The first day of summer is here.

With a budding nightlife scene in Tysons and nearby attractions in D.C., there is plenty to do around the area.

Now that the days are slowly getting shorter as the temperatures start to rise, let us know what your summer plans are.

Updated at 12:50 p.m. 6/24/19 — Leesburg Pike reopened on Saturday (June 22). 

As rush hour starts up, all lanes on Leesburg Pike (Route 7) near Pimmit Drive still remain closed following a water main break this morning.

The Fairfax County Police Department took to Twitter shortly after 3 p.m. to advise people to avoid the area.

Drivers can expect delays until 5 p.m. today, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Route 28A route for Metrobus, which runs along Leesburg Pike, is currently experiencing delays as well.

Currently, traffic is slow-moving along Leesburg Pike from I-495 to just past I-66.

John Gonzalez, an ABC7 reporter, tweeted right before 7 a.m. that a water main break caused the closure.

View from Route 66 of traffic backed up on Route 7 pic.twitter.com/GYPVzq0SfZ

— Tysons Reporter (@TysonsReporter) June 21, 2019

UPDATE: All lanes of Leesburg Pike (Rt 7) near Pimmit Drive remain closed for emergency road repairs. Delays are expected through the rush hour while crews work to make repairs. Please avoid the area. #FCPD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/NiFu5mYyMa

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) June 21, 2019

https://twitter.com/ABC7TimBarber/status/1142111926245371905

AVOID: Water main break on Leesburg Pike at Patterson rd a mile from 66 in Falls Church. Crews are just starting to dig to try to locate the break. Gushing water has severely damage roadway. All lanes on RT 7 closed. Traffic is trickling by in service lane on each side. @ABC7GMW pic.twitter.com/P1rL8VzmyP

— John Gonzalez (@John7News) June 21, 2019

Map via Google Maps

City of Falls Church Police are looking for the four men who robbed someone at West End Plaza early Thursday (June 20) morning.

Police responded to the incident around 12:15 a.m. at 1057 W. Broad Street.

“The victim stated that approximately five minutes prior, a black male with a beard, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt entered the business space, pointed a handgun at the victim, and demanded cash,” according to the press release.

Police said the male robber then joined three more men in the parking lot, and they ran westbound on the W&OD Trail toward Fairfax County.

The victim was unharmed, according to the press release.

Anyone with information is asked to call 703-248-5053 (TTY 711).

Image via Google Maps

After a seeming defeat, Newport Academy is fighting back against a zoning ruling that would keep it out of a McLean neighborhood.

Newport Academy, a for-profit therapy program for teens with mental health or addiction problems, wanted to turn its three purchased homes (1620, 1622, and 1624 Davidson Road) into a treatment facility.

Newport Academy’s plans to open the McLean facility hinged on it being a by-right use, which wouldn’t require approval by the Board of Supervisors. Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust has previously said that he would oppose the facility if it was brought to the county board for a vote.

In May, Fairfax County Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson determined that the facility at Davidson Road would not be permitted as a by-right use and would require approval from the Board of Supervisors.

On Friday (June 14), Newport Academy filed an appeal to that ruling, staff at the Board of Zoning Appeals told Tysons Reporter. Zoning policy stipulates that the case will be scheduled within 90 days of the appeal being accepted unless staff and the appellant agree to something outside of that timeframe.

Brian Worthy, a Fairfax County spokesman, said that county staff are currently going through the application before the county officially accepts it — a standard procedure for every application.

While the zoning official’s ruling seemed to be a win for neighbors opposing the controversial treatment facility, Newport Academy’s push to appeal the zoning determination signals a possibly longer fight ahead for both sides.

Currently, Newport Academy has three jobs listed for McLean: a part-time fully licensed adolescent therapist, an LPN licensed practical nurse and a housekeeper.

Newport Academy also has plans for another project at 1318 Kurtz Road — a standalone property that was not considered in Johnson’s review. What will happen to the Kurtz property remains unclear.

The Mile, a proposed mixed-use development, is looking to make Tysons North greener.

The development aims to transform 38 acres of office park east of Tysons Galleria into 10 mixed-use buildings with residential, retail, office, hotel and storage locations.

