The final weekend of 2023 is near, which means it’s time for FFXnow to wrap up our first full year of operations since launching in February 2022.
The past 12 months brought plenty of change to Fairfax County, from a pivotal election cycle that reshaped the local school board and General Assembly delegation to Lego Discovery Center’s anticipated arrival at Springfield Town Center. The future became a little clearer for areas like Reston, Annandale and the West Falls Church Transit Station Area, as plans for development solidified.
But in many ways, 2023 was also a year of returning stability following the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic’s “emergency” status. Fairfax City successfully revived its Chocolate Lovers Festival, and Fairfax County Public Schools fully restored snow days, though it remains to be seen if any will be needed.
Whether you followed for crime news or to keep up with local government happenings and new restaurant openings, we’re grateful to everyone who read FFXnow this year. As a reminder, tips, photos and feedback are always welcome at news@ffxnow.com or through our anonymous tip form.
Without further ado, these were the top 10 most-read stories of 2023, in ascending order:
10. Dulles Airport could break ground on new concourse soon, MWAA chief says (Oct. 20 | 21,117 views)
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter stated that a new concourse for United Airlines, the largest carrier at Dulles International Airport, could start construction as soon as November. While it’s unclear if that goal was met, the $580 million project is just the start of plans to improve the airport’s capacity and “customer experience.”
9. Trader Joe’s confirms plan to relocate down the road in Springfield (July 17 | 21,262 views)
Springfield’s grocers are swapping places: Trader Joe’s Springfield Plaza store will move down the street to Old Keene Mill Shopping Center, where it’ll take the place of a Whole Foods Market that opened in a bigger space at Springfield Plaza on. Oct. 4. A Trader Joe’s employee said the relocation isn’t expected for another “year or so,” so FFXnow will keep an eye on that in 2024.
8. Fairfax City’s first-ever for-sale affordable housing units open to residents (Aug. 29 | 22,941 views)
Residents began moving into the Sutton Heights townhouses at 3500 Pickett Road this summer. Featuring five for-sale affordable dwelling units (ADUs), the 50-unit project from developer EYA was the first one approved under the ADU program that the city established in 2020.
7. Reston pub voted as D.C. area’s best place to drink in WTOP poll (Aug. 24 | 23,718 views)
Stories about polls and rankings that highlighted local establishments were consistently well-read this year, especially if they involved food. In this case, a reader poll conducted by the radio station WTOP singled out Makers Union at Reston Town Center as the D.C. area’s best restaurant to get a drink and the second-best brunch spot.
6. Pizza restaurant Mellow Mushroom withers away in Herndon (May 3 | 29,573 views)
Among the departures from the culinary scene this year was Herndon’s Mellow Mushroom, which served handcrafted pizzas and wings at 1030 Elden Street for nearly a decade. The chain didn’t comment on the closure except to encourage customers to “keep on shroomin'” at other locations, such as one in Chantilly. Read More
New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, closing out an exciting first year for FFXnow.
Since officially launching on Feb. 22, the new home of Tysons Reporter and Reston Now has pushed to bring the local news reporting from those sites to other corners of Fairfax County, from Chantilly to Huntington, while maintaining their focus on the Tysons and Reston areas.
2022 had more than its fair share of challenges. Pedestrian fatalities reached heights not seen in at least a decade, and gun violence by both community members and police was a recurring concern. Meanwhile, Covid continued to ebb and surge, as remaining pandemic health measures like mask requirements and mass vaccine clinics disappeared.
However, this year also brought some key milestones, from the long-awaited opening of Metro’s Silver Line extension into Herndon and beyond to the relegation of Lee District and the names of two highways to history.
In quirkier news, the county welcomed its first medical cannabis dispensary and a pack of rescued beagles. Colby the llama got lost and found, and remember those tornadoes that touched down in Tysons and Centreville?
Before you start writing up new year’s resolutions or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s close out 2022 by revisiting FFXnow’s 10 most-read stories of the year:
- Three people injured while evacuating Tysons Corner Center, now closed after gunfire
- McLean ride-share startup seeks to challenge Uber and Lyft by putting drivers in control
- Fairfax County approves fines for running bamboo, starting next year
- Black bear filmed strolling by Adaire Apartments in Tysons
- Silver Line extension opening date pushed once again to summer 2022
- JUST IN: Wegmans announces opening date for Reston location
- Here’s a ‘LOOK’ at what’s replacing Bow Tie Cinemas in Reston
- Here’s what will replace Clyde’s in Reston Town Center
- BREAKING: Bow Tie Cinemas to leave Reston Town Center
- Trash troubles persist in Fairfax County, with residents reporting missed pick-ups
We hope you enjoyed reading FFXnow this past year and hope to bring even more timely, comprehensive coverage of everything Fairfax County in 2023. As always, you can share tips, photos and general feedback at news@ffxnow.com or our anonymous tip form.
