As Tysons Reporter celebrates its first anniversary, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most-read stories throughout the year.
From breaking news to announcements of upcoming developments, we’ve got it covered. Check it out.
10) Here’s What’s Opening With the Whole Foods in Tysons
Though Whole Foods at the Boro still isn’t open, shops and local businesses are gearing up to open their doors. Other eateries and businesses coming to the area include Flower Child, Ethan Allen, Fish Taco and Colour Bar Studio.
9) Chef Geoff’s Set to Close Tysons Restaurant in 12 Days
Chef Geoff’s closed their doors back in June after 10 years of business in the area.
Wawa announced their upcoming presence in Vienna last year. Last week, Wawa unveiled that they are aiming to open April 2020, offering customers a fuel-free store.
7) Body Found Along Leesburg Pike in Tysons
Fairfax County police found a body near the Spring Hill Metro station back in May but noted there was no threat to the public.
6) Roads Closed in Tysons Area Following Major Flooding
In July, major flooding hit the Northern Virginia area, damaging local homes and several roads in the Tysons area.
5) Fairfax County Investigating American Disposal Services for Failed Trash Pick-Ups
American Disposal Services was under fire in May for failing to pick up trash, leading to an investigation by Fairfax County. The county later fined the collection company $2,500.
4) A Look at Scotts Run, the Tysons Development That Apple Has Its Eye On
In November 2018, Apple considered putting a new office in Tysons near Scotts Run.
3) Nothing Found After Police Respond to Reports of Man With Weapon at Gannett HQ
After a scare in early August, police determined that there was no threat to the Gannett HQ building in Tysons.
2) Apple Eyes Fairfax County As Arlington Lands Amazon
Apple reportedly considered bringing a campus to Tysons around the time tech-hub Amazon was eyeing Arlington. While Amazon decided to come to Arlington, Apple’s expansion plans don’t seem to include Fairfax County.
1) Macy’s in Tysons Galleria Closing With Big Clearance Sale
Macy’s offered customers discounts of 20-40% after announcing their closure in January at Tysons Galleria.
As the National Park Service decides what to do with Claude Moore Colonial Farm property, locals question if their voices are really being heard.
Yesterday (Sept. 26), NPS presented options for future park development near McLean High School, which would divide the land into multi-use space.
The options featured different ideas that GW Parkway Superintendent Charles Cuvelier said were synthesized from community feedback at the first meeting. But a few attendees who spoke up during the public comment period last night said they felt like NPS ignored their feedback.
During the half-hour presentation, Cuvelier walked through three plans with the audience. All of the proposed plans included expanding hiking trail networks and expanded event space for gatherings.
The “Adventure + Exploration” plan suggested the creation of a camping area where visitors could hook up utility lines. The “Cultivation + Connection” plan emphasized the implementation of community gardens and farms with agricultural fields. Lastly, the “Rejuvenation + Renewal” idea proposed preserving ecological interest points as well as adding a pollinator meadow and a reforestation nursery.
At the first community feedback meeting in April, people were asked to place blue dots around things they would like to see incorporated into the new park design. From the feedback, it appeared that the most popular idea was the continuation of colonial farm activities.
McLean residents Dan Sperling and Rick Schneider told the superintendent last night that they thought the three proposals ignored previous feedback.
“It seems like you have come in with preconceived notions of what you want to do here,” Sperling said. “Not a lot of people knew about this [meeting] tonight. It was only by accident that I found out about it.”
These statements were met with applause from other community members gathered in the audience.
“I wish that you guys would seriously consider what we already have here and not seem like you’re chomping at the bit to do something else,” he said.
Cuvelier countered this statement, saying, “We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t want to hear from the public.”
Several parents and even a local school teacher in the area said that they want to keep the area as a colonial farm because it is the last place in the region that properly portrayed life from the era “free from apartment buildings and shopping malls.”
“The existing park here is unique to northern Virginia,” Schneider said.
Going forward, NPS is still looking for community input on the project. The examples from last night’s meeting were to put forth a few ideas and nothing is set, an NPS spokesperson said.
