Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Improved accessibility, amenities coming to Wolf Trap National Park in new year

Published December 27, 2023 at 11:00AM

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is getting a new Meadow Commons concessions building (courtesy of Wolf Trap)

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts won’t unveil the artists booked for its upcoming summer season for a few more weeks, likely in late January or early February. But regardless of who’s on stage, Filene Center visitors can expect at least one improvement in 2024: an updated concessions area.

Construction on the new Meadow Commons building began in September after the demolition of the existing concessions stand, which had served patrons since the Filene Center opened in 1971.

News

When and where residents can dispose of Christmas trees in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 26, 2023 at 1:15PM

Christmas trees for sale at the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Christmas Day has come and gone, but the trees festooned with lights and tinsel for the occasion need to stay up for another week if you’re counting on a curbside pickup.

For the roughly 10% of residents served by Fairfax County, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will collect live trees for recycling from Jan. 1-13 as part of its regular waste services.

Around Town

Family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant Guapo’s now open in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 26, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated January 2, 2024 at 4:07PM

The Tex-Mex restaurant Guapo's recently opened a location at Gatehouse Plaza in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:05 p.m. on 1/2/2024) The Rincon family business has officially staked a claim in Merrifield.

The Tex-Mex chain Guapo’s, which the Rincons have owned since 1990, welcomed diners to its new location in Gatehouse Plaza for the first time last Thursday (Dec. 21). The building at 3052 Gate House Plaza was last occupied by Chevys Fresh Mex, which closed over four years ago now, per Annandale Today.

Around Town

What’s open and closed in Fairfax County for Christmas 2023

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 22, 2023 at 9:30AM

Visitors pose by the Christmas tree in Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Local government offices are closing early today (Friday) to give staff a head start on Christmas weekend.

With Christmas Eve falling on Sunday (Dec. 24) this year, Fairfax County, Fairfax City and the towns of Vienna and Herndon are all instead observing the occasion with a half-day today. All local government offices will shut down at noon, though schedules vary for some other public facilities and services.

News

NOW: Child hit by driver while walking near Chantilly High School

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2023 at 6:45PM

Stringfellow Road and Poplar Tree Road in Chantilly (via Google Maps)

A child has been hospitalized after they were hit by a driver just down the road from Chantilly High School.

Fairfax County police officers responded to the intersection of Stringfellow Road and Poplar Tree Road around 5:09 p.m. for the crash, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

Around Town

Illuminate Fairfax art installations light up Old Town for the winter

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2023 at 3:30PM

One of four Illuminate Fairfax artworks, artist Robin Vuchnich's "Swell No. 1" is projected onto the Ratcliff-Allison-Pozer House (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

A new art initiative is bringing light to Old Town Fairfax, just as winter and the darkest days of the year arrive.

Illuminate Fairfax officially launched last Friday (Dec. 15), but the last and biggest artwork was installed just yesterday (Wednesday), according to Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED).

News

Local moms achieve goal of funding McLean Central Park playground renovation

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2023 at 1:15PM | Updated December 22, 2023 at 12:47AM

The new McLean Central Park playground and tot lot will feature updated and accessible equipment (courtesy Joseph Cox from Cunningham Recreation)

(Updated at 12:45 a.m. on 12/22/2023) No holiday miracle was necessary for the McLean Central Playground Team to reach its goal of raising $400,000 to update the play equipment at their local park.

The group of moms announced on Tuesday (Dec. 19) that they have reached their fundraising target with days to spare before a year-end deadline set by the Fairfax County Park Authority, which is responsible for the planned renovation of the playground and tot lot at McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd).

Countywide

FCPS considers generating guidelines for use of ‘artificial intelligence’

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2023 at 11:45AM

OpenAI's ChatGPT on a laptop screen (via Rolf van Root on Unsplash)

With ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence-based tools becoming increasingly mainstream, Fairfax County Public Schools officials have started discussing potential guidelines to govern how the technology is used in the classroom.

The Fairfax County School Board broached the topic at work session forum on Nov. 28, led by outgoing board chair and Dranesville District representative Elaine Tholen and Sully District representative Stella Pekarsky.

Around Town

Halal hot chicken restaurant now open in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 21, 2023 at 10:15AM

The Red Bird has opened at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna (file photo)

The Red Bird has landed in Vienna.

The hot chicken chain’s first Northern Virginia franchise is in the midst of a soft opening at 282 Cedar Lane in the Cedar Park Shopping Center, where it has replaced the McDonald’s that closed in 2022. The location is currently open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to Instagram posts.

News

McLean restaurant owner gets prison for evading taxes, stealing Covid relief funds

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 20, 2023 at 1:15PM

Gholam and Karen Kowkabi own Divan, a Persian restaurant in McLean (staff photo by David Taube)

The man behind Divan in McLean has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for failing to pay taxes and stealing COVID-19 relief funds — including money used to establish the Persian restaurant.

Gholam “Tony” Kowkabi, 63, of Vienna was sentenced by a federal judge on Monday (Dec. 18) to 57 months in prison after pleading guilty on Aug. 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of D.C. announced.