This summer, Great Falls diners will be able to escape the D.C. region’s heat at a new restaurant designed to mentally transport patrons to a rustic mountain lodge.
Great Falls Lodge Bar & Grill is on track for a soft launch at 9835 Georgetown Pike in Great Falls Center in the first week of July, with a potential opening as soon as Monday, June 29, according to owner and chef Neel Kamal.
Fairfax Rescue Team Responds to Earthquakes — “A search-and-rescue team from Fairfax County, Virginia, is being deployed to Venezuela to assist with recovery efforts following a pair of powerful earthquakes that have left at least 164 people dead … The Virginia Task Force One (VA-TF1) said an 80-person, six-dog heavy urban search and rescue team was deployed.” [WJLA]
New Law Will Allow Stop Sign Cameras — “You’ve seen speed cameras, and red light cameras, but soon you could be seeing AI stop sign cameras in Virginia. Starting July 1, a new law allows Virginia communities to use cameras at stop signs and crosswalks in school zones, work zones, and high-crash corridors. The cameras can supplement the work being done now by crossing guards or law enforcement.” [WUSA9]
Gun Background Checks Can Resume — “A Lynchburg judge cleared the way for the reinstatement of background checks for the private sale of firearms on Wednesday after a legal back and forth that had halted the checks off and on since October. Background checks for the private sale of firearms will resume on July 1.” [Cardinal News]
Student Journalists Advocate for Protections — “Student journalists across Virginia are forming a new coalition to create protections for free speech in the classroom. It’s happened in Albemarle County and in Loudoun County, in Fairfax and in Alexandria — school administrators threatening to pull the plug on student journalism.” [WVTF]
Fairfax Firefighter Exits Hospital — “#FCFRD members, family, and friends gathered today to support Firefighter Thomas ‘Pup Jr.’ Williams as he was discharged from the hospital. On Sunday, Firefighter Williams suffered a life-threatening medical emergency while at work. His crew sprang into action performing life-saving emergency medical care before transporting him to the hospital” [FCFRD/Facebook]
Vienna Hosts Naturalization Ceremony — As part of its Liberty Amendments Month celebrations, Vienna will host a naturalization ceremony at the Vienna Community Center tomorrow (Saturday). The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. with live music and entertainment before fifteen people take the Oath of Allegiance and be officially welcomed as new U.S. citizens at 5 p.m. [Town of Vienna]
Area Restaurants Recognized for Wine Offerings — “Wine Spectator has released its 2026 Restaurant Awards, and several spots across Northern Virginia have earned honors,” including Barcelona Wine Bar in Reston, the Capital Grill, Seasons 52 and more. “The annual program celebrates top destinations for wine and hospitality.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Metro Selling 50th Anniversary Merch — Metro opened a 50 Years of Metro Pop-Up Shop at 300 7th Street SW in D.C. yesterday (Thursday) that will stick around through July 10. “It’s stocked with everything you need to celebrate five decades of America’s Metro System, including exclusive 50th anniversary styles, rare finds, authentic bus stop signs, and a little DMV pride to honor the region’s most iconic ride.” [WMATA]
Local Graduate Builds Junk Removal Business — “What started as a college job for some extra coin in the pocket and beer money has now turned into a thriving business in Northern Virginia. [Andreas] Karagounis started Gen Z Junk Removal last March and now demos hot tubs and sheds and hauls them off for customers.” [WTOP]
It’s Friday — There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5 p.m., with partly sunny skies and a high of 92°F. At night, there is a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., with patchy fog possible after 3 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low of around 70°F and variable winds. [NWS]
Address: 1114 Ware Street SW
Neighborhood: Vienna Woods
Type: 7 BR, 5 (+1 half) BA single-family detached – 4844 sq. ft.
Open House: Saturday, June 27th, 12-2 pm
Listed: $1,999,999
Noteworthy: Resort-Inspired Custom Home Minutes from Downtown Vienna
Exceptional luxury custom home in the highly sought-after Vienna Woods community. Built in 2023, this stunning Craftsman-style residence sits on a quiet 0.29-acre lot and offers 4,844 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space with 7 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms.
The elegant interior features soaring ceilings, hardwood flooring, designer lighting, and an open-concept layout ideal for modern living and entertaining. A spacious dining room flows seamlessly into the family room, while the gourmet chef’s kitchen impresses with premium cabinetry, high-end appliances, a large center island, double sinks, and a bright breakfast area with direct backyard access. A main-level bedroom with an en-suite bath provides flexibility for guests or multi-generational living.
Upstairs, the luxurious owner’s suite offers dual walk-in closets and a spa-inspired bath with double vanities, a soaking tub, and a custom-tiled walk-in shower. Three additional bedrooms and two full baths, including a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, complete the upper level. The fully finished lower level adds exceptional versatility with a spacious recreation room, gym/bedroom, bonus room, and an additional bedroom with an en-suite bath. Outdoor living is equally impressive. The private backyard retreat features a swimming pool with a modern retractable cover for year-round enjoyment, a pool house with a recreation area, kitchenette, and full bath, plus a spacious patio and fenced yard. Ideally located near Southside Park, Yeonas Park, downtown Vienna, the W&OD Trail, Tysons Corner, Metro access, and within the highly rated Madison High School pyramid.
