South Block plans to leave its current location at Jammin Java for a new spot in the Town of Vienna.
The juice and smoothie bar will take over the space that Starbucks previously filled at (207 E. Maple Avenue), according to Lana Mahmoud, a Jammin Java spokesperson.
South Block plans to open in the spring of 2020, according to its website.
The business originally applied for building permits to revamp the location’s interior and redesign the exterior in early December, according to Fairfax County documents.
An opening date and future hours of operation have not been announced yet.
Photo via South Block/Facebook
Updated at noon — An employee at Thai’s Corner Restaurant told Tysons Reporter that it has closed permanently.
Earlier: Diners seeking Thai food will have to find an alternative to Thai’s Corner Restaurant, which appears to have closed its Tysons spot.
The restaurant (8607 Westwood Center Drive) served a variety of sushi, soups, fish and curries by the Spring Hill Metro station, according to its Facebook page.
The inside of the restaurant appeared disheveled today (Thursday), with letters and mail piling up on the floor just on the other side of the front door, along with furniture missing. A sign in the window said, “Sorry we’re closed.”
A server at a nearby business said that he ate at the restaurant about a month ago. A tipster told Tysons Reporter that the restaurant was closed earlier this week.
Tysons Reporter reached out to the business owner but has not heard back.
Hat tip to Mia O.
A few local organizations are working to help people struggling financially.
In Fairfax County, around 56,000 people face food insecurity, according to Feeding America, which means that roughly 5% of the population struggles to feed themselves and their families.
Females from ages 25 to 34 are the largest group living in poverty in Fairfax County, according to data from Data USA.
Food For Others in Merrifield and SHARE of McLean are two organizations working have holiday donation drives.
SHARE of McLean began serving the community in 1967 and continues to fight food insecurity, helping people obtain clean and functional clothing, assisting with holiday celebrations for those in need and hosting fundraising events.
In November, SHARE of McLean collected holiday wishes from people who qualified for assistance. Many of the people who requested assistance included families with young children under 3 years old, and the group is now calling on the community to help put together care packages or donate.
The organization also released a list of high priority food items in December 2019, which include canned fruit, cereals, dry beans, pasta, vegetable oil, coffee and tea.
People seeking assistance with food or clothing can visit the center (1367 Chain Bridge Road) and must either bring a photo ID and piece of mail. Hours of operation are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The center will be closed during the week of Dec. 23.
Meanwhile, Food For Others also supports the community with food supplement programs.
Tomorrow, and every Thursday, people registered can come to the corner of Ellison and Irving streets in Falls Church at 5:45 p.m. to pick up food.
NoVA residents may also show up at the organization’s warehouse (2938 Prosperity Avenue) from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those who think they may be eligible for help can bring a photo ID and piece of mail to register or receive a referral before their visit.
Britepaths in Fairfax is another organization that assists people struggling with poverty and food insecurity. Though the majority of clients are referred to them by social workers, people can also request assistance individually.
Photo via Food for Others/Facebook
For people who haven’t purchased holiday gifts for friends, family or loved ones yet, they’ve still got a chance with several holiday markets and malls around the Tysons area.
The Vienna Arts Society’s Holiday Pop-up Art Market (101 NW Church Street) will stay open until this Sunday (Dec. 22). The collection offers shoppers items from hundreds of artists, according to the website, including jewelry, multimedia art, clothing, accessories and more.
The final hours of operation for the market are Thursday from noon until 8 p.m., Friday from noon until 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.
Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria both have extended hours of operation during the coming days but both locations will be closed on Christmas (Dec. 25).
For those who cannot get enough of handmade and local items, The Creative Collective POPUP in Tysons Corner Center, adjacent to BrandBox on level one, carries items from roughly 20 artisans, authors and designers. Examples of gifts found in the shops are handcrafted leather accessories, bathrobes, jewelry and storybooks.
The pop-up will remain open until Christmas Eve during mall hours. Visitors even have the chance to speak with the artists themselves.
For those willing to go out of their way, another holiday market in Fairfax will be open from De. 20-22 at Old Town Square (10415 North Street) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The events will feature live music, food, drinks and craft vendors from around NoVA.
Photo via Vienna Arts Society/Facebook
“Get Back in the Book!” by Larry Issa has only been in circulation for less than a year but it’s already sold more than 1,500 copies around the Northern Virginia area.
Issa’s picture book is about a young boy named Danny who writes his own book but catches the characters trying to sneak out of the pages because they think the book is boring. Danny ends up teaching his creations the value of books and convinces them that their happy place is within their own story.
Issa told Tysons Reporter that he hopes the message resonates with kids, and they take away a deeper appreciation for literature.
“A lot of my family members are teachers, and one complaint is that reading levels are going down,” he said.
Issa, who is from the McLean area, said he wants to encourage kids around the area and globe to love literature just as much as he did as a kid.
All of the characters in the book are inspired by things he loves doing or what he wanted to be growing up. The dinosaur tends to be a popular character, but Issa said the astronaut is his personal favorite.
