News

A new housing option has opened up at the Halley Rise development in Reston.

After wrapping up construction last year, The Arbor at Halley Rise will celebrate its grand opening from noon to 3 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday), inviting current and possibly future residents to partake in food, drinks, lawn games and live entertainment as they get a look at the finished building.


News

A Bailey’s Crossroads man was sentenced Wednesday (June 18) to 25 years in prison for his attempt to carry out a mass shooting at a Haymarket church in 2023.

In March, a federal jury convicted Rui Jiang, 36, of attempting to obstruct the congregants of the Park Valley Church in the free exercise of their religious beliefs, transmitting online threats and a firearms violation.


Sponsored

Trek & Treat is back with a brand-new route, fun prizes, and a $150 Early Bird incentive if you register by October 1

Game on! The Tysons Trek & Treat Fall Challenge returns this week, running October 2 through November 1. Participants can walk, bike, or roll through Tysons while checking in at stops, earning points, and redeeming them for prizes.

Hosted by Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), the free mobility challenge features five walkable and bike-friendly routes—including a brand-new route this season!—for a range of ages and abilities. Explore The Boro on the Yellow Route, wander past Arbor Row and Tysons Galleria on the Green Route, stroll Scott’s Run Trail and Capital One Center on the Red Route, or take on the Orange and Purple routes by bike or wheels.

There’s no app to download, so just choose a route, grab your phone, and start exploring.

And there’s a good reason to sign up now: pre-register by October 1, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $150 Experience Tysons e-gift card, redeemable at participating businesses throughout Tysons.

Explore More, Earn More

As you make your way through Tysons, be on the lookout for Trek & Treat check-in stickers posted at stops along each route. Scan the QR code on each sticker to check in, earn points, and keep moving toward your next prize.

While racking up points, you can earn prizes including wireless earbuds, a Bluetooth speaker, an OGIO backpack, Metro SmarTrip cards, portable chargers, and more. Participants can also earn Experience Tysons e-gift cards, including $300 for the Tysons Trailblazer grand-prize winner, $250 for second place, and $200 for third place.

Register and complete at least one check-in by October 10, and you’ll also receive an exclusive “I Trekked Tysons” t-shirt.

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to get outside, discover new corners of Tysons, or earn prizes along the way, Trek & Treat offers plenty of reasons to explore this fall. Registration is easy at tysonsva.org/exploretysons/gameon.

Tysons Trek & Treat Fall Challenge runs October 2–November 1


Opinion

A handful of Fairfax restaurants specialize in American barbecue, serving up staples like pulled pork and brisket alongside plenty of comforting sides.

Here are the nominees for “Best Barbecue Restaurant in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite restaurant below? If not, write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 9 a.m. Friday, July 4.

Voting for the Best Bar and Nightlife Spot 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 Pet-Friendly Restaurant in Fairfax. The results are now official:

  1. Makers Union
  2. Lost Dog Cafe
  3. Lazy Dog

Announcement

Alexandria, Virginia – October 1, 2026 – Body Imperium, an Old Town Alexandria strength-training studio, has announced that it is rebranding as Imperium Strength and Longevity, known simply as Imperium.

The new name reflects the studio’s evolution from its Pilates origins into Alexandria’s only strength-training facility powered by ARX® (Adaptive Resistance Exercise) technology. The evolution of the business closely follows founder Victoria Azor’s personal experience building strength and longevity.


Countywide

Thousands of people in Fairfax County are still without electricity after a quick but powerful storm swept through the D.C. area yesterday (Thursday).

While some major outages were addressed last night, Dominion Energy still has 163 projects affecting 10,356 customers in Fairfax County to address, as of 10:40 a.m., according to its outage map.


Event

Join Comunidad for its Annual 5Dollar5K—a fun, family-friendly race that brings neighbors together in support of local children, teens, and families in Falls Church and Arlington. Run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, and bring the little ones for a special Kids’ Dash! Registration is just $5, and children ages 12 and under participate for free. Comunidad is a community development organization based in the Seven Corners area of Falls Church. We hope you'll join us and together help us build comunidad!


News

Candidates seeking to fill out the remainder of Rep. Gerry Connolly‘s term in Congress will speak directly to voters next week.

