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

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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News

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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News

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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News

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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Countywide

Sewage spill in Potomac River not affecting Fairfax Water supply, utility says

By Emily Leayman and Associated Press
A warning sign at the site of a massive pipe rupture, as sewage flows into the Potomac River, right, in Glen Echo, Md., Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

A sewage spill in the Potomac River northwest of D.C. last week has not affected drinking water in Fairfax County, the local water utility says.

The spill occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland, along Clara Barton Parkway, which hugs the northern edge of the Potomac River near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. The spill was caused by a DC Water sewer pipe that collapsed late Monday, Jan. 19, shooting sewage out of the ground and into the river.

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News

JUST IN: Fairfax County schools closed Monday due to Winter Storm Fern

By Emily Leayman
A Fairfax County school bus in the snow (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Winter Storm Fern brings a mix of snow and sleet to the region, Fairfax County Public Schools has canceled classes tomorrow (Monday).

All schools and central offices will be closed Monday, as well as school programs and activities on school grounds. Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. region are under a Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service through 4 a.m. Monday.

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Countywide

Fairfax County casino bill advances from Virginia Senate subcommittee

By Emily Leayman
State Sen. Scott Surovell presents his Fairfax County casino bill to the Senate's subcommittee on gaming on Jan. 23, 2026 (via Virginia Senate/YouTube)

A Virginia Senate subcommittee has advanced the Tysons casino bill, setting it up for further consideration after its 2025 defeat in a House of Delegates committee.

The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 5-3 today (Friday) in favor of the legislation from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add Fairfax County as an eligible host for a casino.

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Around Town

Long lines greet opening of Japanese department store’s first Virginia location

By Emily Leayman
Teso Life opened its first Virginia store in Centreville (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

An already busy Centreville shopping center flanked by H Mart, Spa World and various eateries was even more crowded than usual when the Japanese department store Teso Life opened last Friday (Jan. 16).

The chain carries a variety of Japanese and other Asian home goods, food, personal care items and more. Its new location in the Old Centreville Crossing shopping center (13860 Braddock Road) is the first in Virginia and the second in the D.C. region, following an opening in Rockville, Maryland, in 2024.

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