In November, Issa won the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in first-place for the picture book category.
When it came to the book design and art, Issa approached British artist Emma Chadwick with an idea for a partnership after discovering her art portfolio on Instagram.
As a designer, Issa had a very distinctive plan for what he hoped the book would become and said that he and Chadwick worked well as a cohesive team after accepting the offer. They agreed that a darker color scheme would suit the story well since the book takes place on a school night in the child’s bedroom.
When not working as a professional designer, Issa spends a lot of his time performing readings to school kids and selling his books at local shops, markets and festivals.
As a self-publisher, Issa began giving advice to others who want to publish children’s books and began his new brand — Kalmus Books. He said some of his mentees are planning to publish their books under Kalamus in the future.
Issa told Tysons Reporter that the best advice he can give future authors is to just put themselves out there and start writing, adding that his book went through more than 25 rounds of edits before publication.
He currently coordinates with schools and local charities to give away copies of his book to students in need and seeking donation sponsors to follow in the footsteps of The Closet in Herndon, who recently purchased 100 copies.
People can email Larry Issa if they are interested in helping the cause.
“Get Back in the Book” is available in hard-cover and can be purchased in person at a variety of popups for $18.99 or online, for $21.
Issa said he made the copies slightly more expensive online because he wants to encourage the community to check out markets and book stores in-person.
Although he has received requests for digital and soft-cover copies, he said he doesn’t want to release them just yet because these formats weaken the storytelling experience.
“We are all about the aesthetics,” Issa said.
If anyone wants to meet Issa and purchase their own copy of the book signed on-site, they are welcome to stop by the holiday market in Tysons Corner Center, where he can usually be found during mall hours until Tuesday (Dec. 24), when the pop-up shop closes.
“Get Back in the Book” can also be purchased at Scrawl Books (11911 Freedom Drive).
Issa expects to publish another book soon.
He told Tysons Reporter that hints or “easter eggs” for the upcoming book can be seen in drawings from the main character in”Get Back in the Book.”
Images courtesy Larry Issa
For those hoping to get a jump start on their New Year’s resolutions, a new gym opened yesterday (Dec. 16) in The Boro.
F45 (1640 Boro Place, Suite 206) now offers customers a variety of training and workouts, including cardio and strength training, according to the website.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the center focuses on helping people improve their cardio. On Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday participants will work on strength and resistance training. The center also offers mixed-exercise classes on Saturdays.
The location is running a promotion for a week of free classes if anyone is interested in the gym. After that, a studio membership costs $50 per week for unlimited classes.
Leading up to its official opening yesterday, the location offered trial classes for community members.
Classes take place throughout the day, beginning at 5:30 a.m. A full schedule can be found online.
Around November, an independently owned Verison Wireless store (8301 Greensboro Drive) opened next door to Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The location offers phones with a variety of carrier plans.
Photo via F45/Facebook
(Updated 12/20/19) This year, Hanukkah begins this Sunday (Dec. 22) and will end on Monday (Dec. 30).
For anyone looking into public celebrations, there are lots of events around the Tysons area where people can gather and join in the festivities
This Sunday (Dec. 22), the Chocolate Gelt Drop at the Freeman House (131 NE Church Street) will feature the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department as it hosts an evening of live music, menorah lighting and festivities. There will be chocolate gelt’s dropped from the top of a fire truck as well as food. All are welcome to this free event from 5 to 6 p.m.
Temple Rodef Shalom is sponsoring a community dinner next Friday (Dec. 27) from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at their place of worship in McLean (2100 Westmoreland Street). They will be serving brisket and Latke, a type of fried potato cake. Tickets are $30 for non-member adults, $18 for kids age 6 to 10 and $10 for kids under 5 years old.
For members of Temple Rodef Shalom, there will be a “low-key” Hanukkah event designed for kids on Friday, Dec. 27, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland Street). According to the event page, this event is designed for kids who thrive in low stress and relaxed environments. They will have the opportunity to enjoy a story, crafts, a photo booth and food. Tickets are $5.
On Sunday (Dec. 29), the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia will host Light Up the Night! Community Menorah Lighting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Strawberry Park in the Mosaic District. People are welcome to gather and light candles, play games, sing together and eat sufganiyot, a type of round jelly donut.
The same day there will be a Hanukkah Master Chef: Latke Edition around 1 p.m. at 226 W Maple Ave. Attendees are asked to RSVP beforehand for this free event.
“A Festival of Lasers — Laser Tag” is an alternative way for people to celebrate Hanukkah among their peers.
Hosted by Gather DC, an organization designed to bring together people of the Jewish faith, this event invites people to enjoy three games of laser tag as well as snacks, drinks and socializing for $25. The event will take place this Wednesday (Dec. 18) at Ultrazone Laser Tag and Amusement Center (3447 Carlin Springs Road) from 6:45-10 p.m. and allow people to meet others around the 20s and 30s age range.
