Author: Angela Woolsey

Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.

Countywide

BREAKING: Fairfax County casino bill put on hold until next year

By Angela Woolsey
State Sen. Dave Marsden presents SB 675, which would make Fairfax County eligible for a casino, before a Senate resources subcommittee (via Virginia Senate)

(Updated at 11:30 a.m. on 2/2/2024) The push to allow a casino in Fairfax County has stalled — at least for 2024.

A Virginia Senate subcommittee voted this afternoon (Thursday) to “continue” Senate Bill 675 until next year so a more in-depth analysis of the potential casino can be conducted.

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Around Town

Idylwood Plaza adds nail and yoga salon, has two restaurants on the way

By Angela Woolsey
Miyu Beauty and Wellbeing, a nail salon that also offers yoga and pilates classes, is opening at Idylwood Plaza (courtesy Federal Realty)

(Updated at 8:30 p.m. on 2/6/2024) Idylwood Plaza is shaking up its retail mix to start 2024.

The shopping center on Leesburg Pike in Idylwood will usher in its newest tenant, MIYU Beauty & Wellbeing, with a grand opening celebration at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday). Falls Church City Vice Mayor Letty Hardi and Councilmember Marybeth Connelly are expected to attend.

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News

Annandale HS teacher wins Grammy Award for music education

By Angela Woolsey
Annandale High School Orchestra Director Annie Ray with her students (courtesy FCPS)

(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) Annandale High School’s orchestra director is on her way to Los Angeles for the upcoming Grammy Awards.

Annie Ray, who teaches music and leads the orchestra program at the school, is the winner of the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award, CBS Mornings announced today.

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Around Town

Noodles & Company closes longtime Vienna location

By Angela Woolsey
Noodles and Company has vacated its longtime Vienna Marketplace location (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Noodles & Company has closed its doors in the Town of Vienna.

The fast-casual noodle chain had anchored the Vienna Marketplace shopping center at the corner of Maple Avenue and Park Street for nearly 20 years. Now, the windows at 201 Maple Avenue East have gone dark, the linguine-ladling storefront sign stripped down.

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News

NOW: Towers Crescent in Tysons evacuated for fire

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County firefighters are at Towers Crescent in Tysons for a reported fire (via FCFRD/Twitter)

(Updated at 8:35 p.m.) The Towers Crescent office building in Tysons has been evacuated in response to a reported fire.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched to 8000 Towers Crescent Drive around 7:26 p.m. for the high-rise fire, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

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Around Town

NEW: Duck Donuts to open shop in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey
Duck Donuts sells prepared and made-to-order treats (courtesy Duck Donuts)

Duck Donuts is wading into the Town of Vienna.

A spokesperson for the North Carolina-based donut chain confirmed it will open a new franchise at 256 Maple Avenue East, filling a space vacated by T-Mobile. The shop will join Smoothie King, MetroEyes and Sweet Leaf Cafe in the retail building.

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Countywide

Fairfax County drops some road widening projects from long-term, regional plan

By Angela Woolsey
Looking east on Route 29 at the Cedar Lane intersection in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is changing lanes on some of its long-term transportation plans, veering away from a few road-widening projects in favor of ones that involve transit or pedestrian and bicycle upgrades.

As authorized by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5, county staff submitted a list of projects for the region-wide Visualize 2050 transportation plan that no longer includes widenings of Route 29 in the Merrifield area, New Braddock Road, Stringfellow Road and Magarity Road in Pimmit Hills.

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Around Town

Wolf Trap unveils summer shows, including ‘Star Wars’ and author Neil Gaiman

By Angela Woolsey
Author Neil Gaiman will speak at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts on July 20 (courtesy of MasterClass)

This summer, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts will see the returns of John Legend and the Out & About Festival, along with some brand-new faces.

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the nonprofit that supports and programs the park, announced an initial lineup for the Filene Center’s summer season yesterday (Tuesday) that features both pop and classical shows.

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Around Town

Gaming playground with food and craft brews coming to Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey
The entertainment and dining venue Level99 will open at Tysons Corner Center in 2025 (courtesy Macerich Company)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) An entertainment complex that brings puzzle and video game-like challenges to life is taking over the former Old Navy at Tysons Corner Center.

Next year, Level99 will open a 40,000-square-foot playground and restaurant on the mall’s second floor adjacent to Barnes & Noble, the company jointly announced today (Tuesday) with Tysons Corner Center owner Macerich.

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News

FCPD searches for driver behind now-fatal Springfield hit-and-run crash

By Angela Woolsey
The crosswalk across Huntsman Blvd at Bridle Woods Drive in Springfield (via Google Maps)

A woman hit by a vehicle in Springfield in late December has now died.

Fu-Tzu Wong, 63, was using a crosswalk to cross Huntsman Blvd at Bridle Wood Drive in the evening of Dec. 27 when “an unidentified vehicle” struck her, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

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