The four-day festival will kick off its 21st year this Thursday (Sept. 5) with an afternoon of movie screenings and a welcome party at Crescendo Studios, a music school at 8101-A Route 29 that features a recording studio, a Black Box typically used for concerts and other event spaces.
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid and Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis discuss an investigation into a former FCPS contractor who allegedly filmed students (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Fairfax County police have filed new charges against a Reston man who was already facing sexual assault and child porn allegations.
Arturo Elmore-Adon, 25, was charged yesterday (Tuesday) with seven counts of unlawful filming after detectives found videos he had allegedly taken of four girls, all of them Fairfax County Public Schools students, the Fairfax County Police Department announced today.
One of the longest-standing restaurants in Vienna has emerged triumphant from the 2024 NoVA Breakfast Wars.
Vienna Inn was declared the winner yesterday (Tuesday) of the bracket-style competition organized by Northern Virginia Magazine, which invited its readers to vote for their favorite place to grab a morning meal out of 32 selected contenders from around the region.
People eat outside at Fairfax Corner (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Schools Start Cell Phone Storage Pilot — Fairfax County Public Schools officially started requiring students at participating middle and high schools to secure their cell phones during class. At Robinson Secondary School, the policy is already getting positive reactions from teachers, parents and even students. [WAMU]
West Falls Church Homes to Be Removed — “A major stream restoration project in the planning stages is expected to reduce flooding in the Bel Air neighborhood in the Falls Church area of Mason District. The project calls for the demolition of nine homes on Barrett Road that were built on a floodplain” to allow a stormwater retention basin. [Annandale Today]
Advocates Say Help Needed for Reston Hill Residents — The local advocacy group Reston Strong “is calling on the community to contact the Hunter Mill District supervisor’s office on behalf of three elderly residents who have been told by the county they have just one week to vacate the homeless encampment on a hill near the Fairfax County Human Services Center in Reston.” [Patch]
Fries Chain From Canada Coming to D.C. Area — “New York Fries, a fast-food chain serving up NYC-style fries and hot dogs, has set its sights on the D.C. area as part of a larger U.S. expansion…The company hasn’t selected any local spots or franchise partners yet. For locations, it’s looking for space in high-traffic areas including Bethesda, Georgetown and Tysons.” [Washington Business Journal]
Stop Signs Added At Falls Church W&OD Crossings — “After a few months of construction, three intersections of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Falls Church have new all-way stops. These stops are now in place at the intersections of Little Falls Street, N. Oak Street and N. Spring Street.” [ARLnow]
FCPS Leaders Mostly Cheered by Test Scores — “Fairfax County Public Schools students’ standardized-test scores, with a couple of exceptions, continue to exceed those recorded statewide, officials told the School Board Aug. 29.” Officials attributed the mostly positive trends to “professional development…and a concerted effort to have counselors approach students about taking more challenging classes at earlier ages.” [Gazette Leader]
Former Nats Pitcher’s McLean Home Snapped Up — “The nearly 12,000 square-foot McLean house of former Washington Nationals pitcher and World Series champion Stephen Strasburg has found a buyer. The six-bedroom home listed for just south of $10 million back in June…went under contract with contingencies late last week.” [DC Urban Turf]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a partly sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 77°F. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with the temperature dropping to around 58°F and a gentle northeast wind ranging from 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]
The existing wetland area on Navy Federal Credit Union's Vienna headquarters campus (via Town of Vienna)
It’s not getting its name on an NFL stadium like a Herndon-based competitor, but Navy Federal Credit Union will still make its presence felt in the community this September.
On top of organizing an annual charity 5K, the military-serving financial institution is looking to improve a wetlands area on its headquarters campus in Vienna. The project will be presented to the town’s Board of Architectural Review at an 8 a.m. work session tomorrow (Wednesday).
The Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Herndon (staff photo by James Jarvis)
After two years of meticulous data collection and analysis, Fairfax County’s Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is moving into the second phase of its ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan.
Starting today (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. at the Graham Road Community Center in West Falls Church, FCDOT will host a series of in-person and virtual open houses throughout the fall to gather input from residents on enhancing the county’s extensive network of pedestrian trails and bicycle pathways.
MidnighTreats in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Time is running out for Vienna residents to grab a giant cookie from MidnighTreats without having to leave town or pay a shipping fee.
The bakery at 167 Glyndon Street SE will close for good after this Saturday (Sept. 7), less than two years after opening in owner and founder Johnny Nguyen’s hometown. MidnighTreats announced the closure last Friday (Aug. 30) in an email to members of its rewards program.
