Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Artistic director to leave Herndon’s NextStop Theatre after 12 years

Published June 18, 2024 at 11:00AM

NextStop Theatre Producing Artistic Director Evan Hoffmann (courtesy NextStop Theatre)

Herndon’s only professional theater company is preparing for a change in leadership.

NextStop Theatre announced yesterday (Monday) that Evan Hoffmann will step down in early July after 12 years as its producing artistic director. Hoffmann’s departure will prompt a nationwide search for his successor.

Countywide

GMU to help build ‘artificial star’ for NASA on Fairfax campus

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 18, 2024 at 10:15AM

George Mason University College of Science associate professor and Observatory Director Peter Plavchan will serve as principal investigator for NASA's Landolt Mission (courtesy Ron Aira/Creative Services/ George Mason University)

In half a decade, George Mason University students and faculty will help NASA launch an “artificial star” into space.

The university’s Fairfax campus will serve as mission control for the Landolt NASA Space Mission, which will send a laser-pointing satellite into Earth’s orbit in 2029, GMU announced on June 10. The artificial star created by the satellite will help scientists more accurately calculate the brightness of real stars.

Around Town

Beauty shop and skin care clinic to open in McLean this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 18, 2024 at 9:30AM

Inside the beauty shop Bluemercury (courtesy Federal Realty)

McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center will officially welcome two new retail tenants this week, while preparing for another anticipated launch later in the summer.

The openings will kick off today (Tuesday) with SkinSpirit, a skin care and medical spa that describes itself as a “leading provider of Botox and filler.” Located at 6224 Old Dominion Drive, Suite D, this is the clinic’s first location in Virginia and its third in the D.C. area.

Countywide

NEW: Deputy county executive hired to help revitalize Fairfax County is retiring

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 17, 2024 at 3:45PM

In front of the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

One of Fairfax County’s top administrative officials is stepping down from her post.

Deputy County Executive Rachel Flynn will retire on July 5, a county spokesperson says. A Google employee before she joined Fairfax County in 2019, Flynn oversees the public works, transportation, code compliance, and planning and development departments, along with the park authority.

News

At least two people injured in fiery crash on I-66

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 17, 2024 at 2:15PM

Firefighters respond to a vehicle crash on I-66 near Nutley Street (via FCFRD/Twitter)

Multiple people were hospitalized last night (Sunday) following a two-vehicle crash on I-66 near Vienna.

The two vehicles crashed in the interstate’s westbound lanes around 11:13 p.m. at the 62-mile marker near Nutley Street, according to the Virginia State Police. One of the vehicles caught on fire, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said.

News

Reston’s Barton Hill tennis courts to close ahead of renovation

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 17, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Barton Hill tennis courts (via Reston Association)

Reston Association is preparing to serve up a full renovation of its Barton Hill tennis courts next month.

The four existing courts at 1901 Barton Hill off of Sunrise Valley Drive will close after June 30 in anticipation of the renovation, which is expected to begin in July, RA announced in a newsletter on Friday (June 14).

Around Town

New McLean bubble tea shop puts art of tea on display

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 17, 2024 at 10:30AM | Updated June 17, 2024 at 6:11PM

ArTea in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Two local families, bonded by a love of tea, recently opened a shop on the edge of downtown McLean to share their passion with the community.

ArTeA TeaShop quietly began serving customers at 6635 Old Dominion Drive on May 1, tweaking the menu and continuing to train staff before a more formal launch — and the addition of delivery options — last Tuesday (June 11).

News

Police charge driver in fatal Burke motorcycle crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2024 at 3:15PM

The Rolling Valley shopping center exit onto Old Keene Mill Road in Burke (via Google Maps)

A 68-year-old Springfield man has been charged in connection to a fatal crash that killed a motorcyclist near Burke’s Rolling Valley shopping center this spring.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced today (Friday) that the driver was charged with failing to yield the right of way after he allegedly crashed into the motorcyclist while trying to turn left out of the shopping center onto Old Keene Mill Road on April 25.

Around Town

The Boro’s movie theater will close temporarily, starting Monday

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2024 at 2:30PM

Tysons ShowPlace Icon Theatre at night in The Boro (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The silver screens at Tysons ShowPlace Icon Theatre will briefly go dark next week.

The Boro’s movie theater (1667 Silver Hill Drive) is scheduled to close temporarily from Monday through Thursday (June 17-20), a manager confirmed to FFXnow. However, details about why the theater is closing and what comes next have proven elusive.

Countywide

Fairfax County Library launches summer reading program with children’s festival

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2024 at 1:30PM

Families browse books during the 2023 Children's Summer Reading Festival at Chantilly Regional Library (courtesy Xande Anderer/Fairfax Library Foundation)

Classes are out, and summer reading is in for Fairfax County students.

Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) officially kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program on Wednesday (June 12), encouraging youngsters and adults alike to dig into books and tackle various literary activities to earn prizes.