An interactive mystery show about a “super sleuth” is coming to McLean as The Alden embarks on its second Drive-Thru Drama performance this summer.

“From the Ash Baxter Files: The Search for the Stolen Spyglass” is a family-friendly mystery show about a high school student who is trying to find out which suspect stole his teacher’s priceless spyglass, according to a press release. The show was written by Andrew Scott Zimmer.

The Alden, which is a part of the McLean Community Center, debuted Drive-Thru Drama in July with a show written and directed by Zimmer about a $1 bill that travels through time and space. The show was a “hugely successful first attempt that sold out all performances,” according to the press release.

Here’s how Drive-Thru Drama works: the audience drives to various locations around the McLean Community Center’s parking lot (1234 Ingleside Ave) to watch actors perform short scenes that tell a cohesive story. The actors wear personal protective equipment and stay six feet away from each other and the passengers.

“We were thrilled to see so many enjoy our first Drive-Thru Drama performance in July! Since then we have been working to develop a new show and I think audiences will enjoy the surprises that we have in store,” Danielle Van Hook, the show’s producer and The Alden’s director of Youth Theatre Programs, said.

Van Hook told Tysons Reporter earlier this year that medieval pageant wagons inspired the “Drive-Thru Drama” production.

The show is set to run for three weekends in September: Sept. 11-13, Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27. The theater is currently seeking actors and plans to hold auditions on Tuesday, Aug, 18, according to the press release.

Tickets are $20 or $15 for people who live in the McLean Community Center tax district and must be purchased in advance.

New Firm Helping Businesses With COVID-19 Rules — “The Tysons firm [Covidless Workplace Services], founded in June, aims to provide businesses with a set of recommendations and guidelines that not only help them comply with regulations but also implement best practices, said co-founder Dirar Hakeem.” [Washington Business Journal]

Koenigsegg Hypercar Will Be Sold in Tysons — “The manufacturer of one of the world’s most exclusive ‘hypercars’ has made it official and announced Tysons-based Exclusive Automotive Group as its only local dealer… The models will only be on site for special events, and even if you choose to acquire one, it’ll take one to two years to get it.” [Washington Business Journal]

Book Demand High — “Local libraries’ physical doors may be shut since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, but their virtual doors are seeing plenty of ‘foot traffic’ at all hours of the day in the City of Falls Church and surrounding areas.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Mask Campaign — “Four of Northern Virginia’s top health care organizations started a campaign Wednesday with a simple message about fighting the coronavirus pandemic: Wear a mask.” [Patch]

The Tysons Corner Center theater is among the more than 100 locations AMC Theatres plans to reopen next week with one-day-only 15-cent tickets.

The movie theater chain announced the plans today, saying that the steeply-discounted ticket prices will celebrate AMC’s 100th anniversary by giving audience-goers ticket prices from the 1920s.

The more than 100 locations will offer the 15-cent tickets for their reopening on Thursday (Aug. 20).

“We are thrilled to once again open our doors to American moviegoers who are looking for an opportunity to get out of their houses and apartments and escape into the magic of the movies,” Adam Aron, the president and CEO of AMC Theatres, said in the announcement.

Roughly 300 other AMC locations are slated to reopen within the following two weeks — in time for Disney’s “The New Mutants,” which is expected to get released on Aug. 28, and Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” on Sept. 3, the announcement said.

The remaining one-third of the theaters will reopen “only after authorized to do so by state and local officials,” the announcement said.

Photo by Corina Rainer/Unsplash

A lightning strike sparked the fire yesterday morning that caused roughly $55,000 worth of damage to the roof of a Vienna church, firefighters say.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue shared today that the lightning strike hit a metal part of the church’s skylight.

A person near the building called 9-1-1 after smelling smoke and hearing the fire alarm, the fire department said.

Firefighters from Fairfax and Arlington counties responded to the fire in the 1000 block of Country Club Drive shortly after 6 a.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the attic.

