Matchbox is no longer just about pizza, especially in McLean.
In late February, the regional chain rolled out an expanded “Matchbox Prime” dinner menu with steak and seafood options exclusively at its McLean location, which opened at 1340 Chain Bridge Road next to Lidl in April 2023.
A one-time Virginia Senate candidate will have to spend time in jail and pay restitution to her victims after fraudulently posing as an immigration lawyer.
Jasmine Moawad, a 49-year-old woman originally from Bolivia, was sentenced to five years in jail for fraud on Friday, March 7, with all but six months suspended, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced.
Two gowns worn by Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi [Blackfeet]/Nimiipuu [Nez Perce]) are on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
The special installation, “Making a Statement,” will be on view through March 2026.
Both gowns were a custom collaboration, designed by Gucci and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) of Ironhorse Quillwork. The gowns were worn by Gladstone the evening of March 10, 2024, to the 96th Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Gladstone was the first Native American nominated for best actress for her work in the film Killers of the Flower Moon.
Join us for these weekend programs:
Public Programs
Free | National Museum of the American Indian
Friday, March 14, 7 p.m.
After Hours: Celebrating Indigenous Fashion
The museum hosts a special after-hours event in celebration of “Making a Statement.” Visitors can see the special installation, appreciate contemporary Indigenous fashion with a unique showcase, participate in hands-on activities by visiting teaching carts, and enjoy music by DJ Jon Ray all evening. Light food and beverages (including beer and wine) available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Celebrating Indigenous Fashion
Celebrate the power and beauty of Indigenous fashion and design. Hear from Indigenous designers who create looks at the intersection of Indigenous tradition and contemporary fashion and support their work.
Visitors can get a close look at a first-of-its-kind collaboration between quillwork artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) and haute couture brand Gucci, and appreciate contemporary Indigenous fashion with a unique showcase.
Visit AmericanIndian.si.edu for event updates.
Fairfax County high school students may soon have to keep their phones off and out of sight for the entire school day, not just during class.
This week, school staff recommended the School Board adopt a stricter “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, replacing the current policy of allowing phone use during passing periods and lunch.
State health officials have been alerted to a confirmed case of measles in a recent traveler at Dulles International Airport.
A Maryland resident returning to the D.C. area earlier this month may have exposed other travelers to the highly contagious, airborne illness, local health departments said over the weekend.
State Department Worker Charged in Espionage Case — “A U.S. Department of State employee from Alexandria is facing federal charges for allegedly participating in a criminal conspiracy to gather, transmit, or lose national defense information.” The 42-year-old man is accused of sharing classified information with people he met online “in exchange for payments.” [ALXnow]
Metro Axes Diversity and Sustainability Offices — “Metro is eliminating its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as the transit system looks to secure federal funding from the Trump administration … Metro’s Office of Sustainability will also be eliminated. Department head Rachel Healy will assume a new role as the director of Energy and Environment.” [WTOP]
GW Parkway Ramp to Close for Tree Clearing — “On Tuesday, March 11, the ramp from George Washington Memorial Parkway to northbound I-495 will be closed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The ramp closure will allow crews to conduct tree clearing as part of the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project.” [VDOT]
GMU Women’s Basketball Team Makes NCAA Tournament — “The George Mason women’s basketball team is going to the NCAA tournament for the first time in the school’s history after beating St. Joseph’s 73-58 Sunday to claim the Atlantic-10 Conference tournament title. The Patriots’ program has existed for 51 years and this is the team’s first-ever appearance in the upcoming NCAA tournament.” [WTOP]
Man Sentenced to Jail for Grocery Store Thefts — “A 33-year-old D.C. man was sentenced last month to eight months in prison for committing a string of petit larcenies at grocery stores in Alexandria and Fairfax County.The man was arrested on January 28 for four outstanding warrants in Alexandria [and] nine outstanding warrants in Fairfax County.” [ALXnow]
Park Authority Launches Needs Study — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is launching the Parks Count! 2026 Parks Needs Assessment to evaluate park and recreation needs across the county. We want to hear from you! Your feedback will help guide improvements to amenities, facilities and programs for the next five years.” [FCPA]
Centreville Restaurant Still a Draw After a Decade — “At a restaurant that’s already successful, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. But introducing a cheese wheel, well, that couldn’t hurt. That’s what Antonino Di Nicola, executive chef and partner at Ciao Osteria, was thinking at the start of 2020 when he began serving fettuccine with lobster out of a wheel of Parmesan.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Photo Show Coming to Vienna — “Amateur photographers from across the region are invited to put their talent and photography skills on full display in the 2025 Vienna Photo Show. The show and contest are set to take place Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., SE, Vienna, Virginia.” [Town of Vienna]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with a high temperature around 65 accompanied by a light southwest breeze. As the night progresses, it will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 40, along with mild and fluctuating winds. [NWS]
More than 100 performers will take the stage when the Aurora Dance Fest returns to Capital One Hall in Tysons this Sunday (March 9).
Organized by the Reston-based Gin Dance Company, the one-night-only festival will showcase work by 10 different dance companies, 16 choreographers and 105 dancers from around the D.C. area.
Metro leaders are taking steps that could permit the transit agency to ban people from its property if they commit crimes or otherwise demonstrate what is deemed improper behavior.
The measure was first discussed publicly at a Jan. 30 meeting of the Metro Board of Directors’ safety and operations committee. An agency spokesman told FFXnow on Monday (March 3) that the discussion “remains ongoing.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed on Tuesday (March 4) to expedite the planning and zoning process for construction of a new Fire Station #29 at 8300 Jones Branch Drive in Tysons.
Acting unanimously, supervisors directed county staff to concurrently process a site plan and building plans for the facility while a proffer condition amendment is also being processed.
Seventeen government buildings around Fairfax County, including the U.S. Geological Survey headquarters, could be going up for sale amid federal spending cuts.
Buildings in Reston, and Springfield were among 443 federal properties listed by the General Services Administration (GSA) as “not core to government operations” on Tuesday (March 4) before that list was taken down just one day later.
