Around Town

A familiar face at farmers’ markets across Fairfax County has now set up a permanent shop in Reston.

Empanadas de Mendoza is currently in soft opening mode at North Point Village Center, but the doors of its second storefront will officially open on Dec. 6, co-owner Gabi Steelman told FFXnow.


Countywide

The president and CEO of Visit Fairfax believes an expected increase of $6.5 million a year in funding for promoting local tourism can be leveraged to create more than $1 billion annually in new economic activity countywide.

The tourism sector’s impact on the county economy “will get to $5 billion a year,” potentially within the next “three to five years,” Barry Biggar predicted at the Board of Supervisors’ Economic Initiatives Committee yesterday (Tuesday).


Countywide

Like some businesses, local government offices and many services are set to close for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Administrative offices for Fairfax County as well as smaller jurisdictions like Vienna, Herndon and Fairfax City will all be closed on both Thursday and Friday (Nov. 27-28). However, some services will still be available or follow modified schedules.


News

A 60-year-old man from Hybla Valley is being held without bond after being arrested for allegedly robbing a jewelry store in Arlington on Monday (Nov. 24).

The man was arrested Monday night (Nov. 24) in Fairfax County, just hours after the reported robbery in the 2700 block of Washington Blvd.


Event

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.


Countywide

Having seen a major drop in opioid overdoses among teens, some Fairfax County supervisors want to focus prevention efforts on young adults.

The 18-to-24 and 25-to-34 age groups appear to be where services need to be intensified, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said during a Nov. 25 briefing on the county’s opioid services.


News

Patriot Pawsabilities, a cat lounge at University Mall in Fairfax, recently celebrated its 1,000th adoption since opening in March 2019.

Owner Monique Ryan said she didn’t have a specific target in mind when she first opened the cat cafe in 2019, but it was a welcome milestone.


Countywide
A basketball hoop at the Hook Road Recreation Area in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FCPS Serves Thanksgiving Meals — “On Monday, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and Educate Fairfax hosted the first FCPS Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Herndon High School. FNS staff served more than 150 Thanksgiving-inspired meals in one hour, welcoming all students and their families from the community to participate. Close to 100 meals were also served at Justice High School.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]

GMU Professor Reportedly Fired for Drinking — “News4 has learned an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University (GMU) has been fired after multiple sources say they openly drank alcohol with their undergraduate students in class last week. The University confirms it has launched an internal investigation along with a police investigation into the allegations.” [NBC4]

Youngkin Reviews Tax Forecasts — “Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin said a group of corporate executives that advise him on how much tax revenue Virginia’s economy can expect are ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the coming budget cycle.” The report stood in contrast to warnings to the House and Senate appropriations committees that the state might “need to dip into a one-time surplus to cover projected expenses.” [VPM News]

Dems Propose Energy Efficiency Bills — “In recent days, House Democrats released some of their priority bills – two of which zoom in on energy efficiency in homes.” One would establish a task force to review the accessibility of weatherization and efficiency programs offered by power utilities to low-income customers, while the other would require utilities to implement upgrades, potentially reducing heating costs. [Virginia Mercury]

Local Woman Doubts Russia Will Agree to Peace Deal — “Reports of a potential peace deal aimed at ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine are generating guarded hope among those with loved ones caught in the conflict, including a Fairfax County woman who says she wants to believe progress is finally being made but fears it may not hold.” [WUSA9]

Tysons Korean BBQ Spot Expands — “Now, one of the region’s very best tabletop grill restaurants, Ingle Korean Steakhouse, has expanded from Tysons to 14th Street. Since opening in 2022, Ingle Korean Steak has become a standout on the Korean barbecue scene for its higher-end vibe.” [Washingtonian]

FCPD Increases Patrols for Holidays — “With the holiday season in full swing, Fairfax County Police are stepping up patrols and encouraging residents to take steps to safeguard their homes.” During a patrol on Monday (Nov. 24), “officers from the McLean District worked alongside members of the Tysons Urban Team, passing out fliers and deploying both on bikes and on foot through neighborhoods.” [WUSA9]

Vienna Restaurant Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner — “The Virginian, in conjunction with Vienna Business Association and One Neighborhood Foundation, is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for people in our community who are food insecure, homeless, furloughed, or alone for the holidays.” Meals will be available tomorrow (Thursday) from 1-5 p.m., or while supplies last. Donations can be dropped off at the restaurant or sent to One Neighborhood’s Venmo account. [Vienna Business Association]

It’s Wednesday — Patchy fog will gradually give way to sunny skies, with a high near 70. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation. Night will be partly cloudy and breezy, with a low of 38 and winds gusting up to 39 mph. Thanksgiving Day will be partly sunny with a high of 44. [NWS]


Around Town

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 — Nov 25, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect scattered showers before 7am, followed by gradual clearing and a high of around 70°F. Winds will be southwest at 9 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph, with a 30% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with lows near 37°F, featuring breezy west winds at 10 to 20 mph, gusting up to 39 mph. On Thanksgiving Day, anticipate partly sunny conditions, a high near 44°F, and west winds at 10 to 15 mph gusting up to 29 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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.


News

One person is dead and three other people are injured after an apparently alcohol-fueled crash on Worldgate Drive in Herndon that involved an ambulance.

A worker on the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s ambulance 436 reported around 4:02 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 25) that they were “involved” in a collision at the intersection of Worldgate Drive and Alton Square outside WorldGate Plaza, according to scanner traffic.