Around Town

The New York City-based Wonder food hall will continue its expansion across Northern Virginia with a new location opening in Chantilly later this year.

The new location at 13958 Route 50 is expected to open this fall, a spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow. An exact opening date was not yet available.


Sponsored

Korean Fried Chicken: Bold, Crispy, and Comforting

Lee Gimbap’s Korean fried chicken is more than just a meal—it’s pure comfort in every bite. The first crunch is deeply satisfying, followed by juicy, tender chicken that feels warm and rewarding.

The flavors are bold yet familiar, with soy garlic bringing a savory richness and sweet & spicy adding a gentle kick. It’s the kind of food that makes you slow down and enjoy the moment.

It also has a way of bringing people together. Shared at the table, it turns an ordinary meal into something lively, comforting, and memorable.

The Signature Gimbap Experience

Gimbap is simple, but deeply comforting. Each roll feels like a complete, balanced bite—soft rice, fresh vegetables, and savory fillings wrapped in seaweed.

There’s a quiet satisfaction in how easy it is to enjoy. It’s light enough for a quick lunch, but fulfilling enough to feel like a complete meal.

More than anything, it feels grounding. It’s the kind of food that fits into your day effortlessly while still leaving you content.

A Sip of Color and Joy

The butterfly pea lemonade brings a sense of surprise and delight to the table. Its deep blue color already feels refreshing before you even take a sip.

Then, as lemon juice is added, the drink slowly transforms into a glowing purple. It’s a small moment of wonder that makes people pause, smile, and reach for their phones.

The taste is just as uplifting—bright, citrusy, and refreshing. It’s not just a drink, but a small moment of joy in the middle of your day.

Perfect for Everyday Moments

Lee Gimbap fits naturally into everyday life, whether it’s a quick lunch, a relaxed family dinner, or an office celebration. It’s dependable in the best way—it simply makes the day easier and better.

A meal here feels comforting without being heavy, satisfying without being complicated. It’s the kind of food you come back to not just because you’re hungry, but because it feels good.

For a limited time, guests can enjoy the special Lee Gimbap & Lee Ramyun Combo for just $9.99, available Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for dine-in customers. It turns a busy day into a moment of relief, where a good meal is both simple and accessible.


Countywide

Fairfax County’s school board recently passed a resolution supporting limitations on screen time and access to devices by grade level, as well as opt-out options for families.

On the same night, members voted to approve a one-year extension of a contract for a hybrid fourth-grade social studies curriculum, covering an electronic book text, the ability to replace print textbooks as needed, and supplemental materials that can be printed.


News

Fairfax County is finally making progress on filling in sidewalk gaps along Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston, though the project has created some temporary obstacles for pedestrians.

Construction on the Sunrise Valley Drive Walkway began on April 30 and is now on track to finish by the end of this week for one segment near Soapstone Drive, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.


Event

Partners in Care, a group of united professionals in the healthcare industry in Northern Virginia is delighted to have Kareem Rosser as part of their polo team on July 18th at Morven Park in Leesburg. We invite families and polo enthusiasts to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to sit on the lawn along with coolers to enjoy each match. There are food and beverage vendors to purchase goodies from as well. The cost to enter is $45/per car for admission. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Kareem Rosser during an exclusive book signing.

Discount code for parking pass – 26Guest5 for a $5 discount.


News

Most bus riders along portions of Route 7 seem skeptical of placing future transit stops in the center of the busy roadway, but local leaders at least want the option considered before being discarded.

A recent survey of riders along the portion of the bus rapid transit (BRT) line proposed to connect Tysons to Alexandria found 60% preferred retaining curbside stops. The remainder were split between moving to center-of-the-road stops or having no opinion.


