Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for May 14, 2026

By FFXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 — May 14, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny weather today with temperatures reaching a high of around 71°F. Winds from the northwest will be between 10 to 13 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to about 53°F and calm winds. 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.

Sponsored

Listing of the Day: 125 Carter Ct SW

By FFXnow.com
1/7

Address: 125 Carter Ct SW
Neighborhood: Town of Vienna
Type: 3 BR, 3 (+1 half) BA townhouse for sale – 2280 sq. ft.
Listed: $1,050,000

Noteworthy: Fully renovated, newer roof, hvac and water heater

Built in 1994 but completely reimagined over the past 5 years, this is the crown jewel of Vienna townhomes. Renovated kitchen in 2021 with Navy blue kitchen cabinets with white Quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, 10′ ceilings, and a Trex deck. Vaulted primary bedroom with walk in closet and renovated primary bathroom with huge walk in shower and double vanity, bedroom level laundry, walk out basement with flagstone patio, two car garage, walkable to Maple Ave and downtown Vienna, or just 1 mile to the Vienna metro. The owners have updated nearly everything and a full list is available but highlights include: Roof 2020, HVAC 2024, Water Heater 2024, Kitchen 2021, Bathrooms 2021, Deck 2022.

Listed by:
Laura Schwartz – Real Broker
laura@guidingyourmove.com
(703) 283-6120

Sponsored

Polar Heat on Lynn Street brings music, food, and fun May 16

By Sponsor
Hot meets cool in Downtown Herndon. Polar Heat on Lynn Street takes over May 16 with themed activities, live entertainment, food, and more.
Hot meets cool in Downtown Herndon. Polar Heat on Lynn Street takes over May 16 with themed activities, live entertainment, food, and more.

If you’ve heard the name Polar Heat on Lynn Street lately and wondered what it actually is, here’s the simple answer: it’s a full-day community event where everything is built around a fun “hot” and “cold” theme.

This Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Downtown Herndon will transform into a walkable event space with two distinct sides—one featuring “heat” and the other “cool.” From food and music to activities and community booths, the entire experience is designed to be easy to explore and enjoyable for all ages.

Two stages, two different vibes

At the center of the event are two stages of live entertainment running throughout the day:

  • Hot Beats Stage – high-energy performances, dance, and upbeat music
  • Cool Vibes Stage – laid-back sets, acoustic performances, and family-friendly acts

Guests can move freely between the two, catching different performances and finding the vibe that fits them best.

More than just music

Polar Heat on Lynn Street isn’t just about what’s on stage. Throughout Lynn Street, visitors will find interactive activities and experiences tied into the event’s theme, including:

  • A snowball fight area on the “cool” side
  • A s’mores station on the “heat” side
  • Inflatables and family-friendly activities
  • Arts & Crafts Vendors
  • A Jalapeño Eating Contest for those willing to test their limits
  • A “Hot Ones”-style challenge featuring Mayor Keven LeBlanc and Town Manager Dan Hoffman

Food, vendors, and community groups

The event will also feature a mix of food trucks, local vendors, and community organizations. Expect everything from hot, grilled, and spicy dishes to cold drinks, frozen treats, and sweets.

Local nonprofits and civic groups will be set up throughout the event with interactive booths, offering activities, demonstrations, and opportunities to connect with the community. (more…)

Learn More
News

Residential development minus retail approved for Kingstowne Towne Center

By Nolan Stout
Rendering of Halle Companies' newly approved residential buildings at Kingstowne Town Center (via Ci Design/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County officials are ready to let residents move into Kingstowne Towne Center.

At its May 5 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Halle Companies’ proposal to convert a parking lot into two residential buildings with 646 units at the 35-acre shopping center.

Go to Residential development minus retail approved for Kingstowne Towne Center Read more
Countywide

UPDATED: Spanberger vetoes collective bargaining bills from Fairfax County lawmakers

By Emily Leayman
Abigail Spanberger speaks at a campaign event in Annandale (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has vetoed collective bargaining legislation from Fairfax County legislators that would have expanded collective bargaining rights in Virginia.

SB 378 and HB 1263 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) and Del. Kathy Tran (D-18) would have repealed any bans on collective bargaining, mandating that the state and local governments negotiate labor contracts if public employees form a union.

