FFXnow is the definitive local news source for Fairfax County, featuring countywide coverage and hyperlocal reporting on the Reston and Tysons areas. This article was written by an editor or other member of FFXnow's full-time staff.
The most popular month for weddings is here, and Fairfax County offers a variety of settings for couples looking to tie the knot, from elegant ballrooms to scenic vistas and historic sites.
Here are the nominees for “Best Wedding Venue in Fairfax County” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite location below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 26.
Voting for Best Mortgage Lender in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday, June 19 at 8:30 a.m.
People walking by Tysons Corner Center’s parking garage A near Macy’s (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Dominion Leaders Grilled on Merger — “Lawmakers gathered in Richmond this week to grill Dominion leadership on the $67 billion all-stock deal which could see management of half of Virginia’s energy move outside the commonwealth.” Legislators on Virginia’s Energy Commission who questioned the acquisition by NextEra included Fairfax Del. Rip Sullivan and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell. [WVTF]
Kennedy Center Board to Challenge Ruling on Name — “President Donald Trump’s handpicked board at the Kennedy Center is mounting a last-minute effort to keep his name on the facade of the iconic performing arts facility before a court-ordered deadline to remove it by Friday.” The board voted yesterday (Thursday) to seek a stay of the May 29 ruling that found Trump’s name was added illegally. [Associated Press]
Criminal Record Sealing Law to Take Effect — “A Virginia law going into effect on July 1 will seal the criminal records of many people convicted of low-level offenses … Advocates say the change will open up housing and employment opportunities, helping people to move on with their lives years after committing an offense. Critics have raised public safety concerns.” [ARLnow]
Tex-Mex Restaurant Opens Near GMU — Doña Mesa Tex Mex Kitchen opened yesterday (Thursday) at 106 Braddock Road, Suite C, in University Mall, joining other recent additions like the rebranded Velocity Bar and Kitchen and Another Broken Egg Cafe. The menu features “the quesadillas, fajitas and tacos Tex-Mex fans will expect, as well as specialties like slow-cooked Mexican ribs, stuffed shrimp, marinated grilled chicken, ribeye steak and more.” [Patch]
Sports Complex Expansion Approved — “The Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved a zoning special exception to allow a major expansion of the private school for elite student athletes at the St. James sports complex in Springfield … The expansion will allow the [St. James Performance Academy] to enroll 660 students and add 110 employees.” [Annandale Today]
Resources for the World Cup — “The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway until July 19 — the global sporting event that captures passion and play … There are many watch parties for many teams across the county. If you want to cheer on the U.S. Men’s National Team, then Tysons is one spot to consider for matches on June 12, June 19 and June 25.” [Fairfax County Government]
Taste of Springfield Returns — “Join us for the 8th annual Taste of Springfield Festival on Saturday, June 13th from 11 AM-5 PM in the parking lot near Dick’s Sporting Goods … This family-friendly event allows you to stroll through the dozens of fun exhibitors outdoors while sampling some of the delicious offerings of local restaurants and chefs.” [Springfield Town Center]
RTC North Town Hall Next Week — “Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn will host a community town hall next week on the Reston Town Center North rezoning proposal before it advances to the Planning Commission in July. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center.” [Hunter Mill District Office]
New Legal Notice — Establishment seeks restaurant ABC license; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Friday — There’s an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 pm, with some severe storms possible. The high will be near 95, and the heat index could reach 103. In the evening, storms will continue until about 8 pm, with lows around 67. [NWS]
Expect showers and thunderstorms, especially after 4pm, with some storms potentially severe. The high will be near 95, with a heat index reaching up to 103. Winds will come from the west at 3 to 8 mph, and there’s an 80% chance of rain, with potential for heavy rainfall in thunderstorms. Friday night, thunderstorms are likely before 8pm and may also be severe. The sky will be mostly cloudy earlier, clearing gradually later, with a low around 67. Winds will shift from west to northwest at 7 to 9 mph after midnight, and there’s a 60% chance of rain. See more from Weather.gov.
