Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

Around Town

Regional Summer Restaurant Week returns this month with two dozen Fairfax participants

By Vernon Miles
Sanguche de Pollo from Pisco y Nazca's 2025 Summer Restaurant Week menu (courtesy Pisco y Nazca)

The D.C. region’s annual Summer Restaurant Week is coming back next week, and around 30 restaurants around Fairfax County are joining in.

The restaurant week is run by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), which also organizes winter restaurant weeks. Restaurants offer three-course meals for brunch, lunch and dinner with some wine and cocktail pairings at some locations.

Go to Regional Summer Restaurant Week returns this month with two dozen Fairfax participants Read more
Around Town

Tysons’ Shipgarten to host its own Renaissance Festival this month

By Vernon Miles
Winter Renaissance Festival at Shipgarten (photo via Shipgarten/Facebook)

Hear ye, hear ye! If you’re one of those frustrated by the ticket kerfuffle tripping up the Maryland Renaissance Festival, perchance Tysons could interest you in a little Renn Fest of its own.

Shipgarten is hosting its Summer Renaissance Festival next Saturday, Aug. 16, from 1-6 p.m. The festival will include presumably biergarten-sized variants of arrow shooting, axe throwing and jousting.

Go to Tysons’ Shipgarten to host its own Renaissance Festival this month Read more
Countywide

FCPS expanding weapons scanning tech to all middle and high schools this fall

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid discusses the upcoming weapons detection pilot program with students (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is expanding its weapons screening system to every middle and high school this fall.

A new pilot for weapons detectors kicked off this spring but was thrust into the spotlight after a student was stabbed at West Potomac High School the same week it started.

Go to FCPS expanding weapons scanning tech to all middle and high schools this fall Read more
News

Authors Celeste Ng and Erik Larson headline Fall for the Book festival at GMU

By Vernon Miles
Erik Larson's The Demon of unrest at One More Page Books in Arlington (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

George Mason University’s Fall for the Book festival is returning for its 27th year this October to the Fairfax campus with some notable authors scheduled for the event.

The festival, scheduled across a couple days in early October, will feature Celeste Ng — author of Little Fires Everywhere — and Erik Larson — author of The Devil in the White City.

Go to Authors Celeste Ng and Erik Larson headline Fall for the Book festival at GMU Read more
News

Reston baseball field improvements swing into action next week

By Vernon Miles
The Hook Road Recreation Area baseball field in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Association is kicking off a project to make the Hook Road Recreation Area more safe and accessible for local Little League players.

The park, first created in 1965, is a group of baseball fields, tennis courts and other athletic fields ringed by Hook Road and Fairway Drive in Reston.

Go to Reston baseball field improvements swing into action next week Read more
Around Town

Japanese restaurant stirs up expansion from Merrifield to Kingstowne

By Vernon Miles
Japomen restaurant at Hilltop Village Center (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Japanese restaurant Japomen, a popular sushi and ramen spot outside the Dunn Loring Metro station in Merrifield, is heading further south in Fairfax County.

Japomen is under construction in the Hilltop Village Center in Kingstowne at 6460 Old Beulah Street. It will fill a space previously occupied by DonutChew between Mattress Warehouse and Deka Lash.

Go to Japanese restaurant stirs up expansion from Merrifield to Kingstowne Read more
News

National Park Service upgrading Mount Vernon Trail’s water fountains

By Vernon Miles
A water fountain on the Mount Vernon Trail before and after upgrades (courtesy National Park Service)

The National Park Service is upgrading 14 of the water fountains along the Mount Vernon Trail and George Washington Memorial Parkway.

The newly upgraded fountains include new water bottle fillers, an amenity that the park services hopes will encourage more trail users to bring reusable bottles.

Go to National Park Service upgrading Mount Vernon Trail’s water fountains Read more
News

NEW: Fairfax police identify child found dead under Lorton bridge in 1972

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax police investigating the scene where a four-year-old boy was found murdered in Lorton (image via Fairfax County Police Department)

The Fairfax County Police Department announced a major breakthrough today (Monday) in a cold case from 1972.

Police identified the body of a 4-year-old boy who was found in Massey Creek under the Old Colchester Road Bridge in Lorton as Carl Matthew Bryant, police leaders shared at a press conference held at the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters at 1 p.m.

Go to NEW: Fairfax police identify child found dead under Lorton bridge in 1972 Read more
Around Town

Korean BBQ, Mexican restaurant and more coming to South Alex shopping center

By Vernon Miles
Big Papi's, coming to the South Alex shopping center (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The South Alex development just off Richmond Highway (Route 1) in Penn Daw is getting some new retail tenants, all of them expected to open in the coming months.

Three new businesses are opening on the south side of the shopping center:

Go to Korean BBQ, Mexican restaurant and more coming to South Alex shopping center Read more
Around Town

DIY home construction academy TradeWorx opens in Fair Oaks Mall

By Vernon Miles
Tradeworx Academy at Fair Oaks Mall (staff photo by Jared Serre)

DIY school TradeWorx Academy is bringing handiwork expertise to Fair Oaks Mall.

The new program is designed to teach homeowners the skills they need to tackle repair and remodeling projects or professionals honing their skills with hands-on experience.

Go to DIY home construction academy TradeWorx opens in Fair Oaks Mall Read more
View More Stories