An Alexandria man died yesterday (Thursday) at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, the second death to occur in the jail this year.
Omar Maknassi, 32, was arrested and transported to the jail on Wednesday evening (July 30), but early the following morning, a Fairfax County sheriff’s deputy found him unresponsive in the cell where he was being held, according to statements from the sheriff’s office and Fairfax County Police Department.
From drunken noodles to pad see ew, Thai restaurants across Fairfax County offer a variety of flavorful staple dishes.
Here are the nominees for “Best Thai Restaurant in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite place below? If not, write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15.
Voting for the Best Korean Restaurant in Fairfax is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Art Gallery in Fairfax. The results are now official:
Something unique is happening in the heart of Tysons, Virginia: A new venue for assisted living and memory support is offering a fresh, hospitality-driven approach to care—where residents explore possibilities for creativity, purpose, and connection. Opened in fall 2025, Kokua is part of Mather, an innovative pioneer in senior living.
For a limited time, Kokua is welcoming new residents seeking assisted living or memory support in the DC area with exclusive move-in incentives. Nestled in a lively urban neighborhood, our LEED-Gold certified community incorporates biophilic design that brings the outside in to enhance health and wellbeing.
In our assisted living and memory support neighborhoods, residents enjoy a collection of thoughtfully designed spaces that feel like an upscale hospitality destination.
Multiple restaurants offer chef-prepared cuisine with flexible, open-hour service, complemented by demonstration kitchens, art and music studios, as well as gathering spaces. A spacious outdoor terrace, Marzenia Salon, and beautifully appointed amenity areas create opportunities for wellness, connection, and everyday enjoyment.
Residents enjoy opportunities to choose from enriching programs, meaningful social opportunities with experiences such as sensory walks, meditation, acupuncture, Reiki, songwriting workshops, poetry readings, Sensory Symphony Swim, and more. (more…)
She’s not yet in high school, but Caroline Tso already is being heralded as an accomplished historical researcher.
Tso, who will enter Carter G. Woodson High School as a ninth-grader in August, created the exhibition “The Family Tea House: Where Culture and Cuisine Met in Arlington” as part of a project for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Exciting Full-Court 3×3 Basketball League is BACK!!
DMV 3×3 announces that its 3×3 Youth Basketball Full Court League is returning for a sophomore season!
Like a monster in a horror movie franchise, the hydrilla that long plagued Lake Thoreau before lying low over the past couple of years has now returned.
Though past management efforts have seen some success, the invasive aquatic plant, whose full scientific name is Hydrilla verticillata, has resurfaced in “significant quantities” throughout the lake this summer, Reston Association announced on Monday (July 28).
The Reston Museum’s next program, held on June 3rd at 7:00PM, will feature the talented students of the South Lakes High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Team/National Art Honor Society, who will discuss the creative and technical process behind their upcoming public art installation at the Lake Thoreau spillway. This fascinating program will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes-look at how students developed the concept for the installation and worked through the planning, engineering, environmental and artistic considerations involved in creating public art for a community space. Program takes place at South Lakes High School and admission is free. For more information visit: restonmuseum.org.
One of the drivers featured in a viral video of a Tysons street race last year received a 90-day jail sentence yesterday (Thursday).
Carlos Montero, 38, of Sterling had all but five days of his sentence suspended, in addition to receiving a six-month limitation on his driver’s license and fines totaling $950.
Federal Workers Paid Not to Work — “The government is paying more than 154,000 federal employees not to work as part of the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program, according to two administration officials … Critics have argued that the administration’s tactics of using buyouts and administrative leave have been wasteful because the public is paying tens of thousands of employees not to work for months.” [Washington Post]
Groveton Woman Faces Prison — “A Fairfax County mother is back in jail after she pleaded guilty to chaining her children to a table while she was away at work … In court on Tuesday, Del Cid Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of abduction and one count of assault and battery. Other charges were dropped.” She faces up to 11 years in prison at a sentencing hearing in November. [NBC4]
Virginia Considers Revising Election Cycle — “The Joint Subcommittee to Study the Consolidation and Scheduling of General Elections met for the first time last week to begin exploring whether Virginia — one of just a handful of states with statewide elections in odd-numbered years — should sync up with the federal calendar and move all general elections to even-numbered years.” [Virginia Mercury]
Herndon Police Recover Guns, Drugs — “On July 21, 2025, after receiving an alert for a vehicle that was stolen out of a neighboring jurisdiction, officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. During the traffic stop, officers seized a gun, drugs, cash, and a scale.” A 29-year-old man from Sterling received firearm and drug possession charges, while a juvenile was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. [Herndon Police/Instagram]
Overnight Fairfax Parkway Closures — “Weather permitting, Route 29 northbound and southbound will be closed at the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) interchange to install bridge beams as part of the Fairfax County Parkway widening north project … Northbound and southbound Route 29 will be simultaneously closed as follows” on Aug. 4-8 with the following week serving as a backup if needed. [VDOT]
Seven Corners Sign Designs Unveiled — “Design consultants hired by Fairfax County’s Community Revitalization Section presented several gateway signage concepts for Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads at a meeting on July 30.” Several of the Seven Corners designs create stars using the number 7, while the Bailey’s Crossroads logos feature the “interwined letters B and C.” [Annandale Today]
Inside Peppa Pig Experience — “Families with Peppa Pig fans are going to be spending a lot more time at Tysons Corner Center. Hidden behind the walls of CAMP is the toy store’s new immersive Peppa Pig experience.” The themed pop-up made its debut on July 25 and is open during store hours “from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Seasonal Workers Wanted for Burke Lake Park — “Drop-in interviews at the Burke Lake Park Info Center will be held Aug. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (no appointment needed!) Come by to explore job opportunities, complete an application and interview on the spot all in one visit!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Friday — Showers are possible before 10am, with a chance of more showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high of around 78 degrees. The precipitation probability for the day stands at 20%. At night, the clouds will give way to mostly clear skies and a low temperature of around 64 degrees. [NWS]
Good Thursday 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 — Jul 31, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms early in the morning and again after 5pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 78. Expect a north wind at 11-13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. In the evening, the clouds will gradually clear, giving way to a low of around 63 and a 9 mph north wind. 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.
Acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma is tuning up for a visit to Fairfax County later this year.
Ma, a household name even outside the classical music world, will perform with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Dec. 6 as part of the local ensemble’s 2025-2026 season.
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:
