cheeses! In addition, an exciting array of other vendors will participate in the market.  These include local producers of salsas, chocolate, coffee, tea, honey, beeswax candles, soaps, and jewelry.  For a full list of vendors at the Columbia Pike Farmers Market go to: http://www.columbiapike.org/MARKET/index_E.html 

In order to make way for the new Penrose Square development, Columbia Pike’s Giant grocery and pharmacy stores closed permanently on April 16, and demolition of the existing buildings has now been scheduled. The first building (at 2401/2405 Columbia Pike, former home of Lady Hamilton and other stores) is planned to be brought down next week. The second building (at 2411-2425 Columbia Pike, which housed the pharmacy, Cowboy Café, and other businesses) will be demolished on or about the week of May 15. And, finally, the Giant grocery building will be torn down on or about the first week of June. To minimize inconvenience to its customers, Giant has opened a temporary pharmacy across the street at 2408 Columbia Pike, and for grocery shopping is providing free round-trip shuttle service between the temporary pharmacy location and the Giant located at Bailey’s Crossroads.  For the shuttle schedule click here.

The Nissan franchise that has that has been operated by the Brown’s Automotive group at 3200 Columbia Pike has closed. The Nissan new car, parts and service operations have been transferred to the Koons dealership at Seven Corners in Falls Church. According to Brown’s, Nissan wanted them to move the store but they could not find a suitable location. Nissan also wanted them to add another operation that they felt would dilute their business in Arlington. Consequently, Brown’s decided to reopen their Columbia Pike facility as a used car “Super Center” that is selling certified used cars from Honda, BMW, Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti, Mazda, Volvo, Hyundai, as well as Nissan. In addition, Brown’s continues to operate their large body shop at the rear of their Columbia Pike location.

 

On two successive Saturday afternoons, there will be a chance to walk about, learn some local history of the Columbia Pike area, meet some colorful reenactors, and enjoy a fun gathering of neighbors and new friends.

The leisurely 1 ½ mile History Walks will take place on May 23 and May 30 at 2pm, and start and conclude at the Arlington United Methodist Church (716 S. Glebe Rd.).  Both will end with light refreshments and an exhibit of the church’s 150 year history. The tour includes church site, a civil war encampment, a school, and a place where John Singleton Mosby once lived.  The History Walks are free and open to all. Please call 703-521-0522 or 703-979-7527 to let them know if you plan to attend.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Attended byover 10,000people each year, the annual Taste of Arlingtonis the largest single day event in the County. Thelivelystreet festivalbrings together more than 40noteworthy restaurants, live entertainment, a science fair and otherchildren’s activities. Proceeds of the event benefitCommunity Residences, a local non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities to live independently in the community. CPRO is pleased to be partnering with the Ballston Virginia Square Partnership on the 2009 Taste. Pike favorites Lalibela Restaurant (Ethiopian) and Restaurante Abi (Salvadorian/Tex Mex) will be among the Arlington eateries serving up delicious fare on May 17, from noon to 5:00 pm on Wilson Blvd. alongside the Ballston Common Mall. Also, as a bonus, Chef Michael Natoli and students from the Culinary Program of the Arlington Career Center will also be participating. Admission is free, and a booklet of 8 taste tickets costs $20 in advance or $25 at the event. For more information visit www.tasteofarlington.com. Volunteers are needed during the day of the event, and there are opportunities for individuals and groups. Please go to http://tasteofarlington.com/getinvolved.html for the volunteer sign up forms.

 

After more than a half century at 2330 Columbia Pike, Saah’s Unfinished Furniture store has closed and the business has been consolidated with Saah’s Alexandria location. The need to cut costs in the face of the economic slump led the company to make the decision. The same quality products and services are now just 15 minutes away at 5641F General Washington Dr., Alexandria, VA 22312, near Edsall Rd. and I-395. The attractive and well located Pike storefront is now available for lease. It offers 3,500 sq. feet on the ground level, and more space on the basement level. Interested parties should contact the B.M. Smith Co. at 703-920-2200.

