Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 7, 2024

By FFXnow.com

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 — Aug 7, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect showers and potential thunderstorms throughout the day and into the evening, accompanied by patchy fog before 8am. High temperatures should reach near 80°F with an 80% precipitation chance, east winds at 11 mph and possible gusts up to 20 mph. Rainfall may total up to 0.75 inches. Overnight, temperatures will drop to around 74°F, precipitation chance increases to 90%, and wind gusts may reach 18 mph, with an additional 0.5 inches of rainfall possible. 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.

News

Culmore library to officially adopt new name next month

By Caitlyn Meisner
Woodrow Wilson Library in the Culmore neighborhood of Bailey's Crossroads (via Fairfax County Public Library)

Woodrow Wilson Library in Bailey’s Crossroads will officially get renamed at the beginning of September following months of community requests.

The Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Board of Trustees voted unanimously on July 10 to change the name to the Culmore Community Library to reflect the neighborhood where the library is located, replacing the former president’s moniker.

Go to Culmore library to officially adopt new name next month Read more
Countywide

Costs for electricity during extreme weather rising; Dominion says nothing to worry about — yet

By Charlie Paullin / Virginia Mercury
An electrical tower adjacent to the Dulles Toll Road in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The regional electric grid that supplies power to Virginia during times of extreme weather announced a 1,400% increase in some electric costs after its most recent capacity auction. But Dominion officials were quick to assure customers that they would not see an increase in their bills before the end of next year.

PJM Interconnection, which oversees the electric grid serving several mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia, announced the increase for its capacity market. Dominion buys electricity off of capacity markets during peak, or emergency, demands.

Go to Costs for electricity during extreme weather rising; Dominion says nothing to worry about — yet Read more
Around Town

Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta to dock in Reston this Saturday

By Angela Woolsey
Teams race in the annual Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta (courtesy Reston Museum)

Dozens of cardboard boats will populate the waters of Lake Anne in Reston this Saturday (Aug. 10) for the 2024 Cardboard Boat Regatta.

The popular annual event, where community members race each other in life-sized cardboard boats that they built and decorated by hand, will return Lake Anne Plaza (1639 Washington Plaza North), starting at noon and ending at 3 p.m.

Go to Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta to dock in Reston this Saturday Read more
Event

Botanical Estate: Flower, Fashion, & Fine Arts Show

Poster advertising Botanical Estate: Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion Show on August 22, 2026 at Hawa Center, Fairfax VA (People of the Garden).

Hawa Center Fairfax

4401 Fair Lakes Court

Fairfax, Virginia 22033

Website Contact Social

Flowers, Fine Art & Fashion is an immersive cultural experience presented by People of The Garden LLC, where nature, creativity, and modest couture converge in a breathtaking indoor garden setting.

Guests will journey through a living landscape featuring dramatic floral installations, botanical art, and a one-of-a-kind rectangular runway designed around lush greenery and sculptural plantings. Throughout the evening, attendees will experience a curated runway presentation showcasing modest fashion designers, alongside original fine art, artisan vendors, and interactive floral experiences.

Go to Botanical Estate: Flower, Fashion, & Fine Arts Show Read more
News

Avoid Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 during coming lane closures, VDOT warns

By Angela Woolsey
The Georgetown Pike Bridge over I-495 will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction during the weekend of Aug. 16-19 (via VDOT)

The Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 in McLean will partially close for a full weekend later this month so traffic can be shifted to new lanes.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is advising drivers to avoid the interchange during what it’s calling “Stay-Away Weekend” if they don’t want to get caught up in the congestion that’ll likely be created by the lane reductions and ramp closures.

Go to Avoid Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 during coming lane closures, VDOT warns Read more
News

New Reston Association website on track for September launch

By Angela Woolsey
Reston Association (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reston Association’s new, permanent website is almost ready to go live.

The redesigned website is expected to roll out September, communications director Cara O’Donnell told the Board of Directors on July 25. The launch would come more than four years after outdated software prompted the homeowners’ association to take down its previous online home and transition to a temporary, more limited platform.

Go to New Reston Association website on track for September launch Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County jumps up in ranking of healthiest communities in U.S.

By James Jarvis
People walking at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County has gained a couple spots in an annual ranking of the healthiest communities in the U.S.

The county snagged 14th place, up from 17th in 2022, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings of the nation’s healthiest communities. It came in higher than Fairfax City (no. 15) and Arlington County (no. 19) but couldn’t beat Falls Church City, which claimed the top spot.

Go to Fairfax County jumps up in ranking of healthiest communities in U.S. Read more
News

Big water main break shuts down South George Mason Drive

By Angela Woolsey
A water main break has closed northbound South George Mason Drive in Bailey's Crossroads (via FCPD/Twitter)

Northbound South George Mason Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads has been closed for over 12 hours due to a major water main break.

The Fairfax County Police Department reported the break near 7313 South George Mason Drive near Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) in the Skyline neighborhood at 9:39 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday). Water can be seen gushing up from under the street in a video shared by the department.

Go to Big water main break shuts down South George Mason Drive Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes for August 7, 2024

By FFXnow.com
A mixed-use residential building is under construction in Comstock’s Reston Row neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia Declares State of Emergency — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon ahead of Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to bring multiple days of heavy rainfall and storms to Virginia starting on Wednesday evening.” [Patch]

Reston Pool to Reopen After Vandalism — Lake Newport Pool has closed since Monday (Aug. 5) “due to vandalism. There is broken glass on the pool deck and in the water.” Reston Association announced around 5 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday) that the facility has been cleaned and repaired, so the pool will reopen at noon today. [RA/Facebook]

N. Va. Gets Noticed for Wine — “Northern Virginia was named America’s next great wine region by The Wall Street Journal’s wine columnist Lettie Teague.” Dave McIntyre, the Washington Post’s wine columnist, attributes the region’s growing reputation to more experienced winemakers, state support and marketing. [WTOP]

Fort Hunt Restaurant Changes Ownership — The “popular” Italian restaurant Via Veneto closed on Aug. 1 “so its new owners can make minor changes and reopen later this week under the same name.” The eatery is slated to reopen tomorrow (Aug. 8) at 4 p.m. under Sarai and Jose Navarette, who own the carryout restaurant Roseina’s that’s directly next door. [On the MoVe]

Glasses Recycling Site Moves to Annandale — “When the Lions Clubs’ Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia lost its home, Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stepped up to offer space in the Mason Government Center. Local Lions Clubs collect eyeglasses from people who no longer need them, fix them up, and ship them overseas.” [Annandale Today]

WaPo Rave for New McLean Restaurant — “David Guas, the veteran chef behind Bayou Bakery in Arlington, has rolled out a second place to eat, Neutral Ground Bar and Kitchen in McLean.” Opened in June, the American eatery that replaced Assaggi Osteria & Pizzeria has been dubbed “the most captivating new restaurant in Northern Virginia” by critic Tom Sietsema. [Washington Post]

Falls Church Draws More Grocery Stores — “Already home to a Giant, a Harris Teeter and an Aldi, the city is expected to add a new Whole Foods and Grocery Outlet within the next year or so, according to Economic Development Division Chief Becky Witsman. A Fresh Market is also slated to arrive within the next few years.” [ARLnow]

It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected, becoming more likely after 2pm, with a cloudy high of 86°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation. The night will remain cloudy, with a low around 72°F. [NWS]

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