Along with headliner Roomful of Blues, five more great bands have been booked for the 13^th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival to be held on Saturday June 21, 1:00 to 8:00 pm. on S. Walter Reed Dr. just north of the Pike. They are Memphis Gold, Tom Principato, Melanie Mason Band, Karl Stoll & The Dangerzone, and Danny Blew & The Blues Crew. “This is our best line up ever!” exclaimed Steve McWilliams, who has helped CPRO book talent, manage the stage, and serve as MC for a number of years.  The popular street party will also feature international foods, cold beverages, arts & crafts and other vendors, civic groups, children’s activities, and more. CPRO relies on sponsors to underwrite the costs of putting on the festival and to help keep admission free. If you would like your company to gain valuable visibility while supporting one of Arlington’s favorite community celebrations, please consider becoming a Blues Festival Sponsor and join Yuengling Beer, the Washington Forrest Foundation, Silverwood Associates, Fillmore Garden Apartments, B.M. Smith & Associates, and Columbia Pike Plaza/Rakusin & Becker Management who have already signed on. For sponsorship information or information about renting booth space please go to: http://www.columbiapike.org/home/245566.html

Another sure sign of spring is the return of the popular Columbia Pike Farmers Market which opened for the season on May 4. The newly expanded Market attracted a good turnout on a beautiful and sunny day. "This was the best opening day we’ve ever had," said Brian Cook of Creekside Produce, a long time vendor at the Market. The Market takes place each Sunday through November in Pike Park, at the corner of S. Walter Reed Dr. and Columbia Pike. This year, in addition to old favorites like Creek Side Produce, Twin Springs Fruit Farm, Smith Fresh Organic Meats, Bonaparte Breads, and Toigo Orchards, an exciting array of new vendors have joined the market.  These include organic Stoneybrook Farms, as well as local producers of milk, butter, yogurt, salsas, and tea. These join the Virginia Chocolate Co., The Jam Jar, Hondo Coffee, Union Street Soapworks, and other vendors who are happy to be coming back to the Pike for another year.  For a full list of vendors at the Columbia Pike Farmers Market go to: http://www.columbiapike.org/MARKET/index_E.html

On Saturday, April 12 nearly 1000 local residents flocked to the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th St. S.)  to gain valuable information about a wide range of home improvement products and services  offered by more than 60 exhibitors.

Experts in all types of remodeling projects, replacement windows and doors, basement finishing and waterproofing, decks, flooring, paving, masonry, and much more were on hand. Moreover, a number of exhibitors featured solutions for building "green" and for making homes more energy efficient.  In addition, the County’s Fresh AIRE initiative gave away compact florescent light bulbs to the first 250 people to visit their booth. Also, many Home Show attendees took advantage of one or more of the 9 free classes and seminars that were offered. Non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity and Arlington Home Ownership Made Easier (AHOME) enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many area residents and spread the word about their programs. Jorge Laura of the County’s Housing Division ensured that representatives of a number of the County’s departments and programs participated. "It’s important that we be here to explain things like how to obtain residential building permits and how the County can help with a variety of housing issues," said Laura.

The 2^nd annual Arlington Home Show & Expo was presented by the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) in partnership with Arlington County’s Housing Division. “We are pleased to be able to put on this event in Arlington as a service to local residents, and to help highlight the good work of local companies in the home improvement field,” said Jim Whittaker, CPRO’s Executive Director.  Ann Bayer, the artist and owner of Barcroft-based Faux and Fleur Design said "We are delighted to be here. This is a great way to introduce ourselves to people who might be interested in decorative finishes for their home or business."

Whittaker also was happy with how well the community center accomodated the event. "This is a great facility, and we want to thank the folks in the Parks and Recreation department, and Jesse Barnes and his team at the Walter Reed Community Center for their outstanding support of this event," he said.

For more information about the show, including a full list of exhibitors, sponsors, classes and seminars, click  "Arlington Home Show & Expo" from the Site Contents list at the left. 

Those who might be interested in participating in next year’s Home Show as a sponor or exhibitor should contact the CPRO office (703-892-2776) to get on the 2009 invitation list.

The likelihood of bringing a modern streetcar system to Columbia Pike, which has been in consideration for nearly 5 years, has increased substantially in the past several months, as the project has gained public attention, and funding sources have become more promising.  A the recent Pike Progress Luncheon Arlington County Board member Chris Zimmerman told the large crowd that he is "more confident than ever" that the system will be up and running in "four or five years. Proponents of the system have been encouraged by a unanimous County Board vote that placed the Columbia Pike project on a list of County transportation priorities, the endorsement of the project by the  Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and the designation of $36.9 million for the project by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Based on the Authority’s criteria for ranking projects the Columbia Pike Streetcar received the second highest score in the Transit category and the third highest score among all Northern Virginia projects. While the Virginia Supreme Court has subsequently ruled that NVTA does not have the authority to collect the tax money it would use for such projects, Northern Virginia leaders are hoping the legislature will establish a new, and constitutional, way for the region to fund its priority  transportation initiatives.

In addition, the Columbia Pike Streetcar has gained a good deal of media attention of late, as the subject of articles in the Washington Post, Washington Business Journal,  Arlington Sun Gazette, a number of segments on WTOP radio, and a story on Fox 5 News. One reason for the attention here is what’s happening elsewhere in the region and around the country, such as in Portland, Oregon (pictured at the right). "We are beginning to see a streetcar revolution," said Steve DelGuidice, an Arlington County transportation planner, who cites dozens of municipalities that are planning streetcar systems both to efficiently transport more people, and to gain the benefits of new economic development.

