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.

Around Town

Cherry blossom festival to bloom at the Mosaic District this weekend

By Angela Woolsey
Art Blooms at Mosaic in 2022 (photo by Katie Dance)

The Mosaic District will celebrate an unusually long cherry blossom season this weekend with the return of its annual Art Blooms festival.

Organized in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the two-day event will bring artisan and farmers’ markets, live entertainment and family-friendly activities to the Merrifield neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (April 6-7).

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Around Town

Compass Coffee opens doors of drive-thru cafe in West Falls Church

By Angela Woolsey
Compass Coffee is now open in West Falls Church (courtesy Compass Coffee)

Compass Coffee has opened in West Falls Church.

The regional coffee shop chain began now serving customers yesterday (Monday) at its newest location in the Shops at West Falls Church (7393 Lee Highway/Route 29). Visitors on that first day included Falls Church City Mayor Letti Hardy and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.

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Around Town

Pizzeria, brew pub and Perchfest coming to Capital One Center this spring

By Angela Woolsey
Starr Hill Biergarten in The Perch at Capital One Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 4/2/2024) Fresh off this past Saturday’s Easter celebration, Capital One Center in Tysons is gearing up to launch two restaurants and a new edition of Perchfest later this spring.

Stellina Pizzeria and Starr Hill Brewpub are both expected to open in late April, though precise dates haven’t been established yet, according to Capital One Center.

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News

State police intervene in race on I-395, leading to chase and multi-vehicle crash

By Angela Woolsey
Southbound I-395 approaching the exit to Edsall Road in Springfield (via Google Maps)

Multiple people were taken to the hospital early yesterday morning (Sunday) after an attempted drag race on I-395 turned into a police pursuit, resulting in a crash.

According to the Virginia State Police, troopers responded to southbound I-395 around 12:16 a.m. in response to an alert that two drivers were trying to race each other along the interstate in the Springfield area.

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News

Proposed condos in office park fit vision for downtown McLean, planning commission says

By Angela Woolsey
A condominium building could replace some of the McLean Professional Park's offices (via MV&A/Fairfax County)

A proposal to replace some office buildings in McLean Professional Park with condominiums won a unanimous recommendation from the Fairfax County Planning Commission on March 20.

During the public hearing, Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder lauded property owner T&M McLean Venture’s partial redevelopment plan as “a great opportunity” that will further the county’s efforts to rejuvenate downtown McLean.

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News

Mother of motorcyclist killed in West Ox Road crash ‘saddened’ by $50 fine for driver

By Angela Woolsey
Andrew Dearing, a 27-year-old fitness manager at Gold's Gym in Reston, was killed in a vehicle crash on Oct. 25, 2022 (photo by Cason Kimura/Golds Gym)

When Andrea Brubaker entered the Fairfax County Courthouse on Feb. 27, she expected to see a trial with witnesses testifying and evidence presented against the driver who had crashed into her son, killing him, almost one-and-a-half years earlier.

Instead, she watched the driver leave the courtroom after a brief talk with a judge through his son, who translated, to pay a $50 fine for failing to yield on a left turn.

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Around Town

Springfield Dunkin’ to host Nats pep rally with free donuts on Monday

By Angela Woolsey
Dunkin' Donuts will give away free donuts at its Springfield location to celebrate the Washington Nationals' 2024 home opener (courtesy Dunkin' Donuts)

As showcased in yesterday’s 8-2 Opening Day loss in Cincinnati, Ohio, the post-World-Series-winning Washington Nationals remain a work in progress, but Dunkin’ Donuts hopes to drum up enthusiasm for this season nonetheless with a pep rally in Springfield on Monday (April 1).

The donut shop at 6310 Backlick Road will celebrate the D.C. team’s home opener with a giveaway of “DoNats Donuts” to its first 100 customers, starting at 9 a.m.

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News

Assisted stretching studio Stretch Zone to open next week in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey
The assisted stretching studio Stretch Zone is opening a franchise in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 11:15 a.m. on 4/1/2024 — Stretch Zone opened in Vienna today (Monday), but the ribbon-cutting has been postponed to 9 a.m. on Thursday (April 4).

Earlier: A fitness studio that offers to assisted stretching services is extending its reach into Vienna.

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News

Area auto dealers give donated vehicles to single mothers at Tysons ceremony

By Angela Woolsey
Families with the donated vehicles given to them by NADA and Vehicles for Change (courtesy National Automobile Dealers Association)

Commuting will be easier for four families in the D.C. area, thanks to their new vehicles from a quartet of Virginia and Maryland automobile dealerships.

The businesses handed off the donated vehicles to their recipients — all single mothers — with a ceremony on March 18 at the National Automobile Dealers Association’s (NADA) headquarters (8484 Westpark Drive) in Tysons.

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Countywide

BREAKING: GMU calls off plan for cricket and baseball stadium at Fairfax campus

By Angela Woolsey
George Mason University has been exploring plans to expand its West Campus off of Braddock Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) It has not been a great week for plans to bring professional sports teams to Northern Virginia.

Just a day after negotiations for a Washington Wizards and Capitals arena in Alexandria officially fell through, George Mason University has announced that it’s no longer planning to build a joint baseball and cricket stadium in Fairfax for the Washington Freedom.

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