Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

National architecture firm consolidates N. Va. offices in Tysons

Published March 8, 2024 at 1:30PM

Little Diversified Architectural Consulting recently moved its D.C. area office to Pinnacle Towers in Tysons (courtesy Little Diversified Architectural Consulting)

The architecture consulting firm that helped design Capital One Center’s baseball stadium now has a base of its own in Tysons.

Little Diversified Architectural Consulting moved into a new office in Pinnacle Towers (1753 Pinnacle Drive) at the end of February, a spokesperson for the national company announced on Feb. 29.

Around Town

Tennis and pickleball retail store gets set for expansion to McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 8, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated April 14, 2024 at 10:58AM

The Rockville-based store Tennis Topia is expanding with a new location in McLean (photo by Doug McKinney/Tennis Topia)

(Updated at 4/14/24) A retail store that sells tennis and pickleball equipment is expanding to McLean after almost two decades in Maryland.

Tennis Topia anticipates opening its second location on April 20 at 6262 Old Dominion Drive, taking over suites F and G, which respectively belonged to a hair studio and a dry cleaner.

News

West Falls developer launches sales for new mixed-use condominium building

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2024 at 2:30PM

The Oak, a new mixed-use condominium building in Falls Church, will feature rooftop terraces among its residential amenities (courtesy of Hoffman Realty)

A mixed-use condominium building taking shape in the upcoming West Falls neighborhood is now seeking prospective residents.

Developer Hoffman & Associates announced on Monday (March 4) that it has opened sales for the 126 condos in The Oak, a 174,000-square-foot, 11-story building under construction at 255 West Falls Station Blvd in Falls Church.

Countywide

Virginia House seeks more data for Fairfax senator’s bill to allow more accessory living units

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2024 at 10:15AM

State Sen. Saddam Salim testifies before the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on his bill to require accessory living units (via Virginia General Assembly)

Final consideration of state Sen. Saddam Salim’s (D-37) proposal to expand the availability of accessory housing units in Virginia will wait until next year.

A Virginia House of Delegates committee voted on Feb. 23 to table Senate Bill 304, until 2025, suggesting that the delay would give Salim and other legislators more time to refine the bill and collect data on existing local policies allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are known in Fairfax County as accessory living units (ALUs).

Countywide

Former Trump advisor’s legal group sues FCPS over LGBTQ-inclusive policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated March 7, 2024 at 12:25PM

A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 12:25 a.m.) A right-wing legal group led by Stephen Miller, a former advisor to Donald Trump when he was president, is challenging Fairfax County Public Schools over its policies supporting transgender students.

America First Legal filed a complaint against the Fairfax County School Board on Monday (March 4) arguing that the school system is discriminating on the basis of sex and religion by letting students use the names, pronouns and bathrooms that match their gender identity.

Around Town

Yellow Diner from Tysons restauranteurs to open in Vienna this spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated April 2, 2024 at 3:39PM

The new restaurant Yellow Diner is slated to open in March 2024 in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 3:35 p.m. on 4/2/2024 — Yellow Diner officially opened in Vienna on Monday, April 1, operating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner every day except for Tuesdays.

Earlier: An end to the long, winding road to an opening for Vienna’s Yellow Diner is in sight.

Countywide

Fairfax County voters side with Biden and Haley in presidential primaries

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2024 at 11:45AM

A sign provides information about the March 5, 2024 Democratic and Republican presidential primaries (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Perhaps Nikki Haley’s rally in Idylwood last week made a difference after all.

In yesterday’s Republican presidential primary, the former South Carolina governor won more support from Fairfax County voters than frontrunner Donald Trump, though she trailed the one-time president by a sizable margin in Virginia overall.

Around Town

Billy Joel tribute to take the stage at Capital One Hall in Tysons this Friday

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2024 at 11:15AM

Musician Michael Cavanaugh will perform Billy Joel songs with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in Tysons on March 8 (courtesy Capital One Hall)

The man behind “Uptown Girls” will get an early birthday party this week in Tysons, Fairfax County’s aspiring downtown.

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is set to return to Capital One Hall on Friday (March 8) for “The Music of Billy Joel,” a tribute to the “Piano Man” that will pair the classical group with Broadway star Michael Cavanaugh.

Countywide

UPDATED: Fairfax Connector strike ends as union members approve new contract

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 5, 2024 at 8:40PM | Updated March 6, 2024 at 9:47PM

Fairfax Connector workers represented by ATU Local 689 strike outside the West Ox Bus Facility (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Updated at 9:45 p.m. on 3/6/2024 — Fairfax Connector workers with ATU Local 689 voted today (Wednesday) to ratify a new contract with bus operator Transdev, ending a 15-day strike, the union announced.

The bus system will officially resume service on Friday (March 8), according to Transdev and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Around Town

Mediterranean restaurant Lezzet closes in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 5, 2024 at 2:30PM

Lezzet Restaurant's Vienna location has closed permanently (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lezzet has closed its Vienna restaurant after less than two years in the town.

The location closed for good “last week unfortunately,” a spokesperson for the Mediterranean restaurant confirmed to FFXnow by email on Friday (March 1), though they didn’t elaborate on what led to that decision.