U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Chantilly field office, typically used for administrative proceedings, is being turned into a “makeshift” detention facility, dozens of immigrant rights advocacy groups say.
With arrests surging during the ongoing federal takeover of D.C., ICE has begun detaining individuals for “several days at a time” in a holding room intended to keep people just for a few hours during processing, according to organizations in the Free Them All VA Coalition.
Fairfax County is home to plenty of restaurants serving up delicious, comforting bowls of ramen, with rich broths and an array of well-balanced toppings.
Here are the nominees for “Best Ramen 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, Sept. 12.
Voting for the Best Bowling Alley 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 Kid’s Birthday Party Venue in Fairfax. The results are now official:
Incredibly excited to wrap up an awesome first summer. I’ve learned a lot, and I thought I’d share some of those lessons with you.
1. Hiring a JMU intern is a great idea.
This summer we were lucky enough to hire a young man from Woodbridge named Owen, who is a rising senior at JMU. He was exactly the spark we needed to help us push through our first busy summer season. We’ve already made him a job offer for next summer when he graduates, and we’re hopeful he’ll join us full-time.
2. People are generally helpful and want to see you succeed when you’re first starting out.
Over the summer, I was amazed by how many people wanted to help me get a strong start in my business. There were definitely times when I knew folks might not need a new roof, but they were still kind enough to let me come by, take a look, and give them a free estimate just in case. It was inspiring and motivating to know that there are strangers out there who don’t even know me but still want to see me win.
3. Hard work solves most problems.
From the beginning, I’ve been honest about having a lot to learn in this industry. What I’ve come to find is that even when I don’t know exactly what I’m doing, hard work will still often get me to the right result. When in doubt, just keep pushing. This is something I’ll remember as more hard times come and as we get ready to go through the cold winter season.
4. Working with property managers and realtors can be a win-win for everyone.
This year, we’ve built some great relationships with property managers and realtors. These folks are hardworking and busy, and the last thing they have time to worry about is a roof for their clients. We’ve worked with them to install new roofs, windows, gutters, doors, and siding on multiple occasions.
5. Some folks will slam the door in your face without thinking twice.
Things aren’t always easy in this game, and I don’t want to paint an overly rosy picture without talking about some of the hard stuff too. As a new person working hard to get your name out there, it can definitely be a little daunting when someone yells at you or slams the door in your face. Luckily, most people are warm and will at least talk to you, and we’ve appreciated that as we navigate these bumps along the way.
6. Most homeowners just want transparency and great customer service.
It’s wild how many contractors out there really can’t be trusted. We’ve come to learn quickly that homeowners just want fantastic customer service and transparency throughout the process. If you can honestly show someone how the process is going to take place and hold their hand a little along the way, you can make almost all of your customers pretty happy.
7. Homeowners taught me more than any training could have.
Fairfax County is set to host its inaugural expungement clinic on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hybla Valley Community Center (7950 Audubon Avenue).
The event offers an opportunity for those with non-conviction criminal charges from Fairfax County or Fairfax city to determine eligibility and petition for removal of the charges from their records, Fairfax County Circuit Court spokesperson Rafael Arancibia, Jr. said in a news release.
We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes.
Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.
Opponents of a potential casino in Tysons have begun lobbying local officials to oppose the proposal in 2026.
Using the monthly public-comment period of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Linda Walsh of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition asked the local elected leaders to stand firm against the proposal.
Event location
Online event (see link)
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. 🙂
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
While Virginia’s unemployment rate has been ticking up for months, the state’s Republican leadership contends the jobless rate is just one piece of a larger, more complex economic puzzle.
“Virginia has jobs,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in an Aug. 19 statement accompanying the latest batch of state employment figures. “This month’s reports reflect modest payroll growth, continued positive revisions in recent months, and strong labor force demand, reinforcing the resilience of Virginia’s job market.”