Additionally, NPS plans on renaming the park to South Turkey Run Park to better represent the connection to the surrounding area, Cuvelier said.
NPS has a soft timeline for a final proposal and is hoping to release it in spring 2020.
“I can’t give you an exact date, just a general timeframe given what we are trying to accomplish,” Cuvelier said.
Image via National Park Service
The editor in chief of the Falls Church News-Press released a book earlier this month exploring a gay perspective on feminism.
Author Nick Benton released his book “Gay Men in the Feminist Revolution: Articles, Pamphlets and Reflections on My Gay Activist Days in San Francisco, 1969-1972” on Sept. 17 through Amazon. Benton told Tysons Reporter that he hopes it will educate people on the power of feminism in politics.
Though this isn’t his first book discussing perspectives from the LGBTQ+ community, Benton released his latest book for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
“This is my two cents in terms of what happened 50 years ago,” Benton said.
Benton began his career in the San Francisco Bay Area writing for different gay media outlets and spent several years as an LGBTQ activist before moving to D.C. to become a White House correspondent.
Later in his career, he decided to set up shop and start a newspaper in Falls Church to cover a local news gap.
Benton told Tysons Reporter that he thinks feminism will be important for switching up the political culture in 2020 and hopes his readers will walk away with a more comprehensive background through historical documentation.
Readers might be surprised about “the depth of the commitment to feminism by gay men,” he said, adding that people often think about the topic as “one-dimensional,” but in reality, the gay community is very thoughtful and supportive when it comes to feminism.
When asked how people in the City of Falls Church will react to the book, he referenced the former FCNP column “Anything But Straight” saying that LBGTQ perspectives were well received by readers and he expects the same for his book.
During the writing process, Benton said he struggled to find the time and energy to complete the book, adding that much of it is based on extensive research he did himself.
The “Stonewall 50” event, hosted at the Falls Church Episcopal Church back in June, inspired him to finally finish the book. The event attracted several dominant figures in the larger community who spoke about the importance of LGBTQ advocacy, Falls Church News-Press reported.
Going forward, he hopes new generations will learn from and engage with his book.
Oktoberfest is here and numerous places around Tysons are hosting celebrations.
In Germany, celebrations began last Saturday (Sept. 21) and will run through Sunday (Oct. 6), but local businesses in the Tysons area plan to host both traditional and unorthodox events through the end of the month.
Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) planned activities to celebrate the merriment all month long. This Saturday (Sept. 28), the Biergarten is hosting its Dogtoberfest from 3-7 p.m. There will be dogs from local shelters available for adoption, and beer from Flying Dog Brewery will be on tap. Check their website for events happening throughout October.
They will wrap-up the celebration on Saturday (Oct. 19) with a final event featuring live music, games, face painting and five tasing samples. Tickets are $10 and this event runs from 3-7 p.m.
City Works Eatery and Pour House
This season, City Works (1640 N. Capital One Drive) is offering a specialized menu on top of their house German-style lagers, including a house-made herb spaetzle and a chicken schnitzel. These will be available until Sunday, Oct.6.
This location is hosting an event on Monday (Oct. 14) from noon to 6 p.m. to educate the community about the similarities between beer and wine.
Audacious Aleworks Brewery and Taproom (110 E. Fairfax Street) will host an Oktoberfest celebration on Friday (Sept. 27) from 4-9 p.m., Saturday (Sept. 28) from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday (Sept. 29) from noon to 6 p.m.
Sweetwater Tavern Merrifield (3066 Gate House Plaza) is offering customers unlimited food and two drink tickets. All age groups are welcome and tickets start at $35 for adults and $12 for children. Those who purchase tickets in advance will be entered in a raffle to win $50.
For those who do not drink or would rather take part in other fall festivities, there are other options around town including festivals and volunteer opportunities.
This free fall festival on Saturday (Oct. 5) from 1-5 p.m. will feature family-friendly events including face painting, balloons, crafts and photobooths.
This festival gives attendees the opportunity to enjoy some fall weather while listening to live music, enjoying brews from Caboose Brewing Company in Strawberry Park and shop at the local farmers market and on-site craft fair. This event is free to attend and takes place from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 28).
