Author: Emily Leayman

Emily Leayman is a senior reporter at ARLnow, ALXnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

Around Town

Glory Days Grill not reopening in Merrifield after fire, new tenant sought

By Emily Leayman
Glory Days at 3059 Nutley Street in Merrifield's Providence Place shopping center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Months after an August 2025 fire, Glory Days Grill has decided to make its closure in Merrifield permanent.

The sports bar, located at the Providence Place shopping center (formerly the Pan Am Shopping Center), announced the closure in an email to customers. A Fairfax County notice posted outside the 3059 Nutley Street restaurant deemed it unsafe to occupy following the Aug. 22, 2025 kitchen fire.

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Around Town

Fairfax City Restaurant Week returning with specials at over 20 eateries

By Emily Leayman
Curry Mantra (via Fairfax City Restaurant Week)

Fairfax City Restaurant Week will return for its winter rendition later this week, offering specials at 20-plus restaurants around the city.

The restaurant week will run from Friday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 8. Full-service restaurants will offer multi-course special menus, while fast-casual eateries will set their own specials.

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News

Herndon’s Harding Park closes as playground replacement begins

By Emily Leayman
Construction on Harding Park in Herndon (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

The Town of Herndon has closed Harding Park and is in the process of replacing the playground, among other improvements.

A groundbreaking was held Tuesday (Feb. 17) at Harding Park (749 Van Buren Street), Town of Herndon spokesperson Reid Okoniewski told FFXnow.

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Around Town

Sushi, Korean BBQ restaurant opens at growing Reston Row development

By Emily Leayman
Noku Sushi at Reston Row (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

A restaurant serving up Japanese and Korean specialties is one of the first dining additions to the new Reston Row.

Noku Sushi is now open at 1800 Reston Row Plaza, Suite 120 in the newly-developed section of Reston Station. An employee confirmed to FFXnow that the restaurant opened on Monday, Feb. 16.

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News

Officials narrowing down source of gas leak behind Centreville house explosion

By Emily Leayman
Eric Craven, the assistant chief of operations for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, speaks at a news briefing on Feb. 18 about the Centreville home explosion (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Authorities are still working to stabilize and identify the exact source of the natural gas-related home explosion in Centreville on Sunday (Feb. 15). The ongoing leak has led to days-long evacuations and gas service shutoffs for nearby homes.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates gas transmission pipeline incidents, is leading the federal investigation into the home explosion.

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Around Town

New restaurant Wow Nepal brings couple’s favorite home recipes to Fairfax

By Emily Leayman
Wow Nepal in Fairfax (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Though Fairfax City has a varied dining scene, a couple from Nepal saw a void that they could fill with their home country’s cuisine.

The resulting restaurant Wow Nepal, located at 10728 Fairfax Blvd, had its soft opening on Jan. 28. Chef Bewek Bastola runs it alongside his wife, Samrina Pandit.

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Around Town

Indoor trampoline park targets opening later this year at Fair Oaks Mall

By Emily Leayman
Children jump at Sky Zone (courtesy of Sky Zone)

Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park, will soon bounce into the remaining space left by Sears at Fair Oaks Mall.

The indoor trampoline park chain confirmed to FFXnow that it is targeting a late 2026 or early 2027 opening at 1750 Fair Oaks Mall #1230. Sky Zone has four other Northern Virginia locations, including one in Springfield and one that just opened on Feb. 9 at Dulles Town Center in Sterling.

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News

Vienna officials tackle safety concerns with e-scooters, other mobility devices

By Emily Leayman
Bird scooters parked at the Vienna Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With its first Capital Bikeshare stations on the way, Vienna leaders want to tackle concerns about the safety of micro-mobility devices like electric scooters and electric bikes head on.

Earlier this month, the Vienna Town Council endorsed an educational campaign recommended by the town’s Transportation Safety Commission about the laws and risks of e-scooters, e-bikes and other shared micromobility devices.

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Around Town

Secondhand retailer to repurpose former adult entertainment store in Springfield

By Emily Leayman
Future location of Remix Market in Springfield (courtesy of Boosalis Properties)

A secondhand furniture, home goods and clothing retailer is expanding into the Fairfax County market with a future location in Springfield.

Last week, Remix Market signed a five-year lease at 6909 Old Keene Mill Road, according to real estate firm Boosalis Properties, which represented the tenant in the transaction. The 6,250-square-foot standalone Springfield Executive Building has been vacant for years since MVC Couples Boutique, an adult entertainment store, closed in 2019.

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News

GMU cheers on fellow student Ilia Malinin during Olympics watch parties

By Emily Leayman and Associated Press
Olympics watch party for figure skater and student Ilia Malinin at George Mason University (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

In between classes, George Mason University students gathered at the Johnson Center in Fairfax to cheer one of their own going for the gold in the winter Olympics.

Ilia Malinin, a 21-year-old figure skater competing in the Milan Cortina Olympics, is also studying for a not-yet-declared major at GMU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The university held a watch party yesterday (Tuesday) as Malinin competed in the qualifying round of the individual men’s short program.

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