Delicious Tacos at Taquería El Poblano

Taqueria Poblano opens its doors on Columbia Pike just in time for Cinco de Mayo!! The Grand Opening is tomorrow, May 4th.
Come enjoy freshly prepared authentic Mexican dishes with a distinct Southern California approach,  and maybe a margarita (or two!) made from fresh ingredients, in the dinning room or at the large bar in the center of the new space!

For starters, the taquitos (either pork or chicken) or quesadillas are an excellent choice. Guacamole (as with all the items here) is made fresh daily with real avocados. A unique taste to the Metropolitan area are the tacos “al pastor.” It is thinly layered pork seasoned with adobo paste, slow cooked on a rotisserie with onions, served on a corn tortilla with cilantro and pineapple. L.A. style crispy tacos are available with your choice of chili braised shredded beef, cumin poached chicken, adobo seasoned pork or the vegetarian mix. The Baja fish taco is a Californian’s dream come true,made with beer battered fresh Mahi-Mahi on a corn tortilla with spicy crema and Mexican slaw. The charcoal grill offers the tacos “al carbon,” a fajita style dish of lime marinated steak, chicken breast Sinaloan or the pork chop Oaxacan style. The grill also offers a shrimp taco served with avocado dressing and red onion escabeche. A burrito at Taqueria Poblano is a meal in itself; starting with the basic bean and cheese burrito, or by adding chili braised beef, cumin poached chicken, green chili pork or the vegetarian mix.

Outside seating is already in works and will be available soon on the Pike and on S. Adams Street.
Patrons can park in the convenient underground parking of the Penrose Square building or on S. Adams St..
CPRO welcomes Taqueria Poblano as a long awaited addition to the emerging restaurant and bar scene in the Columbia Pike Towncenter.

New Columbia Pike LED Streetlights

The following announcement we received today from Arlington County:

Starting in March, 153 streetlights along Columbia Pike, from S. Scott Street to S. Frederick Street, will be replaced with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights, each with a 30-year life expectancy. The new double globe, Carlyle-style LED lights match the style of other recent street improvements along the Pike. The project is expected to be completed in five months.

Background:

In 2007, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Arlington County identified a need for improved lighting along Columbia Pike. Pedestrian visibility on sidewalks and crosswalks at night was of great concern. Following a lighting and safety study, VDOT established new lighting standards.  The project shifted to Arlington County and was incorporated into the broader Columbia Pike revitalization.

Project Benefits:

The project is expected to save enough in energy costs to pay back the cost of the lights in five years and the full construction cost in 10 to 15 years. The County also anticipates a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the new lights’ energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly features, which include:

• Compliance with International Dark Sky Association standards
• Reduced light pollution and interference with wildlife
• No mercury and PCB contents
• Wireless capability that will enable the County to remotely manage and program the lights
• Ability to automate dimming based on the time of day and the surrounding area (commercial or residential)

The new double globe, Carlyle-style LED lights match the style of other recent street improvements.

Timeline & Funding:

Construction is slated to begin in March.  The $1.2 million project is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Highway Safety Improvement program and administered through VDOT.

Additional Information:

• For more information about the project, visit the Columbia Pike streetlight project webpage or see the February 11, 2012 regular board meeting agenda. Scroll down to Item 17 to read the staff report.
• For more information on what’s happening on Columbia Pike, visit Arlington’s Columbia Pike website.

Thank you,

Arlington County

Penrose Sq. - Phase 1

Construction of the new public square on Columbia Pike is starting!   Penrose Square is the first of three squares that will eventually be located along the Pike Corridor and will be an active pedestrian center and community gathering spot within the corridor’s Town Center. Expect to see a lot of work these upcoming months at the site and to be able to use Penrose Square by early next fall!

The first phase of development calls for a  tree-covered, upper terrace with movable tables and chairs; an inner plaza with a water feature; a unique two-piece sculpture called “Echo”; an inscription of the historic significance of the site, and a grass mound area shaded with trees for informal seating.

Continuing Arlington’s goal of a sustainable environment, the tree terrace area will have Silva Cells installed beneath the surface to facilitate stormwater runoff filtration into the soil while providing maximum soil volume for root growth. The Silva Cells prevent compaction of the soil so that tree roots are protected and also help to retain water to sustain the trees during dry periods.

