Good Tuesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
🕗 News recap
The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 19, 2024.
- 8:15 am: Morning Notes | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:30 am: Fairfax County police home in on traffic safety with return of ‘Road Shark’ campaign | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:15 am: Office buildings near Tysons-Pimmit library could be supplanted by townhouses | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:00 am: Herndon to build new pedestrian bridge to Sugarland Run trails in the fall | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: Construction underway on new Container Store in Springfield | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:15 pm: Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is coming to Tysons Corner Center this Saturday | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:00 pm: County to take stock of Reston’s ‘alphabet soup’ community infrastructure | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: Youngkin administration considers bill to expand local authority to lower speed limits | 🗣️ Comments
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
- 11:30 am: Let’s Lunch Together McLean!
- 12:00 pm: Dementia is Stressful
🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast
Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 62 degrees today as the breeze picks up from 8-13 mph, increasing to 16-21 mph in the afternoon, and gusting up to 36 mph. Tonight, the clouds will clear up, leaving mostly clear skies, but temperatures will drop to a low of 32 degrees. The northwest wind will blow at 13-17 mph and may gust up to 24 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Spring has officially arrived, and in Tysons, that means the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is on its way.
The popular mobile shop will pull into Tysons Corner Center this Saturday (March 23), setting up on the Plaza near Shake Shack from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Fans of Hello Kitty can look forward to edible goodies and limited-edition merch and best-selling items like Hello Kitty Cafe Plush Toys and giant Hello Kitty Cafe chef cookies,” the mall said on the event page.
Launched by Sanrio in October 2014, the Hello Kitty Cafe Trucks tour dozens of cities around the U.S. every year. Tysons Corner Center has become a regular stop, usually getting a visit in March.
According to Sanrio’s website, this year’s food and drink menu includes macaron, cookie and madeleine sets, along with a “giant chef cookie.” The truck’s merchandise collection will include:
- Treats & sprinkles glass mug
- Ringer tee
- Hoodie
- Cup plush
- Sprinkle mug
- Truck lunchbox
- Stainless steel thermal bottles (18 or 32 ounces)
- 2-piece enamel pin set
- Rainbow canvas tote
- Charm keychain
As noted on the mall’s event page, the truck doesn’t accept cash, limiting payments to credit and debit cards.
Construction is underway at Springfield Plaza on a new Container Store.
Last year, the retailer specializing in storage and organization solutions signed a lease for a roughly 15,000-square-foot space in the shopping center at 7206 Old Keene Mill Road, according to the Washington Business Journal, which said the business anticipated a summer 2024 opening.
During a recent visit, FFXnow observed that former retail spaces have been gutted, and construction appears to be in its initial phase.
Rappaport, the property owner, declined to comment on whether the project is on track.
The Container Store is known for its kitchen and pantry organization products, closet storage systems, shelving, office supplies, and travel accessories. The business didn’t respond to inquiries about its opening schedule before publication.
This new outpost adds to the company’s more than 200 locations nationwide, including two in Fairfax County (Reston and Tysons) and one in Arlington. It will join a nearly 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods that opened at the shopping center last October, replacing the former Giant.
Good Monday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
🕗 News recap
The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 18, 2024.
- 8:15 am: Morning Notes | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:30 am: Route 29 survey highlights pedestrian and bicyclist safety concerns, traffic woes | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:15 am: Great Falls man pleads guilty to $1.8M in tax fraud | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:00 am: Vienna to celebrate new pedestrian bridge to historic Freeman Store | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: FCPD: Fairfax County is ‘safest’ jurisdiction of its size, but shoplifting, officer assaults on the rise in 2023 | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:30 pm: Pimmit Hills man arrested after being found with missing teen, police say | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:15 pm: Driver of allegedly stolen vehicle charged with assaulting Virginia State Police during chase | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: Chase Bank hopes to add drive-thru lane for branch in Herndon | 🗣️ Comments
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Tuesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
☀️ Tuesday’s forecast
The weather will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching around 55°F and west winds blowing at 11-14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. During Tuesday night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low temperature of around 40°F, accompanied by a southwest wind at about 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Chase Bank is seeking Fairfax County’s permission to add a drive-through ATM to its Herndon location.