 

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->The 14^th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival will feature the ever popular Memphis Gold as its headliner on Saturday, June 20.  In addition to being on the cover of Living Blues magazine, other recent highlights for Memphis Gold include playing one of the Presidential Inaugural Balls in January. Also on the line-up for this year’s Blues Festival will be Nadine Rae, Paul Mark & the Van Dorens, Danny Blew & the Blues Crew, and the West Memphis Music Club.  CPRO is grateful to the Washington Forrest Foundation and Arlington County Commuter Services/PikeRide for their sponsorship of the festival. For information about sponsorship opportunities please contact CPRO at 703-892-2776.  Those interested in being a food vendor at the Festival should also call 703-892-2776. Vendor booth space is also available for other businesses, arts & crafts sellers, and non-profit groups--click here to access an application form. See you at the Festival!

 

 

Fighting back against the spread of invasive plants, the Arlington Village Green Team has been working diligently to restore its cherished ravine. The lovely green belt runs east-west through the Village below 13^th St. S., and is accessible from S. Edgewood and S. Barton streets. There, invasives were seen to be choking out native plants and damaging trees. Efforts have focused on removal of Japanese stiltgrass, smartweed, English ivy, and others, and this spring the team has focused on the pervasive garlic mustard plant. On April 25 residents were taught howto identify and control garlic mustard at an invasive plant removal workshop held in the Ravine. For more information go to www.avgreenteam.wordpress.com.

 

To Market, To Market ---Now that Columbia Pike’s Giant Food has closed its doors while the new Penrose Square is constructed, it seems timely to expand our shopping horizons. That emergency gallon of milk can be a quick trip to the 7/11, but there are more interesting markets on the Pike that can spice up your kitchen pantry, and motivate you to venture beyond the four corners of meatloaf…>>> to access the remainder of this article click here.

 

The former George Mason Shell (4211 Columbia Pike) that was closed for several months while being upgraded with new tanks and dispensers has reopened its repair service and snack shop. The station operator reports that he hopes customers will once again be able to purchase gas at the service station sometime in June.

Did you know about the used computer equipment drop-off program available free of charge at the Goodwill located right off Route 50 at 10 S. Glebe Rd (703-769-3711)? The program is called “Reconnect” (www.reconnectpartnership.com). You can drop off any brand of used computer equipment. It’s a free service and you get a receipt for tax purposes. The goal of the program is to divert more than 2.7 million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from landfills during the next year. Reconnect also hopes to create job opportunities for individuals who have barriers to employment or independence.

Our Savior Lutheran Church (825 S. Taylor Street, just off Columbia Pike) is hosting their 2nd Annual Wineology Wine Tasting on May 16th from 6:30-9:00pm. There will be a cheese bar and hors d’ovuvres, and door prizes. Wine tasting tickets are $35 per person (Designated Driver tickets are $25). Proceeds from the event go to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center and the mission work of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Go to www.osva.org for ticket order forms and additional information.

 

On Saturday, May 9 from 8:00 am to noon Alcova Heights will be the place for bargain shoppers as the Civic Association holds its neighborhood wide yard sale. Sale tables will be set up in the parking lot of the United Methodist Church located between S. 8^th and S. 7^th St. on Glebe Rd. S. Sales will also be going on in individual yards across the Alcova Heights Neighborhood. The rain date is May 30.

CPRO’s annual membership drive is underway. Each year CPRO gratefully receives a grant from Arlington County that covers almost one-third of our budget. For the other two-thirds we rely on the support of our members, as well as organizations and companies who sponsor our events. Today, our members include 20 civic organizations, 65 businesses, and more than 180 local residents. Please join them in becoming a CPRO member today. To access a residential/civic or business membership form, please click here. Thank you!

 

As always, the CPRO staff welcomes your input. Email your suggestions, questions, comments, and offers of assistance to Jim Whittaker at jwhittaker@columbiapike.org; Pam Holcomb at pholcomb@columbiapike.org; or Amy McWilliams at amcwilliams@columbiapike.org or call 703-892-2776. Know someone who would like to receive the CPRO e-Newsletter? Please send us email addresses and we will add them to our distribution list.   As always, for more information about what’s happening on the Pike go to www.columbiapike.org.