The annual Tour de Tysons has been put on hold indefinitely, the event’s organizers told Tysons Reporter.
Typically, the race is held in early March, but organizers never announced dates for 2020 — leaving fans and past participants confused.
Tysons Reporter reached out to the National Capital Velo Club, who is in charge of planning the race, to find out what happened and was told that the race will be suspended indefinitely due to safety concerns for participants.
A spokesperson noted the rapid development in Tysons and the recent increase in traffic.
“As weekend traffic in that part of Tysons has increased, we decided that seeking road closures for a full day wasn’t a tenable solution,” the spokesperson told Tysons Reporter.
At last year’s fifth annual competition, cyclists raced down Westpark Drive before turning onto Jones Branch Drive and then Westbranch Drive.
Several days ago, a Tour de Tysons Facebook page admin posted a short message about the news:
Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, NCVC will not be able to host the Tour de Tysons at its most recent location and will not promote it in 2020. Should a nearby venue become available in the future, we will consider reinstating it on the MABRA road calendar.
Going forward, the NCVC spokesperson said that they’d be interested in hosting the event again, given the right conditions.
“We’re looking for new locations in the region for future editions of the race that will have less of an impact on neighbors and ensure participant safety,” the group said.
Photo via Tour de Tysons/Facebook
County officials celebrated the completion of the Jones Branch Connector today, calling it a vital new link to improve connectivity in Tysons.
The Virginia Department of Transporation (VDOT) and Fairfax County officials held a ribbon-cutting this morning (March 5) at the corner of Scotts Crossing Road and Capitol One Drive in Tysons.
The new half-mile roadway, called Scotts Crossing Road, runs between Jones Branch Drive and Route 123 over the Beltway and includes two lanes of traffic, a bicycle lane and an illuminated sidewalk for pedestrians in each direction, according to a VDOT press release.
“A wide, raised median is also reserved to accommodate future transit,” the press release said.
Though the $60 million price tag for such a short stretch of the road may seem high, Bill Cutler, the district construction engineer for VDOT, said that “it speaks to the complexity of the project.”
In the future, if Fairfax County decides that the overpass no longer makes sense for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, it is designed in such a way that construction crews will be able to strip the concrete and repurpose the project, for example, to become a trolley way, Cutler said.
For now though, “the project is expected to relieve traffic along Route 123, at the Route 123/I-495 interchange and other locations,” the press release said, adding that more than 32,000 vehicles are expected to use Scotts Crossing Road per day by 2040.
Speakers and guests at this morning’s ceremony included Dalia Palchik and Jeff McKay from the Board of Supervisors.
“This is part of our economic success plan,” Palchik, who represents the Providence District, said. “We know that if we don’t have connectivity [and] mobility, it will make things harder and harder for people to get around enjoy coming and going to work.”
Following up on Palchik’s statement, Cutler said that this new connection will allow people using different modes of transportation to more easily move between the communities and neighborhoods in Tysons.
The project, which was approved by the county in 2010, is the first one to be completed from the Tysons Comprehensive Plan Amendment, according to the press release.
Work on the project started in 2017, and in late 2018, one traffic lane opened in each direction. By January, all four travel lanes were open.
“Final detail work” is expected this month, but shouldn’t impact traffic, according to the press release.
“The completion of the Jones Branch Connector marks a milestone in our collaborative efforts to improve our transportation network to support the growth of Tysons,” McKay said. “This project helps us move more people more efficiently and continues to build upon a grid of streets that encourages the use of multi-modal transportation alternatives.”
We’re in #Tysons with our partners @fairfaxcounty @tysonspartners @vaexpresslanes to celebrate the Jones Branch Connector, a crucial new link for those traveling around Tysons 🚇🏃🚲🚗! Learn more: https://t.co/JEiy2ZYF79 pic.twitter.com/9AhlAQDEIH
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 5, 2020
Three Vienna residents, who want to put the town on the map for foodies, decided to create Vienna VA Foodies on social media, which have since attracted the attention of thousands of people.
Founders Lydia Russo, Christopher Drinkuth and Katherine Drinkuth first came up with the idea to create a Facebook group to bring together food lovers while chatting at the annual Taste of Vienna event last year, Russo told Tysons Reporter.
“Chris, Katherine and I would join together and give our reviews on who was our favorite vendor, which item we enjoyed the most, and thus, we were inspired to create Vienna VA Foodies as a project to work on in our free time,” Russo said.
Vienna VA Foodies, which has more than 2,000 followers on Facebook and an active commenter base, began roughly six months ago. The Instagram account, which has roughly 340 followers, only began in January after the trio decided to expand their outreach efforts.
“The members — consisting of Vienna citizens and neighbors — are frequently posting local happenings, their personal restaurant reviews and even crowdsourcing answers to questions about restaurants that cater to their diet needs,” Russo said, adding that the three founders usually just act as moderators.