Also, the Vienna Business Association needs volunteers to work Vienna Oktoberfest 2019. There are a variety of time-slots and shifts available including ticketing attendants, clean-up, set-up and customer service associates.
A teddy bear-themed run and walk this weekend in Falls Church will raise funds for the Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center.
The seventh annual Teddy Bear 5K and 1K Walk and Run will begin in front of Lemon Road Elementary School (7230 Idylwood Road) on Sunday (Sept. 29). The race call time is at 9 a.m. for the 5k participants and 10 a.m. for the 1k participants.
Registration for 5K runners costs $35 and $20 for 1k participants. Proceeds from the event will go toward helping low-income families with the center tuition and maintain the children center’s affordability.
All age groups are welcome to attend but organizers ask that children under 12 are accompanied by an adult.
There will be prizes for participants, including a teddy bear for those who finish the course. Parents with strollers are encouraged to participate as well and will be placed in their own league.
Locals can learn about Turkish coffee at the Tysons Corner Center tomorrow (Sept. 26).
The Turkish Coffee Lady will host a pop-up truck event from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Plaza (1961 Chain Bridge Road) to share Turkish culture, educate the public on travel opportunities to Turkey and allow visitors to sample Turkish delicacies like specialized coffee, a press release said.
At the event, guests can not only taste-test samples but also watch a micro-art demonstration from Hasan Kale and also participate in a workshop led by a gastronomy author.
The truck is stopping by Tysons on part of a month-long non-profit tour around New York, New Jersey, Maryland and D.C.
Gizem Salcigil White is the owner of Turkish Coffee Lady and the director of the cultural initiative.
“Turkish coffee is the world’s first coffee brewing method invented by Turks in the 16th century, and it is recognized by UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a cultural inheritance that was passed on from generation to generation,” White said in the press release.
The project is sponsored by several companies and partners including the American Turkish Association of DC and the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“The coffee truck will also participate in the 17th Annual Washington DC Turkish Festival organized by American Turkish Association of DC this Sunday and conclude the tour at ‘Study Abroad & Global Citizenship Influencer Summit’ in early October hosted by Hostelling International USA,” the press release said.
Photos via Turkish Coffee Lady
Comic fans rejoice — today is National Comic Book Day. Tysons Reporter has rounded up some places to check out to buy comic books.
The concept of comic books originated in the U.S. around 1933, according to the National Day calendar. “Famous Funnies” was a reprint of popular newspaper comics and sold as the first comic book. It embodied storytelling devices associated with comic books seen today.
Several local shops keep the comic book spirit alive in the Tysons area.
At the local chain’s Vienna location (426 E. Maple Avenue), the store offers visitors a large variety of comic book options including print editions, online comics and even a comic-book based podcast. Today, the store is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. The shop also has locations in Mayland and D.C., though hours vary.
Though more of a bookshop, the store does offer customers a comic and graphic novel section. People can browse over 100 pages of options on the bookstore’s website. The store also offers a selection at their physical location (2200 N. Westmoreland Street) near the East Falls Church Metro station. Hours of operation today are 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Victory Comics claims to have one of the most comprehensive inventories in the D.C. area, according to its website. Located in Falls Church at 586 S. Washington Street, the store sells new comics, sports cards, paperbacks and a variety of other items. The store is also looking to buy comics. Hours of operation today are 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Hole in the Wall Books also used to sell comics in Falls Church until it closed in August.
Photo via Big Planet Comics/Facebook
Two Vienna residents looking to simplify the way people buy and sell event tickets decided to start their own company.
Newly created TicketFam is an online platform that controls ticket distribution for events. Though still in the early startup phase of the company, co-founders and friends Ashik Banjade and Arian Shahbazi said that their main goal is to disrupt how people buy and sell tickets now.
The James Madison University graduates met while in college a few years back and launched their company eight months ago. Though they both have full-time jobs as IT consultants, they said they work on their company during their spare time.
“We’ll work with anyone — vendors, artists or stadiums,” Banjade told Tysons Reporter, adding that users can register on the platform and create an event page.