With a special election set for Sept. 9, both Democrats and Republicans have scheduled candidate forums to give voters insight into their potential nominees, who will be determined on Saturday, June 28.


Around Town

Taylor and Joe left their West Virginia home around 7:30 and made the over two-hour trip into Virginia for the chance to be among the first shoppers to enter the newly reopened Barnes & Noble at Tysons Corner Center.

While stores come and go at the mall, the temporary closure of Barnes & Noble at the mall last May left a hole for Taylor, Joe, and dozens of other patrons who lined up at the grand reopening Wednesday (June 18) morning.


Countywide
A tree branch torn down by a storm on June 19, 2025 blocks a parking space at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Major Tree Damage From Storm — “The line of severe storms that crossed the D.C. area late Thursday afternoon produced tree damage all around. Some trees fell on wires, houses and cars — and blocked roads.” Winds of up to 66 mph were reported at Dulles International Airport, and downed trees blocked the entrances to Great Falls Park in both Virginia and Maryland, trapping visitors. [Capital Weather Gang]

Man Shot Near Costco — “Police are investigating after a man was found shot near a Costco store in Fairfax County late Wednesday night. The man was taken to a hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.” Officers responded to a gas station in the 7900 block of Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley for the shooting, though “police say the man was not shot at the gas station, but walked there to get help.” [WUSA9]

LGBTQ Pride Sign Vandalized — “Michelle Nickens, pastor of Washington Plaza Baptist Church in Reston, has a message for the person who damaged the church’s sign with a message celebrating LGBTQ Pride.” A member of the church’s congregation first noticed on Sunday (June 15) that the sign’s plastic covering was broken and the word “pride” removed. [Patch]

McLean Man Sentenced for Fatal Crash — “Timothy Pack, 22, of McLean, Virginia, was sentenced [on Friday, June 13] to 20 years and 60 days in prison after a crash that killed victim Jasmin Ashely Gimon, 25, said the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (MCSAO).” Prosecutors said Pack was driving over 100 mph when he crashed into Gimon’s vehicle near Federal Plaza Shopping Center on April 27, 2024. [WJLA]

Beauty Store Opens in Mount Vernon — “The new Ulta Beauty store at Mount Vernon Plaza will be soft opening June 20, with plans for a grand opening and ribbon cutting on June 27. According to the company’s website, customers can get 20% off qualifying in-store purchases during grand opening weekend, June 27-29.” [On the MoVe]

Tysons Furniture Store to Vacate Building — Patrick’s Elegant Living has agreed to “move out of its stand-alone store at 1800 International Drive by Oct. 15,” as a legal dispute between the business and property owner Macerich is expected to continue in Fairfax County Circuit Court. FFXnow has removed a previous report saying Patrick’s was evicted, because it was a misinterpretation of General District Court Judge Susan Earman’s June 4 ruling. [Washington Business Journal]

DCA Gets Its Own Lego Model — “A nine-month labor of love by Lego enthusiast Richard Paules, the 120-pound centerpiece — featuring an accurate floor design with domes, arrival/departure levels and even a baggage claim — is set to appear to the public next Monday …  He previously constructed a model of Dulles International Airport that has been on display there since early 2024.” [ARLnow]

Vaccinations Encouraged for Kids — “As the 2024-25 school year ends and summer begins, it’s a great time for children to get up to date on their immunizations. Parents and caregivers are urged to make an appointment for their child now with their healthcare provider to avoid the last-minute rush before the 2025-26 school year starts.” [Fairfax County Health Department]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high of approximately 86°F, accompanied by a west wind of around 8 mph. As night falls, the sky will turn partly cloudy, with the temperature dropping to around 68°F and a light southwest wind. [NWS]


News

More than 70,000 Fairfax County homes and businesses are in the dark after a line of destructive storms ripped through the area.

Many of the outages are concentrated in the northern part of the county, from Great Falls to Vienna to McLean, though additional outages are reported around Springfield and Newington.


Around Town

Good Wednesday 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 — Jun 18, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 82°F and a low of 67°F. Keep an eye out for scattered afternoon thunderstorms, accompanied by moderate humidity levels at 60%. Winds will be light and variable, ranging from 5 to 10 mph. Enjoy the pleasant temperatures while they last, as they are predicted to rise over the weekend. 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.