Pentagon City

EPIC Smokehouse Expected to Open in Early September

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) An “epic” new restaurant is coming to 1330 S. Fern Street in Pentagon City, across from Costco.

EPIC Smokehouse is being billed as a neighborhood restaurant that “combines the best aspects of a fine dining steakhouse and a barbecue joint.” Work on the restaurant’s interior is still in progress, but according to a press release the eatery is expected to open in “early September.”

“The vision behind the smokehouse is simple — quality smoked meats and seafood paired with innovative cocktails and high-caliber wine at affordable prices, all complete with incomparable service,” according to the release. “Above all, [owners Joon] Yang and [Wayne] Halleran want their place to be an integral part of the neighborhood.”

Yang and Halleran, formerly of The Palm restaurant in Tysons Corner, say the idea for EPIC Smokehouse has been in the works for years.

“We’ve been waiting for the opportunity to make this concept a reality for a few years, and we are ecstatic to have found the perfect location here in Pentagon City,” said Yang, who will serve as the restaurant’s general manager, in a statement. “Our goal is not only to provide delicious food and the most amazing wine list in the region, but to engage our neighbors in a way that makes us a staple in the community for years to come.”

Signature dishes at the restaurant in include horseradish-crusted prime rib, chipotle-seasoned sea bass, a light poached peach and prosciutto salad, pancetta macaroni and cheese, Carolina slaw and fried asparagus.

EPIC Smokehouse will be one of three restaurants on its particular stretch of S. Fern Street, which is located across the street from Costco and two blocks from Pentagon City mall. The street is home to a Dunkin’ Donuts store and Nell’s Carryout.

The street could be getting a lot busier in the next couple of years, however.

A proposed development that’s currently being reviewed by the county’s Site Plan Review Committee could bring up to 2 million square feet of new office and hotel space along S. Fern Street, and a new 18-story, 411-unit apartment building is in the early stages of construction at the intersection of S. Fern Street and 12th Street S.

The press release for EPIC Smokehouse, after the jump.

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Rolling Road Closures for 9/11 Motorcycle Ride

By ARLnow.com

Update at 3:30 p.m. — The ride has concluded, with the motorcylcists arriving in Pentagon City. Few residual delays remain on eastbound I-66 as a result of the rolling road closures, according to traffic cameras.  One motorcyclist who fell on the ramp from Route 110 to Army Navy Drive is receiving medial attention for non-life-threatening injuries.

About a thousand motorcyclists will be coming to Arlington tonight for the annual America’s 9/11 Ride.

The bikers are scheduled to leave the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanskville, Pa. this morning en route to Arlington, where they will be staying overnight. The motorcycle ride will enter Arlington via eastbound I-66 around 3:00 this afternoon. The ride will continue to southbound Route 110, and will end up at the Doubletree Hotel at 300 Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City.

Arlington County Police will be escorting the ride through Arlington. Officers will temporarily close on-ramps to “avoid mixing vehicles with the ride,” according to police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The bikers will leave for New York City from the Pentagon North Parking Lot, via northbound I-395, on Saturday morning.

New Frozen Yogurt Shop Coming to Pentagon City

By Aaron Kraut

Is there enough room in Pentagon City for two self-serve frozen yogurt stores?

Tutti Frutti franchise owner Geoff Trout is betting on it. He hopes to open shop on South Fern Street, next to the Post Office in the Millennium at Metropolitan Park apartments, in late August or early September.

The self-serve frozen yogurt trend hit Pentagon Row earlier this year when Yogiberry replaced Maggie Moo’s ice cream. The Tutti Frutti concept is similar — a rotating menu of flavors combined with 35 to 40 fruit and candy toppings.

“I feel very confident in the product,” Trout said. “I don’t think Pentagon Row is close enough. This is a company that has really taken off.”

The Los Angeles-based company claims it’s the largest self-serve frozen yogurt chain in the world, with 584 franchises.

CVS Store Opening Soon in Pentagon Centre

By Katie Pyzyk

The new CVS store in Pentagon Centre (1201 S. Hayes Street) is getting prepped for its upcoming grand opening.

A representative from CVS corporate headquarters tells us the store is scheduled to open to the public on Sunday, July 29. Workers can be seen inside stocking shelves and putting finishing touches on the store.