As a Taste of Vienna volunteer and local real estate agent, Russo said she wanted to help her community celebrate the “vibrant food scene.”
Currently, the group doesn’t plan to monetize the Facebook or Instagram pages for their personal gain, according to Russo, who said the group often relies on donations and giveaways from restaurants or bars who want to promote themselves in the group.
Just last week, the Chick-Fil-A in Vienna partnered with the group to give away eight prizes to people who commented on a post within the Vienna VA Foodies Facebook group after doing other giveaways throughout town the same day.
As a realtor, Russo said she often uses the food scene in Vienna to convince people to buy real estate in the area and thinks the social media accounts will help the town thrive economically.
As the accounts continue to grow, the group wants to encourage chatter within the channels.
“There is now a forum that allows for there to be easy communication between the business owners, chefs and local community,” Russo said.
A new restaurant plans to start serving up a “traditional” Cantonese brunch this spring in Tysons.
The upcoming HAN Palace (7900 Westpark Drive) will feature an all-day dim sum menu and will be the first restaurant in the D.C., Maryland or Virginia area to do so, according to the location’s owner Chris Zhu, who added that most restaurants only offer dim sum for lunch.
The eatery plans to open in April, according to Zhu. She plans to host a soft opening with VIP promotions before the grand opening later next month once supplies from China arrive, she said.
Dim sum is a form of Chinese small-plate dining that traditionally allows families and groups to gather for a communal meal. Items usually include various types of dumplings and sweets served in a steamer basket.
People familiar with China Garden (11333 Woodglen Drive), which recently relocated to Rockville, Md., may recognize the style of cooking since the restaurants are both owned by Zhu.
HAN Palance will be open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day and feature happy hour specials on drinks from 4 to 7 p.m., Zhu said.
Two hours of free garage parking will be offered on weekdays, and free validation will be offered after 6 p.m. on weekdays and for six hours on the weekends, according to the restaurant’s Facebook post.
Photos courtesy Chris Zhu
Local Vienna eatery Pure Pasty Co. won several international awards this past weekend for its food.
The 2020 World Pasty Championships took place in Cornwall, England, which is home of the traditional meat pocket. Pasties are a traditional English specialty and can come in a variety of flavors but are typically a savory snack filled with a variety of ingredients and encased with a flaky crust.
At a biodome venue called the Eden Project, the competition brought together chefs from Argentina, Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom, according to Michael Burgess, the Vienna eatery’s owner.
Burgess beat most of the other roughly 180 entries and took home a silver medal for his lamb jalfrezi pasty and a bronze medal for the cheese and onion flavor pasty, which were both in the savory category.
The lamb jalfrezi, which embodies a flare of Indian cuisine, is one of his favorite recipes since it has a good “flavor profile and heat,” Burgess told Tysons Reporter, adding that he credits one of his friends and customers for giving him the original recipe, which he tweaked.
In past years, the eatery at 128 Church Street NW has won other awards at the competition as well, and Burgess said attending the competition became a “pilgrimage” and “tradition.”
Many community members congratulated the eatery online after a shoutout on the Town of Vienna’s social media accounts.
“Wonderful! I’ve had the cheese onion one and it is scrumptious!,” wrote one Facebook user.
Congratulations to Vienna’s own Pure Pasty Company, which took two of the top three spots in the open savoury category at this weekend’s 2020 World Pasty Championships in Cornwall, England! pic.twitter.com/zmSI3nlltA
— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) March 2, 2020
Originally living in the United Kingdom, Burgess worked in a banking firm and used to visit the U.S. with friends on snowboarding trips, he said. He and his friends used to talk about the lack of pasty options, and after Burgess said he saved up some money, he decided to open his own business.
“We have spent years honing our craft, and these results show that we are getting it right,” a press release said. “We do our best to give all the ex-pats in the D.C. area a real taste of home.”
The group plans to return to Vienna shortly, he said, adding that “we have a lovely certificate to hang on the wall when we get back.”
For anyone wishing to try one of the award-winning pasties, the restaurant is open on Sunday-Monday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Besides pasties, the eatery also offers pies and sausage rolls, desserts, soups and salads according to its online menu. Prices for individual dishes are about $8.
Though the store doesn’t deliver small orders for individual meals, it does catering for events and the British Embassy in D.C. is a regular client, Burgess said.
Photos courtesy Pure Pasty Co.
The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.
We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Wednesday (March 4)
- Wellness Wednesday — 4 to 7 p.m. at LATHER Fairfax (2910 District Ave) — This event lets people enjoy a drink while making a quartz crystal intention necklace. Registration is limited and people can RSVP online.
