Can convenience, comfort, and culture all exist at the same address?

We believe so… and now it’s ready just for you.

Ravel and Royale is a duo of naturally inspired apartment communities, where a truly balanced lifestyle takes form. Grab a carefree lease on life and live nestled among lush landscaping with an incomparable front yard — Strathmore Square.

Explore our greenery, paths, and trails with proximity to Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park and the Strathmore lawns. Relax in a brand-new sophisticated residence with European finishes, generously landscaped terraces, entertainment-focused living spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows for light-filled rooms overlooking the park. Let our incredible management team take care of the details so you can enjoy your new home stress-free.

Whether you’re absorbed in a new book, enjoying a refreshing swim, or lounging in the sun under the cool shade of the umbrellas, find serenity and relaxation at your on-site pool. Nourish your mind, body, and spirit in your dry sauna, wellness rooms, two-story fitness center with separate yoga space, and our uniquely landscaped courtyards. Form deeper connections with loved ones as you host memorable dinner parties on your spacious private terrace or within our shared luxury dining spaces, presentation kitchens, and lavish lounges.

The green stop on the redline at the Grosvenor Strathmore Metro Station presents an opportunity for stress-free luxury living inspired by nature in an art-inspired community. Enjoy access to more, including the nightlife and shopping destinations at Pike and Rose and Downtown Bethesda, plus all the benefits of membership at Strathmore, the amazing shows at The Music Center, exhibits at The Mansion, summer concerts and outdoor art on the Strathmore Lawn and Sculpture Garden, and our own Strathmore Square music and community events.

Through a one-of-a-kind partnership with Strathmore, residents receive exclusive and diverse Strathmore programming. Enjoy bi-annual sessions with a Curator Concierge, culturally rich performances, and early offerings for premier seats.

Close to Rockville Pike and I-495/I-270, yet tucked away in a neighborhood to call your own home to world-class arts and culture — this is Ravel and Royale, where style, connectivity, and serenity meet.

RAVEL — Spacious, quiet, and thoughtfully composed

These curated residences offer a private oasis of sophisticated design details, seamlessly woven into a lively arts-inspired community.

ROYALE — Social, lively, and better together

With more to see and more to do, these artful residences are accompanied by extensive amenity spaces, opening the door to exploration and neighborly connection.

Two beautiful variations. One Incredible location. Leasing Now!


News

Fairfax Water’s plan to update and expand the water tank that serves much of Idylwood and Pimmit Hills has run into strong opposition from many residents of the single-family neighborhood that surrounds the site.

Resident after resident testified at a Fairfax County Planning Commission public hearing last Wednesday (July 24) that replacing the existing 700,000-gallon Poplar Heights tank with the 1.25-million-gallon tank proposed by the water authority will irrevocably damage their community and quality of life.


City of Fairfax Regional Library’s entrance dome (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Woman Killed in Fair Lakes Stabbing — A man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a woman at their home in the 3900 block of Highland Oaks Drive yesterday (Monday). The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died. Fairfax County police say “there is no apparent threat to the community” in what’s being described as a domestic incident. [FCPD/Twitter]

Driver Hospitalized in Reston Crash — “Baron Cameron Avenue at Fairfax County Parkway reopened to traffic Monday after being closed for several hours following a single-vehicle crash with injuries…The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries.” [Patch]

Kook Dogg Cafe Opens in Reston — After a soft opening for family and friends earlier this month, Kook Dogg Cafe officially opened to the public in RTC West yesterday (Monday). Its first customers were the team from Little Beast Cafe and Bistro, which previously occupied the space. “We are stoked to welcome them (and you!) to KDC! We can’t wait to see y’all soon!” [Kook Dogg Cafe/Instagram]

Homeless Individuals on Sidewalk Raise Concerns — “A small group of unsheltered individuals who have nowhere else to go have created a community on the sidewalk on Patrick Henry Drive in Seven Corners. About half a dozen people hang out on a discarded sofa and chairs under a tarp, and that has drawn complaints from residents who say they are blocking the sidewalk and making the area unsafe.” [Annandale Today]

Sales Tax Holiday Coming — “NoVA shops and malls may be a little more crowded this coming weekend as people take advantage of Virginia’s sales tax holiday to buy back-to-school supplies and clothing. The annual sales tax holiday starts at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 2, and runs until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 4.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Tysons Consultant Continues Growing — “Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the largest employers in the D.C. region, continues to grow its ranks of consulting professionals, with the addition of 800 new employees in the second quarter. In the past year, Booz Allen has grown its head count by 2,500, or about 8%.” The company employs 15,000 people in the D.C. region. [WTOP]

Annandale Park Getting New Pavilion — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on the installation of a new pavilion shelter at Eakin Community Park. Contractors will mobilize on site with active construction activities scheduled to begin in late July 2024. Weather depending, active construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of fall 2024.” [FCPA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms starting from 2pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high temperature near 88°F. The chance of precipitation is 50%. On Tuesday night, showers and thunderstorms are mostly likely before 2am, as temperatures drop to a low around 74°F. [NWS]


Countywide

Despite some recent rain, Fairfax County is continuing to see an unusually dry summer, raising the possibility of a drought.