The platform functions by working with event organizers to create a seating or ticketing arrangement, promote events and special offers, analyze the target audience for the event for marketing purposes and allow attendees to purchase tickets from sellers, according to the company’s website.
Currently, the co-founders work with a production company run by Shahbazi’s family called Arian Productions.
On TicketFam’s website, tickets are only available for the upcoming act 25Band, which the production company booked. But the founders said they will be adding more ticket opportunities this week, including an event on Halloween.
Event attendees will be given a QR code upon checkout, the co-founders said.
“All of our payment processes are managed via Payment Card Industry-certified third parties, ensuring the checkout process is secure and regulated,” Banjade said. In the future, the co-founders also want to accept cryptocurrency, PayPal and other forms of payment for tickets.
Soon, TicketFam will unveil a new user interface and features, including a rewards system and game, which Banjade and Shahbazi declined to provide more details on.
Within the next five years, the young entrepreneurs said they hope to catch the attention of competitors and maneuver into a position of power to challenge the status quo and become a main player in the ticket sales industry.
When it comes to costs for artists and event organizers, they do not have a set cost, Banjade said. Instead, they are competitive and will match the price of any competitor until they establish themselves in the ticket sales industry.
“As young entrepreneurs, you’ve just gotta keep trying,” Banjade said.
Photo courtesy TicketFam
Wawa hosted a celebration in Vienna this morning (Sept. 24) to mark the company’s new location opening in April.
Dozens of people showed up to the event, which featured a virtual reality tour of the upcoming location, food and drink samples and speeches from and other local politicians.
At the event, a company spokesperson said that the company is planning a grand opening party on April 10 at 465 W. Maple Avenue. The 6,200-square-foot convenience store plans to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This will be the first location that features a partnership with Tesla, John Poplawski, Wawa’s director of site acquisition and development, said. Instead of a traditional gas station, the Vienna location will feature eight charging stations for electric cars.
“The Vienna store will be Wawa’s first retrofit store, and the first non-fuel store in Virginia in 20 years,” a press release said, “Wawa hopes to have 40 new stores in the Northern Virginia market over the next 15 years.”
The expansion plans will bring more than 2,000 new jobs to the Northern Virginia area, according to a company spokesperson at the event.
Del. Mark Keam (D-35th District) spoke at the Wawa event this morning and said that these new jobs will help draw young people to the city and boost economic development in the area.
“We are very excited to have you coming into town,” Mayor Laurie DiRocco addressed the crowd before the “coming soon” sign reveal. “We hope you’ll be a good neighbor.”
Within the last few months, Wawa instituted a catering option, spokesperson Alyson Mucha said, adding that many locations also offer freshly baked goods and customers can expect the same thing at the new locations in northern Virginia.
To continue Wawa’s philanthropic work across the country, the company pledged at the event $30,000 to support the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Northern Virginia, which raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics.
Wawa executives at the event said they hope the new location in Vienna becomes a gathering space for the community.
“This is a space that was looking to be revitalized,” Poplawski said. “This is an opportunity to bring everything Wawa offers to the Town of Vienna.”
A new education center opened in the Mosaic District earlier this month.
Kumon (2980 District Avenue) began enrollment in late August and now offers young students extra help in subjects like math and reading to supplement their education, Tanya Khandpur, the location’s owner and main educator, said.
The center works with kids from the early stages of reading and math all the way through calculus and reading comprehension, according to the location’s website.
Khandpur said that business has been excellent since they opened and that the center has met its enrollment goals.
She employs several assistants to help teach the kids at the center in small groups. “For students qualifying into our early learning program we work two students to one assistant and for our main classroom, we work four students to one assistant,” Khandpur said.
Parents who are interested in the company’s programs can sign up online or attend an orientation session. The center is open from 3- p.m. Monday-Thursday.
Kumon also has locations in Vienna (525 W. Maple Avenue), Falls Church (7115 Leesburg Pike) and McLean (1320 Old Chain Bridge Road).
Once a Kumon student herself, she said she personally believes in the center’s mission.
“I feel very strongly that the Kumon program can serve beyond academics and build a strong bond between parents and children, especially when implemented correctly.”
