The 96th Academy Awards are just under a month away, which means there’s still time to catch up on this year’s nominees.
To help out, ShowPlace Icon Theatre in Tysons will host upcoming, “special” screenings of “Barbie” and “The Holdovers,” two of the films seeking to upset “Oppenheimer” on its steady march toward winning the Oscar for Best Picture.
Greta Gerwig’s record-breaking comedy will screen on Thursday, Feb. 29, while Alexander Payne’s Christmas-set throwback to the 1970s will screen on March 7, just days before the Oscars ceremony on March 10. Both screenings will start at 7 p.m.
With both movies available to watch at home, either on physical discs or online, The Boro theater is banking on a discount to attract audiences. With a $15 ticket, patrons can get a small popcorn and their choice of a soda, beer or wine.
Per its website, the theater typically charges $18.75 for evening showings, and drinks range from $6.50 for a beer bottle or can to $15 for some of the wines.
Tickets for the special screenings can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Located at 1667 Silver Hill Drive, ShowPlace Icon originally opened in February 2020 — just before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Fairfax County. After a one-month attempt at reopening, it officially reintroduced itself to the community in April 2021.
Tysons is also home to an AMC at Tysons Corner Center and CMX CinéBistro in Tysons Galleria.
Construction on the next phase of The Boro in Tysons has prevented pedestrians from safely walking on the streets around the site, a Fairfax County inspector says.
Matthew Stenger, an investigator with the county’s Department of Code Compliance, issued violation notices last month against The Meridian Group, The Boro’s master developer, and Silverstone Silver Living, which is constructing The Trillium Tysons, a senior living building expected to open this year.
A Nov. 15 inspection of the construction site bounded by Westpark Drive to the south and Greensboro Drive to the east “revealed that there is no safe and efficient pedestrian pathway provided along the properties street frontages,” Stenger said in the Dec. 15 notices.
The code compliance investigator also alleged that the companies failed to submit a construction management plan required as a condition of the expansion project’s approval in 2021.
Both developers have now separately filed appeals challenging the citations, stating that they have in fact provided the promised plan, which shows that a sidewalk on the southbound side of Westpark Drive would be closed throughout construction.
“Sidewalk closures are specifically identified as an appropriate method to ensure pedestrian safety,” Silverstone’s zoning appeal says. “…After consultation with County staff, due to existing sensitive fiber optics and live power infrastructure…along the Block J frontage, it was agreed that no safe interim pedestrian pathway was possible and a closure of the southbound side sidewalks during construction was necessary.”
Block J — The Trillium — is one of four blocks planned for The Boro’s expansion to the west side of Westpark Drive. Under construction since spring 2022, the apartment building for seniors will eventually be joined by two multi-family residential buildings with retail and either a health club or townhouses.
During the county’s review of plans for the development, nearby residents raised concerns about its accessibility and potential construction impacts, which led Meridian and Silverstone to agree to provide a construction management plan.
In addition to raising the possibility of fines, the code compliance department directed the developers to submit the required plan and build temporary pedestrian facilities along Greensboro and Westpark.
“Within two weeks after the date of this notice, you must complete the installation of an asphalt path along the Greensboro frontage,” Stenger wrote. “Within three weeks of the date of this Notice, you must complete the installation of that asphalt trail down Westpark Drive as close to the frontage of Block J as possible.”
However, Silverstone says in its appeal that construction on the Westpark trail — which will represent the first segment of the planned Tysons Community Circuit — can’t begin until Dominion Energy relocates its electrical utilities, a process expected to be complete this January.
Even after the utilities are moved, a temporary sidewalk can’t be safely built “due to the required installation and coordination of tree pits, bio filters, and additional underground infrastructure along the street,” Walsh Colucci land use attorney Lynne Strobel wrote in a statement on the developer’s behalf.
In a separate appeal application, The Meridian Group noted that the proposed temporary sidewalk on Westpark Drive would lead “pedestrians to a dead end at an active construction site,” which could result in people crossing the road without a crosswalk or traffic signal.
“The appropriate solution is to direct pedestrians to cross Westpark Drive at its intersection with Greensboro drive to access the existing sidewalk on the northbound side of Westpark,” Strobel wrote. “…The suggested sidewalk should only be constructed when the pedestrian signal at Boro Place is operational.”