Benches and trees along Reston Station Blvd near the Faraday Park apartments (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Hate Incidents at Thoreau Middle School — “A Northern Virginia father said he’s sad and angry after two classmates at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna allegedly targeted his daughter with drawings of swastikas. He said he decided to come forward after seeing a News4 story last week about another student at that school who said he was called the N-word multiple times and had water dumped on his head.” [NBC4]
No ICE Reforms in Federal Funding Bill – “The Republican-controlled House on Tuesday narrowly passed a roughly $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill” that will extend through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. Fairfax County’s “Rep. James Walkinshaw … told Morning Edition that Democrats unsuccessfully pushed for changes such as limits on face coverings, body camera requirements and clearer use-of-force standards.” [NPR]
Metrobus Detours for UFC Event — Starting at 10 p.m. tonight “through Monday at 6am, road closures in support of the Freedom250 UFC event will cause bus detours” on several Metrobus routes, including the F19 Mount Vernon Estate Express from southeastern Fairfax into D.C. The bout is scheduled to take place on the White House lawn this Sunday (June 14). [WMATA/Bluesky]
Va. Residents Seek to Halt UFC Fight — “The Justice Department on Tuesday urged a federal judge to reject a lawsuit seeking to stop the White House’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event scheduled for this weekend.” The lawsuit was filed this past weekend by the Public Integrity Project, which is representing “a political activist and Vietnam veteran” from Virginia. [ABC News]
More Damage Found to Potomac Pipe — “DC Water is once again working to repair a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor. The utility says crews discovered corrosion and broken supports in another area of the pipe in Potomac, Maryland, on Tuesday.” The issue was found in different section from the one that collapsed in January, “triggering a massive sewage spill into the Potomac River.” [WUSA9]
Interactive Art Installed in Annandale — “The ‘Conversation Bench,’ installed by Community Art for Everyone (CAFE) on June 8, is part of the Art in Daily Spaces project.” Located in the Eileen Garnett Civic Space at 7200 Columbia Pike, “it consists of two attached pink-and-blue chairs facing in opposite directions with a glass screen between them.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Redevelopment Proposed — “A proposal to replace four office buildings on Chain Bridge Road with a mixed-use development of apartments, office space, retail and structured parking moved through another review step Monday during a Fairfax City Planning Commission work session.” [Patch]
Public Health Center Closing Tomorrow — “Services offered at the Fairfax County Health Department’s West Springfield Public Health Center (located in the Cary Building at 8136 Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield) are being transitioned to the Franconia-Springfield Public Health Center. The last day for client services at West Springfield is June 12, 2026.” [Fairfax County Health Department]
Students Succeed in Problem-Solving Competition — Seven fourth-grade students from Forestville Elementary School in Great Falls are celebrating after finishing in third place at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. Held at Iowa State University from May 27-30, the competition challenged 54 teams from eight different countries “to solve technical problems in creative ways.” [FCPS]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high of 96°F and heat index values reaching 104°F. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 pm. Night will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 73°F and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. [NWS]
Support local journalism.Join the FFXnow Press Club to boost our reporting and to get upgraded newsletters.
Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 95 degrees and heat index values reaching up to 103. There will be a west wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. Thursday night will see a chance of showers and thunderstorms, primarily before midnight, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 73. The west wind will drop to 3 to 5 mph, and there is a 40% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
North American toad spotted in Turkey Run Park in McLean (photo by Susan Woolsey)
Fatal Crash on Old Keene Mill Road — Police officers responded yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to a single-vehicle crash on Old Keene Mill Road near Tiverton Drive in Springfield. “An adult driver was pronounced deceased on scene. Two adult passengers were transported with injuries, one life-threatening.” [FCPD/X]
Wanted Herndon Man in Custody — Wanted on charges of abduction, carjacking, assault and more following an alleged altercation at his home, Cristian Vasquez Alvarenga “has been taken into custody in the area of Elden St and Alabama Dr,” Herndon police announced yesterday morning. “Thank you to multiple community members that called in after seeing him.” [Herndon Police/Facebook]
One Hospitalized After I-95 Crash — “One person needed to be rescued and taken to the hospital after a crash on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, officials said Tuesday.” Dispatched shortly after 5 p.m. to I-95 south near the I-395 split in Springfield, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews found “several vehicles that had been involved in a crash. One person was trapped.” [DC News Now]
Falls Church Tests Sip-and-Stroll Program — “From 5-10 p.m. this Saturday, Little City Sips will allow residents to partake in alcoholic beverages on the go, while enjoying entertainment, a lively atmosphere and libations from local restaurants, available in branded cups. The sip-and-stroll will be piloted around a section of W. Broad Street and Park Avenue.” [ARLnow]
Volunteer Fire Depts Seek New Recruits — A new campaign from the International Association of Fire Chiefs is targeting a new generation of volunteer firefighters “through social media campaigns and marketing materials.” Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department Chief Shawn Stokes says that “over the years, it has become harder and harder to recruit ready volunteers.” [WTOP]
Loudoun Winery Up for Sale — “Aspiring winemakers in Northern Virginia have a new opportunity to purchase a fully operational vineyard. Carriage House Wineworks, a boutique winery in Waterford, is now on the market. The property at 40817 Browns Ln., Waterford, is currently listed for $1,990,000.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Nearly $12M Sought for McLean Mansion — “Sneak a peek at this ultra-luxury property for sale on McLean’s so-called ‘Gold Coast,’ where exclusive riverfront estates enjoy sweeping vistas of the Potomac River and its cascading falls. The 2.4 acre Bella Vista property, located at 1159 Crest Lane, is perched right at the water’s edge. The asking price: $11.9 million.” [Arlington Magazine]
Free America 250 Concert in Annandale — “The Mason District Arts Council’s Mason Arts 250 program is presenting ‘America the Beautiful at 250,’ an afternoon of music and poetry, on June 13 at John Calvin Presbyterian Church … The Mason Arts 250 series kicked off last Sunday with a free concert by the NoVA Lights Chorale.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — There’s a 50% chance of precipitation with storms especially possible 2-7 p.m. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a high near 88°F. A 30% chance of precipitation remains at night, when skies will partially clear and temperatures dip to a low around 72°F. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 88°F, accompanied by a southwest wind around 9 mph. In the evening, there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m., becoming partly cloudy with a low around 72°F, and a southwest wind between 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Vehicles stopped at a traffic light on Capital One Tower Road in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Lawn Mower Fire Extinguished — Fairfax County firefighters responded around 2:40 p.m. yesterday (Monday) to a house fire in the 5800 block of Glen Forest Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads. “First-arriving crews located a lawn mower on fire with extension to a rear deck … All occupants exited the home prior to #FCFRD arrival. No civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]
Kennedy Center Name Restored Online — “The top of the Kennedy Center’s website now refers to ‘The Kennedy Center,’ not ‘The Trump Kennedy Center.’ The text in branding on the website had been changed as of Monday morning, ahead of the June 12 deadline to remove President Donald Trump’s name.” [NBC4]
Ticks Becoming More Common in Region — “In fact, ticks have been on the up-and-up locally and beyond for the past several years. CDC data shows a 57 percent jump in DC Lyme disease cases between 2012 and 2023 — and that’s only what has been reported.” [Washingtonian]
N. Va. Bus Policies Too Inconsistent, Metro Leader Says — “Inconsistent policies on bus fares and enforcement are creating confusion among riders and challenges for transit in Northern Virginia, Metro’s top official says.” WMATA CEO Randy Clarke suggested to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission “that riders aren’t entirely to blame for the region’s high rate of fare evasion — and that local leaders should do more to help.” [ARLnow]
Merrifield Boxing Studio to Close — “BASH Boxing will be closing its locations in Ballston, Rosslyn and Fairfax County’s Mosaic District on Sunday, June 21, according to a mass email sent to customers just before noon today (Monday) … The interval workout studio said the closures were ‘a difficult decision made after careful consideration of many factors.'” [ARLnow]
Permits Issued for Eataly in Tysons — “Fairfax County late last month approved buildout plans that look to [set] the stage for Oscar Farinetti’s popular, Italian food hall chain [to] step into the prominent two-level space at Tysons Corner Center formerly occupied by American Girl.” [Washington Business Journal]
Ten Local Companies in Fortune 500 — “Fairfax NOVA remains strong in the 2026 Fortune 500 rankings, with 10 Fairfax-headquartered companies listed among the largest publicly traded corporations in the United States.” The highest-ranked Fairfax County company on the list is Tysons-based Freddie Mac at no. 55. [Fairfax County EDA]
New CSB Director Appointed — “Jordan A. Scheff has been appointed executive director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), effective Monday, June 15.” Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Developmental Services since 2017, he will succeed Daryl Washington, who resigned as head of the CBS after accepting a position in Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration. [Fairfax County Government]
New Legal Notice — Hearing June 15, 2026 on Clifton meals tax increase, ≥1%, FY2027. [Public Notices]
It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high around 84°F and a light south wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. By Tuesday night, the weather will turn mostly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 68°F and a consistent south wind of about 8 mph. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
🌤️ Tuesday’s forecast
Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 83°F and a south wind of 5 to 8 mph. On Tuesday night, there is a 20% chance of showers between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., with mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 69°F. The south wind will increase slightly to 8 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Red, purple and pink flowers planted at the Vienna Town Green (photo by Amy Woolsey)
Divide Over Data Center Tax Breaks Persists — “The new fiscal year starts next month, but Virginia still has no budget. And leaders in the General Assembly are still divided over what to do about a tax break for data centers.” [WVTF]
More Details on Ex-CIA Official’s Alleged Gold Bar Stash — “The former senior CIA official found with more than $40 million worth of gold bars in his house allegedly created a fake, highly classified intelligence program that he used as a conduit to funnel millions of dollars for his personal use, according to people familiar with the criminal investigation.” [Washington Post]
Bill Would Require DHS Reports to Congress — “Rep. James R. Walkinshaw, who represents Virginia’s 11th District and serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to notify Congress within 72 hours of any serious bodily injury or death involving people in federal custody or caused by DHS personnel.” [Patch]
Vienna Man Challenging Traffic Tickets — “A Northern Virginia man says he has spent years fighting traffic tickets tied to a car he doesn’t own, after someone allegedly created fake copies of his vanity license plate and used them on other vehicles.” The citations, tickets and violations have mostly come from D.C. and Prince George’s County in Maryland. [FOX5]
Va. Bans Weapons in Mental Health Care Facilities — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation prohibiting firearms and other dangerous weapons in medical facilities that provide mental health and developmental services, saying the measure will help protect patients, visitors and healthcare workers from workplace violence.” [WSET]
Road Closure in Lincolnia — “Weather permitting, Fifth Street (Route 1144) between Cherokee Avenue (Route 2246) and Chowan Avenue (Route 2241) will be closed to through traffic Monday, June 8; Tuesday, June 9; Wednesday, June 10; and Thursday, June 11, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day for drainage pipe replacement … Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]
Photos for America’s 250 Time Capsule Wanted — “The Virginia congressional delegation invites individuals across the Commonwealth to submit photographs to be considered for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. The delegation is collecting photographs that represent the many treasures Virginia has to offer in 2026 … The capsule will be opened on the nation’s 500th anniversary, July 4, 2276.” [Sen. Mark Warner]
MLK Pool Splash Pad Opens — “Fairfax County Park Authority welcomes the local community to beat the heat this summer at Martin Luther King, Jr. Pool — with an inclusive splash pad … The new, all-access splash pad opens for the 2026 summer season, replacing the tot pool that once stood in its place.” [FCPA]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny conditions with a high of around 83°F and an east wind at 7 to 9 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 58°F. Winds from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph will become lighter after midnight, with possible gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]
