Call Your Mother’s McLean location will morph from a food truck into a physical storefront this weekend.
The popular bagel shop will hold a grand opening for its newest deli at 6232 Old Dominion Drive in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center this Sunday (July 7), according to a notice posted to its website.
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Angie Stiens of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Angie at 703-721-8539.
When it’s mid-summer in Fairfax County, it’s likely to be hot and humid and have us all looking for an escape from the weather.
One of my favorite places to bring younger kids for summer water fun is Our Special Harbor Splash Park in Alexandria near Franconia Rec Center.
The splash park has a Chesapeake Bay theme, so if you’re paying close attention, you’ll find the park includes an osprey nest, a lighthouse, and a crabbing boat! There are misters, sprayers, and even a water maze — lots of options for even the youngest children to enjoy! Coming here is a great way to escape the Virginia heat and have some fun with your family.
Our Special Harbor is fully accessible, so children of all abilities can join the action! And the best part is that admission is FREE for families, whether you’re a Fairfax County resident or not. Who doesn’t love some affordable water relief from these steamy summer days!
Our Special Harbor is open every day during the summer season, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It opens early on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and closes early on Wednesdays. No street shoes, so bring your water shoes (with a closed back) and get ready to cool off while having a great time!
And if you’re looking to extend your family time, you can also check out the other neat things nearby, like Chessie’s Big Backyard — a fabulous playground. There’s also a carousel and a walking trail complete with a treehouse view of the woods!
If you’re looking for something other than a splash park to cool off, there are several waterparks located in Fairfax County. Great Waves waterpark is located on Eisenhower Avenue, also in Alexandria. That’s a great spot for older kids looking to burn some energy on the waterslides or in the wave pool.
Other options include Pirate’s Cove waterpark in Lorton, Ocean Dunes waterpark in Arlington, the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole in Reston, or Atlantis Waterpark in Centreville. The waterparks do charge admissions fees, so check out their websites for details and hours.
Regardless of your family’s preferences, there are lots of local options for cooling off in the water this summer. I hope you enjoyed hearing about just a few of them!
Angie Stiens | Live Fairfax | angie.stiens@mcenearney.com | www.angiestiens.com | 703-721-8539 | www.McEnearney.com
Fairfax Water customers weren’t affected by the recent Boil Water Advisory that went out to D.C. and Arlington County residents before Independence Day.
The utility, which serves almost 2 million people in Northern Virginia, suspended its use of the Washington Aqueduct early on Wednesday (July 3) before the advisory was issued later that day. Though D.C. and Arlington both lifted the advisory yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax Water says it hasn’t yet resumed getting water from the aqueduct.
Two teens were arrested in Albemarle County last week in connection to an armed carjacking reported near the Silver Diner in Merrifield.
Officers were dispatched to the 8100 block of Porter Road around 6 a.m. for a robbery after a man called 911, stating that his black Toyota Camry had been stolen, according to the police scanner on Open MHz.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Gets Grant for Witness Protection — “Fairfax County is getting a $25,000 grant that the top prosecutor in the Virginia suburb said will be used to offer security and support to victims and witnesses in criminal trials. The funding is from a $1 million grant program from Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services.” [WTOP]
NATO Summit to Disrupt D.C. Travel — “Washington, DC, will host international leaders next week for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, setting off a number of disruptions and restrictions downtown…Traffic is expected to pile up, and the closures may change as the summit progresses.” [Washingtonian]
Crosswalks Added in Richmond Highway Corridor — “Part two of VDOT’s pedestrian improvement project in Woodlawn got underway July 2 with the installation of pedestrian crossing signals at newly striped crosswalks at Richmond Highway and Buckman Road near Radford Avenue.” The project’s first phase added accessible ramps to the sidewalks on both sides of Route 1. [On the MoVe]
Learn About Suffragists Jailed at Lorton Prison — Burke Centre Library hosts former history professor and Lucy Burns Museum consultant Alice Reagan tomorrow (Saturday) for a discussion about the National Women’s Party members who were incarcerated the Women’s Workhouse in Occoquan for picketing the White House in 1917. [Fairfax County Public Library]
Artists Wanted for Gardening Event — “The Garden Plot, the Mount Vernon area garden center…has put out a ‘Call for Local Artists’ for a special event next month. The business is planning an outdoor art and gardening event Aug. 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at which artists of all kinds can set up their own booths or tables to highlight and sell their crafts.” [On the MoVe]
Falls Church Soccer Team Competes for Championship — “Falls Church City’s semi-pro soccer team, Virginia Dream FC, are in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) Postseason Championship Game for the second consecutive season…They will play in, and host, the championship match this coming Saturday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Meridian High School.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Parks Host July Golf Tournaments — “Bring the heat at upcoming golf tournaments hosted by Golf Fairfax this July. Celebrate the patriotic vibes and light up the greens to celebrate July Fourth at two Red, White and Blue Tournaments.” The games start this weekend with a tournament tomorrow at Burke Lake Golf Center and on Sunday (July 7) at Pinecrest Golf Course in Lincolnia. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Friday — There’s a 40% chance of precipitation after 2pm, accompanied by a high temperature near 94°F alongside heat index values reaching up to 105°F. Heading into Friday night, showers and thunderstorms could linger until 2am. The sky will be mostly cloudy with a low temperature of 77°F and a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
This year’s Independence Day is shaping up to be a hot one in the D.C. region.