The space has been vacant since Borders moved out last year, after the chain went bankrupt and closed all its stores across the country.

Planning to Begin for New Pentagon City Metro Elevator

By ARLnow.com

On Saturday, the Arlington County Board is expected to approve a contract to begin preliminary engineering for a new elevator at the Pentagon City Metro station.

With about 36,000 combined entries and exits per weekday, the Pentagon City station is the second busiest station in Northern Virginia — second only to Rosslyn — and the 10th busiest in the entire Metro system.

A study conducted by WMATA in 2010, at the request of Arlington County, concluded that a new elevator should be built on the west side of S. Hayes Street, near the Pentagon City mall, and across from an existing elevator on the east side of Hayes.

In a report, county staff says a second elevator will help improve access to the station for those with disabilities and for those with strollers and luggage, by eliminating the need to cross S. Hayes Street in order to use an elevator.

“Additionally, it will provide redundancy, in accordance with current WMATA design criteria, when one of the elevators is out of service for any reason,” staff added.

The contract for the initial engineering is worth $358,359, and is scheduled to be voted upon by the Board on Saturday. Once the preliminary engineering is completed, the county plans to proceed with a design-build construction process in order to save time and money.

The budget for the entire project includes $4.5 million in federal funds, $400,000 in state funds and $200,000 county bond funds.

‘Dash for Dad’ Race to Close Streets in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Hundreds of runners will celebrate Father’s Day with a race in Pentagon City.

The Dash for Dad, organized by Pacers in partnership with ZERO — The Project to End Prostate Cancer, consists of three separate events: a four mile run starting at 8:30 a.m., a one mile fun walk at 8:35 a.m., and a kids dash at 9:30 a.m. for those eight years and under.

Participants can register individually or as a daddy-daughter or father-son team. There will be prizes for the top-finishing father-daughter and father-son teams of various age groups.

At the one mile mark of the four mile race, participants can “tie one on for dad” — they can select and tie a necktie, then wear it for the remainder of the race. The top three fastest male and female tie tiers will receive prizes.

The event will take place on Sunday, June 17, and will start in front of Pentagon Row (1101 S. Joyce Street). After the race, there will be a post-race party at Pentagon Row.

Advance registration is $35 for the four miler, $12 for the one mile course, and $10 for the kids dash.

To accommodate the race, Arlington County police will be closing two stretches of road from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. S. Joyce Street will be closed between 15th Street S. and Army Navy Drive, and Army Navy Drive will be closed between S. Joyce Street and 25th Street S.

Photo by Swim Bike Run Photography

New Pedestrian Paths Being Added to S. Joyce Street

By ARLnow.com

The section of S. Joyce Street that connects Columbia Pike and Pentagon City is getting a major facelift.

Road work is currently underway on S. Joyce Street, described as “one of the few places for cyclists and pedestrians to cross I-395 in Arlington.” The $1.8 million federal project will not only improve the aesthetics of the road — “more urban, and less highway-industrial” — but will result in significant functional improvements for road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists.

Among the changes, as described by the Federal Highway Administration:

  • “Project will build a narrower median, leaving two through travel lanes in each direction, and provide much-improved ten-foot wide shared use sidewalks on both sides, plus three-foot buffers between the walkway and back of curb.”
  • “New pedestrian-scale street lighting will be installed the length of the project on both sides.”
  • “All guard rails will be removed (terminal median crash barriers will be installed).”
  • “Large standpipes will be re-located out of the accessible pedestrian route.”

Construction is underway now and is expected to wrap up in September. The project also accounts for the planned Columbia Pike streetcar, anticipating that the streetcar will use the road’s inner lanes.

Officials describe the project as a “coordinated effort” involving the Federal Highway Administration, VDOT, the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Navy Annex demolition project, and Arlington’s streetcar project.

Photo courtesy Arlington County

Report: Electric Cars Could Save Families Hundreds this Summer

By Katie Pyzyk

As summer travel season ramps up, a lot of money will be put toward filling up the car with gas. But a new report claims the average Virginia family could save $560 at the pump this summer by using more fuel efficient cars.

The Environment Virginia Research & Policy Center, an organization aimed at promoting cleaner energy options, released the report. It highlights President Obama’s proposal to increase fuel efficiency to 54.5 mpg by 2025.