What’s more, a portion of the square will have a water feature designed to shoot thin jets of water 5 – 12 feet into the air from the pavers. The water feature will enhance the square by providing the movement and sounds of water and make an enjoyable place for people to visit. The water from the fountain will be collected, treated and then reused in the fountain again to conserve water.

And finally, the square will also have a new Super Stop Station located along the front sidewalk that will support the current Pike Ride system as well as future generations of transit that are planned for Columbia Pike.

Funded by PAY-AS-YOU-GO Capital Funds and General Obligation Bond Funds, the contractor is Meridian Construction Company.

Construction on the first of four pilot Columbia Pike Super Stops will begin this month. Super Stops, part of the Pike Ride service, are larger, more easily accessible bus shelters that offer riders amenities such as seating, lighting, wind screens, enahanced weather protection and electronic schedule information. Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services worked side-by-side with the community since 2004 to determine the design and locations for these bus stops.

The Walter Reed Drive bus stop will be the first Super Stop constructed. Demolition of the old Walter Reed Drive stop will begin in late September. The current bus stop will be relocated to the southwest corner of the intersection during construction. The three other pilot Super Stops include Columbus Street/Dinwiddie East, Dinwiddie West, and Barton Street (Penrose Plaza), which is slated for spring 2012. These four stops were selected because of their high ridership. Combined, the stops serve more than 2,000 passengers per day. A total of 24 new bus stops are planned as part of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Project. These stops will support the existing Pike Ride bus service and are also designed to function as future streetcar stations along the corridor.

WMATA is the general contractor for this project.

Motorists should expect periodic lane closures related to this construction. Information on closures will be provided in advance.

For the latest information, construction updates and lane closures, visit www.arlingtonva.us and search “Columbia Pike Super Stops.”

The featured film will be Best Picture Academy Award nominee:  The Blind Side a true and truly remarkable football story [trailer] with Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates and Tim McGraw in the leading roles. Sandra Bullock won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her leading role in this movie.

Bring your Family, friends and Neighbors, a blanket and/or a lawn chair and enjoy the movie on Saturday, Sep. 17, 8pm.

Giant Food sponsors the movie and the pop-corn! and CPRO co-sponsors the event.

Parking at the Penrose Square Building will be free! (access from S. Barton St., S. Adams St. and S. 9th St.).

Pike-ride Metro Buses (Line 16) will bring you to the event from all Pike Neighborhoods (Stop: S. Barton St.) and from the Pentagon and Pentagon-City Metro-Rail stations.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

• August 20, 2011, 1pm-5pm
• Walter Reed Community Center: 2909 16th St. South, Arlington
• Public Transportation:  Piketride (Stop: S. Walter Reed Dr.) , Metrobus 10B

Please take the time to assist in this effort. Your answers are completely confidential. Your responses will be helpful for the planning team to learn from community stakeholders about your preferences for and usage of open space along Columbia Pike.

Take the online survey here: ENGLISH | SPANISH

Pike Hike II - click to enlarge-

…and explore the Central Section of Columbia Pike. Organized by WalkArlington and cosponsored by several Civic Associations and Non-Profit Organizations (like CPRO and the Arlington County Fair) Arlingtonians and their families and friends will have again the opportunity to hike one of the most interesting sections of the Pike. The very first group on Aug. 14th (9:30am-11:00am)  will be led by  a very special local guide: County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman:

• What: Pike Hike II, WalkArlington’s Walkabout of Columbia Pike Town Center West, led by County Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman.
• When: Sunday, August 14, 2011 (Rain or Shine): 9:30am – 11:00am (please arrive a view minutes early)
• Where: The Pike Hike II begins and ends at the Arlington Career Center / Columbia Pike Branch Library (816 South Walter Reed Drive [map])

More information:

• Pike Hike on Aug. 14th event flyer in English and Spanish.
• Download a Pike Hike II, printable map / flyer in English and Spanish.
• Pike Hike II on WalkArlington website

Here are important online resources:

• • Pike Neighborhoods Plan Website [Documents, Dates, Details]
  • Under One Roof Blog Series on Columbia Pike
  • Frequently Asked Questions on the Col. Pike Housing Study.

And finally: What is a “Charrette”?

Here is a video that explains the concept!

A “Charrette” is an intensive planning session where citizens, designers and others collaborate on a vision for the development of our area. It is a forum for ideas and a tool for community transformation through public participation.

Find out the program for the full Pike Charrette week (June 24-June 30) here.