Studio Pause on the Pike

Columbia Pike Documentary Project member artist Sushmita Mazumdar has opened a lively community arts space, Studio Pause, on Columbia Pike. In partnership with Barcroft Apartments developer JairLynch and Gates Hudson management, a former check-cashing store has been transformed into a vibrant center where people in the community can share stories and create work expressing their lives. 

These pictures are from the well-attended opening on October 7, 2023 (showing a dance performance by Arlington County Board member Tania Tallento, and Paula and Todd Endo, co-founders of the CPDP, visual artwork by CPDP photographers highlighting the Pike area in the vicinity of the Barcroft Apartments, and a range of pieces by artists associated with Studio Pause, "Me,Here: Stories of People and Place." ) 

There are also pictures depicting the studio as it was being reshaped from a commercial space into its present creative incarnation.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf.

Columbia Pike Lunch Club at Abi Azteca

Columbia Pike Partnership (CPP) hosted its monthly Pike Lunch Club at the Abi Azteca restaurant on October 25, 2023. Guests were encouraged to come in costume for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos.

The restaurant's longtime owner Sandra Claros and her staff treated over thirty guests to a wide variety of excellent Mexican and El Salvadorian dishes. 

According to CPP, the goal of the program is "to explore every restaurant on the Pike using the Columbia Pike Recipes for Recovery book [ authored by CPDP team member Sushmita Mazumdar of Studio Pause ] as our guide. This club luncheon is the perfect way to discover the unique culinary landscape of the Pike... Each participant will be responsible for their own food costs. We encourage you to try as many dishes as you like and to share your experiences with the group. This is a great opportunity to expand your palate and discover new flavors, all while supporting local businesses.”

Thank you to  CPP executive director Kim Klingler, Arlington County Board member Takis Karantonis, Abi’s owner Sandra Claros, plus Andrea Avendano and Alejandro Underwood (dressed as Frida Kahlo) of CPP.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf.

Barcroft Apartments Summer Fest

The Barcroft Apartments along Columbia Pike held their second annual Summer Fest for their residents in July. The event was was hosted by JairLynch (the new developer/owner of the apartments) and their Resident Resources team.

Over five hundred residents turned out for carnival games, a DJ, free hot dogs, snow cones, face painting, a photo/video booth, a balloon artist, a roving clown, moonbounces, obstacle courses, and more. 

Columbia Pike Documentary Project team member Sushmita Mazumdar and her Studio Pause colleagues were on hand to provide hands-on experiential art activities as part of the celebration.

Photography by Dewey Tron.