According to the application, construction is underway on sidewalks along Clover and Broad streets, and the developer has agreed to build a temporary asphalt sidewalk on Greensboro. All of the facilities are on track to be completed and open for use “within the next several weeks,” as of mid-December.
A public relations firm representing The Meridian Group said the developer has no comment on its appeal.
Meridian and Silverstone have asked the county to dismiss the notices of violations, saying they’re “based on incorrect and inaccurate facts.”
Zombies, pirates and other virtual characters are about to be unleashed on Tysons, just in time for Christmas.
Sandbox VR will launch its new virtual reality gaming experience at 1656 Silver Hill Drive in The Boro with a grand opening on Dec. 22. This is the first Virginia location for the San Francisco-based startup, which has expanded to over 40 sites across North America, Asia and Europe since introducing itself to the world in 2019.
“We are thrilled to open our very first Virginia location and The Boro — with its robust lineup of entertainment options — is the perfect home,” Sandbox VR founder and CEO Steve Zhao said. “We can’t wait to introduce the McLean community to our world-class VR experiences and give residents and visitors alike the opportunity to experience a whole new reality.”
Initially anticipated this summer, the 7,508-square-foot venue will feature four private rooms known as “holodecks” that can each accommodate up to six players at a time. Players get a headset, haptic vest, a backpack, and wrist and ankle sensors that enable them to interact with each other in a fully immersive virtual world.
Pre-opening booking is now available at a discount of $39 per guest through Dec. 21. Admission is typically $50 to $55 per player, according to Sandbox VR’s website.
Games available at the Tysons location will include “Deadwood Valley” (zombies), “Deadwood Mansion” (haunted house), “Curse of Davy Jones” (pirates), the fantasy world “Seekers of the Shard: Dragonfire,” a sci-fi adventure “Amber Sky 2088,” the gladitorial “Unbound Fighting League,” and ones based on “Star Trek: Discovery” and the dystopian Korean show “Squid Game.”
Sandbox VR will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends.
The virtual reality concept’s arrival continues a trend toward interactive entertainment in Tysons, as the area seeks to diversify its retail offerings to draw in visitors and support a growing residential population. Tysons Corner Center in particular has become a regular destination for pop-up “experiences,” such as the “Encanto”-themed show that opened today (Friday) and a Hot Wheels attraction coming next week.
The primary entertainment option at The Boro right now is the ShowPlace Icon movie theater.
“The Meridian Group is excited to officially welcome Sandbox VR to The Boro,” said Charlie Schwieger, vice president of asset management at TMG, the property owner and developer. “This tech-driven, immersive and social experience will be an entertainment destination for visitors of all ages. It’s the perfect addition to The Boro’s experiential retail lineup, restaurants and family-friendly entertainment options.”
Next year, The Boro will see the arrival of The Trillium Tysons, a senior living community currently under construction. The high-rise apartment building constitutes the first block of the neighborhood’s second phase, a 9.37-acre expansion that will include 40,000 square feet of retail space and more than 800 residential units.
Santa Claus has already taken up temporary residence at Tysons Corner Center, but that won’t stop him from dropping by a couple of other spots around Tysons this week.
Coming up first, a particularly debonair St. Nick will host an evening of cocktails, cinema and charity on Friday (Dec. 8) at CMX Cinebistro in Tysons Galleria (2001 International Drive).
The character of Fashion Santa was created in 2014 by runway model Paul Mason, whose career has included work with designers like Gianni Versace, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana and Armani — brands that can all be found at Tysons Galleria, either through their own stores or department stores like Neiman Marcus.
Mason says the character emerged during a somber period in his life when he stopped shaving out of grief over his mother’s death. Realizing that his beard made him resemble Santa, he decided to use the look for a good cause.
“The Fashion Santa character has had a really positive reception,” he told FFXnow by email. “It’s just a lighthearted new approach to jolly old Saint Nick. Fashion Santa brings awareness to different charitable initiatives and causes instead of making toys. It’s a new take on holiday giving.”
Fashion Santa previously visited the mall last year for a holiday reception that included a sneak peek of the restaurant Jiwa Singapura, which opened this past February. Attendees were encouraged to donate to the Capital Area Food Bank.
This year’s event will consist of a meet-and-greet at CMX Cinebistro’s bar from 7-9 p.m. and a “special” 7:45 p.m. screening of the Disney movie “Wish.”
