Tysons | FFXnow - Part 330

Morning Notes

Published November 17, 2023 at 8:15AM

View of the Dulles Toll Road from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station (photo by Marjorie Copson)

Holiday Gift Guide Highlights Local Artisans — “The Made in Fairfax network aims to be a one-stop shop for maker businesses and those who want to support them…This holiday season (or any time of year, really!) take ‘shop local’ to new heights by directly supporting the makers of these gift-worthy products — created right here in Fairfax County.” [Visit Fairfax]

Solar Panels Installed on Sully Community Center — “We’ve added yet another solar array on a county government building. This latest installation is in Chantilly at the Sully Community Center, which serves as the home of the Sully Senior Center and also provides a broad array of services, programs and activities for individuals of all ages and abilities.” [Fairfax County]

News

Vote on proposal to preserve Vienna’s tree canopy delayed to 2024

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2023 at 1:15PM

Advocates collect petition signatures supporting a Town of Vienna tree conservation ordinance at Vienna Oktoberfest 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The future of Vienna’s trees will rest on a new town council.

When it met on Monday (Nov. 13), the current Vienna Town Council was scheduled to finalize a proposal aimed at preserving and enhancing the town’s tree canopy, which has declined over the past decade.

Around Town

Report: D.C. Chinatown food hall plans expansion to Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2023 at 10:15AM

Inside Luna Hall in D.C.'s Chinatown (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A food hall that opened in D.C.’s Chinatown this summer already has its eye on Tysons for a second location.

Restauranteur Zong Chen, one of the operators of Luna Hall DC (625 H Street NW), has leased 6,800 square feet on the ground floor of 8201 Greensboro Drive, a 12-story office building near Tysons Galleria, the Washington Business Journal reported yesterday.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published November 16, 2023 at 8:15AM

A bus shelter on Arlington Blvd in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Silver Line Extension Is One Year Old — “One year ago, we opened phase two of the Silver Line Extension! [On Nov. 15], we’re celebrating 3.5 MILLION trips at the 6 new stations. Take a look back at the big day that started it all and see all the excitement!” [WMATA/Twitter]

Virginia Representatives Continue Call for Review of FBI HQ Decision — “Both U.S. senators from Virginia and nine U.S. House members called for an investigation Wednesday into how Greenbelt, Maryland, was chosen as the future site of the FBI headquarters. A letter…to the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General cites a ‘fatally flawed procurement that demands further investigation.'” [NBC4]

Around Town

The Casual Pint to open near Dunn Loring Metro station tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 15, 2023 at 1:30PM

The Casual Pint of Dunn Loring will open in The Shops at Avenir Place tomorrow (courtesy The Casual Pint)

The Dunn Loring Metro station’s new “beerstro” is set to pour its first official brew tomorrow (Thursday).

The Casual Pint, a pub specializing in craft beer, will throw a grand opening celebration for its Dunn Loring franchise (2676 Avenir Place, Unit F), starting with a first toast at noon, according to a media advisory.

Aging Well: Research reveals health benefits associated with living in a life plan community

By Sponsor

Published November 15, 2023 at 12:30PM

Residents living in Life Plan Communities (like The Mather, which will open in Tysons early next year) report better physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and vocational wellness than demographically similar older adults.

This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.

How does your plan for the future look? If you’re a planner, you’ve already got your investments and assets figured out, and your estate plan in order. But there are other important aspects of planning that are often ignored — such as laying the groundwork for your future quality of life.

News

Write-in campaigns fall short in Vienna, but succeed in Clifton elections

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 15, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated November 16, 2023 at 10:00AM

Vienna Town Council candidate campaign signs for the 2023 general election (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 10 a.m. on 11/16/2023) A week after polls closed, the next mayors and councils for the towns of Vienna and Clifton have been decided.

The Fairfax County Electoral Board certified the local race results for this year’s general election yesterday (Tuesday), including for a Vienna Town Council contest where write-in votes exceeded votes for two of the seven candidates on the ballot.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published November 15, 2023 at 8:15AM

Reston's Lake Audubon on a November morning (photo by Ray Copson)

New Study Shows Climate Change Risks in D.C. Area — “The latest National Climate Assessment shows the D.C. region is especially at risk of extreme weather, flooding, and sea level rise as the earth warms. The congressionally mandated assessment, released [Tuesday], also shows uneven progress in the region responding to a hotter planet.” [DCist]

FCPS Seeks to Address Chronic Absenteeism — At a school board meeting last Thursday (Nov. 9), Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid reported that the percentage of students missing 10% or more of the school year has climbed from 5.1% in 2021 to 17.1% this year. The school system “is looking at a multitiered approach to improve attendance.” [WJLA]

Countywide

Virginia voters gave Democrats control of the legislature. What will it mean for policy?

By Graham Moomaw / Virginia Mercury

Published November 14, 2023 at 3:30PM

The new Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond (via Virginia House of Delegates/Flickr)

The two-year period before the arrival of Gov. Glenn Youngkin was the first time in decades that Democrats controlled both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. Come January, they’ll be back in charge.

That sets up a policymaking dynamic that hasn’t been seen in Virginia since the 1990s: A Republican governor working with a fully Democratic legislature.

Around Town

Two Tysons restaurants will celebrate end of Prohibiton for D.C. Cocktail Week

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 14, 2023 at 2:30PM

The restaurant Wren at Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Martinis will be shaken and stirred across the D.C. area in the week following Thanksgiving.

That’s when more than 85 restaurants and bars around the region will celebrate D.C. Cocktail Week, an annual promotion organized by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) that will begin on Nov. 28 and end on Dec. 5 — the 90th anniversary of Prohibition’s repeal.