Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Food delivery robots roll out at select restaurants in the Mosaic District

Published April 20, 2023 at 9:30AM

Food delivery robots from the startup Cartken have launched at the Mosaic District (courtesy Alex Zilberman/EDENS)

The robots are taking over the Mosaic District.

Starting today (Thursday), a fleet of boxy, self-driving bots will roam around the mixed-use Merrifield neighborhood, delivering food from restaurants in a pilot program by the delivery service Uber Eats and the robotics startup Cartken.

Around Town

Before Earth Day, Vienna to bring out the big birds for annual Green Expo

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 19, 2023 at 2:15PM

The nonprofit Secret Garden Birds & Bees will return to Vienna's Green Expo with live birds of prey (courtesy Town of Vienna)

With Earth Day just around the corner, the Town of Vienna is preparing for its annual celebration of all things environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Sponsored by the town’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission, the Green Expo is held on the fourth Thursday of every April. As such, this year’s event will take place at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street) from 7-9 p.m. this Thursday (April 20).

News

Three dogs rescued from townhouse fire in Centreville

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 19, 2023 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County paramedics attend to a dog rescued from a townhouse fire in Centreville (via FCFRD/Twitter)

A trio of dogs was rescued from a townhouse fire in Centreville’s Bryarton neighborhood this morning (Wednesday).

Multiple Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to the 14600 block of Seasons Drive around 11:17 a.m., according to scanner traffic from Open MHz.

Around Town

Tysons Corner Center adds Persian restaurant, plans pizza stall in food court

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 19, 2023 at 10:15AM

The Persian restaurant Maman Joon opened at Tysons Corner Center in early April (courtesy Z Burger)

Maman Joon, a Persian restaurant originally based in D.C., is now open at Tysons Corner Center.

Opened during the first week of April, the eatery is located at 8048 Tysons Corner Center on the mall’s second level next to the Pakistani cafe Cha Tea House, replacing the permanently closed Cava.

News

Route 7 construction cuts off access from Trap Road through summer

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 18, 2023 at 3:00PM

Route 7 construction workers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

For the next few months, drivers will have just one road to reach Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) from Wolf Trap.

The access point at Trap Road is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) and will remain blocked to traffic until 9 a.m. Saturday (April 22), the Virginia Department of Transportation announced last week.

Countywide

Red Flag Warning in effect for Fairfax County, indicating danger of fires

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 18, 2023 at 1:15PM

Fairfax County firefighters respond to a brush fire in Annandale on April 13, 2023 (via FCFRD/Twitter)

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area.

In effect from noon until 8 p.m. today (Tuesday), the alert says a combination of strong wind gusts and low humidity have raised the risk of outdoor fires.

News

Metro to offer free shuttles during partial Orange Line shutdown this summer

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 18, 2023 at 9:30AM

Vienna Metro station bus shelter (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro will assemble an armada of shuttles this summer to support travelers during its multi-week shutdowns of several stations on the Orange, Silver and Green lines.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced yesterday that free shuttle buses will be available throughout the closures, which will begin on May 12 and roll out to Fairfax County’s Orange Line stations starting June 3.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 18, 2023 at 7:30AM

The Palladium of McLean from across Emerson Avenue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Beacon Center Wendy’s Misses Opening — “Dozens of excited people lined up outside the restaurant’s doors located at 6634 Richmond Highway in the Beacon Center shopping center for the Wendy’s location’s opening. However, no one from the restaurant showed up to open the doors, leaving everyone quite disappointed.” [ABC7]

Northern Virginia Losing Economic “Mojo,” Researcher Says — “[Terry] Clower, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, provided an overview of the region’s economy for the more than 100 attendees at the breakfast, at Belle Haven Country Club. He noted that while the Northern Virginia economy is resilient and the unemployment rate is low, there are headwinds.” [Inside NoVA]

News

UPDATED: Teen shot near Culmore, suspects seen fleeing

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 17, 2023 at 5:45PM | Updated April 18, 2023 at 5:05PM

Fairfax County police respond to a shooting in Culmore (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 5:05 p.m. on 4/18/2023) A 14-year-old teenager was shot near the Culmore shopping center.

Fairfax County police were dispatched to the intersection of Bellview Drive and Glen Carlyn Drive at 5:23 p.m., according to scanner traffic from Open MHz.

News

BREAKING: Police officer who fatally shot Timothy Johnson not indicted

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 17, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated April 18, 2023 at 9:34AM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 4/18/2023) A Fairfax County grand jury opted not to indict the police officer accused of shooting and killing Timothy Johnson outside Tysons Corner Center in February.

The Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney was scheduled to share an update in the case with a press conference at noon, but the event was canceled after the grand jury’s decision came out. The news was first reported by NBC4 Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey.