Author: FFXnow.com

What to Expect From Thanksgiving Travel — “Almost 80 million people nationwide are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, per a AAA forecast — a record that shatters last year’s traveler record.” In addition, driving congestion is projected to peak on “Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 4:30pm on the US-50 East stretch between D.C. and Annapolis, per data transportation group INRIX.” [Axios DC]

Suspect in 2023 Shooting Still at Large — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau continue to seek the community’s help in locating Javon Reid, who is wanted for a murder that occurred on May 7, 2023.” A man from D.C. was killed and another man was hospitalized in the shooting in the 3800 block of South George Mason Drive. [FCPD]

Great Falls Restaurant Ranked Among Top 100 in U.S. — “As if it wasn’t hard enough to get a reservation at L’Auberge Chez François, good luck now. The Great Falls restaurant was selected as one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the United States by OpenTable. This marks the second year in a row the old-school French eatery made OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants list.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Redevelopment Rolls Along in Falls Church — A proposal for 223 senior-living residences with ground-floor retail and restaurants on S. Washington Street and S. Maple Avenue is “the latest in a series of projects helping transform the Little City from a bedroom community with aging office and commercial spaces, benefiting from a prime location between Tysons and Arlington.” [ARLnow]

Sushi Restaurant Opens in Annandale — “Issho, an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant and izakaya, had a soft opening in Annandale on Nov. 20. It’s located at 7358 Little River Turnpike in the former Baden spot between a laundromat and Gopchang Story BBQ. For those unfamiliar with an izakaya, it’s a casual, late-night bar with small bites.” [Annandale Today]

Woodlawn Home Getting Renovation — “Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia (Habitat DC-NOVA) is back in Southeast Fairfax County with an active build site in Woodlawn.” The house on Frye Road, first purchased and remodeled by Habitat in 2016, is getting “additional renovations with the goal of selling the house to another family” after its last owner passed away. [On the MoVe]

Falls Church Wine Store Recovers From Theft — “The overnight intruder is believed to have smashed a window at Dominion Wine and Beer in Falls Church last week before cutting a hole in a wine cabinet and climbing through it to access the store, owner Arash Tafakor told ARLnow.” The suspect made away with about $3,000 worth of wine. [ARLnow]

South Run Trail Project Undergoes Maintenance — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has begun a trail maintenance project in South Run Stream Valley Park. The project includes trail repairs, culvert replacements and related improvements to enhance safety and usability.” Occasional trail closures may be needed, but the repaving is expected to finish by next Wednesday, Nov. 27. [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Scattered snow showers will turn into a mix of rain and snow between 11am and noon, likely followed by rain after noon. Expect increasing clouds and a high of 44. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation, but negligible snow accumulation. Night could bring scattered showers before 10pm with a low of 38. The precipitation chance decreases to 40%. [NWS]

Input Wanted for Arts and Culture Survey — “The Fairfax County Arts Committee is seeking your views about arts and culture preferences through a survey that will help various organizations (such as ArtsFairfax) plan for and understand community needs better. The survey will take 5-8 minutes and will inform county arts policy, resourcing and marketing efforts.” [Fairfax County Government]

Arrests Made in Mosaic District Robbery — Four people have been arrested and charged with allegedly robbing a business in the 2900 block of District Avenue in Dunn Loring on Nov. 16. Police say the individuals “entered a store, stole merchandise, and threatened the employee with pepper spray before fleeing” out of the business and into a vehicle. [FCPD]

Man Charged in McDonald’s Stabbing — A 27-year-old man from Alexandria has been charged with malicious wounding in connection with the stabbing at McDonald’s in Bailey’s Crossroads on Tuesday (Nov. 19). He allegedly stabbed another man “unprovoked,” leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries, police say. [FCPD]

WMATA Leader Guides Metro Comeback — “This crowd, here for the inaugural ‘Metro Fest,’ is admittedly self-selecting … Still, the level of recognition that Clarke, WMATA’s general manager and CEO since July 2022, has attained among them is remarkable — more befitting a charismatic politician or musician than the head of a transit authority.” [Washingtonian]

Community Members Shelter Homeless Residents — A couple in Reston offered use of their temporarily vacant home to three seniors displaced by the closure of the “Hill” encampment on Sept. 10, the advocacy group RestonStrong says. Two of the individuals have now secured long-term homes, though one can’t move in until Nov. 26 due to paperwork delays. [Patch]

Home Health Care Company Expanding — “Agnes Home Health Care, a company in Centreville that helps people age in place, is opening a second location in Annandale on Nov. 25. It’s located on Columbia Pike in a renovated building formerly housing an Ethiopian church across the street from Walgreen’s.” [Annandale Today]

Paris Baguette Opening Near Lincolnia — “Paris Baguette is opening a new location in the Seminary Plaza shopping center (4616 Kenmore Avenue) sometime in the first week of December. The bakery offers a variety of cakes (either by the slice or whole cakes), pastries, bread and sandwiches, along with both hot and cold coffees and teas.” [ALXnow]

It’s Thursday — Expect clouds to increase with a high temperature of around 51, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 23 mph. As night rolls in, the skies will be partly cloudy with a low temperature of 36, and the west wind persists around 10 mph, gusting as high as 28 mph. [NWS]

Men Charged With Alexandria Double Shooting — “The Alexandria Police Department (APD) announced that two Fairfax County residents have been arrested for a non-fatal double shooting in the Braddock neighborhood earlier this year … Two juveniles were shot while they sat in a parked car on Wythe Street.” [ALXnow]

Parents Discuss School Boundary Change Priorities — “Parents and community members discussed their priorities for a districtwide boundary review at Glasgow Middle School on Nov. 18. This is the first time Fairfax County Public Schools is looking at school boundaries in a holistic way in nearly 40 years, Superintendent Michelle Reid told approximately 170 attendees.” [Annandale Today]

Donors Still Wanted for McLean Blood Drive — Appointments are still available for the Red Cross blood drive that the VFW Post 8241 in McLean is hosting this Friday (Nov. 22). The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1051 Spring Hill Road, and all donors will get free holiday socks. “Please help the Red Cross save lives by donating blood before the holidays.” [VFW Post 8241/Facebook]

How Fatal TWA Plane Crash Changed N. Va. — TWA Flight 514 crashed on Dec. 1, 1974, killing all 92 people on board, after a snowstorm forced it to divert from Reagan National Airport to Dulles International Airport. Reporter Buzz McClain, who happened to be on the next flight scheduled to land, looks back on the crash and its aftermath. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

D.C. Region’s First Padel Facility Opens — “Padel Up, the first facility dedicated to the sport of padel in the area, opened in Sterling on Monday. The hope is to grow awareness for the game in the US while offering a community meeting space complete with four enclosed courts and a lounge with a smoothie and coffee bar.” [Washingtonian]

Beagle Sniffs Out Contraband at Dulles Airport — “Found on the streets just a few years ago, Freddie is now one of six dogs on the sharp-nosed Beagle Brigade patrolling Washington Dulles International Airport for plants and meat products that travelers are prohibited from bringing into the country to prevent disease or infestation by foreign plants, insects or microbes.” [Washington Post]

New Restrooms Celebrated at Fort Belvoir Park — “Members of the Woodlawn Little League community joined Fairfax County officials and staff Nov. 16 in celebrating the completion of a new building with restrooms, concessions and storage space at McNaughton Fields Park in Fort Belvoir.” [On the MoVe]

Wakefield Teacher Shares Native American Heritage — “November is Native American Heritage Month. At Wakefield Forest Elementary School in Fairfax, advanced academics resource teacher Tony Gray has added a lifetime of experience to his lesson plan.” [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers after 4pm with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 65. Winds will pick up from the southeast in the afternoon. Night brings a 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4am with a low around 43. Rainfall amounts may range between a quarter and half of an inch. [NWS]

Va. Attorney General to Seek Reelection — “Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican who has embraced prosecutions against election fraud and other conservative causes, said Monday that he will seek reelection next year, dispelling speculation of a potential gubernatorial bid.” [Associated Press]

School Boards Seek Delay in Accountability Changes — “Northern Virginia’s school systems are urging the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education to delay for at least a year the implementation of the state’s new School Performance and Supports Framework,” which was approved in August and is intended to reflect how well schools are meeting academic expectations. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Man Charged With Voter Intimidation — “A 23-year-old Woodbridge man was arrested for voter intimidation on Election Day outside a Fairfax City polling place, according to the City of Fairfax Police. Officers responded around 4:17 p.m. on Nov. 5 for the report of a man making hand gestures and verbally threatening people outside the polls at the Sherwood Center at 3740 Blenheim Blvd.” [Patch]

Chantilly Office Depot to Close — “The Office Depot store in the Chantilly Crossing shopping center is closing its doors next month… The Burn confirmed with employees that Office Depot is expected to close in mid-December, on or around Saturday, December 14.” [The Burn]

Former D.C. Area Radio Anchor Dies — “Evan Haning, whose 50-year radio career included almost a decade as an anchor and reporter at WTOP, has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer.” His daughter, Amber, says working at the Chevy Chase-based radio station, which covers the D.C. region, was his favorite job. [WTOP]

Asian Food Hall Expects to Open Soon — “After three years in the works, Pop-Up District, a new food hall and lounge at Eden Center, plans to open for business sometime next month… The food hall has confirmed five restaurants and a bar across its 8,000 square feet.” [ARLnow]

Child Care Center Proposed in West Falls Church — “The Gardner School has proposed building a childcare center at 6637 South Street next to Annandale Road.” The single-story building would replace a structure that’s temporarily hosting the Fort Buffalo Fire Station during construction on a permanent station in Seven Corners. [Annandale Today]

Real Time Crime Center Helped Make Arrest — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) license plate reading technologies and new Real Time Crime Center enabled officers from the Mount Vernon District Station to make a key arrest last week.” The Nov. 11 incident began when a Flock camera flagged a vehicle with a stolen license plate at Walmart in Belle Haven. [On the Move]

It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high of around 63 and light winds shifting to the southeast at 6 mph in the afternoon. Night brings a 20% chance of showers, mostly cloudy conditions, and a low of about 51 with light southeast winds. [NWS]

Toddler Killed by Truck Driver in Chantilly — “Officers responded to the 4200 block of Airline Pkwy in Chantilly [on Saturday, Nov. 16] where the driver of a truck had struck a 3-year-old in the roadway. The child was declared deceased on scene. The driver remained on scene.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Virginia to Fund New Workforce Housing — “Virginia will help fund housing construction near major business developments, Gov. Glenn Younkgin announced [last] week. A new executive order … sets a goal of investing $75 million towards localities that want to bolster housing supply tied to new job creation over the next five years.” [Virginia Mercury]

Silver Line Phase 2 Marks Anniversary — “Happy 2nd birthday to the Silver Line Phase 2! The extension added 11.4 miles of track outbound from Wiehle-Reston, 6 new stations, and extended service to @Dulles_Airport and Ashburn, VA. Over 8M trips later, it’s keeping the region on the move!” [WMATA/Twitter]

Falls Church HS to Get Athletic Improvements — “Many of the improvements in the Falls Church High School renovation/expansion project have been completed, but much more work needs to be done.” Mason District School Board Representative Ricardy Anderson shared on Nov. 13 that the project will now include athletic field improvements previously “cut due to cost increases.” [Annandale Today]

Children’s Art Studio to Open Fort Hunt Space — “Hooray Art! is slated to open at Hollin Hall Shopping Center in January 2025. The children’s art studio, founded in 2023 by local resident Paige Bradford, will occupy the space between the Hollin Hall Variety Store and Nature’s Nibbles at 7908 Fort Hunt Road.” [On the MoVe]

GMU ‘Body Farm’ Supports Forensic Research — “O’Toole now heads the George Mason University Forensic Science Program, which includes a facility informally called a ‘body farm’ — one of only 10 in the world… The outdoor forensic research lab provides hands-on training and research, in the blending of science and the search for justice.” [WTOP]

Chefs Reflect on First Year in Tysons — “Ometeo has carved out a niche with its Tex-Mex offerings, helmed by chefs Manuel Perez and Gabe Erales. As the restaurant celebrates its first year, the duo … reflected on the challenges and triumphs of introducing authentic Tex-Mex cuisine to a region where tastes and traditions differ.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

McLean Citizens Association Celebrates 110 Years — “Thursday night at the McLean Community Center, one of many institutions that owes its existence to the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), local luminaries mingled with dozens of McLean area residents to toast MCA on its 110th Anniversary. As the County’s oldest continuously operating civic association, MCA had plenty to celebrate.” [MCA]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 67 degrees and a northwest wind ranging from 5 to 9 mph. The night will be partly cloudy with a low around 46 degrees and a slightly lighter northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]