But unlike some developments proposed and built in Tysons, The Mile is planning on adding six new parks totaling more than 10 acres.

The largest one — Signature Park — would encompass an entire block in the development, the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s staff report said, adding:

The Signature Park includes 216,200 square feet (approximately five acres) and encompasses the entire land area of Block E. The Signature Park is intended as a regional facility intended by the Plan to serve the greater Tysons area and will include a large open lawn area, a performance stage, gaming areas, picnic areas, a children’s play area, walking/jogging trails, and a water feature. The proffers provide for the possible dedication of this Signature Park to the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA).

The development also includes a dog park, linear park, recreation park and two urban parks.

At the Planning Commission’s hearing on the project last night (June 19), the commissioners debated whether or not private ownership of Signature Park would open up the possibility of the developers trying to build on that land later on.

Vice Chairman James Hart said that he doesn’t want Signature Park to be privately owned — like most parks are in Tysons, according to Planning Commission staff — saying, “It could become something else five years later.”

Commissioner John Carter, who oversees the Hunter Mill District, said that any changes to the park would put the project over the density limits.

The developer’s representative reaffirmed to the Planning Commission that the developers plan to offer Signature Park to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

John Ulfelder, the planning commissioner for the Dranesville District, raised a concern that was unrelated to the parks: the project’s uniform rooflines.

“In 2010 when we adopted the Tysons Plan, the expectation was we would get a variety of creative and innovative and attractive architecture throughout Tysons,” he said. “As it got developed, I’ve been a little disappointed with what we’ve seen thus far.”

Ulfelder asked to defer the decision on the project to give Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, the commissioner for the Providence District who was absent, time to review the project.

The Planning Commission decided to defer the decision on the development to July 10.

Images via Fairfax County Planning Commission

(Updated at 10:20 a.m.) The driver of a tractor-trailer died today (Thursday) in a crash and fire on I-495.

Right before 2 a.m., Virginia State Police responded to a crash in the southbound lanes of I-495 at Exit 49, which heads onto westbound I-66, Corinne Geller, a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, said.

The tractor-trailer ran off the right side of the interstate and struck the cement barrier, which ruptured the truck’s fuel tank, police said.

“This caused the vehicle to catch fire and become engulfed in flames,” Geller said. “The impact with the barrier wall also dislodged the vehicle’s axles, which ended up blocking several travel lanes.”

The driver of the vehicle died at the scene, and the Office of the Medical Examiner in Manassas will conduct an autopsy, examination and identification, Geller said.

The crash is currently under investigation, Geller said.

FINAL: Vehicle Fire. I-495 SB (Outer Loop) past I-66 (Exit 49). Fairfax County, Virginia. Incident clear and all travel lanes are reopened. Delays dissipating.

— MATOC Alerts (@MATOC) June 20, 2019

Map via Google Maps

Chinchillas, hedgehogs, turtles, hermit crabs and tortoises are one step closer to legalized pet status in the City of Falls Church.

The city is considering adding the animals to the list of allowed pets about five months after Fairfax County legalized pet hedgehogs, chinchillas and hermit crabs.

Similar to debate on the county level earlier this year, a Falls Church City Council meeting last Monday (June 10) focused mostly on the hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals that require space, exercise and room temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure they do not start hibernating, according to the Hedgehog Welfare Society. Along with cats, dogs, frogs, hamsters and many other animals, hedgehogs can spread salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Isabel D., a junior at George Mason High School and one of several students to testify in support of legalizing the animals, told the City Council that Arlington and Fairfax counties went through an extensive review process before deciding to allow more exotic animals as pets.

“I think you already know that many of our residents have these pets currently,” she said. “That is not because people want to disobey the law. It is because, unless they actually read the city code, they would have no way of suspecting that a pet like a turtle or a hedgehog or hermit crab would be outlawed in our city. They are cute and just as harmless as the pets that are allowed.”

Currently, the city allows dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, goldfish and aquarium fish, nonpoisonous snakes, rabbits, mice and rats as pets.

Councilmembers Phil Duncan and Ross Litkenhous both fessed up to unwittingly owning hermit crabs illegally.