The weekend is almost here. Before you hop on (or lament) the latest addition to the I-66 toll lanes or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- BREAKING: Teen pedestrian killed in crash on Columbia Pike
- With opening day tomorrow, here’s what you need to know about Silver Line Phase II
- Fast-food chain Roy Rogers, named after Hollywood’s cowboy king, was born in Fairfax County
- Herndon house fire displaces eight people, cat rescued
- Redevelopment of former Sheraton Tysons Hotel could bring new public gathering spaces
- After decades of planning, Silver Line Phase II officially opens
- Two killed in separate vehicle crashes in Great Falls and West Springfield
- Fairfax County extends farmers market season into December for three sites
- Nintendo gaming pop-up coming to Tysons Corner Center
- Covid cases stay down, but other respiratory illnesses are surging, N. Va. health leaders say
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
The weekend is almost here. Before you prepare to turn back the clock on Sunday (Nov. 6) or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Black bear filmed strolling by Adaire Apartments in Tysons
- Tysons black bear has also been seen in Vienna, Reston, police confirm
- JUST IN: Wegmans announces opening date for Reston location
- BREAKING: Silver Line Phase II to open in mid-November
- Developer seeks to build affordable apartments near Innovation Center Metro station
- Halloween creeps up on Tysons early with mall trick-or-treating
- Police identify suspected shooter in Skyline Towers shooting
- Business dedicated to stretching opens in North Point Village Center
- County hit with deluge of new voter registrations a week before election
- Police seek persons of interest after man fatally shot at Skyline Towers
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
The weekend is almost here. Let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the five most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Police: Man assaulted by group outside Centreville bar and pool hall
- UPDATED: Woman dies after crash on Lorton Station Blvd
- The Boro developer buys JCPenney stores in Fair Oaks, Springfield
- Undeveloped site on Route 50 could become a data center or warehouse
- County board again rejects proposed ban on giving money to people on street medians
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
The weekend is almost here. Before you check out the Richmond Highway corridor’s first parklet or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Undeveloped site on Route 50 could become data center or warehouse
- Woman killed in crash near Fairfax Towne Center, capping deadly week for local pedestrians
- Teen in hospital with serious injuries from accidental BB gun shooting in McLean
- NEW: Two killed in moped crash on Dulles Toll Road in Wolf Trap
- New Lorton Community Center is now open, joining renovated library and park
- Police: Man shot at officers and led chase from Arlington to West Falls Church
- Fairfax County School Board commits to supporting transgender students, as community speaks out
- Fairfax County could introduce speed enforcement cameras with pilot next year
- Police search underway for missing woman, last seen in Reston
- Man killed on I-95 in Springfield by driver who tried to flee, police say
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
The weekend is almost here. Before you consider whether your neighborhood school should have a speed camera or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Three dead after vehicle crashes in Tysons and Fort Belvoir, FCPD says
- FCPD to review viral traffic stop of mother on Richmond Highway
- Fairfax County proposes compelling developers to replace lost affordable housing
- Virginia’s limits on local authority are becoming “more intrusive” for Fairfax County, board chair says
- Fairfax County must pay MWAA another $40M for Silver Line Phase II
- New Route 7 travel lane opens earlier than expected in Reston
- County plans to get more HOAs on board with electric vehicle chargers, starting in Reston
- I-495 widening will require removal of cell tower in McLean, potentially affecting service
- Police: Vienna resident assaulted after confronting men leaving his apartment
- Shooter fires gun into car in Mount Vernon, killing man, police say
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
The weekend is almost here. Before the remnants of Hurricane Ian arrive or you head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Metro unveils new map with addition of Silver Line extension
- Alcorn shuts door on possibility of redeveloping Reston National Golf Course
- Uniqlo opens Fair Lakes store, its first in an open-air shopping center
- Students across Fairfax County protest proposed policies limiting transgender student rights
- Convenience store approved for longtime family-owned gas station in Springfield
- Police: Motorcyclist died after crash on I-495 near Inova Fairfax
- Remains found in Tysons identified as teen who disappeared 47 years ago
- Reston’s Halley Rise development to feature new urban farm, fall festival
- NEW: McKay believes ‘safe legal ground’ if FCPS defies state’s draft policies on transgender students
- For owner Amir Mostafavi, South Block coming to McLean brings life ‘full circle’
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
The weekend is almost here. Before you double check your Congressional district or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Upcoming gastropub restaurant in Reston reignites family legacy, pays ode to Lake Anne
- Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery arrives in Herndon, will offer free ‘bundtlets’ at grand opening
- JUST IN: Truck hits McLean power line, killing man and prompting outage
- BREAKING: Assistant arrested for allegedly assaulting special needs student at Dogwood ES
- Developer seeks to convert Tysons office building into ‘live/work’ units
- DEVELOPING: Pedestrian in hospital after crash in Pike 7 Plaza parking lot
- FCPS ‘reviewing’ Virginia’s proposed policies on treatment of transgender students
- Metro board takes key step to setting opening date of Silver Line Phase II
- Proposed ‘home share’ program could help house older county residents
- Reston planning committee approves Vantage Hill redevelopment
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
Before you soak in the last summer rays before leaf-gathering season arrives or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the five most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- North Carolina truck driver killed in I-495 crash
- Hiring underway ahead of Wegman’s 2023 opening in Reston
- County board approves preferred path for Soapstone Connector in Reston
- Inova gets green light for new Springfield hospital from Fairfax County
- Fast-casual Indian restaurant to open in the Town of Herndon
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to news@ffxnow.com or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!