Around Town

Good Friday 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 — May 23, 2025.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • What to expect from a special election to replace late Rep. Gerry Connolly (8221 views)
  • Festivals, parades and more planned around Fairfax for Memorial Day weekend (6156 views)
  • Future of Noodles & Company at Reston’s Plaza America uncertain (5573 views)
  • Fairfax home prices continue to rise, but data shows signs of buyer wariness (5266 views)
  • Satellite company to move, expand headquarters space in Tysons (5108 views)
  • BREAKING: Rep. Gerry Connolly, longtime Fairfax politician, dies (4969 views)
  • Redevelopment of Reston National Golf Course meets resistance from Planning Commission (4794 views)
  • UPDATED: Shooting at CIA HQ in McLean under investigation (4694 views)
  • Barnes & Noble sets date for Tysons Corner Center reopening (4329 views)
  • Proposal could allow mixed-use development in ‘triangle’ near Falls Church border (3197 views)
  • 📅 Upcoming events

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

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

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    ☀️ Saturday’s forecast

    Expect sunny skies and a high of around 69 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 9 to 14 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Saturday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of about 49 degrees and a northwest wind ranging from 7 to 10 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.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


    News

    This Memorial Day weekend is shaping into an ideal start to summer.

    Breaking from the overcast, sometimes drizzly weather that has lingered in Fairfax County over the past week, conditions should be dry with a mix of sunshine and clouds through Monday (May 26), DC News Now meteorologist Jackie Layer says in her latest forecast for FFXnow.


    Countywide

    With early voting in the June 17 Democratic primary underway, Fairfax County residents might be curious where the politicians on the ballot stand on the prospect of a casino development in Tysons.

    Fortunately, the topic was one of the first to crop up last night (Thursday) during a televised debate between the six lieutenant governor candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination — right after a discussion about how they would protect Virginia’s economy and help workers affected by the Trump administration’s federal government cuts.


    Announcement

    For homeschooling families, finding activities that fit a non-traditional school day can be a challenge. EvolveAll, the martial arts and fitness studio that’s served the local community for more than 15 years, is addressing that gap with a new Homeschool Youth Martial Arts (YMA) program.

    The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:15 to 2:00 PM and follows EvolveAll’s established YMA curriculum, which focuses on discipline, focus, coordination, and self-defense fundamentals for kids ages 5 to 10. Classes are led by EvolveAll’s head YMA Instructor Mr. Christian, who has over a decade of instructing experience. The class size is capped to keep the student-to-instructor ratio low.


    News

    Fairfax County police released body-worn camera footage today (Friday) that captured last month’s fatal police shooting outside Greenbriar Town Center in Fair Oaks.

    The shooting on April 23 resulted in the death of a Fairfax man and injuries to two police officers, who sustained gunshot wounds.


    Event

    The Reston Museum invites the community to a special program on Wednesday, September 16th from 7:00 to 8:00PM featuring urban geographer, Shelley Mastran, who will explore the history of planned communities using Reston as a case study. Her presentation will examine the ideas and movements that influenced Reston's design and explore how urban design shapes our sense of community.


    Opinion

    In the mood for some falafel, shawarma or fresh hummus and pita? Fairfax has some excellent options for Middle Eastern cuisine.

    Here are the nominees for “Best Middle Eastern 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, June 6.

    Voting for the Best Swimming Facility 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 Outdoor Dining Spot in Fairfax. The results are now official:

    1. Red’s Table
    2. L’Auberge Chez Francois
    3. Sweetwater Tavern

    Countywide

    The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors signaled initial support on Tuesday (May 20) for moving forward with the first rewrite of the county’s massage therapy regulations in a quarter-century.

    Staff have proposed shifting regulatory oversight from the county’s Department of Cable & Consumer Services to the Health Department. Individual massage therapists would no longer need to obtain a county license or pay the associated fee, as they’re already licensed by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.


    Around Town

    A wildly popular local coffee shop is moving once again to a larger location within Tysons Corner Center.

    The second-floor storefront for Shotted closed earlier this month ahead of the move, which was partly necessitated by ongoing updates to the sprawling mall’s layout.


    Countywide

    An especially strong March and a record-setting day in April seem to foreshadow a positive summer for Dulles International Airport.

    The airport recorded 1,103,722 passenger enplanements this past March — its second-best passenger total ever for that month, according to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Chryssa Westerlund.


    Countywide
    U.S. flag hangs over a seating area at Fair Oaks Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

    Voter Registration Deadline Nears — Next Tuesday (May 27) is the last day to register to vote in the June 17 Democratic primary, which will determine the party’s nominees for Virginia lieutenant governor and attorney general. Starting May 28, same-day registration will be available, but new voters must cast a provisional ballot. [Fairfax County Office of Elections]

    Lane Closures Lifted for Memorial Day — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting temporary lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, May 23, until noon on Tuesday, May 27. While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time.” [VDOT]

    Connolly Remembered for Silver Line Role — “Congressman Gerry Connolly’s legacy in Northern Virginia includes his contribution to the Silver Line project and its lasting impact. Transportation Reporter Adam Tuss takes a look back.” [NBC4]

    FCPS to Continue Early Release Days — “Fairfax County Public Schools will continue the early release schedule for elementary schools next year but will switch from Mondays to Wednesdays. During the current year, FCPS launched a pilot program in which elementary students were dismissed three hours early on select Mondays” to give teachers more planning and training time. [Annandale Today]

    Tysons Office Building for Sale — Morning Calm Management is marketing the seven-story building at 1945 Old Gallows Road for sale. The office building was 55% leased when the Florida-based investment firm acquired it in 2019, but after a $1.5 million renovation completed in 2020, it’s now 92% leased, proving particularly attractive to medical tenants. [Washington Business Journal]

    Lake Accotink Park Now Hiring — “Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, Virginia, is hosting drop-in interviews every Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m., starting May 20 through June 10, 2025. Stop by the Visitor Center to explore job opportunities, complete an application and interview on the spot! No appointments are necessary!” [FCPA]

    Parks Foundation Welcomes New Board Members — The Fairfax County Park Authority Board confirmed four new directors to the board of the Fairfax County Park Foundation, its fundraising arm. Ben Aiken, Paul Berry, Mark Buenavista and Alyssa Keefe will now serve on the foundation’s board through June 20, 2028. [FCPA]

    It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching around 67 degrees and a west wind blowing at 9 to 14 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. The night will be mostly clear with lows near 50 degrees and a west wind ranging from 6 to 11 mph. [NWS]