The entire D.C. region, including Fairfax County, has now been placed under a Drought Watch, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) announced today (Monday), urging nearly 6 million residents to conserve water as much as possible.


News

Despite the signs that popped up near the Tysons Metro station a few years ago, it doesn’t look like construction on “Tysons III” is going to start any time soon.

Tysons II property owner and developer Lerner Enterprises submitted a special permit application to Fairfax County last week seeking to extend its use of the parking lot adjacent to the Metro station for Cirque du Soleil performances through 2030.


Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or Laura@GuidingYourMove.com.

Virginia’s tax free weekend begins Friday, August 2 and goes through Sunday, August 4.

You’ll save sales tax on school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency supplies, EnergyStar and WaterSense products.

What’s Eligible?

School supplies, clothing, and footwear  

  • Qualified school supplies — $20 or less per item
  • Qualified clothing and footwear — $100 or less per item

Hurricane and emergency preparedness products   

  • Portable generators — $1,000 or less per item
  • Gas-powered chainsaws — $350 or less per item
  • Chainsaw accessories — $60 or less per item
  • Other specified hurricane preparedness items — $60 or less per item

Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products  

  • Qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use — $2,500 or less per item

Detailed lists of qualifying items and more information for retailers can be found in the Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines.

If you’ve wanted to make any updates to your home like sink faucets, showerheads, toilets, etc. this is a great weekend to buy something and save some money. Same for appliances, ceiling fans, and light bulbs!

Sale (Photo by Justin Lim by Unsplash)

Around Town

After a successful first year, the Tysons Mixed Market is coming back for a second summer of food, crafts and art.

Organized by the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), the market will once again bring small, local businesses and artisans to The Boro (8350 Broad Street) every Wednesday for six weeks from 4-8 p.m., starting on Aug. 21.


Pedestrians cross International Drive behind the Rotonda Condominiums (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Gaza Protestors Removed Near McLean — “A months-long protest encampment in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house has been removed. The round-the-clock, pro-Palestinian protest started in January of this year along the 400 block of N. Chain Bridge Road in Arlington…Chain Bridge Road…was closed while VDOT carried out the removal operation.” [ARLnow]

Judge Allows Lawsuit Against FCPS Pronoun Policy — “On Thursday, a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge rejected the Fairfax County School Board’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit and allowed the student to proceed with her arguments against FCPS’ pronoun policy.” A claim over the policy allowing students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity was dismissed, though the plaintiff was given 21 days to amend her complaint. [WJLA]

Man Hampered by Loss of Fairfax Connector Bus Stop — “A man with visual impairment in Fairfax is raising concerns about a change to his bus route that eliminated stops near his home. Jeff Vieceli moved to a neighborhood along Stringfellow Road near Fairfax County Parkway 12 years ago. One of the reasons was the proximity to the bus stops across from the house.” [WUSA9]

Trees Hit by Lightning to Be Removed — “Three willow oak trees will be removed. The trees at 4209 University Dr. and 10507 Forest Ave. were struck by lightning and will be removed July 26 and Aug. 2, respectively. The tree at 4373 University Dr. is failing and presents a severe safety hazard. Removal is scheduled for Aug. 2.” [City of Fairfax]

Metallica Visits Springfield Record Company — “Heavy metal band Metallica swung by a record pressing plant a few blocks west of Alexandria earlier this week. The band visited Furnace Record Pressing, a record pressing company that’s been in business, which Metallica gained a majority interest in last year.” [ALXnow]

Inova Springfield Hospital Nears Construction — “The Falls Church-based Inova Health System intends to begin construction in August on a pair of new acute-care hospitals…Those facilities, one at the former Landmark Mall site in Alexandria and another in the Franconia-Springfield area, will together replace the nonprofit’s aging Alexandria hospital at 4320 Seminary Road.” [Washington Business Journal]

Richmond Highway Jeweler Goes Mobile — “Mount Vernon Jewelers, a fixture around the Richmond Highway Corridor for over four decades, is vacating its storefront location Aug. 1 to engage in mobile jewelry sales and service…Park plans to continue serving his existing customer base in the local community with his new business status as a traveling salesman and mobile repairman.” [On the MoVe]

Kid Donates Icee Stand Proceeds to Fire Department — “An 8-year-old boy set up an Icee stand in Alexandria, Virginia to raise money for the Fairfax County Fire Department on Saturday…His stand was a unique way to say thank you to the department for helping him with his broken arm last year.” [NBC4]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny conditions with a high of 92 degrees, followed by a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Monday night will have mostly cloudy skies and a low around 73 degrees. [NWS]


Around Town

The Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival is ready to jump back into the frying pan — Frying Pan Farm, that is.

With carnival rides, farm animals and various family-friendly activities in tow, the 74th annual 4-H Fair will set up shop at Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road) in the McNair area south of Herndon from Aug. 1-4.


Countywide

Fairfax County Animal Shelter is trying to drum up some attention for its older furry occupants.

Starting today (Friday), the shelter has waived adoption fees for all dogs and cats 6 years and older as part of a “Vintage Tails” event that will continue through Sunday, July 28.


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