Tysons | FFXnow - Part 570

Morning Notes

Published April 7, 2022 at 7:30AM

A grassy field outside Wolf Trap National Park's Filene Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Annandale Chick-fil-A Opens Today — “Chick-fil-A will open Thursday, April 7, at 7130 Little River Turnpike, Annandale…To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant will surprise ‘100 local heroes making an impact in Annandale with free Chick-fil-A for a year.'” [Annandale Today]

Starkist HQ in Reston Now Open — Relocating from Pittsburgh, the tuna manufacturer opened its new corporate and administrative headquarters at 1875 Explorer Street in Reston Town Center on Tuesday (April 5). The office can accommodate more than 70 employees, and the company is marking its arrival with a community distribution event for the Reston-based nonprofit Feed the Children. [Starkist]

Countywide

Multiple Fairfax County restaurants named finalists for RAMMY Awards

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 6, 2022 at 3:45PM

Blend 111 in Vienna is a 2022 RAMMY Awards finalist for "Best Brunch of the Year" (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The finalists for the D.C.-area restaurant industry’s annual RAMMY Awards are out, and a few Fairfax County hotspots made the cut.

Organized by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), a regional trade and advocacy group, the 40th annual RAMMYs represent a shift toward normalcy after two years of slightly modified proceedings to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

News

Free ice cream will be up for grabs in Tysons on Thursday and Friday

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 6, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated May 5, 2022 at 7:05PM

The PARC at Tysons will host an ice cream giveaway this week (via Courtney Cook/Unsplash)

(Updated at 9:20 a.m. on 4/7/2022) Break out the spoons and waffle cones, Tysons.

An ice cream truck is pulling into the PARC at Tysons and doling out free scoops tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday (April 8).

Countywide

Almost a quarter of homeless Fairfax County residents are under 18, data shows

By David Taube

Published April 6, 2022 at 11:15AM

Encampment set up by people experiencing homelessness (via MWCOG)

Work is underway to understand the state of homelessness in Fairfax County.

The county conducted its annual Point-in-Time Count this past January, where public and nonprofit workers travel to shelters, transitional housing, and other sites to document the number of people experiencing homelessness on one night.

Countywide

Tysons Galleria to add movie theater, Singaporean restaurant this year

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 6, 2022 at 10:30AM

Tysons Galleria has fully leased its newly redeveloped wing, which previously housed Macy's (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons Galleria’s transformation of its former Macy’s store is nearly complete.

The mall has fully leased the redeveloped, 260,000-square-foot wing with the addition of a new restaurant from Malaysian chef Rashidin Abd Rashid expected to open this fall, Brookfield Properties public relations and marketing manager Rachel Willie says.

Countywide

Morning Poll: Should Fairfax County mandate recess in middle school?

By FFXnow.com

Published April 6, 2022 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools plans to start requiring recess for middle school students (courtesy FCPS Office of Communication and Community Relations)

The Fairfax County School Board is set to require recess at the middle school level for the first time starting next school year.

Under a health and wellness policy revision to be voted on this month, middle schools would be required to have a 15-minute supervised recess break, and elementary school students will get two recess breaks per day, totaling at least 30 minutes.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 6, 2022 at 7:30AM

The planets Venus, Mars, and Saturn spotted over Lake Audubon in Reston (photo by Terry Baranski)

Franconia Townhouse Fire Under Investigation — Fairfax County fire investigators are still working to determine the cause of a townhouse fire that occurred in the 6500 block of Gildar Street on Saturday (April 2). The blaze didn’t cause any injuries, but four people have been displaced, and there was an estimated $93,750 in damages. [FCFRD]

Fairfax City Police Search for Missing Woman — “Fairfax City Police are still searching for information Tuesday on the disappearance of Amanda Childress, 43, who may have also been the victim of an assault…Investigators said the assault may have happened in the 10400 block of Eaton Place on March 6.” [ABC7]

Countywide

Overhaul could add housing, relocate Michaels at Merrifield strip mall

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 5, 2022 at 3:45PM

The proposed Pan Am Shopping Center redevelopment would replace the Michael's and Micro Center building with housing (via Google Maps)

Safeway isn’t going anywhere, but change is coming for the rest of Merrifield’s Pan Am Shopping Center.

Citing a need to adapt to evolving retail trends, property owner Federal Realty Investment Trust wants to turn the strip mall at the corner of Route 29 and Nutley Street into a mixed-use development with three residential buildings, townhouses, and a public plaza.

Countywide

Firefighters rescue two cats from McLean house fire, transport person to hospital with minor injuries

By Brandi Bottalico

Published April 5, 2022 at 3:00PM

Firefighters rescued two cats and transported an occupant of a home to the hospital after a fire in McLean (courtesy Fairfax County Fire and rescue)

Firefighters rescued two cats from a house fire in McLean last night (Monday) caused by a kerosene lamp.

One of two occupants was transported to a hospital with minor injuries, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department wrote in a news release.

Countywide

Celebrate Fairfax will split annual festival into smaller events across county

By David Taube

Published April 5, 2022 at 2:15PM

A water tent at the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival (via Fairfax Water)

The Celebrate Fairfax! Festival, a summer highlight featuring bands, carnival rides, and more at the Fairfax County Government Center, once again won’t occur — but this time, there’s a replacement.

The nonprofit Celebrate Fairfax!, Inc. announced Friday (April 1) on Facebook that it will switch the festival from one large event to different events staged throughout the county.