Penrose - Arlington, VA Area Guide

In 1882, Penrose was originally developed by two prominent African American leaders, Henry Louis Holmes and William H. Butler. During the 20th century, Penrose became a community for African Americans that included Dr. Charles Drew, a renowned medical researcher. At this time, Penrose received commuter railways, which started increasing the population. The creation of the automobile and the need for increased housing near the nation's capitol also increased the population of Penrose. Over time, the increase in population transformed Penrose into a commuting suburb of Washington, D.C.

The Penose neighborhood lacks a strong arts scene and annual events, however, the Arlington Arts Center rests a few miles away and provides exhibits and learning programs. The closest museums include the Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum. The Arlington Historical Society functions as a literary and educational facility that supports dissemination, research, collection, preservation and restoration of the local history.

Although Penrose has a limited number of restaurants and eateries within the neighborhood's borders, there exist a few popular locations that guests find enjoyable to grab lunch or sit down for dinner. The central location for restaurants and nightlife activity in Penrose borders Columbia Pike.

For Mexican-inspired cuisine, guests can visit Pedro & Vinny's Burritos. This restaurant prepares traditional Mexican burritos and speciality burritos with unique sauces that include the popular mango habanero. Pedro & Vinny's appearance can be misleading, however, guests enjoy the casual dining environment and find the generous portions of food flavorful and enjoyable.

Bob & Edith’s Diner has been a Penrose favorite for years as a result of the excellent service and delightful, comfort food. This restaurant has a relaxed, mom-and-pop feel that guests enjoy and stays open 24 hours, which adds value and convenience to this Penrose dining option. Bob & Edith's Diner has an excellent breakfast menu that includes the popular country fried steak and hash browns. This restaurant features reasonable prices, and guests highly recommend the desserts and shakes as well.

Bangkok 54 Restaurant & Bar provides authentic Thai cuisine that guests praise continuously for the traditional flavors and textures. This restaurant has a full bar with premium liquors and Thai-inspired decor that adds to the dining experience. Bangkok 54 has popular menu items that include the chicken fiery kaprao and pad see ew with vegetables, which guests highly recommend. Guests find the menu inexpensive in comparison to the quality of food and customer service.

Nightlife in Penrose has a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere created by small lounges, pubs and bars. Popular locations include William Jeffrey's Tavern, the Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant, and L.A. Bar & Grill. William Jeffrey's Tavern has a casual ambiance that incorporates a beautiful fireplace, dark hardwood and large TVs. This bar has excellent specialty drinks, diverse beer selection and delightful bar food. William Jeffrey's plays live music and provides an ideal location to unwind while grabbing a drink with friends.

Penrose has an impressive walkscore that incorporates many pedestrian-friendly sidewalks.This allows residents to walk to reach most destinations. Penrose also incorporates a useful bike infrastructure that provides multiple bike lanes. This makes biking a suitable alternative to walking for reaching nearby locations. This neighborhood has excellent transit options and public transportation that includes multiple Metrobus bus lines. The 16Y Metrobus bus line runs east and west through Penrose, while the 16A runs north and south.

Car-sharing services, such as Uber and RelayRides, serve this neighborhood for residents without a personal vehicle. Local taxis, such as EnviroCab, operate regularly throughout Penrose. Parking in this area remains limited to metered street parking, one large hourly parking garage and customer-only parking lots. For access to nearby locations, Columbia Pike, State Highway 27 and State Highway 50 help residents travel with ease.

Penrose has multiple neighborhood parks that include Towers Park and Penrose Park. Towers Park, a small, 4-acre park, has a playground for children as well as tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts for sports-related activities. This beautiful park has a community garden that allows guests to experience the beauty of nature. Towers Park provides a family friendly environment that also has a small dog park for visitors with four-legged companions. Towers Park incorporates picnic tables and a picnic shelter for special events. An annual events, PARK(ing) Day, allows residents, artists and designers to create temporary public parks from metered parking spots.

Penrose Park, another neighborhood park, provides 2 acres of green space. This small park has picnic tables, a picnic shelter, charcoal grills, a playground for children and a basketball court.

The cost of living in Penrose sits seven percent lower than the Arlington average, and the average rental rate is $1,563. Cost of living includes public transportation, which costs $1.75 for a one-way fare on Metrobus bus lines. One-bedroom apartments start at $1,030 at Shawnee Apartments and can reach as much as $1,892 at Penrose Square Apartments.

Gas rests nine percent lower than the national average, and residents can expect to pay $5.50 for a domestic beer at a local bar.

Shopping in Penrose has a limited number of options that include a few nearby retailers and department stores. This area also has only a few boutiques and specialty stores within its boundaries. The central location for shopping borders Columbia Pike. Penrose has a Giant Food that serves all grocery needs and basic home essential needs. Giant has a wide selection of food items that include organic and natural products as well as seafood items. Giant also has competitive prices and a convenient location.

The closest farmers market to Penrose, the CPRO Farmers Market, opens every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive. This market has various vendors that have locally produced goods, prepared foods, crafts, and more.

Columbia Pike Thrift Shop is a specialty store that has bargains and deals most guests find worthwhile. This store has gently used items that include clothing, costumes, books, furniture, accessories, jewelry, and more. Columbia Pike Thrift Shop receives praise from guests for its diverse selection of items and affordable prices. This store has hidden gems in its large inventory that guests enjoy.

Franks Engraving Service provides custom engraving work to the Penrose community. Although this shop specializes in military and government awards, Franks offers custom engraving for items of all types. Guests recommend this shop for the professional and excellent quality as well as the superb craftsmanship.