Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Local artists wanted to decorate future Route 1 bus stations

Published August 27, 2025 at 3:45PM

A rendering of a Richmond Highway bus rapid transit station (courtesy Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is on the lookout for local artists who can add “community charm” to the bus stations for The One, the bus rapid transit (BRT) system planned for Richmond Highway (Route 1).

The county’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has partnered with ArtsFairfax to identify artists to decorate the station windscreens with digital art.

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Tile Shop closes in Tysons retail center that could be redeveloped

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 27, 2025 at 9:15AM

The Tile Shop is closed at Tysons 3 Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Tile Shop has packed up and moved out of Tysons.

The home decor closed its showroom in the Tysons 3 shopping center at 8520C Leesburg Pike on July 31, wrapping up a roughly 12-year run. A sign announcing the closing date encouraged customers to visit other locations in Springfield, Chantilly, Sterling and Rockville, Maryland.

Around Town

Tysons Corner Center announces new stores opening this fall

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 26, 2025 at 3:45PM

Rivian is expected to open at Tysons Corner Center in September 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A busy August at Tysons Corner Center is expected to spill over into the fall with a slew of store openings.

After welcoming the ear-piercing studio Studs earlier this month and the entertainment venue Level99, along with its paired restaurant Victory Brewing, yesterday (Monday), the mall offered an updated preview today of what to expect through October 2025.

Around Town

Future of Greenheart Juice unclear after Vienna shop closes

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 26, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated August 26, 2025 at 2:32PM

Greenheart Juice Shop in Vienna has closed (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Greenheart Juice Shop’s remaining stores are apparently changing hands, continuing a summer of upheaval for the Northern Virginia business.

The juice bar has closed its Vienna location after just over four years at 208 Dominion Road. Its final day of operations was Sunday (Aug. 24), taking loyal customers by surprise.

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Stormwater runoff, climate change among top threats to Reston’s environment, report finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 25, 2025 at 2:50PM | Updated August 26, 2025 at 3:18PM

A Reston sign under a tree (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Invasive species, an overpopulation of deer and climate change are threatening Reston’s valued forests, a report released earlier this summer found.

Reston Association’s 2024 State of the Environment Report (RASER), published in June, deemed Reston’s urban forests to be in “fair” condition due to the “collective severity” of those and other challenges, including negative impacts of construction and yard debris getting dumped in natural areas.

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Wolf Trap Nursery owners pursue redevelopment with housing

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 25, 2025 at 9:15AM

Wolf Trap Nursery along Leesburg Pike (via Google Maps)

Residents in the Wolf Trap area might need to find a new source of bonsai and other plants in the future.

The owners of Wolf Trap Nursery are seeking to redevelop the nearly 6.5-acre property at 9439 Leesburg Pike where they have sold a variety of home and garden plants for 53 years, according to a rezoning application recently submitted to Fairfax County.

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Trump administration demands apology from GMU president for diversity practices

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 25, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated February 5, 2026 at 7:36PM

George Mason University President Gregory Washington delivers his annual report to the Board of Visitors at its Aug. 1, 2025 meeting (via GMU)

George Mason University’s efforts to diversify its workforce violate a civil rights law intended to end segregation, according to the Trump administration.

Following a roughly six-week-long investigation of GMU’s hiring practices, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has found that the Northern Virginia-based university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race in public education.

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Drive-thru chain Checkers & Rally’s eyes Fairfax for N. Va. expansion

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 22, 2025 at 2:45PM

Checkers drive-thru restaurant in Manassas (via Google Maps)

Checkers & Rally’s is circling Fairfax County, searching for a spot that one of its drive-thru restaurants can pull into.

No specific locations have been identified yet, but the fast-food chain is actively recruiting franchisees who could introduce it to the county, according to a public relations representative, citing Springfield specifically as one possible area of interest.

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Franklin Farm church finds developer for proposed affordable housing project

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 22, 2025 at 1:45PM

The Community of Faith United Methodist Church's property in Franklin Farm (photo by Abi Foerster)

A church that wants to build affordable housing on its campus in the Herndon area will soon step up its efforts to win over skeptical neighbors.

The Community of Faith United Methodist Church announced on Wednesday (Aug. 20) that it has partnered with the affordable housing developer Pennrose on the project, which could bring around 90 apartments to its 8.9-acre property at 13224 Franklin Farm Road.

Around Town

Ear piercing studio’s first Virginia location now open in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 22, 2025 at 9:15AM

A Studs customer gets her ear pierced (courtesy Studs)

A new ear piercing studio has set up shop at Tysons Corner Center.

Studs, a growing national chain started in New York City, opened its first Virginia location at the mall’s second level near Nordstrom (1961 Chain Bridge Road, Suite J8U) on Aug. 13.