(Updated at 10:35 a.m. 8/12/19) Tysons may not have the liveliest nightlife at the moment, but that could soon change as more late-night restaurants and places to hang out open. “Tysons After Dark” will highlight a different spot every week.
Be sure to take a close look at the paintings if you dine at Randy’s Prime Seafood and Steaks— one of three new restaurants by Great American Restaurants at 8051 Leesburg Pike.
The restaurant’s five paintings not only feature some well-known faces, but also have some Easter eggs and surprising twists.
One shows Michelle Obama hugging former President George W. Bush. Another features “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffet strolling along the beach with billionaire Warren Buffet.
Jack Gable, the painter for all five pieces of art, is no stranger to Great American Restaurants (GAR). Diners can find his art at all but Mike’s American in Springfield and Best Buns — the second option at the Tysons spot.
An architect introduced Gable, a Maine-based gallery painter, to GAR CEO Randy Norton about 20 years ago.
“I’m willing to do different styles,” he said, adding that he’s painted everything from rowing to sports, from historical figures to cars.
While some artists stick to a particular style, Gable said that he enjoys the challenge of different techniques and methods. “The real joy is the physical act of creating the painting,” he said.
Norton said that he and his wife Patsy choose the subjects for the paintings in Randy’s, which include Patsy with her two favorite actresses — Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Norton said he calls that one “The Three Iconic Women.”
Norton said that the painting of Washington Capital’s Captain Alex Ovechkin “was the easiest one to pick.”
“I wanted to convey the message that we do not want the restaurant to be too serious,” Norton said, adding that the paintings are meant to add a lighthearted tone to the green mohair booths and mahogany carving at the restaurant.
The fifth painting shows Bruce Springsteen performing with Clarence Clemons. “It’s not a painting you would normally see in a ‘nice’ restaurant,” Norton said.
Meanwhile at Patsy’s — the final one in the Leesburg Pike trifecta — diners can find two murals by Gable and Christopher Cart that feature about 30 individuals in as slight caricatures in carnival scenes.
Randy’s is open from 4-9 p.m. on Sundays, 4-9 on Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fridays.
An MS-13 gang member from Falls Church was sentenced today for his role and participation in a violent assault of a victim with multiple baseball bats.
Last October, Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, of Falls Church, conspired with other MS-13 gang members to lure the victim under false pretenses to James Lee Park in Falls Church, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Del-Cid and roughly a dozen other MS-13 members then “beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes.”
Del-Cid was sentenced to more than five and a half years in prison.
The FBI’s WFO’s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force for Northern Virginia, which is tasked with dismantling violent gangs in the D.C.-area, investigated the case.
More from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia:
An MS-13 gang member was sentenced today to more than five and a half years in prison for his leadership role and participation in a violent gang-related assault of a victim with multiple baseball bats.
“The hallmark of MS-13 is extreme violence,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The sole purpose of this brutal and senseless assault was to instill fear in communities here in Northern Virginia and dissuade cooperation with law enforcement. Our investigation and prosecution of this case should send a clear message that the violent acts of MS-13 in our community will be prosecuted at every opportunity.”
According to court documents, in October 2018, Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, of Falls Church, an admitted MS-13 gang member, conspired with several other members and associates of MS-13 to lure the victim to James Lee Park, in Falls Church, so that they could assault the victim. Del-Cid and other members and associates of MS-13 believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13, and disparaging the local Silvas clique of MS-13.
After luring the victim to the park under false pretenses, Del-Cid and approximately a dozen other members and associates of MS-13 beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple broken limbs and was hospitalized for several days.
“The FBI Washington Field Office remains aggressive in investigating and dismantling gang activity, to ultimately bring justice to the victims of the horrific violence of MS-13,” said Timothy Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office. “Our goal is take these violent offenders off the street, which should send a message to others that this violence will not be tolerated in our community.”
This matter was investigated by the FBI WFO’s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force – Northern Virginia which is composed of FBI Agents along with Task Force Officers from the Fairfax County Police, the Prince William County Police, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, the Alexandria City Police, Fairfax City Police, Vienna Police Department, Herndon Police Department, and the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, along with Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and ATF.
The mission of this task force is to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle the most egregious and violent gangs operating in the Capital Region to include members of MS-13, a transnational street gang, known for its acts of violence.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy II and Morris Parker prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-88.
Photo by Joe Gratz/Flickr
New shops, restaurants and entertainment will start opening at The Boro development in Tysons this fall.
The development by The Meridian Group includes a 70,000 square-foot flagship Whole Foods set to open this fall, a 14-screen ShowPlace ICON Theatre and an onsite food hall and brewery.