Meet-and-greet attendees will get a complimentary photo with Fashion Santa and sip “festive” cocktails, according to the event page. Admission is free, but reservations are required, and the mall is encouraging $10 donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Mid-Atlantic chapter, the event’s charity partner.
Access to the “Wish” screening comes with a $25 donation, which also includes a Santa photo and a “goody bag.” Last month, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, a nonprofit that supports kids with critical illnesses, organized a preview of the animated film for local families at AMC Theatres in Tysons Corner Center.
Tysons Galleria Senior General Manager Rich Dinning says the mall is “always honored” to work with Fashion Santa “in support of important causes.”
“This year, Fashion Santa’s appearance at CMX CineBistro…promises to be a festive evening,” Dinning said in a statement. “Tysons Galleria has had an ongoing partnership with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and we are thrilled to close out the year with this fundraiser.”
Santa’s Workshop Holiday Extravaganza at The Boro
Santa is also scheduled to appear at The Boro (8350 Broad Street) this Saturday, Dec. 9 for photos, crafts, music and other free festivities.
“At Santa’s Workshop at The Boro, guests of all ages will be invited to enjoy a fun filled morning of holiday kids crafts, a DJ dance party, specialty hot chocolate bar with lots of fun fixings from Bluestone Lane, a holiday themed bounce house, and calligrapher on site to customize ornaments,” the event page says.
Santa will be available in his workshop at Boro Park from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The overall event will start at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.
If the event gets rained or snowed out, it will be rescheduled for Dec. 16.
“If there is no need for an alternative date, there will be a Santa Pop-Up on December 16 in Boro Park as another chance for guests to come see Santa,” The Boro said.
Santa is also continuing to take photos at Tysons Corner Center through Christmas Eve on Dec. 24.
Construction is humming along for The Trillium Tysons, a senior living community that will kick off the next phase of The Boro.
The 15-story, 181-unit apartment building geared toward older adults is expected to welcome its first residents in early summer 2024, according to owner and developer Silverstone Senior Living.
Silverstone says interest in the new community has been strong so far, with more than 100 people committing a $100 deposit to join a priority list. In addition to the chance to choose the location and size of their unit, benefits offered to priority list members include a discount on a one-time community fee charged to residents.
“We are thrilled by the attention we are getting from prospective independent living residents,” The Trillium’s sales director, Kell Flood, said in a press release. “The strong interest is an indication that there is demand for quality senior living that includes sophisticated amenities and programming for today’s active senior adult.”
Located at 8400 Westpark Drive, The Trillium will have one and two-bedroom independent living units that could range in size from 772 to 2,100 square feet. Assisted living and memory care support services will also be available.
Amenities will include six restaurants and lounges, a day spa and salon, a fitness center, rooftop gardens, art studio, a community theater and underground parking, according to Silverstone, which says it’s seeking “to break the mold of traditional senior living by providing a lifestyle beyond expectation.”
The building will be managed by Greystone Communities, whose clients include The Providence Fairfax at MetroWest near the Vienna Metro station and The Landing Alexandria in Potomac Yard.
Construction on The Trillium began in spring 2022 after the site’s previous occupant — the former National Automobile Dealers Association headquarters building — got demolished.
The senior living community constitutes one of five blocks planned for The Boro’s expansion, along with three residential buildings with ground-floor retail and a block that could become either a health club or townhouses.
Approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2021, the project will deliver 1.1 million square feet of development, about 1.5 acres of public park space and a portion of the Tysons Community Circuit, a recreational trail that will eventually loop through the urban center.
(Updated at 1:25 p.m. on 9/21/2023) Tysons residents looking to usher in fall by tossing back some cold brews will have a couple of options this month.
Oktoberfest at The Boro
Update — The Boro’s Oktoberfest was scheduled for this Saturday (Sept. 23), but with rain in the forecast, it has been postponed to the following Saturday, Sept. 30.
The Boro’s annual Oktoberfest celebration is set to return from 2-5 p.m. with a biergarten at The Sandlot (1680 Boro Place), food trucks, live polka music, a beer stein-holding competition and some more kid-friendly activities, such as crafts, face painting and glitter tattoos.
Beers on tap at the biergarten will include:
- Eggenberg Helle Weizen
- Eggenberg Hopfenkonig Pils
- Tucher Festbier
- Weihenstephaner Hefe-Weissbier
- Solace Gute Nacht Oktoberfest
- Zero Gravity Oktoberfest
- Aslin No Backsies Hefeweizen
The winner of the stein-holding contest will be rewarded with a gift certificate to one of The Boro’s retailers. Some branded beer mugs will also be up for grabs, going to the first 150 people to show up at Oktoberfest.