The company has submitted a special exception proposal requesting the ability to operate the ATM and a deposit box at Village Center Shopping Center (2401 Centreville Road).
The county’s land use database indicates that the application was submitted on March 14, but as of press time, staff were still awaiting the actual plans.
The location currently has two ATMs, and Chase Bank’s website indicates that it recently opened.
According to a Chase Bank spokesperson, the branch opened in October and was “built from the ground up.”
“All of our branches that have a drive-thru are locations where there is space and demand to give customers a variety of options for their deposit and withdrawal financing needs,” said Carolyn Evert, Chase Bank’s spokesperson for the D.C. region.
The shopping center, which is anchored by Giant, currently has three spaces available. The largest vacant space is a 44,460-square-foot location for a fitness tenant.
Image via Google Maps
Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
🕗 News recap
The following articles were published earlier today — Mar 15, 2024.
- 8:15 am: Morning Notes | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:30 am: Fairfax County board approves Top Golf redevelopment in Kingstowne | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:15 am: Women’s fashion boutique makes move to Tysons after 36 years in Arlington | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:00 am: Bounce house business expands to Reston | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: Brunch-focused cafe First Watch opening in Franconia with free coffee | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:30 pm: Health and fitness expo warms up for return to Vienna this spring | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:30 pm: Spring celebration to take over Frying Pan Farm Park next month | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:50 pm: Man sentenced to life in prison for Seven Corners murder, arson | 🗣️ Comments
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
- Fairfax County police uncover drugs and guns at homes in Reston (5679 views)
- NEW: Fairfax County planning error puts Reston Deli Italiano’s future in question (4613 views)
- Three pedestrians killed in separate crashes in Fairfax County on Sunday (3719 views)
- Housing proposed to replace vacant office building in Westfields business park (2869 views)
- Solar eclipse viewing glasses now available at Fairfax County Public Library branches (2681 views)
- New federal budget funds Fairfax County homeless shelter, pedestrian projects (2281 views)
- Proposed Hilton hotel in Tysons encounters skepticism from county staff (1915 views)
- AT&T leases full office building in Chantilly (1851 views)
- New Chinese dumpling restaurant to open in Springfield this summer (1663 views)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
- 11:00 am: Diva Central Shopping Event
- 2:00 pm: Personal Preparedness Using the Community Emergency Response Guide (CERG)
- 5:00 pm: Opening Reception & Artist Talk: Pressing
- 6:00 pm: St. Patrick’s Day Roller Skating and Dance Night
- 7:30 pm: Virginia Opera: Madama Butterfly
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
- 2:00 pm: Virginia Opera: Madama Butterfly
- 4:00 pm: Orchestra Concert – Get London on the Horn
- 4:00 pm: Get London on the Horn
☀️ Saturday’s forecast
Expect sunny skies and a high temperature of around 65 degrees, with northwest winds of 7 to 9 mph shifting to the west during the afternoon. Saturday night will be partly cloudy, with lows near 49 degrees and south winds at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Fairfax County residents don’t have to head to D.C. to experience the flair of cherry blossoms.
Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon will be the site of a spring celebration to celebrate the arrival of cherry blossoms on Saturday, April 6.
The event, “Into the Woods,” is a free, self-paced tour that will include interactive stations that include fairy-house building and other crafts.
“Discover the magic of Frying Pan Farm Park’s woods, where the combination of spring sunshine and rare soil creates a vibrant ecosystem,” the Fairfax County Park Authority said.
The event is free and open for all ages. Registration is open online to help the park authority manage park volume. Attendees can choose from different program start times at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and noon.
Frying Pan Farm Park is located 2709 West Ox Road in Herndon.
The Vienna Business Association is reviving its Get Healthy Vienna! Expo for 2024.
First introduced last May, the health and fitness showcase will return to the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE) on April 6, from 10 am. to 2 p.m. The event is intended to highlight health-related businesses and resources available in the local community, VBA Health, Wellness & Fitness chair Karen Kerrigan says.
“The 2024 Expo will connect attendees to an array of services, solutions and opportunities that promote wellness and healthy lifestyles,” Kerrigan said. “The process of attaining optimal health and wellness is all about connections, education and taking positive action. I am excited about the wide-array of exhibitors at this year’s expo who are passionate about supporting the health and wellness of our special community.”