A walkway to the Filene Center’s loge in Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Falls Church Man in Classified Docs CaseDetained — “A civilian engineer for the Air Force who is accused of mishandling more than 150 pages of classified documents will be held in jail as he awaits trial, a federal judge in Alexandria ruled Thursday…Gun, a dual citizen of Turkey and the United States, was arrested…shortly before he was scheduled to fly to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.” [Washington Post]
Tysons Rents Are Region’s Highest — “Tysons recorded the highest median apartment-rental rate across the Washington region in August, according to new data, with tenants typically spending 4 percent more than they did a year before. The median apartment-rental rate of $2,666 for the month in Tysons compares to $2,203 for the Washington region as a whole.” [Gazette Leader]
West Falls Church Restaurant Changes Owner — “Panagiotis Fotopoulos, the new owner of the region’s storied Anthony’s Restaurant on Annandale Road just outside the City of Falls Church, has been running the establishment since June 1 while the long-time previous owners” take an extended trip to Greece. The name, employees and the majority of the menu will be retained. [Falls Church News-Press]
Virtual “Stuff the Bus” Food Drive Returns — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed September 2024 as Hunger Action Month in Fairfax County. From Sept. 1-30, 2024, individuals and community groups can make monetary donations directly to local non-profit organizations that provide food assistance in Fairfax County.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Airline Revives Dulles Airport Service — “Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines will return to Dulles International Airport this fall for the first time in years, launching service to two southern destinations already served by rivals Delta and United. The Denver-based carrier…will begin service from Dulles (IAD) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta and Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Nov. 14.” [Washington Business Journal]
Metro Shakes Up Social Media Approach — “When [Whitney Nichels] was hired as Metro’s vice president of communications late last year, it wasn’t to make viral videos. But as part of her role overseeing the agency’s messaging on everything from police interventions to long-term financing, she has also casually revolutionized its Instagram and TikTok accounts.” [Washington Post]
Quantum Tech Conference Coming to Tysons — “Registration is open for the third annual Quantum World Congress, set for September 9-11, 2024, at Capital One Hall in Tysons…This year’s theme, ‘Convergence,’ focuses on exploring the value at the intersection of quantum technologies and adjacent fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, photonics, optics, and cryogenics.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Tysons Library Book Sale This Week — “Friends of the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library will host its next quarterly book and media sale Sept. 5-8 at the library, 7584 Leesburg Pike. A wide array of items will be available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Donations of items are welcomed in advance of the sale, and volunteers also are needed.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high near 75, accompanied by a gentle 6-8 mph northeast wind. As nighttime falls on Tuesday, watch for increasing clouds and a low around 56. An east wind at 5 mph will become calm later in the evening. [NWS]
A Fairfax County police car with lights on at the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County police arrested a man this week who’s believed to have exposed himself in a West Falls Church neighborhood multiple times.
Officers responded to Fairmont Street and Woodberry Lane in the Tremont Gardens community around 1:22 p.m. on Aug. 20 for a report of a man exposing himself.
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by Hannah Wolf of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Hannah at 724-561-4816.
Hey there, coffee lovers! Looking for that perfect caffeine kick or a cozy spot to unwind?
Whether you’re a morning riser or a night owl, a visit to a local coffee shop can be just what you need. Today, I’m excited to take you on a tour through three fantastic coffee spots in southern Fairfax County, each offering not just delicious drinks but also a welcoming space to connect, unwind, and savor the moment.
The first thing you’ll notice at Cervantes Coffee Roasters is the intoxicating aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans. This woman-owned business sees coffee as their passion and you can definitely see that in the entrance display highlighting their personal relationship with the growers of their single-origin coffees.
Why You’ll Love It:
On-Site Roasting: They roast all their coffees right there, ensuring the freshest brews.
Hidden Gem: Although the exterior is unassuming, the interior offers a welcoming, industrial vibe with plenty of seating. They also offer classes on coffee roasting and brewing, as well as host events.
Award-Winning Blends: Take home a pound of their award-winning Quixote blend or try their Swiss-process decaf — no harsh chemicals and tastes just like regular coffee — I promise you won’t be able to tell the difference!
Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to work, a cozy nook to read a book, or a friendly spot to catch up with a friend, these local coffee shops in Fairfax County offer much more than just a caffeine fix. Next time you need a break, consider visiting one of these local treasures.
I’ll see you there!
Do you love these spots? Are there others I should check out? Let me know in the comments or send me an email.