No injuries were reported and no one was in the building at the time of the fire, according to the fire department.

Photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

LB Food market and Wooden Bakery in Vienna kicked off a fundraising effort to help support relief efforts in Beirut after a massive explosion.

Lebanon was already struggling with hyperinflation and economic turmoil before the explosion killed more than 170 people and injured thousands in the country’s capital city last Tuesday.

Rami El-Hasrouni, the owner of Wooden Bakery, told Tysons Reporter that he helped start the GoFundMe to raise $10,000 for two organizations helping people in Beirut: the Lebanese Red Cross and Beit El Baraka. So far, the fundraiser has received $170.

“Everybody is asking, ‘How can we help?'” El-Hasrouni said.

The market, which now sells Mediterranean food in the former spot of Bey Lounge, and the Lebanese bakery are both operated by D.C.-based Woodfire Brands.

In addition to the fundraiser, the bakery and market are looking for clothing and medical supply donations and will donate 30% of the pita bread and pita chips sales through next week.

Our Lady of Lebanon Church in D.C. is filling up cargo containers with clothes, food and medical supplies to send to Lebanon, El-Hasrouni said, adding that clothes, bandages and medicine are especially needed. El-Hasrouni said that if people bring donations to the bakery, he will make sure they get the items to the church.

Several Lebanese restaurants in the Tysons area, including Lebanese Taverna and Zenola, are raising money to help Beirut.

“Restaurants are barely breaking even but we’re trying to do something,” El-Hasrouni said. “It’s amazing how people are coming together.”

Photo via LB Food Market/Facebook

The police department in Falls Church says scammers are calling people, threatening them with arrests to get their money and personal information.

The city sent out an alert yesterday (Wednesday) about the scam after several residents reported callers said the residents had outstanding arrest warrants.

“The caller claims to be an officer with the City of Falls Church Police Department and demands immediate payment for an alleged fine,” the city’s announcement said. “Through threats and intimidation, the caller attempts to convince residents to purchase prepaid debit cards and provide the identification numbers which allows the scammers to obtain the money from the cards.”

A survey by Provision Living, which offers senior living, found that robocalls are becoming more common for seniors. COVID-19 scams and robocalls are reportedly on the rise around the country.

The alert said that people who get a call from someone claiming to be from the city’s police department should hang up and call the police non-emergency line at 703-241-5053 (TTY 711).

“The City of Falls Church Police Department is reminding citizens that agency representatives have never and will never call to solicit funds or collect fines,” the alert said.

Here’s advice from the police department on how to spot spam calls:

• be suspicious of unsolicited calls
• never use the phone number from the caller to verify their credibility
• never give money or personal information to the caller
• if a call makes you suspicious, hang up

Photo by Jonah Pettrich on Unsplash

Updated 9:50 a.m. — Aas a Flood Warning is in effect for the area until 3:30 p.m. today. NWS said that Vienna, Falls Church, Tysons and Merrifield may experience flooding. 

Earlier: People can expect more thunderstorms and possibly heavy rain.

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for today (Thursday).

More from NWS:

Slow moving thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall may develop today. Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms may lead to flash flooding.

Potential impacts include rapid rises of water, flooded roads and flooding of structures in low lying areas near streams. Landslides and washouts are also possible.

People are advised to not drive through water they don’t know the depth.

Another flash flood watch is in effect for today. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rain will be possible. pic.twitter.com/w40WR0SEvU

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 13, 2020

Flash Flood Watch In Effect until midnight tonight (8/13)! If you must be on roads, never drive through a flooded roadway! PLEASE #TurnAroundDontDrown! Plan alternate routes around flooded roads. Don't put you, any passengers AND #FCFRD firefighters/paramedics in harm’s way! pic.twitter.com/xhoUAocquH

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 13, 2020

Like many small businesses, the Clock Tower Thrift Shop in Falls Church took a major financial hit during the pandemic. But unlike other businesses, the store supports the Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), a nonprofit that serves 35,000 people.