Go to UPDATED: Spanberger vetoes collective bargaining bills from Fairfax County lawmakers Read more
Event

Broadwater Day

Beneath the water tower

Tapawingo Rd SW and Frederick St SW

Vienna, Virginia 22180

Website Contact Social

In May, Vienna250 continues to march towards the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Mark your calendars for Broadwater Day on May 17 at 2:00 beneath the water tower at Tapawingo Rd and Frederick St SW as we learn about some of Vienna’s residents of the time. Rose Powhatan, a descendant of local indigenous tribes, will be one of the featured speakers, and we’ll also hear voices from the past including one that represents an enslaved woman and another of a local farmer. The Sons of the Revolution will have a musket volley and the Daughters of the American Revolution will bring formal greetings. At the conclusion of the event, we’ll walk across the street to the Broadwater graves for a wreath laying. On May 31, the VIenna250/Bards Alley Author Series continues with Derek Baxter and his new book “The Forgotten World Way: Exploring the Secret History of the American Revolution, from Spain to India and Back Again”. What does Bunker Hill have in common with a jungle in Central America, a fort in India, and the towering Rock of Gibraltar? The answer―that they were all battlefields in the Revolutionary War―might astonish you. Blending modern experiences with historical research, Derek Baxter embarks on an adventure-filled quest across three continents, uncovering the truth behind the American Revolution and revealing the unlikely group of nations that united to take on the British Empire. Books may be preordered at Bards Alley. Be sure to save the date for June 14 from 12:00 – 4:00 for the Colonial Faire & Ice Cream Social and June 20 to hear Gayle Jessup White speak about her book, “Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant’s Search for Her Family’s Lasting Legacy.”

Go to Broadwater Day Read more
News

Fairfax City Council signals support for raising members’ pay

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Fairfax City Hall sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The last time the Fairfax City Council approved a pay raise for its members, the year was 2015. The amount was $12,000 for council members, and $13,000 for the mayor.

During a work session on Tuesday (May 12), council members unanimously agreed it’s time to raise their own salaries — potentially up to the maximum allowed by Virginia law. For cities with a population between 20,000-34,999 people, that’s up to $24,000 for mayors and $22,000 for council members.

Go to Fairfax City Council signals support for raising members’ pay Read more
Countywide

Chairman McKay lashes out at school board member over budget criticism

By Angela Woolsey
Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (staff photos by Jared Serre)

The growing tension between Fairfax County’s government and schools leaders over funding spilled into public view yesterday (Wednesday) when Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren shared a hostile text exchange with Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

In response to a May 7 newsletter where Meren criticized the Board of Supervisors for eliminating high school crossing guards in the county’s fiscal year 2027 budget, adopted on May 5, McKay texted that she “should apologize” for the “crazy words you have put out,” according to screenshots that Meren posted on Facebook and provided directly to FFXnow.

Go to Chairman McKay lashes out at school board member over budget criticism Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County leaders weigh multiple options to increase housing stock

By Scott McCaffrey
Construction continues in early February 2026 on the Exchange at Spring Hill apartment buildings near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County officials now have a lengthy to-do list in their efforts to increase the community’s housing stock.

The goal is to “ensure we keep the pedal down on this priority,” Ben Aiken, a county staffer who serves as project manager for the Housing Task Force, told the Board of Supervisors at a Land Use Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday (May 12).

Go to Fairfax County leaders weigh multiple options to increase housing stock Read more
Around Town

Inclusion in WaPo new restaurant ranking caps strong start for Vienna’s Chef Tan

By Angela Woolsey
Inside Chef Tan in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Chinese restaurant that generated buzz as soon as it opened in Vienna last year has garnered the attention of the Washington Post.

Elazar Sontag, who took over as the newspaper’s food critic in November following longtime scribe Tom Sietsema’s retirement, has ranked Chef Tan as one of the 10 best new restaurants in the D.C. area.

Go to Inclusion in WaPo new restaurant ranking caps strong start for Vienna’s Chef Tan Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County sees 22% jump in people considered chronically homeless

By Scott McCaffrey
Individuals call attention to homelessness in Reston near a newly cleared homelessness encampment on the morning of Sept. 10, 2024 (staff file photo by Fatimah Waseem)

Despite a relatively stable year-over-year homelessness count in new data, Fairfax County’s level of those experiencing chronic homelessness ticked up more substantially between 2025 and 2026.

A total of 302 people were counted as chronically homeless in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church in this year’s Point-in-Time Survey, coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).

Go to Fairfax County sees 22% jump in people considered chronically homeless Read more
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