In recognition of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, The Boro is using the event “to raise funds and awareness” for a local chapter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, per a media alert. The Pennsylvania-based nonprofit supports cancer research and provides resources to families of children diagnosed with cancer.
The Boro’s Oktoberfest celebration is free to attend, but registration through Eventbrite is encouraged.
Oktoberfest Wine, Cider & Beer Festival
Shipgarten (7581 Colshire Drive) in the Scotts Run neighborhood will also celebrate Oktoberfest on Saturday (Sept. 23) with a Wine, Cider & Beer Festival.
Running from 1-6 p.m., the festival will feature dozens of international and Virginian wines, spiked and bourbon apple ciders, and beers from both local and out-of-state breweries. Samples of the venue’s regular draft beers from Tysons Biergarten and Waffles & Tacos will also be offered.
Event highlights outside of the booze include bratwursts and other food, outdoor games, live music from 12:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., a kids’ corner with a moon bounce, face painting and more, and a whole lineup of apple and pie games:
- 1:15 p.m. — Apple bobbing competition
- 2 p.m. — Apple grabbing race
- 3 p.m. — Apple toss
- 4 p.m. — Pie toss
- 5 p.m. — Pie-eating competition
Admission is free, but tickets can be reserved through Eventbrite. With no parking on site, Shipgarten provides complimentary shuttle service from 1700 Old Meadow Road as well as $20 valet service.
For Oktoberfest celebrations outside of Tysons, G34.3 Brewing Company (8532 Terminal Road, Suite L) in Lorton is throwing a party from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday with a beer release, German food and music. Tickets cost $29.99.
The Town of Vienna’s annual Oktoberfest is also returning on Oct. 7.
The sounds of Broadway are coming to Fairfax County in a truck this fall.
The Concert Truck will kick off the season with six stops across the county in three days, starting at the Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences in Rose Hill on Sept. 27 and concluding on Sept. 29 at the Providence Community Center in Oakton.
The mobile concert hall will also make stops at The Boro for its inaugural Tysons Fall Mixed Market, George Mason Regional Library in Annandale, the Mosaic District in Merrifield, and Capital One Center in Tysons.
At each stop, The Concert Truck co-founder and pianist Nick Luby will be joined by singer Jacob Lamb for an hour-long performance “featuring arrangements of Broadway classics,” according to a public relations representative for The Boro.
Luby started The Concert Truck with fellow pianist Susan Zhang in April 2016 as a way to expand the accessibility of live music, according to the pop-up’s website.
Equipped with lights, sound and instruments, the 16-foot box truck launched in Columbia, South Carolina, delivering eight performances in five days. It has since appeared across the country and partnered with local and national arts organizations, such as the Kennedy Center’s Washington National Opera and the Virginia Arts Festival.
The full schedule for the truck’s Fairfax County tour is below.
September 27, 2023 @ 11:00 a.m.
Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences
5815 S. Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VirginiaSeptember 27, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Boro Park
The Tysons Mixed Market
8350 Broad Street Tysons, VA 22102September 28, 2023 @ 11:30 a.m.
George Mason Regional Library
7001 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003September 28, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Mosaic
2905 District Avenue Fairfax, VA 22031September 29, 2023 11:00 a.m.
Capital One Center — The Sculpture Garden
1680 Capital One Tower Road Tysons, VA 22102September 29, 2023 @ 2:30 p.m.
The Providence Community Center
3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031
For anyone looking to get a more traditional Broadway experience, Capital One Hall is bringing back its “Broadway in Tysons” series for a third year. The season will open with “Jesus Christ Superstar” — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary — on Oct. 20-22, followed by “The Cher Show” on Feb. 16-18, “STOMP” on April 5-7 and “Little Women” on May 17-19.
Burger-flipping robots aren’t going to take over The Boro after all.
Caliburger is no longer planning to open a restaurant in the Tysons mixed-use development, a public relations representative for The Boro confirmed to FFXnow. The representative didn’t share what led to the change of plans, and Caliburger couldn’t be reached for comment.
The Seattle burger joint, which also operates a food truck in D.C.’s Wunder Garten, signed a lease for a 2,200-square-foot space at 8301 Greensboro Drive back in fall 2019, DC Eater reported at the time. The Tysons location would’ve featured the company’s first-ever full bar, new vegan products, and a burger-flipping robot called Flippy.
