George Mason University officials opened community engagement efforts on Wednesday (Dec. 11) to determine a development plan for the 190-acre western portion of the school’s main campus in Fairfax.
The forum at the Fairfax City Hall attracted about 100 participants and was designed to “usher in a process that gets the community engaged,” Andrew Lieber, the university’s senior associate athletic director for capital planning, said.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group will shake up its presence at the Mosaic District in Merrifield in 2025.
Retail butcher Red Apron closed its doors permanently earlier this month after 11 years in operation, but the storefront located at 8298 Glass Alley will remain in the family.
By the Fairfax County government’s math, local residents are being shortchanged nearly $570 million annually in education funding by the state government.
Facing a $292.7 million gap between expected revenues and expenses projected for the coming fiscal year, county leaders would like their state lawmakers to leave from Richmond next year with some of that funding in hand.
1st Stage Theatre is set to dazzle audiences this winter with its latest production, Laughs in Spanish by acclaimed playwright Alexis Scheer.
Opening this weekend, the play promises a lively and heartwarming exploration of culture, family, and the comedic chaos of life.
Laughs in Spanish takes audiences on a journey to sunny Miami, where the bustling art scene becomes the backdrop for a riotous tale of love, mischief, and identity. With its richly drawn characters and Scheer’s signature wit, the play is both a love letter to Latino culture and a celebration of the universal joys and challenges of human connection.
“We’re thrilled to bring this vibrant story to Tysons,” said Alex Levy, Artistic Director at 1st Stage. “Alexis Scheer’s work is brimming with humor, heart, and cultural authenticity. It’s a perfect way to warm up the winter season and bring our community together for a shared laugh.”
From the vivacious energy of Miami’s art galleries to the heartfelt family dynamics, the show offers an unforgettable experience for audiences of all backgrounds.
In keeping with its mission to foster local arts and engagement, 1st Stage will host post-show community conversations with the cast and creative team following select performances. These conversations provide audiences a deeper dive into the themes of the play and the artistic process behind it.
Whether you’re looking for a night of laughter, a poignant exploration of culture, or simply a great night out, Laughs in Spanish is a must-see. The show runs through December 29, with performances at 1st Stage’s intimate and welcoming theater in Tysons.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.1stStage.org. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening of laughter, connection, and artistic brilliance right here in your community.
For more information, visit 1stStage.org or follow 1st Stage on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Fairfax County officials are moving forward with plans to overhaul how trash and recycling are handled, aiming to have a centralized collection system by 2030.
The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) has proposed a “Unified Sanitation District” model to replace the current system, where most residents hire private haulers. Instead, the county would grant exclusive contracts to private companies to manage waste collection in specific geographic areas.
Virginia leaders plan to keep prodding their Maryland counterparts in the direction of revitalizing the American Legion Bridge to both ease existing congestion and provide additional transit options.
At a Dec. 5 forum sponsored by the Dulles Area Transit Association (DATA), Northern Virginia leaders acknowledged being irked by Maryland’s more cautious approach to addressing the transportation bottleneck.
By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A CIA analyst charged with leaking top secret details ahead of a planned Israeli attack on Iran earlier this year will remain jailed pending trial, a judge ordered Wednesday.
How N. Va. Has Changed Over Six Decades — “Any time a group of Northern Virginians get together, there’s a good chance the conversation will turn to how much the area has changed since they’ve been living here … A look back at the last 60-plus years shows the remarkable speed of the region’s transformation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Falls Church Senior Living Complex Begins Construction — “A forthcoming senior living development with 215 apartments has broken ground in Falls Church. The Reserve — part of the expansive West Falls development project — will offer both independent living and assisted living, as well as memory care, through operator Experience Senior Living.” [ARLnow]
Metro to Reintroduce Automated Trains — “For the first time in 15 years, a computer instead of a human will be the primary controller of riders’ Metro trains. The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) — which oversees and enforces safety practices on the D.C. area’s Metrorail system — gave Metro the final approval to switch to an automatic train operation (ATO) system at a meeting Tuesday.” [NBC4]
Hot Chicken Restaurant Nears Grand Opening — The Red Bird will celebrate the grand opening of its Bailey’s Crossroads location this Saturday (Dec 14) from noon to 4 p.m. “We will have the music bumping with a Live DJ and food flowing! Get your free sandwich or bowl ticket by following this post and tagging one friend and then check your DM! Free hats, shirts and merch until out!” [The Red Bird/Instagram]
Wiehle Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Celebrated — Officials and community members gathered yesterday (Wednesday) for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail pedestrian bridge over Wiehle Avenue in Reston. Remaining construction on Wiehle is expected to wrap up next spring. [FCDOT]
Fairfax City Awards Grants to Nonprofits — “The City of Fairfax has awarded grants totaling $217,827 to eight nonprofit human services organizations through the city’s new nonprofit grant program.” The city allocated $300,000 in its budget to create the program, which offered mini-grants of up to $10,000 and standard grants of up to $50,000. [City of Fairfax]
D.C. Region’s Most Expensive Zip Codes Ranked — The ZIP code 21056 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is the most expensive in the D.C. region with a median home selling price near $3.4 million, according to an annual list from RealtyHop. Coming in second and third are 22066 (Great Falls) with a median sales price of $2.4 million and 22101 (McLean) with a median price of $2.2 million. [WTOP]
Artists Invited to Display Work in Annandale Businesses — “Local artists are invited to participate in the second round of Art in Daily Spaces, a project that transforms Annandale businesses into temporary art galleries. Art in Daily Spaces is organized by Community Art For Everyone (CAFE) with support from ArtsFairfax. Fifteen artists will be selected to display their works.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 41 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind blowing at 10-14 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 26 degrees. The northwest wind at 6 mph will become calm during the evening. [NWS]
Players from the Concorde District and region champion Madison Warhawks were among those chosen to the all-6D North Region football team
Madison had three first-team selections on offense with one on second team, and six first-teamers on defense.
Decision day is drawing closer, but Fairfax County leaders aren’t yet committing one way or another on whether to implement a meals tax as part of their upcoming budget deliberations.
Even if one is imposed, it won’t be the cure-all to the county government’s funding challenges, with a $292.7 million gap between anticipated revenues and expenses that must be filled in the coming year, one top official says.