Organization representatives presented the findings today at a press conference at the River House Apartments (1400 S. Joyce Street) in Pentagon City. There, they highlighted the electric car charging station in the parking lot, and urged Arlington residents to consider purchasing an electric car.

The report claims that the improved standards would save the equivalent amount of pollution as taking three coal power plants offline for the summer, on top of the $560 each Virginia family would save.

“Not only could you take that trip to Virginia Beach while burning much less oil along the way, but you could book the family a hotel for a couple of extra days with the money you’re saving,” said John Cross, Federal Transportation Advocate for Environment Virginia.

Congressman Jim Moran (D) backs the proposed standards mentioned in the report.

“From an economic, environmental and national security perspective, we must reduce our dependency on oil,” said Moran in a statement. “This new report from Environment America highlights the importance of moving forward with cleaner, more fuel efficient cars.”

Cross noted that buying an electric car now has a positive environmental impact, even though the standards aren’t yet to the 54.5 mpg mark.

“Drivers do not have to wait until 2025 to reap the benefits of cleaner cars,” Cross said. “A bumper crop of fuel efficient cars have already started coming to the showroom floor.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

‘SmokeHouse’ Coming to Pentagon City — Two veterans of The Palm restaurant are teaming up to create “Epic SmokeHouse,” described as a cross “between a fine dining steakhouse and a barbecue joint.” The restaurant will reportedly be located inside the Millennium at Metropolitan Park apartment building at 1330 S. Fair Street, near Pentagon City mall. [Washington City Paper]

County Launches ‘Green Streets’ Program — Arlington County has launched a pilot program to build bioretention systems into road medians, in an effort to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff before it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. [Connection Newspapers]

Hundreds Busted in HOV Crackdown — A Capitol Region HOV enforcement crackdown on Tuesday netted nearly 650 traffic summonses and arrests, including nearly 450 HOV violations. In Virginia, the enforcement was conducted by Virginia State Police, Arlington County police and other local law enforcement agencies. [CBS Local]

Expect Heavy Memorial Day Traffic — More motorists are expected to hit the roads in the D.C. area this Memorial Day weekend than at any time since the start of the recession, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. [WJLA]

AIM Offers Video Production Camp — Arlington Independent Media is offering a summer video production camp for youth ages 10 to 13. The two week camp will allow participants to “develop a story idea, write a script, shoot footage, and edit their own short production” with the guidance of media professionals. [Arlington Independent Media]

Flickr pool photo by Damiec

Suspicious Package in Aurora Highlands Park

By ARLnow.com

Update at 7:05 p.m. — The suspicious package was “disrupted” by the bomb squad and found to be non-hazardous, according to police.  The scene is in the process of being cleared.

Earlier: Police and the Arlington County bomb squad are on the scene of a suspicious package in Aurora Highlands Park near Pentagon City.

A metallic object with red and black wires coming out of it was found in the park around 4:30 p.m., according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. A portion of the park and its parking lot has been cordoned off with police tape as the bomb squad uses a remote controlled robot to investigate the package.

One lane of S. Hayes Street is blocked by emergency vehicles between 15th Street and Fire Station No. 5.

 

Crime Report: Pulling Guns on the Ritz

By ARLnow.com

(Updated on 12/23/21 at 11:10 a.m.) A man was arrested outside the Pentagon City Ritz-Carlton hotel early Wednesday morning after police say he became upset at the hotel’s rates and brandished two handguns.

The incident started around 1:30 a.m. when the intoxicated man entered the luxury hotel, asked for a room, and became incensed at the high rates, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. The man also asked whether he could be served alcohol, but was denied, Sternbeck said.

The man then left the hotel and allegedly brandished two handguns when confronted by a security guard. Police were called and the man was taken into custody by officers with their guns drawn. Police recovered two guns, each with rounds in the magazine and the safeties off, according to Sternbeck. Police say one of the guns, a .45-caliber pistol, was cocked and loaded.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

BRANDISHING A FIREARM, 05/09/12, 1200 block of S. Hayes Street. On May 9 at 1:30 am, a subject under the influence of alcohol and upset with hotel rates, brandished two handguns towards a security guard. [Name redacted], 29, of Centreville, VA, was arrested and charged with brandishing a firearm, reckless handling of a firearm and drunk in public.

Weekday rates for the hotel posted online range from $339.00 to $669.00 per night.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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