The restaurant was initially expected to open in spring 2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. A 2022 arrival was later floated, with Caliburger’s food truck even making appearances at The Boro.
When the restaurants Circa and Él Bebe opened at the development last December, property owner The Meridian Group said Caliburger was on track to follow late in the first quarter of 2023.
This is the second time that a tenant planned for the ground-floor suite under the ShowPlace Icon movie theater has fallen through. Adjacent to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the space was destined for a Taylor Gourmet until the regional hoagie chain shuttered in September 2018.
Negotiations are underway with other food service retailers that have expressed interest in the space.
While it won’t address the same need, The Boro confirmed that Sandbox VR’s virtual reality gaming venue is still on its way, though the projected opening has moved from this summer to early October.
The Boro has some company in Tysons when it comes to prospective restaurants stalling. Chef Pepe Moncayo confirmed earlier this month that his plans for a Spanish concept at Capital One Center have been put on hold for now.
The chef’s team told FFXnow that he still hopes to open the restaurant Santi in the future when the economic conditions are “more favorable.”
The Boro’s Whole Foods has a void where Purée Juice Bar once stood.
Purée officially closed its stall in the Tysons grocery store at 1635 Boro Place on March 31 after struggling to establish a consistent customer base with limited foot traffic, according to a Purée spokesperson.
“The Whole Foods location never really got any traction and never really bounced back after COVID,” the spokesperson told FFXnow. “With so many Amazon shoppers, the location was not sustainable. We were very sorry to make the hard decision to close 3/31 of this year.”
Purée moved into the grocery store on Dec. 18, 2020 as a partner in its Friends of Whole Foods program, which offers store space to independent businesses and retailers.
The company previously had a location at the Mosaic District in Merrifield but closed that shop in August 2021, citing a decline in foot traffic and a desire to focus on the Tysons location.
With its departure from The Boro, Purée no longer has a physical juice bar in Virginia, but it provides delivery service to Northern Virginia as far as Loudoun County.
“Guests can place an order on our website and we will make the juice to order and deliver early in the morning on the date they choose!” the spokesperson said by email.
The company’s flagship store in Bethesda, Maryland, remains open, along with locations at Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C. and Rockville.
Inside The Boro’s Whole Foods, customers can still find Allegro Coffee, Genji Izakaya, High Point Pub and PLNT Burger.
Hat tip to Adam Rubinstein. Photo via Google Maps
The dog days are coming early to Tysons this year.
Canines will first be unleashed on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center this Saturday (June 3) for the mall’s second annual Paws on the Plaza, a free event with pet-centric vendors, a dog park and a beer garden.
“Pups are invited to roam the dog park with obstacles and splash pads, while adults are invited to enjoy the Beer Garden, visit local vendors…or take part in other activations, like a pet friendly photobooth and free caricatures of your pet,” Tysons Corner Center said in a press release.
Paws on the Plaza will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Vendors will include two sponsors of the event: Becky’s Pet Care, which has locations in Springfield and Herndon, and PetMedic Urgent Care, a clinic slated to open in Tysons West this summer. The vacuum company Dyson is also a sponsor.
Participating vendors range from shelters like Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and Homeward Trails to retailers like Doodlebug Quilts and services, such as Woofies of McLean. There are also several businesses that make food for pets, including Barbie’s Doggie Bakery and the food truck Woofbowl.
A full list of vendors can be found on the event page.
The puppy love will continue the following Saturday (June 10) at The Boro, which will host Bark in Boro Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
While the scheduled training sessions have already filled up, the event will also offer a craft and “activation area” for kids, and a treat bar from Bluestone Lane with free food and drinks for both dogs and humans.
Wolf Trap Animal Rescue will also be on site with puppies to provide information about pet rescues and adoptions.
The first 100 visitors can get a live tag engraving for their pet, according to The Boro.
Bark in Boro Park was scheduled to coincide with LGBTQ Pride Month. Unlike last year’s “Yappy Hour,” where a portion of drink proceeds went to the Alexandria-based nonprofit Safe Space NOVA, there’s no similar nonprofit partner since admission and all of the Puppy Treat Bar items will be free.
“This year’s event is free for all to attend in the spirit of welcoming more of our neighbors to The Boro,” a public relations representative for The Boro said.