The proposal for a Columbia Pike Streetcar System came out of the extensive public planning efforts that produced the community’s vision for a revitalized Pike, the "Form Based Code" which prescribes the kinds of development that can occur here, and the Columbia Pike Street Space Planning Task Force Report. The specific plan for a 4.7 mile line that will run from Skyline to Pentagon City, operate in mixed traffic lanes, and be supplemented with buses during peak periods, was endorsed by the Arlington and Fairfax County Boards in April and May of 2006.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the Columbia Pike Streetcar

Click here for Map of Proposed Streetcar Line

  Mother Nature, proving she is a big fan of Columbia Pike, provided a remarkably warm, sunny, and beautiful day on October 21, and a great crowd gathered for a grand multicultural celebration and the start of a new tradition on the Pike.  County Board Vice Chairman Walter Tejada addressed the early afternoon festival-goers and said the event is an example of the vibrancy of the Columbia Pike Community and an indication of how Arlington welcomes its diverse population. The international food festival featured a wide variety of delicious fare from area restaurants including Atilla’s Restaurant (Middle Eastern), Dama’s em>(Ethiopian), San Vicente Restaurant (Salvadoran and TexMex), Taj Palace (Indian), Salvo’s Pizza Pantry (Italian), and excellent Thai cooking by Krit Yampai, Southern American fare from Big Daddy’s BBQ,  and baked treats from Shoe Box Oven. CPRO partnered with the Arlington County Multicultural Advisory Commission to bring the sights and sounds of more than a dozen performing groups to the event including the Mariachi band Asi es mi tierra, the Asian dance group Sutera Malaysia, the Arlington Dance Theater, Mexican Folklorica,  Hawaiian dancers from Halou-o-aulani, the Guatemalan Folkloric group WUQXINCAN, local barbershop quartet the Arlingtones, Bolivian dance group Santiago de Anzaldo, the  Fil-Am Heritage Dance Ensemble, the Panamanian Grupolfawa, the Columbia Pike Community Chorus, and more.

Vendors were busy showing and selling arts and crafts and other goods while civic and non-profit groups provided information about their activities and services. Edgemoor Real Estate Services and the architecture firm of Davis Carter Scott, who will redevelop the Arlington Mill Community Center Site as the County’s private partners, were on hand to discuss the exciting project. Meanwhile, representatives from Arlington County and transportation consultant DMJM Harris talked to festival-goers about plans for a modern streetcar system for Columbia Pike. One special feature of the Festival was its community health fair component where local health service organizations and health care providers offered information and free vision, blood pressure, and dental health screenings. Our lead sponsors for the event were the Washington Forrest Foundation, and Edgemoor Real Estate Services/ Davis Carter Scott. Our other sponsors are PikeRide; Giant Food; Virginia Commerce Bank; Silverwood Associates; Elite Electrical; The Dorchester, Westmont, and Oakland Apartments; B.M. Smith & Associates; Columbia Pike Plaza;  Woodfield Investments; Beeson Creative Group; Brown’s Nissan; and BB&T.

To view more photos click on "A Great Time at Taste of the Pike!" at the top of the right hand column of this web page, as well as the three links below it.

  

A crowd estimated at more than 5,000 people enjoyed great music, delicious foods, and cold beverages on a hot and sunny Father’s Day in South Arlington on June 17. The free outdoor event transformed two blocks of S. Walter Reed Drive, just north of Columbia Pike, into a fun and lively party zone. Music fans packed the seating area near the stage, families enjoyed picnics on the lawn, kids played on jumbo inflatables and got their faces painted, while Rincome Thai, Big Daddy’s BBQ, Amira Mediterranean, and Salvo’s Pizza Pantry served up delectable dishes, and diners of all ages tried to save room for ice cream, funnel cakes and other treats. Civic groups dispensed information, vendors showed off their arts and crafts and other products, and many attendees took advantage of the shopping opportunity. County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson and Vice Chair Walter Tejada were both on hand to greet the crowd and enjoy the festivities. Ferguson said the event is "a perfect example of how Arlington provides world-class entertainment while celebrating its diverse neighborhoods."

Over the years, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival has brought a wide array of traditional and contemporary blues talent to local fans. This year SMOKIN’ JOE KUBEK AND BNOIS KING led an impressive line-up that included Memphis Gold, Ernie Hawkins, Karl Stoll & the Dangerzone, and Columbia Pike’s homegrown band, the CURBFEELERS.

The Blues Festival is an annual event presented by the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO). This year’s premier sponsors were Arlington County Commuter Services’ PikeRide, Silverwood Associates, Inc., and the Washington Forrest Foundation. Additional support was received from BB&T, Fillmore Garden Apartments, E.G. Reinsch Apartment Communities, AA Locksmith Service, DSF Group, Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, Buck & Associates, Columbia Pike Plaza, Clark Ventures, Sheraton National Hotel, and the Arlington Cinema ’N’ Drafthouse.

Have comments or ideas about how the Blues Festival can be made even better? Please email Jim Whittaker at jwhittaker@columbiapike.org or call 703-892-2776.