Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

NOW: Towers Crescent in Tysons evacuated for fire

Published January 31, 2024 at 8:25PM

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.

Around Town

NEW: Duck Donuts to open shop in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 31, 2024 at 1:30PM

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.

Countywide

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

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 31, 2024 at 11:45AM

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.

Around Town

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

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 31, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated June 13, 2024 at 10:44AM

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.

Around Town

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

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated January 30, 2024 at 3:46PM

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.

News

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

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2024 at 12:45PM

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.

Around Town

McAlister’s Deli, unnamed ‘national grocer’ coming to Old Keene Mill Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2024 at 11:45AM

A "national grocer" will replace Whole Foods, along with new, smaller spaces for McAlister's Deli and other tenants (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Old Keene Mill Shopping Center is marshaling a new grocery store, multiple restaurants and other retailers to fill the void left behind by Whole Foods.

The space filled by the grocer until it opened a bigger store last October just down the road in Springfield Plaza is being subdivided into six different suites, and at least four of them have been leased, according to a site plan from property owner Federal Realty.

News

Conversion of Sheraton Tysons Hotel into multi-family housing approved

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 30, 2024 at 10:15AM

Tysons West developer JBG Smith is seeking to convert the Sheraton Tysons Hotel into housing (via Fairfax County)

The former Sheraton Tysons Hotel is officially getting turned into permanent housing.

With no objections and minimal discussion, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan last Tuesday (Jan. 23) to convert the vacant hotel at 8661 Leesburg Pike in Tysons West into 544 residential units.

News

Local nonprofit seeks winter clothing to help adults experiencing homelessness

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2024 at 3:30PM

A Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia participant (courtesy David Moss Photography)

With cooler temperatures returning after an unseasonably warm Friday (Jan. 26), a nonprofit headquartered in Reston is putting out a call for winter clothes to distribute to homeless adults throughout Northern Virginia.

An operator of wellness centers that assist people experiencing challenges with mental illness, substance use and homelessness, the Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia (RPSV) launched a winter gear clothing drive earlier this month that will continue until the end of the season.

Around Town

Civil Rights Movement icon to visit McLean Community Center during Black History Month

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated January 30, 2024 at 4:40PM

The McLean Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:35 p.m. on 1/30/2024) The McLean Community Center will cap this year’s Black History Month with an appearance by one of the students who helped integrate public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas — a landmark moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

The youngest member of the “Little Rock Nine,” Carlotta Walls LaNier will visit the Alden Theatre at 1234 Ingleside Avenue on Sunday, Feb. 25 for a free author talk and book signing, preceded by a V.I.P. meet-and-greet.