Construction is underway on a new coffee shop in Reston.
Simply Social Coffee, which can currently be found in Vienna’s Cedar Park Shopping Center and next to Burlington Coat Factory just outside Fairfax City, has been working on a third location in Reston at 11511 Sunrise Valley Drive, Unit 9.
China Wok has carved up its final Peking duck.
The old-school Chinese restaurant permanently closed its doors at Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons at the end of July, wrapping up a 34-year run.
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.
DCA Crash Probe Finds Chopper Issues — “Investigators probing the January midair collision of a passenger plane and an Army helicopter over Washington that killed 67 people found the chopper was flying higher than it should have been and its altitude readings were inaccurate.” [Associated Press/ARLnow]
Police Investigate Falls Church Spa — “After questions lingered for months from several homeowners about the spa’s operations, two misdemeanor charges were levied against the business owner of a Limited Liability Corporation registered to the spa’s address. Two neighbors on the 2700 block of Summerfield Road shared their observations of the Rose Spa on South Washington Street … anonymously in fear of possible retaliation.” [DC News Now]
Bugs Swarm D.C. Area — “A bug boom of ticks, lanternflies and mosquitoes is fueled by climate change and invasive species.” Congressional lawmakers introduced a bill last week to fund projects intended to control the spread of lanternflies, while emergency rooms nationwide saw a surge in tick-related visits this past May and June, according to CDC data. [Axios DC]
Sales Tax Holiday Starts Friday — “Virginia families have a chance to save money while getting ready for emergencies this August. The state’s annual three-day sales tax holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.” School supplies are also exempt from state sales taxes through the weekend. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
FCPD Concerned by Vape Store Burglaries — “Fairfax County police are issuing a public warning and urging Northern Virginia business owners to be vigilant after a string of burglaries involving kratom products … Police said they’re increasing awareness about the substance after a string of recent burglaries committed by the same person targeting Star Tobacco along Braddock Road. One robbery was in June and the other was earlier this month.” [WTOP]
Artists Wanted for Springfield Town Center — “ArtsFairfax is proud to partner with Springfield Town Center to present a public art opportunity for local artists in Fairfax County! Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in an art show that will receive high visibility and foot traffic.” Today (Thursday) at 7 p.m. is the deadline for artists to apply for the show, which is scheduled to run from October through March 2026. [ArtsFairfax/Instagram]
Tower Club Tysons Closes for Renovation — “As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing your member experience, we’ve entered a major phase of renovations that includes flooring installation, concrete work, and extensive sanding throughout the Club … During this time, no member access will be permitted … We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday, August 5, when we reopen with normal hours.” [Tower Club Tysons/Instagram]
Win a Capybara Hangout Session — Reston’s NOVA Wild is holding a contest for its social media followers, offering a 20-minute “encounter” with its capybaras Nugget and Tater as a prize. Participants can enter by liking the zoo’s posts on Facebook and Instagram and tagging a friend. The winner will be announced on Aug. 12. [NOVA Wild/Facebook]
It’s Thursday — A slight chance of showers could turn into thunderstorms after 2 pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 94. Heat index values could reach 103. A 60% chance of rain will jump to 80% at night. Expect a low around 70, and possible rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch. [NWS]
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
Good Wednesday 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 30, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect increasing clouds with a high near 94 and heat index values up to 102. Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2pm, with a 60% chance of precipitation and potential rainfall between a half and three quarters of an inch. Thursday night, showers and possible thunderstorms will occur before 2am, followed by a chance of showers and storms after 2am, with a low around 69. Southeast wind at 6 mph will become north after midnight, and the chance of precipitation rises to 80%, with possible rainfall between 1 and 2 inches. 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.
Event location
Harris Pavilion
9201 Center Street
Manassas, Virginia 20110
Manassas Latino Festival is the oldest Hispanic/Latino, family-centric festival in the area! Held during National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), join in the celebrations with live music, dance performances, diverse foods, and fun for the whole family! Come enjoy this premier annual tradition filled with cultural heritage and contributions of the Latin American community.
Time is running out for Fairfax County homeowners to get a federal tax credit for adopting solar energy.
The reconciliation bill passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will eliminate a residential clean energy credit that lets residential property owners deduct 30% of the cost of installing rooftop solar panels, solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and other clean energy systems from their federal income taxes.
Despite a full-court press from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the future of its plan to extend express lanes on the south side of the Capital Beltway (I-495) remains up in the air as the deadline for a decision looms.
The project to add 11 miles of toll roads connecting Springfield with Prince George’s County over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is a “critical” piece of transportation planning, a top VDOT official told members of the D.C. region’s Transportation Planning Board (TPB) on July 16.
Residents of Lake Anne in Reston are once again enduring a heat dome with limited relief after a crucial component of their cooling system failed.
A temporary rental pump installed in late June after residents reported experiencing temperatures of 85 degrees or higher during a heat wave has failed, Reston RELAC President Mark Waddell told customers in an email on Monday (July 28).
DIY school TradeWorx Academy is bringing handiwork expertise to Fair Oaks Mall.
The new program is designed to teach homeowners the skills they need to tackle repair and remodeling projects or professionals honing their skills with hands-on experience.
Greenheart Juice Shop is planning to take on a new form, one that required it to shed its short-lived Reston location.
Less than a year after opening, the local juice and smoothie chain has closed its doors at North Point Village Center. This past Monday (July 28) was its final day of business, founder and director of operations Alicia Swanstrom confirmed to FFXnow.
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.