While Duncan said that his current ownership of two hermit crabs is a conflict of interest, he said that residents might have anxiety about bringing illegal pets to the vet, possibly jeopardizing the health of the pet and human.

“The city attorney said I can vote on this because I have no financial interest, I’m not a trader,” Duncan said. In response to the audience laughing, he added, “I’m serious about this. This is the kind of stuff you stay up at night worrying about. This can and will be used against you in a campaign, I can tell you.”

Meanwhile, Litkenhous said, “I didn’t know you can’t have hermit crabs. We’ve probably violated that law three to four times over at my house.”

While sharing why he is “fully in support of this resolution,” Litkenhous tackled concerns about health and safety often surrounding the hedgehog pet debate.

“I have birthed live cows with my bare hands before, and I can tell you I have never once in my life ever gotten sick or known anyone who has gotten sick by handling these types of animals,” he said.

In response to concerns that exotic animals legalized as pets face more monetization and abuse, Litkenhous said all kinds of animals are at some type of risk.

Ultimately, he argued that animals shouldn’t be banned as pets for good owners who would treat them humanely.

Councilmember David Snyder also expressed support for continuing consideration of the proposed change.

“The existing law allows the keeping of rats, but [not] hedgehogs and chinchillas — really?” Snyder questioned. While Rebecca Keenan, the animal warden for the city’s police department, responded that rats are allowed since snake owners often feed them live rats, Snyder said that “a lot” of residents want the City Council to legalize the exotic animals as pets.

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The Town of Vienna’s free monthly block parties this summer will start on Friday (June 21).

Featuring live music, food trucks and activities, the summer block parties are called “Chillin’ on Church” because they take place on Church Street between Dominion and Mill roads.

Here is the live music line-up:

• June 21: The Deja Gruv Band, playing R&B, funk and soul
• July 19: Mudlark, a classic rock and blues group
• Aug. 16: Big Bad JuJu, a rock and dance cover band
• Sept. 20: Hard Swimmin’ Fish, a jazz and funk ensemble

The summer block parties are from 6:30-9:30 p.m. every third Friday this summer.

The food truck list for this Friday has nearly a dozen vendors, including:

• Ben and Jerry’s
• Blue City Food  — Indian street food
• Chix N Stix — wings, chicken tenders, hot dogs and fries
• Crepe Love Truck
• DC Korean BBQ Taco Box
• DC Slices — thin-crust pizza and tater tots
• Kona Ice of North Fairfax County — shaved ice
• N.C. Ribs on Wheels — barbecue, ribs, turkey legs and more
• Stay Cheesy Food Truck
• Tapas Truck DC
• Urban Bumpkin BBQ

While blankets and lawn chairs are welcome, alcohol not purchased at the party and pets are not.

Photo courtesy Town of Vienna

The City of Falls Church’s aging library will begin its makeover in a few months.

After nearly two years of planning, construction to expand and renovate Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Avenue) is set to start in September.

“The building is aged and its systems are outdated, having been constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1968 and 1992,” according to the city’s website, adding that the library needs more space to meet the needs of its growing number of registered borrowers.

Planning for the project began in 2017. Most recently, Falls Church’s City Council received updated designs for the project in January.

The two-story expansion will add roughly 6,600 square feet to the side of the library facing N. Virginia Avenue and create a new entrance on the corner of Park and N. Virginia avenues.

Once the work is complete, the library will become ADA compliant, have more meeting space and offer additional programming.

The project also plans to make the Local History Room more prominent by moving it from the lower level to the upper level and to nearly triple the size of the kids’ area.

While construction is underway, the library will temporarily relocate near the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (601 S. Oak Street).

Construction is expected to last through December 2020.

Images via City of Falls Church

Tysons Corner Center just welcomed its second poke place, adding to the veg-friendly eatery options in the mall.

Poki DC debuted in the food court on the third level over the weekend and is letting diners buy one regular bowl with two proteins and get a second one for free until Friday (June 21) to celebrate the opening.

Inspired by Hawaiian cuisine, the D.C.-based eatery offers build-your-own bowls and mochi.

Down on the first level, the mall has another poke place — Pokéworks, which serves up poke burritos, bowls and salads.