The entrance at the Hershey Super Sweet Adventure (photo courtesy Kyle Flubacker/OGX Productions)
A pop-up experience bringing guests closer to one of the world’s largest confectionery brands will be unwrapped in Tysons next year.
The Hershey Super Sweet Adventure will “transport guests into a whimsical workshop with games, activities and interactive fun” at Tysons Corner Center beginning “early” next year, according to a press release.
The sun sets over Stafford Drive Park in Fairfax City on Dec. 7, 2025 (photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
Fairfax City could establish a new urban forestry division in the next one to five years to promote tree preservation.
A draft of the city’s new Urban Forest Master Plan, which will be presented to the planning commission today (Dec. 8), envisions two new technicians, an urban forester, and part-time administrative support dedicated to helping implement stronger conservation practices and expand its tree canopy. There would also be a shared GIS technician/analyst.
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Now leasing sign for the Lumen Apartments in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The cost to rent an apartment is increasing in some parts of Fairfax County, but declining in others.
Four of seven corridors of the county posted year-over-year drops in median rental prices in November, while the other three showed increases, according to new data from Apartment List.
Construction cranes tower in front of Scotts Run where the Indigo at McLean Station apartments are being built in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
If Tysons continues to evolve from commercial suburb into Fairfax County’s urban core, as planners hope, it will need more than 10,000 new homes by 2040 to accommodate the influx of residents, a recently released study found.
Commissioned by the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) and published on Dec. 3, the Future Housing Demand in Tysons report from consultant Jon Stover & Associates (JS&A) predicts Virginia’s population growth over the next two decades will remain concentrated in its metropolitan areas, with Tysons helping the northern region lead the way.
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.
Dulles International Airport departure level and parking lot (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Northern Virginia political leaders have reacted coolly to President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Dulles International Airport and his calls for a major rebuilding project there.
Trump called the airport “terrible” and suggested it was “incorrectly designed” during a Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting. Hours later, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would seek proposals for new terminals and concourses to replace or enhance the facility, which straddles the Fairfax and Loudoun line.
A bluebird sits on a bare tree branch in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Family Seeks Help Finding Missing Man — “A family is pleading for help to find a missing 78-year-old man who left his home in Northern Virginia Monday and hasn’t been seen since that afternoon. Quang Hang left his Chantilly home about 2:30 p.m. to take his car, a 2007 red Toyota Camry, to a mechanic in Leesburg but never arrived.” [NBC4]
Shooting in Burke Under Investigation — “Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on Sunday in the 5500 block of Burley Court in Burke. Shots were fired around 5:40 p.m., resulting in damage to multiple vehicles, police said.” A man was driven to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. [WJLA]
Man Convicted for Fatal Crash — “A jury today (Friday) found a Fairfax man guilty of aggravated involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol for a series of crashes on April 16 that killed a teenager.” Jilmar Doria-Medina, 42, was charged with fatally striking 19-year-old Abdullahi Mumin on King Street in Alexandria while the teen was walking with his brother to a nearby McDonald’s. [ALXnow]
GMU Board Denies Settlement Drafted — “George Mason University officials said Thursday that no settlement agreement has been proposed with the federal government as it navigates four civil rights investigations … Outside of the meeting, a group of faculty members protested against the board, accusing it of meeting improperly because it lacked the required members to form a quorum.” [Virginia Mercury]
Braddock Candidate Suggests ‘Mega Mansion’ Tax — Carey “Chet” Campbell, an independent candidate to become the next Braddock District supervisor, says funding county schools is his top priority. He’s also proposing a “progressive tax on ‘mega mansions’ valued at more than $5 million,” among other measures, to fund services without raising property taxes on everyone. [WJLA]
Tires Piling Up Under Springfield Mixing Bowl — “FOX 5 inspected the scene underneath the Mixing Bowl in Springfield, along the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that carry VRE’s Manassas line — a somewhat hidden place that’s become a dumping ground for car and truck tires.” While the sources of the tires is unknown, the Virginia Department of Transportation said it’s “aware of the situation” and will lead cleanup efforts “since it is located within our right of way.” [FOX5]
Portable Solar Systems Proposed — “Allowing Virginians to generate their own electricity using small solar panel systems plugged in at home was among more than a dozen proposals that a state commission voted Thursday to recommend to the Virginia General Assembly.” The report from the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation could inform legislation considered during the 2026 session. [Cardinal News]
Fairfax City Restaurant Adds Play Space — “Ned’s New England Deck in Fairfax was already a family-friendly destination for lobster rolls and fried clam strips … Now, with their own two- and four-year-old boys, the [owners] wanted to do more for families with young kids. Recently, they opened Play Date Social on the top floor of the restaurant, featuring a 500-square-foot play area in the middle of the dining room.” [Washingtonian]
It’s Monday — There’s a 20% chance of snow from 8am to 2pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 32. Monday night, the clouds will gradually clear, and the temperature will drop to around 20. [NWS]
Officers and medics were dispatched to the intersection of Richmond Highway and Fairfax County Parkway in Fort Belvoir at 9:51 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 7) for a crash involving a struck pedestrian, according to scanner traffic.
Patchy fog is expected to clear by 11am, giving way to partly sunny skies and a high near 42 with light southwest winds. As for Saturday night, expect partly cloudy conditions and a low around 28 with light and variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.
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. 👋
A private tennis coach in Lorton has been arrested after a student alleged that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her.
The victim told officers on Nov. 23 that Tony Adams, 62, had “subjected [her] to inappropriate conduct” when she was taking lessons from him, the Fairfax County Police Department says. She was underage at the time.