This year’s expo will feature up to 50 exhibitors and follow the theme of “Connections to Wellness,” reflecting an emphasis on the importance of social connections to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Outside of the vendors, highlights will include a Kids and Families Zone with children’s activities and demonstrations, such as face painting. The Vienna Singing Princesses will also make “a special appearance” involving superheroes.
For adults, there will be a variety of panels led by health and wellness professionals, who will discuss the root causes of chronic disease, the importance of movement and stretching, and other topics.
Several former James Madison High School student athletes have been enlisted for a panel called “The Importance of a Positive Youth Sports Experience: Lessons for Young Athletes and Their Parents.” Confirmed participants include:
- Football player Nick Dorka (College of William and Mary, Canadian Football League, International Football League)
- Lacrosse player Katie Kerrigan (James Madison University, including a Division I national championship in 2018, and the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League)
- Baseball player Trey Ramsey (Princeton University)
- Soccer player Jack Traxler (Catholic University)
VBA Chairman Greg Kunstbeck said the business association’s board is “excited” to see the event grow in its second year.
“The event continues to grow, evolve and respond to the needs and presence of the many businesses and organizations that provide services in the wellness space, along with the people they serve,” Kunstbeck said. “VBA members are making a positive difference in the health of our community and positively transforming people’s lives.”
The expo will fall in the middle of the fourth annual Mayor’s Fitness Challenge, where Vienna will try to defend its title as the “most fit community” from the rival cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. The contest will kick off this Saturday (March 16) and continue through May 11.
A daytime-only cafe in Franconia will get next week off to an energetic start, offering free coffee to diners as part of its grand opening on Monday (March 18).
First Watch, a fast-casual restaurant chain based in Florida, will open its latest Fairfax County location in the Festival at Manchester Lakes shopping center (7027C Manchester Blvd) at 7 a.m. Free cups of coffee from Project Sunrise will come with every meal through Friday, March 22.
The 4,500-square-foot cafe will seat more than 170 people and features a covered outdoor dining patio, along with a bar that serves signature juices, cocktails and coffee.
“Our Franconia restaurant is the perfect location to kick off an exciting expansion that’s been years in the making, with a fresh take on brunch our customers know and love,” First Watch Vice President of Operations Rob Botelho said. “As First Watch approaches two decades in the area, we’re thrilled to share our aspirations to inspire even more good mornings with each of our new openings.”
Originally started in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983, First Watch now has more than 520 restaurants in 29 states, including locations at Fair City Mall in Fairfax, Crossroads Center shopping center in Bailey’s Crossroads and Greenbriar Town Center in Chantilly.
The Franconia restaurant is the company’s first expansion in Fairfax County since the Bailey’s Crossroads site opened in 2021, but two additional locations are already on their way.
The chain will replace a TGI Fridays in Fair Lakes that closed in late 2023, and it officially announced in January that it has leased a 4,000-square-foot space in Idylwood Plaza (7501 Leesburg Pike). Both cafes are expected to open by this fall.
Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., First Watch serves breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes. Fan favorites include avocado toast, lemon ricotta pancakes and million dollar bacon — hardwood-smoked bacon baked with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and a maple syrup drizzle, per a press release.
The cafe also has a seasonal menu that changes five times a year based on “the position of the sun to source quality ingredients” for dishes like barbacoa quesadilla benedict and watermelon wake-up fresh juice. A seasonal menu will roll out in Franconia for the first time this summer.
Kids’ parties in Reston are about to get more buoyant, as Bruno’s Bounce House expands its services to the community.
The Gainesville-based company, which sells party and event entertainment gear, announced yesterday (Thursday) that it will offer its inflatable rental services to Reston.
Options for rentals include bounce houses, dry and water slides, obstacle courses and interactive games.
“We are thrilled to bring our exceptional inflatable rental services to the Reston community,” Bruno’s Bounce House owner Gary Kwitkin said in a press release. “Our mission is to provide safe, entertaining, and memorable experiences for children and adults alike. We believe that our wide selection of inflatables will be a hit at any event, adding excitement and joy to every occasion.”
The family-owned business also offers tables, chairs, tents, and concession machines for rent. Delivery, set-up and take-down services are provided by the company.