Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

New arts center with all-day cafe takes shape in downtown McLean

Published April 13, 2026 at 11:45AM

The MPA Berlage Arts and Education Center is located in the Signet condominiums in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Construction is progressing at a promising clip on the McLean Project for the Arts’ (MPA) new Berlage Arts & Education Center.

The walls were still bare and some internal building systems, including lights and HVAC units, remained exposed when FFXnow took a preview tour on April 2, but it didn’t require a huge leap of imagination to picture the community destination anticipated by the nonprofit’s leaders.

Around Town

Vienna plans 60th birthday party for first N. Va. community center

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 10, 2026 at 3:45PM

The current Vienna Community Center with Missy and Seth Vandable's "Taking Flight" statue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna will throw back to the 1960s next week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its community center.

The decade remembered nationally for the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and NASA’s Apollo space program, among other historical events, will be the theme of an open house hosted by the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department on April 17 to mark the milestone.

Countywide

Fairfax delegate’s bill ending use of Confederate license plates signed into law

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 10, 2026 at 2:45PM

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles sign outside its Tysons customer service center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Starting this July, Virginia drivers will no longer have the option to purchase special license plates commemorating the Confederacy.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved House Bill 1344 from Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) on Monday (April 6) ending the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ authorization to issue or renew license plates honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Around Town

ChalkFest returning to Reston Town Center with new poetry contest

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

ChalkFest at eARTh Day participants at work (courtesy Public Art Reston)

Public Art Reston will take over Reston Town Square Park later this month with the return of its annual ChalkFest.

The centerpiece of Reston Town Center’s eARTh Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25, the event will celebrate the literary arts for the first time as well as visual arts with the addition of a public art poetry contest.

Countywide

BREAKING: Gov. Spanberger vetoes Fairfax County casino bill

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 9, 2026 at 4:50PM | Updated April 9, 2026 at 5:32PM

A 'No Fairfax Casino' sign (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has rejected legislation that would’ve opened the door for a casino in Fairfax County.

The governor vetoed SB 756 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell today (Thursday) ahead of an April 13 deadline for her to take action on all of the bills passed by the General Assembly during its 2026 session.

News

Design options unveiled for art on future Richmond Highway BRT stations

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 9, 2026 at 3:45PM

The planned route and stations for Fairfax County's Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit system (via FCDOT)

Fairfax County is starting to narrow down its options for the artwork that will grace its future Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) stations.

Earlier this week, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) launched a survey that asks community members to rank three different windscreen designs proposed for each of the bus service’s nine planned stations.

News

Driver hospitalized after vehicle explosion near Burke Town Plaza

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 9, 2026 at 10:25AM

A Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department ambulance responds to a vehicle explosion on Lee Chapel Road in Burke (via FCFRD/X)

A vehicle explosion rattled Burke earlier this morning (Thursday), sending the driver to the hospital and shutting down Lee Chapel Road.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched around 7:34 a.m. to Lee Chapel Road at Old Keene Mill Road for a vehicle fire near Burke Town Plaza, a shopping center anchored by Safeway.

News

Route 1 BRT, Elden Street upgrades among transportation projects vying for regional funds

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 9, 2026 at 9:15AM

Residents attend an in-person update on the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project at the Gerry South Hyland Government Center on Jan. 15, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County is pinning all its hopes for a new round of regional transportation funding on a single major project, but local travelers could also benefit from some of the other contenders.

As authorized last fall by the Board of Supervisors, the county is seeking $463 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for its planned “The One” bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which would serve nine stations along a 7.4-mile stretch of Richmond Highway, also known as Route 1, from Huntington to Fort Belvoir.

Countywide

Fairfax school board wrestles with possible calendar changes after disruptive year

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 8, 2026 at 3:45PM

Woodson High School sign advertises first day of the 2025-2026 school year (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As the current school year enters its final stretch, the Fairfax County School Board is considering tweaking the calendar for the next year in response to mounting complaints about disruptions to class schedules.

At the board’s meeting tomorrow (Thursday), members led by governance committee chair Melanie Meren will propose nixing Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Veterans Day as official student holidays and limiting the number of scheduled early release days to four per year.

Around Town

After delay, Hershey experience to open at Tysons mall this month

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 8, 2026 at 1:15PM

Hershey Super Sweet Adventure is coming soon to Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After a month-long delay, Hershey is finally ready to unwrap its new interactive experience at Tysons Corner Center.

Perhaps to reward families for their patience, Hershey Super Sweet Adventure will let guests sample its goods starting this Friday (April 10) ahead of an official grand opening on April 24.