Fairfax County has activated its heat plan for tomorrow (Thursday) in response to a Heat Advisory from the National Weather Service, which predicts that warm temperatures and humidity will lead to a heat index of 100 to 105.
The owner and operator of a McLean nursing home built in the Baby Boomer era wants to give its residents more space with a proposed expansion.
Modalia Capital is seeking to build a new wing for its Vierra Falls Church community at 2100 Powhatan Street, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on June 28. The 11,869-square-foot, one-story addition would add 18 private units but no new residents.
Mere days after closing out its 2023-2024 season, 1st Stage in Tysons is pulling back the curtain on a new year of community theater.
The professional theater company will kick off its 2024-2025 season later this month with the return of its annual Logan Festival of Solo Performance, a two-week event that draws solo actors from across the U.S. with performances, workshops, discussions and other activities.
Fourth of July Safety Tips — “As we prepare to celebrate America’s independence with fireworks, barbecues and community gatherings, we are sharing July 4th safety tips to help you have a safe and fun celebration.” The Fairfax County Police Department has advice for going to events, celebrating at home and traveling. [FCPD]
Korean Restaurant Opens in Herndon — In the works since early 2023, H Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot opened in Herndon Centre at 400 Elden Street in late June. Diners can “choose from a large selection of meats and other items” that can be cooked on a grill or in a simmering pot at their table. [The Burn]
Court Hearing Delayed in Fairfax City Shooting — “An Arlington man charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Fairfax City resident and DonorSee CEO Gret Glyer had his competency hearing pushed back to August, according to court records.” Joshua Danehower, 33, appeared in Fairfax County Circuit Court for a scheduled hearing on Friday (June 28), but it got postponed since the judge hadn’t gotten the results of his evaluation. [Patch]
Fireworks Light Up Lorton — “Friends and families packed the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton Saturday night for early Fourth of July festivities, including a dance party, live music, performances, food vendors and, of course, fireworks.” See photos of the scene. [Inside NoVA]
Fairfax City to Move Turtles for Pond Dredging — “Turtles in a popular City of Fairfax pond will be safely relocated in the next few days and weeks, ahead of a monthslong dredging and construction project at Ashby Pond.” The turtles will be moved this month before work to remove sediment from the stormwater pond starts in the fall. [WTOP]
Dulles Airport Revives Nonstop Flight to Mexico City — “Aeromexico had its inaugural nonstop flight from Dulles Airport to Mexico City on Monday. It is a return to the D.C. area for Aeromexico, which ended service at Dulles in 2019. The daily flights depart Dulles at 4:40 p.m. and depart Mexico City for Dulles…at 8:40 a.m.” [WTOP]
N. Va. Ice Cream Wars Has a Winner — “After a month of voting, Northern Virginians have selected Nathan’s Dairy Bar as the winner of the first-ever NoVA Wars: Ice Cream Edition. The Manassas ice cream spot was a top vote-getter each round, topping Moo Thru (which has NoVA locations in Herndon, Warrenton, and Hillsboro) in the final round.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 88. As night falls, the weather will shift to partly cloudy skies with a low of approximately 72. Independence Day has a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm, partly sunny skies, and a high of 95. The heat index may reach 101. [NWS]
A Vienna church hopes to soon draw energy from both the sun and God as it embarks on what appears to be the biggest solar panel project in the town so far.
With permitting almost complete, workers are slated to break ground on a solar photovoltaic canopy in the Church of the Holy Comforter’s parking lot at 543 Beulah Road NE in mid to late July, contractor Govan Builders says.
