Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Larger water tank approved for Idylwood neighborhood despite concerns

Published October 25, 2024 at 9:00AM

The proposed Poplar Heights water tank (via Fairfax Water)

Poplar Heights is officially getting a new water storage tank with a capacity of 1.25 million gallons, despite continued objections from many residents of the single-family Idylwood neighborhood.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday (Oct. 22) — with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn absent — to approve Fairfax Water’s request for a special exception allowing the facility to replace an existing standpipe tank at 7407 Tower Street that can hold 700,000 gallons of water.

Around Town

Fashion boutiques coming to McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 24, 2024 at 2:30PM

Chesterbrook Shopping Center is adding new tenants, while undergoing renovation (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A pair of clothing stores and a custom frames shop are coming to Chesterbrook Shopping Center (6224 Old Dominion Drive).

Sassanova, Apricot Lane and Framebridge are all slated to open in McLean later this year or in early 2025, helping fill out a tenant roster that has turned over substantially since property manager Federal Realty took ownership of the site in 2021.

Around Town

Winter Lantern Festival to light up Tysons, starting on Halloween

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 24, 2024 at 8:15AM | Updated October 24, 2024 at 11:48AM

The Winter Lantern Festival will return to Tysons for 2024 with a "pandas" theme (courtesy Winter Lantern Festival)

For a third consecutive winter, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II (8025 Galleria Drive) will be illuminated by a thousand handmade Chinese lanterns.

The Winter Lantern Festival will return to Tysons for an over-two-month run, starting next Thursday, Oct. 31 until Jan. 12, 2025. The event will be open to visitors from 5-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays.

Countywide

Elevated fire danger alert issued, as D.C. area dry spell continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 23, 2024 at 3:45PM

The sun shines through trees along a street in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The D.C. area is facing an increased risk of fires tonight into tomorrow (Thursday) morning, the National Weather Service says.

The NWS has issued a reminder that there’s an “elevated fire danger” until 4 a.m. for Northern and Central Virginia, eastern West Virginia, D.C. and Maryland due to “persistent dry conditions” and “increasing winds,” followed by a cold front tomorrow.

Around Town

Tysons Corner Center ponders the nature of time with new art exhibit

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 23, 2024 at 2:30PM

Canvas prints in "Time: A Contemplative Exhibit" were installed at Tysons Corner Center in mid-October (courtesy Tysons Corner Center)

The latest artworks to grace the walls of Tysons Corner Center aim to remind shoppers of a concept that malls are designed to make them forget: the passage of time.

Tysons Corner Center announced last Thursday (Oct. 17) that it has installed seven framed canvas prints created by artists from around the U.S., all centered around the theme of “Time.” The exhibit wraps up the second year of the mall’s “The Collection: Where Art Meets Fashion” program, which brings artwork from around the world to Tysons.

Countywide

Fairfax County offers tool for reporting commercial parking violations

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 23, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated October 23, 2024 at 1:20PM

A commercial van is parked on Pimmit Drive outside the Idylwood Towers Condominiums (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new online tool will give people in Fairfax County a quick way to identify and report illegally parked commercial vehicles.

The county launched the “Parking Violation Public Report” tool yesterday (Tuesday), Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck announced during the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Around Town

Timber Pizza to open in McLean this fall

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 23, 2024 at 9:00AM | Updated October 29, 2024 at 4:31PM

Roots Provisions and Grocery, now named Roots Kitchen and Bar, is ceding part of its space at McLean Village to Timber Pizza (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A growing D.C.-area pizza chain hopes to make some noise when it lands in McLean this fall.

Timber Pizza anticipates launching its latest permanent outpost — and its third in Virginia — in the McLean Village shopping center at 8100 Old Dominion Drive in November, though an exact opening date hasn’t been determined yet.

Around Town

Sushi and ramen restaurant opens near Dunn Loring Metro station

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 22, 2024 at 1:15PM

Japomen has opened at the Shops at Avenir Place in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A small slice of Japan has opened up near the Dunn Loring Metro station.

The team behind the Chantilly food hall Tilly Kitchen launched Japomen, their first full restaurant, in the Shops at Avenir Place (2767-J Avenir Place) on Oct. 12.

Around Town

Food, wine and art festival returns to Dunn Loring Metro area

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 22, 2024 at 9:00AM

A dog gets attention at Halstead Square's annual Food, Wine and Art Festival (courtesy Halstead Square)

A festive showcase for local food trucks, wineries and artists is coming to Halstead Square this weekend.

The residential development south of the Dunn Loring Metro station will host its sixth annual Food, Wine and Art Festival at the Lotus and Lofts apartments (2729 Merrilee Drive) from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Around Town

Dry cleaner, sushi restaurant open at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 22, 2024 at 8:15AM

Zips Cleaners is now open at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center in West Springfield (courtesy ZIPS Franchising LLC)

The hole left at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center by Whole Foods Market’s departure is starting to fill up.

Trader Joe’s officially assumed the role of anchor grocery store when it opened on Sept. 12, and over the past week, the strip mall in West Springfield has welcomed a dry-cleaning franchise, a waxing center and a new sushi restaurant.