Countywide
The Patterson Road water standpipe in Pimmit Hills, visible from Idylwood Plaza (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Library Closed for HVAC Repairs — “Reston Regional Library is currently closed for HVAC repairs. The branch will reopen as soon as repairs are made. This closure is expected to last through July 12 as facilities management awaits parts. Holds and due dates will be extended until the branch reopens.” [Fairfax Library/Instagram]

Dead Fish Found in Potomac River — “The Maryland Department of the Environment is investigating a large number of fish deaths in the Potomac River, a phenomenon known as a ‘fish kill.’ Scientists believe the fish kill is likely the result of what’s called a ‘summer turnover,’ when warmer water from the surface and cooler water from lower down suddenly mix.” [WTOP]

Va. Joins Challenge to ICE Reporting Change — “Virginia is joining a 22-state effort led by New York Attorney General Letitia James urging President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse a new federal policy ending investigations and public reporting of deaths that occur shortly after immigrants are released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.” [Virginia Mercury]

Volunteers Map Heat in N. Va. — “To better understand the urban heat island in Fairfax County, Arlington and the City of Alexandria and identify ways to reduce impacts, the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and George Mason University’s Virginia Climate Center are partnering on a new initiative … The alliance is seeking volunteers to help collect heat data on the measurement day, which is expected to occur between July 8 and 24.” [Capital Weather]

Tysons Mall Owner Expands Holdings — “An affiliate of Macerich (NYSE: MAC) paid $5.9 million last month for 8138 Watson St., a half-acre property that is home to the See Clearly Vision eyecare center, according to public records.” The Tysons Corner Center developer now owns the entire 7.75-acre triangle between International Drive and Watson Street except for a Capital One bank branch, but the company declined to comment on any specific future development plans. [Washington Business Journal]

Lt. Gov. Seeks Proactive Review of Dominion Merger — “Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi on Monday urged state utility regulators to require Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy to answer dozens of detailed questions about their proposed merger before formally filing the transaction, arguing Virginia’s six-month review process is too short to adequately scrutinize what would become the largest utility merger in U.S. history.” [Virginia Scope]

Chantilly Office Site Acquired — “Pulte Homes has purchased an 83,300-square-foot single-story office building located at 13990 Parkeast Circle and an adjacent 6.4-acre parcel … from Bethesda-based Finmarc Management Inc. for $26.36 million.” Part of the Park East Corporate Center, which was approved for residential redevelopment in 2024, the 14-acre site could be turned into 126 townhomes and 32 condos. [WBJ]

Shoppers Support Local Food Bank — “Customers at Wegmans stores across the company raised a record $769,300 during this year’s Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack campaign, with donations from the Reston store helping support Food for Others as summer demand for food assistance rises.” Capital Area Food Bank and the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries were also beneficiaries. [Patch]

Grant to Fund Route 1 Public Art — “The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation is proud to announce it has been selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant.” With the grant funding, SFDC will work with Mount Vernon at Home and the Nepenthe Gallery to implement new art installations and “engage older residents throughout the project” to ensure the artwork helps create accessible and welcoming spaces. [Press release]

New Legal Notice — Public hearing on high school boundaries scheduled July 16, 2026. [Public Notices]

It’s Wednesday — Expect patchy fog until 10 a.m., and mostly cloudy skies. The high will be near 82°F. Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2 a.m. with a 70% chance of precipitation. Skies will remain mostly cloudy at night, with a low around 71°F. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.


Around Town

Good Tuesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 7, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

🌦️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect a 30% chance of showers and patchy fog before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy skies and a high near 82, with an east wind at 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday night brings a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially after 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 71. South winds will be around 3 to 5 mph, with rainfall amounts generally under a tenth of an inch, except higher in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


News

Facing an uphill battle to unseat Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, four challengers used a recent campaign event to carve out their own political lanes:

Their distinctions provided some fireworks at the July 1 debate, hosted by the Arlington County Democratic Committee. But as even one candidate publicly acknowledged, voters in the 8th District are likely to stick with Beyer this election season.


Around Town

A new bookstore-on-wheels will be rolling into communities across Northern Virginia starting later this month.

Owl & Ink, a mobile bookstore focusing on events in Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties, will wheel into its first event — an evening of reading and sipping during Silent Book Club at The Casual Pint (2676 Avenir Place) — near the Dunn Loring Metro station in Merrifield on July 20.