The Boro recently announced that City National Bank will join The Boro’s line up.
Pick your favorite below and tell us in the comments which other ones you are ready for.
Image courtesy The Meridian Group
The Virginia Department of Transporation is looking to secure an emergency contract for one of two McLean Roads undergoing long-term repair.
The 1300 block of Kirby Road and Swinks Mill Road by Scott’s Run are still closed due to severe storm damage from July 8 flash flooding. VDOT has said that both roads will stay closed for several months.
In an update yesterday (Thursday), VDOT said that it wants an emergency contract for bridge and road repairs at Kirby Road.
As for Swinks Mill Road, VDOT tweeted today (Friday) that reconstruction of the road’s bridge starts Monday (Aug. 12).
VDOT also provided information on the progress this week for both roads:
Kirby Road at Pimmit Run (VA-695)
- Structure and bridge crews removed debris from Little Pimmit Run and Pimmit Run.
- Soil boring cores and test results were completed.
- Survey work and underground utility location is complete.
- Design plans are being finalized for an emergency contract.
Swinks Mill Road at Scotts Run (VA-685)
- Crews removed asphalt and guardrail debris from Scotts Run.
- Soil boring cores along with results were completed.
- Survey work and underground utility location have been completed.
- Bridge design plans are complete.
- Repairs will be performed by VDOT structure and bridge crews, who will begin work once ordered materials are received.
“Coordination with external agencies is ongoing to ensure efficient repair of damaged utilities, including coordination with federal/state permitting agencies to relocate Little Pimmit Run to its previous stream alignment,” according to the press release.
Kirby and Swinks Mill roads weren’t the only ones damaged — VDOT said that “extensive repairs” were made to 12 McLean-area roads right after the storm.
Good News! Work to reconstruct the Swinks Mill Road bridge begins Monday— and Kirby Road isn’t far behind! https://t.co/WgpybIc0R3
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 9, 2019
Photo 3 via VDOT
Fairfax County police are investigating a robbery at the T-Mobile store in downtown McLean.
The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. last night (Wednesday) at 1400 Chain Bridge Road, according to a police report.
Police said that five people stole merchandise and assaulted an employee in the store.
“The suspects are described as black, in their teens,” police said.
In a separate incident last night, police said that someone was assaulted in the 7900 block of Tysons One Place right by Tysons Corner Center shortly before 7 p.m.
More from FCPD:
While taking trash to the compactor area of a building, the victim found a man already in the room. Without warning the man began to cut the victims arm with a knife. The victim did not require medical treatment and the injuries were described as superficial.
Police are still looking for the man, who police described as “a black man with dreadlocks, in his 20s, 5’8″ and very skinny. He was last seen wearing all black clothing with holes in his jeans.”
Falls Church city leaders and residents are working together on flood prevention to minimize damage from storms like the one that hit last month.
The City of Falls Church held a meeting to discuss the impact of the severe flash flooding on July 8 with residents Wednesday night (Aug. 7).
The meeting kicked off with a staff presentation to update the roughly 50 people who filled the council chambers.
While City Manager Wyatt Shields said that the city has started some utility improvements, like enlarging the stormwater channel and increasing stormwater detention, the city now needs to shift its focus from water quality to quantity.
The city’s annual budget has $1.6 million dedicated to stormwater projects, he said.
“This Is Not The First Time”
Mayor David Tartar kicked off the meeting by stressing a need for better flood prevention for possibly more severe flooding in the future.
“It seems like these once in a lifetime events are happening more often,” Tartar told the attendees, adding that the city wants to take a holistic approach to solving city-wide problems.
SoulCycle and Equinox are facing a backlash and boycotts, including in Tysons, after news broke that the company’s billionaire owner is hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump.
Stephen Ross, the owner of the parent company for the two fitness studios, plans to host a fundraiser for Trump on Friday and “will reportedly charge attendees up to $100,000 for a photo with the president,” ABC7 reported Wednesday (Aug. 7).
Many of the 150 comments under Equinox’s Aug. 6 Facebook post for the Tysons spot expressed disappointment and anger about the support for Trump.
People wrote that they plan to boycott Equinox by canceling their memberships and working out at other fitness places, like FlyWheel.
“I have been considering an Equinox membership for a while now, but not anymore given what I’ve learned about where my money would be going,” one person wrote.
Another commented, “Quit supporting Trump! Boycott until then.”
“Why is Stephan Ross hosting a fund raiser for trump??? I do NOT>>NOT>>NOT want a portion of my dues going to fund trump! Damn I just joined your Burbank Blink Gym..with this news I will have to look for a new gym,” another person wrote.
