Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Construction underway in Fairfax City on region’s largest supportive housing project

Published November 4, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 11:18AM

The Beacon Landing construction site in Fairfax City is set up for a groundbreaking ceremony (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A mix of pride and gratitude filled the voices of the government and nonprofit officials who spoke at a ceremonial groundbreaking yesterday (Monday) for Fairfax City’s latest housing project.

Speaker after speaker emphasized the array of contributors whose shared belief that housing should be a basic right, not a privilege, paved the road to construction for Beacon Landing, a 54-unit apartment building for people who are at risk of or experiencing chronic homelessness.

Countywide

Fairfax County government offices, libraries to close for Election Day

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 3, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Fairfax County Government Center on Election Day 2024 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

The Fairfax County Government Center will be open tomorrow (Tuesday) for election voting and little else.

Most government facilities will be closed for Election Day, which is a designated holiday for the county. Operations affected by the closures include all Fairfax County Public Library branches and Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) programs.

Around Town

Harry & David opens holiday pop-up shop at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 3, 2025 at 2:45PM

A holiday pop-up shop from Harry & David is now open at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Harry & David is now selling its signature gift baskets at Tysons Corner Center.

The mail-order business launched a holiday pop-up store in the mall last month that will continue operating through the end of 2025, according to store manager Bruce Hughart.

Around Town

DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival set for bittersweet return to Dulles Expo Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival attendees dip marshmallows into a chocolate fountain (courtesy DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival)

When the DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival announced earlier this fall that it will return to the Dulles Expo Center in mid-November, organizers didn’t know yet that their fourth year would be their last at the popular Chantilly events venue.

Though rumors of Ikea coming to the building had emerged over the summer, Dulles Expo Center’s management didn’t officially inform promoters that it will close in December until last week, the Washington Business Journal reported last week.

Countywide

Fairfax delegate leads Democratic campaign for ‘historic’ majority in Virginia House

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 3, 2025 at 10:00AM

Delegate Dan Helmer speaks at a luncheon for the grassroots Democratic organizing group Network NOVA (courtesy Dan Helmer for Virginia)

As early voting in Virginia’s November elections came to a close on Saturday (Nov. 1), Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) was on the road in a final push to secure a victory not just for himself, but for Democratic candidates across the state.

As the campaigns chair for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, a role he landed based on his defeat of Fairfax County’s last Republican delegate, Tim Hugo, in 2019, Helmer has been tasked with overseeing races in all 100 House districts — every single one of which will have a Democrat on the ballot.

News

National security contractor opens sizable expansion of Tysons HQ

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 3, 2025 at 8:30AM

Xcelerate Solutions leaders celebrate the company's expansion of its Tysons headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 28, 2025 (courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority)

A contractor that provides defense and national security support to the federal government more than doubled the size of its Tysons headquarters this week.

Based in the Highline at Greensboro District complex, leaders of Xcelerate Solutions celebrated the expansion of their office at 8405 Greensboro Drive from 7,759 square feet to 23,073 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Tuesday (Oct. 28).

News

FCPD: Driver killed in crash near Reston National Golf Course

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2025 at 4:40PM | Updated October 31, 2025 at 5:02PM

Police outside Golf Course Square in Reston for a fatal crash investigation on Oct. 30, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash that occurred near Reston National Golf Course Thursday afternoon (Oct. 30).

Local police officers and responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to Soapstone Drive at Golf Course Square in Reston around 2:41 p.m. for a crash with entrapment, according to scanner traffic.

Around Town

JUST IN: IKEA confirms plan for Chantilly store, replacing Dulles Expo Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2025 at 3:50PM | Updated October 30, 2025 at 4:06PM

Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After months of speculation, IKEA has officially confirmed that it’s coming to Chantilly, taking over a building currently occupied by the Dulles Expo Center.

The Swedish furniture chain announced today (Thursday) that it will open a store — its third in Virginia — at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Drive in the Chantilly Shopping Center sometime in spring 2026.

News

UPDATED: New I-495 toll lanes on track to open before Thanksgiving

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated November 10, 2025 at 5:12PM

Construction continues on the new toll lanes on I-495 approaching the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchange (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — The new I-495 Express Lanes are on track to open ahead of schedule on Saturday, Nov. 22, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Nov. 10.

In addition to two toll lanes in each direction, the opening will include dedicated ramps from the Dulles Toll Road to the northbound express lanes and between the express lanes and the GW Parkway.

News

Construction timeline pushed back for new Vienna library

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2025 at 9:15AM

Potholes have emerged in the driveway for the Patrick Henry Library, which closed on May 9, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna residents will have to wait a little longer than expected to welcome a new, permanent library.

Demolition of the existing Patrick Henry Library is now scheduled to begin in early 2026, pushing its replacement’s anticipated opening back from 2027 to early 2028, Fairfax County Public Library announced yesterday (Wednesday).