Fairfax City’s annual Chocolate Lovers Festival is returning for its 34th year later this week, assuming the weather is more cooperative than it was for the McLean Chocolate Festival.
Kicking off with a free concert on Friday (Feb. 6) and continuing through Sunday (Feb. 8), the festival will feature a variety of tasting opportunities, culinary crafts, entertainment and — in a new addition for this year — a 1-mile run for charity.
Fairfax County supervisors in coming days will be compiling a list of positives and negatives related to the local and state response to late January’s crippling snow and ice storm.
Their comments and questions will then be forwarded to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and other agencies responsible for clearing snow.
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Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will be off limits to visitors for a third consecutive spring to allow more sewer upgrades.
The park at 7400 Georgetown Pike in McLean is scheduled to close on Monday, Feb. 16 for an “urgent” project to rehabilitate a siphon facility that carries wastewater across the Potomac River to D.C. Water’s Potomac Interceptor in Maryland, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
A Mount Vernon church suffered a roof collapse Monday (Feb. 2), as Northern Virginia continues to navigate the aftermath of a winter storm and historic freeze.
Fairfax County firefighters responded to St. George Tigray Orthodox Tewahdo Church on Cooper Road shortly before 5:20 p.m., and were greeted by a “roof and floor failure” of the two-story building.
Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.
Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.
No Heat at Annandale Apartments — “With outdoor temperatures in the 20s, hundreds of tenants at the Wedgewood in Annandale have been struggling to stay warm over the past two days without heat or hot water.” The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which owns the property, said water temperatures have been “partially restored,” but as of yesterday (Tuesday), repairs were still in the works for the heating system. [Annandale Today]
Redistricting Push Stalled by Infighting — “A disagreement between Democrats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates has upended plans to redraw the state’s congressional map. Democrats in both chambers want a 10D-1R map, but they disagree on what that map looks like and blew past their self-imposed deadline last week to release a proposal.” [Punchbowl News]
Metro Honors Rosa Parks — “On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Metro is honoring civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks on her birthday by reserving a seat for her on every bus and train across the system. To commemorate the day, Metro is placing signs on trains and buses, reserving a single seat in recognition of Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus and subsequent arrest in 1955.” [WMATA]
Demand High at Shelter Amid Cold Weather — “A hot meal on a cold day is just one of many ways FACETS provides for people seeking refuge at Fairfax County’s Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. This shelter typically serves 18 people in what’s known as permanent supportive housing and about 52 overnight guests. But when the snow and sleet came and temperatures plunged, dozens more came through the doors.” [NBC4]
Bill Would Allow Cell Phones in Courthouses — “Senator Saddam Salim is a Democrat from Fairfax County and is advocating for his bill that would bring courthouses into the 21st century by allowing visitors to bring cell phones … A Senate panel approved Salim’s bill on cell phones this week.” [WVTF]
Falls Church Grocery Store Opening — “A discount grocery store coming to Falls Church plans to mark its grand opening next week with money-saving festivities. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market intends to open its doors at 500 S. Washington Street at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, offering gift cards worth varying amounts to the first 100 customers.” [ARLnow]
New Vienna Police Chief Takes Office — “The Town of Vienna Police Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Janickey as its new Chief of Police, effective February 1st, 2026. Chief Janickey brings decades of law enforcement experience, proven leadership, and a strong commitment to officer wellness and community service to the role.” [Town of Vienna Police]
How Local Wildlife Is Handling Winter Weather — “If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the icy snow in your yard, the answer is no.” Fairfax County Park Authority’s natural resources branch manager, John Burke, says the desire to support wildlife is understandable, but squirrels, birds and other creatures “are well adapted to survive in the conditions that we’re experiencing now, and sometimes much colder.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 33 degrees with a north wind at 9 mph. Night brings a 20% chance of snow before 10 pm, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually clear up. The low temperature will be around 17 degrees. [NWS]
Good Tuesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Feb 3, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect a partly sunny day with a high around 33 and a 7 to 9 mph north wind. Wednesday night brings a 20% chance of snow before 10 pm, followed by mostly cloudy skies that gradually clear up. The low will be around 15, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
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.
Fairfax County Public Schools will start classes on a two-hour delay tomorrow (Wednesday), as the region continues its slow recovery from the Jan. 25 winter storm.
Like they did today (Tuesday), school and administrative offices will open on time, as will afternoon preschool and adult education classes.
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.
