Thousands of people are expected to visit Reston Town Center later this month for the return of the Tephra ICA Arts Festival.
Now in its 34th year, the annual festival organized by the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Arts will take place on May 17 and 18, bringing together more than 200 artists from across the U.S.
Ice cream shops and other dessert destinations across Fairfax offer a sweet treat and some relief from the heat.
Here are the nominees for “Best Ice Cream and Dessert Shop in Fairfax” as part of our new FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite shop below? If not, write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 9 a.m. Friday, May 16.
Voting for the Best Garden Center 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 Recreation in Fairfax. The results are now official:
Imagine stepping out of your door and being a brief, 0.3-mile walk from the McLean Metro Station. Indigo at McLean Station is redefining affordable Northern Virginia living, combining an unbeatable Tysons location with brand-new, high-end amenities.
Mark your calendar for our upcoming Open House on Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, where you can explore everything our growing community has to offer.
Both Phases Now Open for Tours
This exclusive event gives you full access to tour both Phase I and Phase II of our stunning community. Whether you are looking to relocate immediately or planning your next move, we have layouts tailored to your timeline:
Double the Amenities, Double the Community
With the introduction of Phase II, Indigo at McLean Station has dramatically expanded its resident perks. When you tour the community, you will experience a wealth of brand-new spaces designed to elevate your daily routine:
Stack Your Savings
Attendees who submit an application during the event can unlock our exclusive, event-only leasing incentive. Receive an additional 1/2 month of rent free—applicable strictly to Phase I apartments. Best of all, this time-sensitive special stacks directly on top of our premier active promotion of Up to Two Months Free on Select Apartments!
Plan your visit to 1750 Old Meadow Rd, McLean, VA 22102 this November 14th. Browse Our Available Floor Plans, check real-time pricing, and review income qualification criteria on our website, or call our leasing team directly at (571) 786-5546. Can’t make the Open House? Schedule a Tour Today.
Fairfax County Planning Commission members opted Wednesday (April 30) to defer for a week final action on a hotly debated plan to build affordable housing on the site where the Franconia Governmental Center now sits.
The delay came after more than 90 local residents testified over the course of 3.5 hours, most in opposition to the proposal for a 4-story, 120-unit apartment building on the 3.26-acre site at 6121 Franconia Road.
If you don’t need one immediately, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) officials suggest waiting out the current rush for REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identity cards.
“At the Virginia DMV, there’s no deadline to get a REAL ID — just plenty of good days to apply, as customers are able to apply for one year-round,” Camila Barco, a spokesman for the state agency, told FFXnow.
NoVa Youth Ensembles was recently selected to perform at the White House during the 2026 Christmas season at the Holiday Open Houses. Being chosen to perform at the White House is an incredible honor, and we are excited to represent Fairfax and Loudoun counties during this special time of year. As The White House welcomes visitors each Christmas season, performers have the unique opportunity to share their musical talents and holiday cheer. In the past, only a few dozen performer groups have been selected from over 1,000 applicants.
A store focusing on one-of-a-kind creations is opening in Merrifield’s Mosaic District this weekend.
The grand opening for District Candle Lab and Fawne — a joint endeavor in one storefront — is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) at 2910 District Avenue, Unit 130.
Man Sentenced for Shooting Ex-Girlfriend — Collins Agyei was sentenced to 23 years in prison yesterday (Thursday) after a jury convicted him last year of shooting his former girlfriend at her home in Mount Vernon. The 25-year-old woman was left with “life-changing injuries and a near inability to speak.” [NBC4]
Weapons Detectors to Stay Permanently at Two Schools — “New weapons screening systems will remain at West Potomac and Thomas Edison High Schools permanently, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) confirmed to 7News on Thursday.” FCPS began rolling out the devices for a pilot program in April, but a stabbing at West Potomac High School prompted new calls for safety measures. [ABC7]
Report Finds Teacher Pay in Virginia Still Lagging — “From last year to now, Virginia raised teacher pay by an average of $3,000. Still, the commonwealth’s average pay rate for educators remains stagnant compared to other states, according to the latest salary report published by the National Education Association.” [Virginia Mercury]
Dulles Has Country’s Most Expensive Domestic Flights — “Dulles International Airport ranks as the most expensive airport for average domestic airfare for the fourth consecutive year, according to annual data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. FinanceBuzz ranked airports based on 2024 fares, and included only roundtrip domestic fares.” [WTOP]
What to Expect From Upcoming WorldPride Festival — “WorldPride Festival kicks off May 17, and three weeks of parties, rallies, concerts and events will draw major star power and an expected 2-3 million revelers to D.C. … The city is prepping for crowds with a new parade route, a tap-and-pay Metro card system, and amped-up security.” [Axios DC]
McLean Sees Its Priciest Home Sale This Year — “A riverfront estate on McLean’s Gold Coast that’s been on the market for less than a year has set a sales record for most expensive home in the Virginia city this year. The eight-bedroom estate, on just over four acres, closed for $14.05 million in April.” [WTOP]
Thai Street Markets Coming to Annandale — “The NVA Thai Center is launching a monthly market featuring Thai food, crafts, and performances at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in the center of Annandale. The first one is scheduled for May 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.” [Annandale Today]
Local Restaurants Offer Cinco De Mayo Specials — Cinco de Mayo (May 5) “marks Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1962. In the U.S., the holiday is a time to celebrate Mexican culture with food and music — and plenty of spots in NoVA will be hosting festivities this year. Here’s where you can find special events and deals on tacos, margaritas, and more.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Friday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 2pm, with mostly sunny conditions, a high near 87, and a 40% chance of precipitation. The chance of showers and thunderstorms continues until 2am, followed by partly cloudy skies and a low of 66. [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 — May 1, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Friday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect a slight chance of early morning showers, followed by a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms with a partly sunny high of around 86°F. Southwest winds will be approximately 10 mph, with gusts reaching 18 mph. There’s a 40% chance of precipitation. On Friday night, possible showers and thunderstorms before 2am with a low of around 65°F, a 6 mph south wind, and a 30% chance of precipitation. 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.
NOVA Parks and the Town of Vienna are partnering for an initiative that could transform a pair of offices into a visitor center for the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.
Fresh off its 50th anniversary last year, the 45-mile trail runs from Shirlington out to Purcellville, with Vienna as its “geographic center,” NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert said when announcing the project during an Arbor Day event at the Vienna Town Green last Friday (April 25).
The warmth that has greeted May in Fairfax County could be offset by a few days of much-needed rain, starting tonight (Thursday).
DC News Now meterologist Jackie Layer has the forecast for Fairfax County, provided exclusively to FFXnow, including details on when to expect rain and how much might fall through this weekend.