Listed by:
Morgan Samson – The Casey Samson Team
morgansamson.cst@gmail.com
(703) 609-1745
A Fairfax County high school student is one of just five to reach the finals of a national cooking contest held in Arlington this summer.
Safaa Haizoun, a 10th grade student at the Virginia Virtual Academy, an online program offered by multiple public school districts statewide, earned a spot in the K-12 National Cook-Off in early June by designing an original recipe for creamy masala chicken.
Fairfax County leaders say a recent proliferation of electrically assisted bicycles (e-bikes) among young people provides benefits but also brings dangers.
“It’s only a matter of time before we see serious injuries and worse,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said at the Board’s June 23 meeting.
With the short-lived mochi donut wars in the rearview mirror, a new contest between more traditional, Southern-style donut chains has officially begun in Vienna.
The Texas-based franchise Shipley Donuts is now selling its signature hexagon-shaped pastries at 256 Maple Avenue East, filling a long-vacant storefront previously occupied by T-Mobile.
Fairfax County leaders are asking Gov. Abigail Spanberger to take into account the local area’s unique circumstances if a drought emergency needs to be declared in Virginia.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (June 23) authorized Chairman Jeff McKay to send a letter to Spanberger, laying out concerns of local leaders and Fairfax Water officials.
Fairfax County officials are warning residents in the Great Falls area to watch out for a potentially rabid coyote.
The coyote reportedly attacked multiple pet dogs and at least one person in and around neighborhoods along Utterback Store Road and Streamview Court during the day last Thursday, June 18, the Fairfax County Health Department said in an advisory issued Tuesday (June 23).
Heat Wave Possible Next Week — “At the moment, the National Weather Service has the DC area within a large area of extreme heat risk for Thursday July 2 through Saturday July 4. The region of potential extreme heat coincides with a strong, sprawling area of high pressure known as a heat dome.” [Capital Weather]
Burke Residents Survey Storm Damage — “Families in a Burke neighborhood are beginning the long recovery process after powerful storms swept through the area Monday night … Several homes on Winford Court sustained significant damage, forcing some residents to leave their homes as cleanup efforts continue.” [WUSA9]
Council Convened to Address Prison Conditions — “The Governor’s Community Partnership Council On Corrections, which Spanberger announced Tuesday, will bring together representatives from advocacy groups, faith-based organizations, healthcare and public safety groups and former prisoners to share their experiences and work towards solutions.” [Virginia Mercury]
Judge Seeks Answers on Kennedy Center Tarp — “On Wednesday, US District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to explain to the court why the building’s facade is currently obscured by a tarp … The tarp went up in the early hours of June 13, as workers were preparing to remove the ‘Donald J. Trump’ lettering from the front portico of the Kennedy Center.” [Washingtonian]
Tysons Contractor Makes Acquisition — “McLean-based Fortune 500 government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton plans to acquire Austin, Texas-based defense technology company Ultra I&C Mission Solutions for $720 million, a move designed to expand its offerings in mission-critical software, encryption and edge-computing products.” [Virginia Business]
FCPS Awards Outstanding Staff — “Tricia Wayland, the assistant principal at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, was named 2026 Outstanding School-Based Leader at Fairfax County Public Schools’ Honors ceremony earlier this month.” Other winners included Mosaic Elementary School’s Amanda Blevins (elementary teacher), Langley High’s Scott McCormick (secondary teacher) and Bucknell Elementary’s Rashida Green (principal). [Annandale Today]
Carnival Underway in Tysons — For the past week, Lerner Town Square near Tysons Galleria has been hosting carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel, a tilt-a-whirl, a carousel and more. Set to remain in town through Sunday (June 28), the Tysons Carnival is offering a buy-one, get-one ride credit promotion today only. [Powers & Thomas Midway Entertainment]
Musical Cast Visits Workhouse Arts Center — Gwynne Wood, who plays Lucy Burns in the musical “Suffs” at National Theatre, “and understudy Gretchen Shope answered questions from several hundred ‘Suffs’ fans under a tent right next to the Lorton Prison Museum. The museum tells the story of the suffragists who were imprisoned there in 1917 for picketing the White House for women’s rights to vote.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — The weather will be mostly sunny with a high of about 87°F, accompanied by a light south wind picking up to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. By night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 69°F and a south wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]
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Capital One Center’s inaugural Culinary Week was evidently a success, because the Tysons development will offer a second serving of the foodie celebration this summer.
Set for July 27-31, the second annual Culinary Week will feature cooking classes, contests and other events hosted by the restaurants on Capital One’s headquarters campus — including the forthcoming La Omri, a Mediterranean concept expected to open later this year.