For the entire week, the Chanukah Wonderland will feature crafts, entertainment and a store from Dec.22-29 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. It will be held at 226 W Maple Ave in Vienna.
Photo via Element5 Digital/Unsplash
Tysons Corner Center has a few new tenants — including a bubble tea place and kids’ clothing store.
Moge Tee officially opened on Thanksgiving, according to the store manager, and now offers customers a variety of drinks including bubble milk tea, taro tea, tea made from fresh juices, Yakult yogurt drinks and cheese tea, which takes a form of foam on the top of the drink.
The tea shop is a chain with roughly 300 locations across the world, according to the company’s website.
Besides the new location in Tysons, there are several other stores in the U.S. — including a Falls Church location (6122-B Arlington Blvd).
When asked about potential competition with the preexisting Kung Fu Tea in Tysons Corner Center, the manager said it shouldn’t be an issue since Moge Tee offers specialized items like brown sugar bubble milk tea or cheese tea.
Moge Tee also carries Dorayki, a type of red bean pancake dessert that comes in various flavors including Oreo and taro.
Beginning next week, Moge Tee is running a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for customers who share a post on either WeChat, Facebook or Instagram and get at least eight likes, the manager said.
Nearby Moge Tee on the first level of the mall near Nordstrom, Abercrombie Kids opened roughly a month ago, according to store employees.
Business was slow at first because of the location in the mall, another employee said, adding that things began to pick up after Black Friday.
For anyone seeking employment, Abercrombie Kids is actively hiring and people can apply in-person.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission postponed its decision on two mixed-use developments by the Spring Hill Metro station again last night (Dec. 11) to March.
The fate of Georgelas LLC’s proposed project is now slated to be decided on March 11, 2020. The Planning Commission will either determine that the project needs more revisions or recommend denial, approval or indefinite deferral before sending it to the Board of Supervisors.
The project would bring more commercial and residential units into the area, remodeling the current car dealerships along the north side of Tyco Road.
Commissioner Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, who represents the Providence District, said last night that the project is not ready for a final recommendation, but did not provide any additional reasons for the delay at the meeting.
This is the third time that the Planning Commission has deferred the decision on the project since the public hearing. Back in October, Niedzielski-Eichner said the developer asked for more time.
“There were a whole host of issues that were laid out [previously],” a spokesperson from Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth’s office told Tysons Reporter, adding that the decision was deferred because there are still unresolved issues from previous meetings.
Fairfax County planners have said that the North Spring Hill Station addresses the expectations in the Tysons Comprehensive Plan, but the West Spring Hill Station “does not fully address the criteria, particularly with regards to providing a comprehensive, functioning grid of streets; the provision of open space; and coordination of development.”
For now, anyone interested in the project can still submit comments online, a commissioner said last night.
Image via Fairfax County
(Updated 12/13/19) Golden Rule, a housesitting service, began in 2018 and expanded to serve clientele in the Northern Virginia area, with a focus around McLean.
Today (Dec. 11), company founder Dan Lender stood in front of fellow entrepreneurs at the 1 Million Cups Fairfax event in Tysons and pitched his company to the room, seeking advice and recommendations on how to better serve his existing clients.
Currently, the company helps around 20 clients to watch their homes, property and occasionally apartments while they are gone for extended periods of time.
Feedback from the event included ways to target his ideal market and focus efforts on specific services.
The clients of Golden Rule consist primarily of people over 50 who spend several months out of the year away from their homes because of vacation or work, Lender said.
Golden Rule staff offer different services for almost every client in order to meet the individual needs, Lender told Tysons Reporter.
The group specializes in services that accompany security measures from larger companies like ADT. Instead of just monitoring the property, Golden Rule will send someone in-person to survey the property, take pictures of things that seem a miss and take care of various tasks.
“A Golden Rule Team Member will visit your home in Northern Virginia regularly to perform a comprehensive, top to bottom, interior and exterior check,” according to the company’s website. “At the conclusion of each check, you will receive a customized, time date and geo-location stamped electronic report with photos and details.”
After each visit from a Golden Rule representative, the company will send an email to the owner with updates.
“You still need eyes and ears on the street,” Lender said, adding that though ADT will call the police, they won’t send someone in person to take care of the property. Unlike other services, Lender said that Golden Rule employees do not stay and live at the house they watch.
The company’s name was inspired by the philosophy of the Golden Rule: “treat others like you’d want to be treated.”
Lender told Tysons Reporter that the company channels this philosophy into their work and treat every client’s home or property like it is their own.
In an attempt to cater to the individual needs of customers, Golden Rule even transported a car for a client and took care of a greenhouse.
When it comes to pricing for the service, it depends completely on what is requested by the client. Though they have basic price points for hourly service and a basic set up fe.
“A lot of our customers recognize the value and they don’t even ask price,” Lender said.
Going forward, Lender told said that although they want to expand, they also don’t want to scale too quickly and jeopardize the quality of the company’s services.
“We don’t cut any corners,” he said.
Photo courtesy Dan Lender