Thursday (March 5)
- Beyond the Beltway 2020 — 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner (1700 Tysons Boulevard) — Attendees at this conference will get to hear from over a dozen speakers on topics including development, government spending, public safety and similar topics. Registration is $645 for non-members.
- Raise Her Voice — Untold Stories of Women in the Workplace — noon to 2 p.m. at Maggiano’s Little Italy at Tysons Galleria (2001 International Drive) — To celebrate International Women’s Day, Maggiano’s is hosting a brunch where people can hear stories about women who have succeeded in the workplace and overcome obstacles. Tickets run for about $36. Speakers will include women in leadership from companies around Tysons.
Friday (March 6)
- Tysons Library Friends Quarterly Book & Media Sale — 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Tysons Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike) — People will have the chance to score deals on books and beef up their book collection. All books are under $5 and some are going to sell for less than $1. This event is taking place until Sunday (March 8).
- Almost Queen — 7 to 9 p.m. at The State Theatre (220 N. Washington Street) — This four-person group wants to foster a love for Queen with covers from the original band. Advanced tickets are $25.
Saturday (March 7)
- Capital Princess Ball — 6 to 10 p.m. at Westwood Country Club (800 Maple Avenue E.) — This father-daughter dance is a charity function supporting adoptions and foster care. A pair of tickets cost $250 and include a buffet dinner.
Sunday (March 8)
- Landscape Photography Workshop — 9 to 11 a.m. at REI Tysons (8209 Watson Street) — All skill levels are invited to this workshop that teaches people photography basics. Tickets are $35 for non-members and all cameras, phones and devices are welcome.
- QuinTango Concert — 8 to 11 p.m. at 1st Stage (1524 Spring Hill Road) — Fans of live music can gather to enjoy a tango quintet performance. Danging is encouraged and champagne will be served. Tickets are $25 -$30.
Photo via QuinTango Concert/Facebook
Updated 3:05 p.m.– Though the project is behind schedule, construction at the Tysons Pimmit Park playground is expected to finish by the end of the month.
Crews at Tysons Pimmit Park (7584 Leesburg Pike) are replacing a picnic shelter, a Fairfax County Park Authority spokesperson said, adding that the area should reopen by late March.
Construction was originally supposed to be finished by Feb. 28, a spokesperson previously told Tysons Reporter.
“There was a need for extra time to accommodate procurement issues and delivery of the equipment,” the Fairfax County Park Authority spokesperson later told Tysons Reporter.
Overall, the project cost $120,000 and is being funded by the 2019 Park Bond, according to county documents.
People craving a sweet treat in Vienna will have the option to pick up a snack at the upcoming location for Crumbl Cookies.
Though the chain hasn’t released details about when it will open or its exact location, a spokesperson confirmed that details will be available on social media within the coming months.
Currently, Crumbl Cookies has 69 locations across the country where people can enjoy a weekly rotating menu consisting of six different cookies, according to the company’s website, which added that the company also offers delivery and catering services. No locations are currently listed for Virginia.
Crumbl Cookies is currently hiring a manager for the Vienna location. The job posting can be found on Indeed.
Photo via Crumbl Cookie/Facebook
The 1960s are making a comeback at Historic Vienna’s upcoming time-traveling exhibit.
People can check out the exhibit starting Sunday (March 1). Historic Vienna is set to host a grand opening celebration a week later, on March 8 from 2-4 p.m., according to the website.
The exhibit will be located at the Freeman Store & Museum (131 Church Street NE) and will include a U-2 pilot suit worn by Lt. Col. Sam Crouse, vintage toys and movie posters from films such as “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” the event page said.
More serious topics such as segregation, the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement will also be addressed at the museum, according to the website.
“HVI encourages visitors to add a personal — and local — touch to the exhibit by sharing their story,” the webpage said, adding that people will be able to post on a message board about their own experiences surrounding the decade.
Typically, the Freeman Store & Museum is open from noon to 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
Photo via Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
Today (Feb. 27) is National Chili Day, and the Vienna Inn has several reasons to celebrate.
The locally owned business, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, opened at 6:30 a.m. this morning and will serve chili and chili dogs all day long — including for breakfast, according to Nancy Green, the eatery’s spokesperson.
For people over the age of 21 who want to enjoy a beer, the eatery will also have deals on all domestic bottles until 9 p.m., Green said.
Though it is unclear when National Chili Day began, chili originated as a Spanish dish served with meat and has been the state food of Texas since 1977. Sausages are one of the world’s oldest processed foods, according to Newsweek, and can be traced back to the 9th century B.C.
The event today is the latest of several celebrations in February where the Vienna Inn invited people to support the local business and socialize with other community members.
As always, the eatery will also be serving a variety of other chili-based foods, such as chili macs, chili bowls and chili cheese fries.