Comedian Billy Eichner and model Chrissy Teigen took to Twitter to push for boycotting Equinox.
https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/1159192308077563904?s=20
Just contacted @Equinox to cancel my membership after many years. Money talks, especially with these monsters. If it’s too inconvenient for u to trade one LUXURY GYM for another, then you should be ashamed. (No disrespect to the many wonderful employees at my local Equinox). Bye!
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 7, 2019
Equinox’s Tysons spot is at 8065 Leesburg Pike. SoulCycle’s only Virginia location is in Arlington.
Both Equinox and SoulCycle responded to the criticism on social media by saying that neither one endorses the political fundraising, adding that Ross is a “passive investor” who does not manage their business.
“SoulCycle has nothing to do with the event and does not support it,” SoulCycle tweeted
Equinox tweeted that “no company profits are used to fund politicians.”
A note from our CEO pic.twitter.com/UwxBWR76B0
— SoulCycle (@soulcycle) August 7, 2019
— Equinox (@Equinox) August 7, 2019
Ross has defended the fundraiser.
“I always have been an active participant in the democratic process,” Ross said to a Bloomberg reporter. “I have known Donald Trump for 40 years, and while we agree on some issues, we strongly disagree on many others and I have never been bashful about expressing my opinions.”
Photo via Equinox Tysons Corner/Facebook
This weekend, people can partake in VietFest at The Plaza outside Tysons Corner Center.
The free annual festival, which celebrates Vietnamese culture and music, is set to take place from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 10-11) at 1961 Chain Bridge Road.
Hosted by the National Organization For Vietnamese American Leadership (NOVAL-DC), Vietfest describes itself as “the largest Vietnamese cultural festival on the East Coast.”
“There will be activities for the whole family to enjoy including games, entertainment, fashion, competitions, food, and more,” according to the Facebook event. “Last year’s festival had over 20,000 people attend.”
Volunteers are also needed for the event.
A new restaurant is coming to a spot in a shopping center in the Pimmit Hills area.
Bing Bao is looking to open at 7505 Leesburg Pike, Suite D, according to a permit.
The spot currently appears vacant and a sign has fainting lettering indicating it used to be the home for Pella Windows and Doors.
No word yet on when Bing Bao will open or what’s on the menu.
In Fairfax County — one of the wealthiest areas in the country — about 56,000 people experience food insecurity.
Several organizations around the Tysons area are trying to improve the county’s 4.9% “Food Insecurity Rate,” according to 2017 data compiled by Feeding America, a hunger-relief organization.
Across Northern Virginia, up to 90,000 people go hungry every day, according to Food for Others.
Food for Others obtains food through food rescue operations and food drives and provides emergency food assistance via the warehouse (2938 Prosperity Avenue) in Merrifield, food distribution at 16 sites and supplements to 16 other organizations.
The warehouse is open from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. People who go to the neighborhood sites are asked to bring their own grocery bags and tell the volunteers how many people are in the household.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, people can go to these Falls Church sites:
- Corner of Ellison and Irving streets off West Street at 5:45 p.m.
- 2802 Hollywood Road — parking lot of Wexford Manor Apartments south of Savannah Street — at 6:15 p.m.
Several other organizations in the Tysons area offer emergency assistance to people experiencing food insecurity.
Share, Inc. is a nonprofit run by volunteers that provides emergency assistance to people in McLean and nearby areas. Share’s food and used clothing room is located in space donated by the McLean Baptist Church at 1367 Chain Bridge Road.
In addition to the year-round food pantry, Share offers family emergency financial assistance, recycled furniture, back-to-school supplies and refurbished laptop computers.
The Committee for Helping Others (CHO)
CHO is a Vienna-based nonprofit that has an emergency food pantry in facilities provided by the Vienna Presbyterian Church at Vienna Court Condos, 133 Park Street NE.
Staffed by volunteers, CHO serves people in the Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield areas. People interested in picking up food must make an appointment by calling 703-679-8966 or email [email protected].
Falls Church Community Service Council
The council offers several programs from clothing to financial to food assistance. The food pantry at the Knox Presbyterian Church (7416 Arlington Blvd) provides non-perishable and fresh food from donations and local food drives. The council also buys extra food when it has adequate funding.
“Church volunteers bag and deliver a week’s supply of food to clients,” according to its website. Volunteers also deliver meals three days per week to people at home who can’t make meals for themselves.
For students, Fairfax County Public Schools has several programs to keep kids fed during the summer and during the school year.