The thrift store lost roughly $120,000 during its three-month closure in the spring, Leyla Alijani, the director of NVFS Ventures, told Tysons Reporter. The store started to slowly reopen in late June and is now looking for ways to reach new shoppers and recoup its losses as the pandemic continues.

“It was hard,” Alijani said. “It was super, super hard. We’re just grateful, really grateful to be open again.”

The tiny store (2860 Annandale Road) is the last remaining one supporting NVFS programs after the other four stores closed over the years due to rising rents and online shopping, Alijani said. The 4,500-square-foot store in Falls Church opened 20 years ago and has remained profitable, she said.

The shop is run by three staffers and volunteers, who clean and refurbish the donations — often from private estate sales and people who are downsizing.

The store caters to thrifters, first-time home buyers, collectors and resellers. Shoppers can find art, furniture, $2 t-shirts, vintage items, lamps, rugs, clothing, sporting equipment and more. To be extra cautious during the pandemic, however, the store is no longer selling beauty items, pillows, bedding and dolls for kids.

“The purpose of it is to provide below-market rates so that it’s accessible to everyone’s budget,” Alijani said.

Home items have gained popularity at the shop as more people look for work from home desks, smaller pieces of furniture, games and school supplies. “We have more of a demand than we have supply,” Alijani said.

All of the sales fund NVFS programs, which range from a shelter for people experiencing homelessness to early childhood education to workforce development. Previously, the sales have benefitted mental health support and foster care kids, Alijani said. It’s unclear at the moment how much the financial loss from the spring will impact NVFS programs, she said.

Alijani said the Clock Tower Thrift Shop needs more donations, especially since fewer people have been dropping items off lately.

She also wants to erase any stigma attached to coming to a thrift store and expand the customer base beyond the regulars. “There’s no shame in going to a thrift store, because it supports the community,” Alijani said. “It’s cool, one-of-a-kind stuff.”

The store’s exterior likely won’t catch drivers’ attention, especially since they might be disappointed that the store is not as big as it appears outside, Alijani said, noting the store only occupies the first level of the two-story building.

“It kind of looks like a dive from the outside,” Alijani said.

To make it more well known in the area, Alijani said plans are in the works to launch an online presence for the store so people can see more of the available items.

Shoppers can visit the store from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Face coverings are required.

Drop-off donations are accepted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. On Tuesday, the staff schedules pick-ups at people’s homes for bulky donations.

“It looks like a cube, but once you go in, it’s like a little jewel box,” Alijani said.

Photos courtesy Leyla Alijani

Get ready for another summer thunderstorm. A Flash Flood Watch will be in effect in Fairfax County this afternoon and evening.

The National Weather Service says that thunderstorms and showers could bring 1-2 inches of rain with some areas possibly getting up to 4 inches.

“A cold front will move into the area Wednesday and then stall out,” according to NWS. “Numerous slow-moving showers and thunderstorms will pose a risk of flash flooding.”

Flash Flood Watch expanded westward for today and tonight. pic.twitter.com/8DUzrASBwL

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 12, 2020

(Updated 10:25 a.m.) Downed power lines and a fallen tree have shut down Old Dominion Drive and caused a small power outage in McLean.

Fairfax County sent out an alert about the road closure at Old Dominion Dive between Briar Ridge and Franklin Park roads shortly before 10 a.m.

Dominion Energy’s power outage map says that 60 customers are affected by the outage and that power is expected to get restored by 3 p.m. today.

Fairfax County police said in a tweet that people should expect extended delays and avoid the area.

ROAD CLOSURE: Old Dominion Drive is closed between Briar Ridge Rd and Franklin Park Rd in McLean due to a fallen tree blocking the roadway. Expect extended delays. Please avoid the area. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/lo1HY3YNML

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 12, 2020

Image via Google Maps, map via Dominion Energy