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

Sweetgreen opening new Tysons location soon with giveaways

By Emily Leayman
Sweetgreen's location on Leesburg Pike in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fast-casual salad and bowl chain Sweetgreen will debut its latest location in Tysons with giveaways and support for a local nonprofit.

Sweetgreen will open on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 8405 Leesburg Pike in Tysons. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the location will serve seasonal light bites from Sterling-based restaurant Local Provisions and offer plants from Falls Church-based Botanologica.

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Sully District supervisor hopes vision for Centreville includes more housing options

By Emily Leayman
Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith speaks at the 2026 State of Centreville (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

As Fairfax County officials prepare recommendations for Centreville’s future for review, one supervisor hopes to see a focus on options for boosting housing.

Fairfax County is updating its Centreville comprehensive plan, a long-term land use guide for the community’s core to complement the zoning ordinance. The Centreville plan amendment was one topic Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith (D) addressed in remarks at the 2026 State of Centreville hosted by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday (Feb. 6).

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Vienna Town Council weighs next steps for proposed aquatics center

By Emily Leayman
A bird's eye view of the Vienna aquatics and fitness center concept proposed for the former Vienna Baptist Church site (via Kimmel Bogrette Architecture report)

Vienna Town Council members have concerns about uncertain costs for the proposed aquatics and fitness facility and other pressing capital projects as a key vote looms later this month.

The town council is scheduled to consider awarding a contract on Feb. 23 to a firm that will oversee the planning and design of the aquatics facility, Vienna Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Herman said in a presentation on Monday (Feb. 2).

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Retirements, low vacancies lead to $450K budget deficit projection in Vienna

By Emily Leayman
Flags wave outside Vienna Town Hall in snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna officials are expecting a year-end budget deficit as a result of rising retirement costs, overtime pressures and limited staff vacancies.

According to a mid-year budget update presented to the town council on Monday (Feb. 2), Town of Vienna Finance Director Steven Barlow outlined the $450,000 deficit anticipated in the $34.7 million general fund budget when fiscal year 2026 ends on June 30.

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Around Town

Vienna Inn marks 66th anniversary with specials, events for diners

By Emily Leayman
Vienna Inn during Winter Storm Fern (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna Inn will celebrate its lasting power in town by commemorating its 66th anniversary in February.

The restaurant’s 66th anniversary celebration begins this week with a month-long series of events and specials to thank customers for over six decades of support.

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Fairfax student’s nonprofit organizes service projects to help homeless people

By Emily Leayman
Hands in Hope organizes student service projects to help people experiencing homelessness (courtesy of Minn Vo)

After losing a brother who experienced homelessness, Carter G. Woodson High School student Minn Vo became aware on a personal level of how vulnerable people without shelter can be — and how often they’re overlooked by society.

That was a call to action for Vo, who founded the nonprofit Hands in Hope to organize service projects and fundraise to benefit individuals experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County.

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Fairfax mayor advocates for state to clear path for church-based affordable housing

By Emily Leayman
Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony for Wesley Housing's Beacon Landing supportive housing project (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A lengthy approval process for an affordable townhouse development motivated Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read to testify in support of state legislation eliminating a key hurdle to affordable housing on church-owned properties.

State Sen. Jeremy McPike’s (D-29) Senate Bill 388 would let religious organizations develop housing on their land by right, without needing to go through a special exception, special use or conditional use permit or rezoning process that requires public hearings and votes.

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Around Town

First participating eateries revealed for fifth annual Vienna Restaurant Week

By Emily Leayman
A meal served at Seray in Vienna (via Seray)

The first restaurants have been announced for Vienna Restaurant Week, which is slated to return next month to showcase the town’s diverse culinary scene.

This year’s restaurant week will run 10 days from Feb. 27 to March 8. Participating restaurants will offer specially-priced prix fixe menus, exclusive specials or limited-time dining experiences.

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Restonian running for Congress supports mid-decade redistricting, calls midterms ‘crucial’

By Emily Leayman
Bree Fram, a military member forced to retire due to the Trump administration's transgender ban, is running for Congress. (courtesy of Bree Fram for Congress)

Former Space Force Col. Bree Fram (D) hopes to become the second transgender member elected to Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, but she’s not sure yet which district she would represent.

Last week, Fram filed to run in the strongly Democratic 11th Congressional District that currently covers a significant portion of Fairfax County. However, her campaign is monitoring whether a mid-decade redistricting push by Virginia Democrats would move her Reston home to the Democrat-leaning 10th Congressional District or even another district currently represented by a Republican.

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Around Town

Fairfax City nominated for national poll to identify best small town arts scene

By Emily Leayman
Greetings from the City of Fairfax mural (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City is in the running to be ranked among the nation’s best small town arts scenes.

USA Today’s panel of independent editors nominated Fairfax for Best Small Town Arts Scene in its 10Best awards. There are 20 communities across the U.S. nominated in the category, including Abingdon in Southwest Virginia.

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