Work began on Monday (Aug. 25) to overhaul a currently awkward intersection along Route 50 (Fairfax Blvd) in Fairfax City.
While construction may cause some disruptions, the resulting reconfiguration of the area where Fairfax Blvd, Warwick Avenue and McLean Avenue meet should make travel smoother and safer in the future, according to the city.
Record Labor Day Weekend Travel Expected — “Labor Day weekend travel is expected to surpass last year’s record levels, with the Transportation Security Administration preparing to screen hundreds of thousands more passengers than during the 2024 holiday.” Today (Friday) is expected to be the busiest day with airports preparing for 2.91 million passengers. [Axios]
Early Voting Expands — An additional nine sites will be open for early voting in the 11th Congressional District special election, starting today through Saturday, Sept. 6. All locations will be available Monday through Friday from 1-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular polling places will open on the day of the Sept. 9 election, which will be a school-free day for Fairfax County students. [Fairfax County Government]
Cookie Shop Opens in Tysons Mall — “Chip City Cookies will be celebrating the grand opening of its new Tysons Corner Center location on Friday by giving a free cookie to the first 100 customers with any purchase. The doors will open at 11 a.m.” This is the oversized cookie company’s third Northern Virginia location and first in Fairfax County following openings in Arlington. [Patch]
Firefighters Train in West Falls Church Homes — “Before Fairfax County tears down nine houses on Barrett Road in the Falls Church area, the Fire Department is using the vacant houses for training exercises … On Aug. 26, a crew from the Edsall Road (#26) fire station was at Barrett Road to practice rescuing a firefighter trapped in a burning building – although they didn’t set the house on fire.” [Annandale Today]
Contract Dispute Heads to Trial — A legal battle involving two Reston-based federal contractors is likely heading for a jury trial following recent procedural rulings by a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge. CACI International sued Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in July 2024, alleging that the other company breached a joint U.S. Air Force contract by not paying CACI its full share and poaching employees. [Washington Business Journal]
Students Seek to Encourage Civil Discussions — After observing how often conversations about hot-button issues escalate into yelling, Peter Kisselev, “Sam Stankiewicz and Abhi Tiwari, students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia, launched ‘Normal Debate.’ The website, the three said, provides users with the opportunity to create posts about politics and other topics.” [WTOP]
Preview of Tysons Fall Market — The Tysons Mixed Market, now in its third year, will return this fall with a season-opening event next Thursday, Sept. 4. Hosted by The Boro and the Tysons Community Alliance, the market “brings together nearly 30 local vendors and artisans, small businesses, and more community-focused features all tucked in the middle of Fairfax County’s economic powerhouse that is Tysons.” [Out and About Fairfax]
Falls Church Festival Returning — “The annual Falls Church Festival is approaching, bringing back a day of live music, activities and tastings from local restaurants. Over 90 vendors and civic organizations will join the fun as the festival returns for its 49th year from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.” [ARLnow]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature near 80 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 9 mph. By Friday night, the skies will turn partly cloudy, while the temperature dips to a low around 57 degrees. A 6 mph north wind is anticipated throughout the night. [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 — Aug 28, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high near 79 degrees, as well as a northwest breeze of 5 to 10 mph, with possible gusts reaching 18 mph. Come Friday night, the skies will be partly cloudy, and temperatures will dip to around 56 degrees, accompanied by a gentle north wind at around 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.
Many Fairfax County School Board members initially celebrated the purchase of the now-defunct King Abdullah Academy building in the Herndon area, but that excitement is now being tempered by a simmering conflict over what form the proposed new high school should take.
There are a range of models available, from traditional or traditional-with-academies types of school to a magnet program similar to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
The Virginia Hurricanes Girls Basketball program is holding tryouts for its 3rd Grade and 5th Grade travel teams, competing in a full schedule this Fall and Winter season. Join a competitive, supportive program built to develop skilled, confident players on and off the court.
Registration is required at: https://www.virginiahurricanes.net/basketball/aau-teams
