Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Nominations wanted for new award celebrating Lake Anne neighbors in Reston

Published March 31, 2026 at 3:45PM

A spring day at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Fairfax County continues to plan for the future of Lake Anne, a newly conceived award will honor individuals who have helped turn Reston’s oldest village center into the community it is today.

Radhika Murari, owner of Lake Anne Plaza’s OmBaked CBD Boutique (11414 Washington Plaza West), is currently seeking nominations for the inaugural Lake Anne Good Neighbor Award.

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Free pickleball courts set to open at Capital One Center in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2026 at 9:15AM

The new Metro Park pickleball courts at Capital One Center in Tysons (courtesy Capital One Center)

The polarizing pop of paddles swatting pickleballs will soon accompany the comings and goings of commuters at the McLean Metro station in Tysons.

Capital One Center will open four new pickleball courts tomorrow (Wednesday) to replace the ice skating rink in Metro Park, the plaza at 1820 Capital One Drive South outside the Metro station’s recently added north entrance.

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Feds investigating FCPS over Fairfax HS assault allegations

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2026 at 8:30AM

The Fairfax County Public Schools administrative center in Merrifield (file photo)

The federal government has launched an investigation of its own into allegations that a Fairfax High School student groped multiple female students.

The U.S. Department of Education announced yesterday (Monday) on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that it’s opening an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools “following reports from 12 high school girls who have credibly accused one male student — an illegal immigrant — of sexual assault.”

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Dog critically injured in hit-and-run crash on GW Parkway, driver sought

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2026 at 1:45PM

Buck, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd, at Belle Haven Animal Medical Centre after he was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash (photos courtesy Alicia Naylor)

A Belle Haven family is turning to the community for information and financial support after their beloved dog was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash on the George Washington Memorial Parkway earlier this month.

Owner Alicia Naylor was plastering her Belle View neighborhood with flyers for Buck — a 2-year-old Australian shepherd who went missing after slipping out of his harness around 8 p.m. the previous night — when she received a call that he had been struck by a driver at approximately 5:30 p.m. on March 12.

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Herndon’s first flashing pedestrian beacon coming to W&OD crossing

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2026 at 11:45AM

The W&OD Trail crossing at Crestview Drive in Herndon (via Google Maps)

A new pedestrian safety measure will soon help slow down drivers as they approach a Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail crossing in Herndon.

The Town of Herndon announced last week that it’s working to install a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) for the crosswalk connecting the trail across Crestview Drive near Old Heights Road.

Around Town

Labubu maker to open retail shop at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published March 30, 2026 at 8:30AM

A Pop Mart retail store is coming soon to Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Labubu craze is coming to Tysons Corner Center, where it will no doubt be greeted by avid collectors and befuddled observers alike.

Pop Mart, the Chinese toy company best known for its popular line of grinning, bunny-eared monster dolls, is planning to open a retail store at the mall, its second in the D.C. region following a launch in Pentagon City last November.

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UPDATED: Teen charged with stabbing after brawl at South Lakes Village Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2026 at 3:10PM | Updated March 30, 2026 at 5:43PM

Sign for South Lakes Village Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County police are investigating a fight at the South Lakes Village Center in Reston that ended with one teen in the hospital.

Officers were dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday (March 27) to the Sunoco gas station at 11190 South Lakes Drive for an incident initially reported as a stabbing, according to the police scanner.

Around Town

South Block will hand out free acai bowls for Burke grand opening

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2026 at 10:00AM

South Block coming to Burke Centre Shopping Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

South Block’s expansion to seemingly every corner of Fairfax County will continue tomorrow (Saturday) with its debut in Burke.

The homegrown juice and smoothie chain will open at the Burke Centre Shopping Center (5765D Burke Centre Parkway) with an all-day block party, highlighted by free mini warrior acai bowls for the first 100 customers in line.

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FCPD charges man with stealing alcohol, cash from Tysons-area restaurants

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2026 at 2:45PM

Churasuko on the ground floor of the Lumen Apartments in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County police are charging a man from Arlington County with burglarizing two different restaurants in the Tysons area more than half a year apart.

Back on Aug. 23, 2025, officers responded around 1:17 p.m. to a reported burglary at Pupatella Pizza (2980 District Avenue) in Merrifield’s Mosaic District, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Around Town

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will roll into Tysons this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2026 at 10:00AM

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck 10th anniversary collectibles (courtesy Hello Kitty Cafe Truck)

Spring break is around the corner, and so is the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck.

The beloved mobile pop-up will pull into Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road) this Saturday (March 28), selling exclusive Hello Kitty-themed treats and memorabilia at PenFed Plaza near Shake Shack from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.