The Dragons Concord is a tabletop roleplay gaming center that focuses on providing a safe and professional roleplay and miniature wargaming experience.
Our themed private gaming rooms, free public gaming tables, and growing staff of professional game masters, are all oriented toward one goal — to make roleplay gaming as accessible and fun as we can for everyone! We’ve had an amazing reception by the community since we first opened our doors last June, and to celebrate we’re hosting a special event at our store in Fairfax on June 1st.
In addition to hosting a variety of special game sessions and events throughout the day, we’ll also be hosting several local creators and crafters showing off their talents in 3d printed miniatures and dice towers, board game development and even introductory blacksmithing classes being offered by our partner Semicolon Craft and Forgeworks! Visit www.dragonsconcord.com for more information.
The demand for quality game masters is increasing faster than ever before, and we intend to meet that demand head on. Our Storytellers are some of the best in the area, and we work together as a team to both improve our own skills and find ways to improve the community as well.
If you think you have the passion and experience to take your game to the next level and help us grow this community, fill out an application to join our team!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
i9 Sports is the nation’s largest provider of high-quality, community-based youth sports leagues and camps for kids in Flag Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and Volleyball.
This summer, we hope you’ll join us for one of our weekend sports leagues or weekday multi-sport summer camps!
For Kids: We provide a fun experience in which kids develop athletic skills, learn good sportsmanship, and increase their self-confidence.
For Parents: We provide a convenient, well-organized program that doesn’t consume their family’s life.
Summer Leagues
In our league, no child will ever be excluded by a try-out, ride the bench for an entire game, or be cut from a team. Yes, we keep score, but we have created a fun way to help kids develop athletic ability, a love of team sports, and an understanding that overall experience is as important as the score.
- Early Summer Leagues start June 15
- Late Summer Leagues start July 20
- All summer leagues will finish by 1 p.m. to avoid the heat!
- One day per week — practice is conveniently scheduled prior to the game.
Summer Camps
Conveniently located at the Vienna Adventist Academy!
- See our Summer Camp Flyer
- Fun, friendships and staying active!
- Soccer, Basketball, Flag football, Wacky Olympics and more!
- Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Ages 6-11 years
- Boys and Girls
- 8 weeks to choose from starting June 17th
- Multi-Child and Multi-Week Discounts
- No Rainouts! Outdoors but can move indoors if needed due to weather!
- Limited spots available so register today
- Counselors are experienced i9 Sports Instructors
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
Coming Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27), is the annual town fair — ViVa Vienna on Church Street!
It’s my favorite weekend to be in town all year. You will see everyone you know at some point walking around, either getting food, drinking beer, or waiting in lines for rides. It’s truly when that “small town feel” of Vienna is clear as day.
If you’ve never been, here are some tips for you:
- There are no vendors on Saturday. If you hate large crowds, this is the best day to go. It only gets busier as the weekend goes on (plus lots of kids are out of town for sports tournaments on this day).
- There’s a beer tent, ie. BrewFest, on Mill Street starting at noon on Saturday/Sunday and 2 p.m. on Monday. You MUST bring ID — regardless of how old you look. Having checked IDs at other Town of Vienna events, I can speak to the strict enforcement of this. Bring your ID.
- You must buy tickets to get on rides, but you don’t need tickets to attend. If you plan to ride with your kid, you need tickets too. The best deal is the 3 day unlimited ride pass for $100, otherwise a 1 day wristband is $45.
- There are larger rides for bigger kids but also a toddler area for smaller kids.
- Bring cash if you plan to play any games — ie. shoot darts at balloons, shoot basketballs, etc.
- Don’t miss the live shows on the Town Green. Favorites include the Vienna Singing Princesses, Legacy Dance Institute, School of Rock, and of course, the Vienna Jammers on Monday at 10 a.m.
- The big thing: parking. ViVA Vienna is located just off the W&OD path. If you can park and walk there, that’s the best thing. There’s a shuttle from the Vienna Metro and Madison High School. There’s also parking at Vienna Elementary School (although you’ll fight people attending games on Waters Field), and any side streets with access points to the trail (Talahi, Felini, Tapawingo, Branch, Center St. N, Glyndon, etc). Don’t park in the shopping centers like Whole Foods, or Taco Bamba, and leave your car all day. That hurts our local businesses from business all day.
The Rotary Club of Vienna has a great FAQ section in case you have more specific questions.
Have a great time!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by JaneEllen Saums of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach JaneEllen at 703-861-3523.
Did you know that living near a park or greenspace increases the value of your home?
According to the University of Washington, residents who live near a large park or “greenbelt” with biking and hiking trails will have up to a 32% increase in home values compared to a home that isn’t located near a park. That’s only one reason why the many parks in Fairfax County are such gems, including Riverbend Park which is located in the northern part of the County on the Potomac River.
Riverbend Park offers something for everyone: it has 10 miles of hiking trails as well as trails for horses and mountain bikes. In addition, the hiking trails connect with the Potomac Heritage Trail, so it’s possible to hike to Great Falls National Park as well as to Algonkian Regional Park for longer hikes.
There’s also a boat launch, boat rentals, a nature center, and visitor’s center in addition to many programs that the Park hosts. These include the iconic Bluebell Festival in the spring which heralds in the beautiful spring ephemeral Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) which carpet the low land near the Potomac River. There’s also a birdwatching group, fishing (it’s possible to rent a pole for free), adult adventure and art camps, multiple summer camps for kids, kayak classes, and scout programs, to name a few.
Riverbend’s name is well-suited since it’s located at a large bend in the Potomac River. Because the River’s watershed includes the highlands in western Maryland, West Virginia and parts of Pennsylvania, by the time the water reaches the bend where the Park is located, it slows down and deposits silt along with seeds which normally wouldn’t be found in the rest of the area. This makes Riverbend one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems along the East Coast. In fact, Riverbend Park is home to more than 10% of dragonfly species in North America according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
I encourage you to explore this wonderful gem and remember to treat it with care so all may also enjoy it
JaneEllen Saums is a Realtor® with McEnearney Associates and is also a Master Naturalist with Fairfax County. 703-861-3523 | JaneEllenSells.com | 1320 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Use Promo Code FFXNOW for 15% Off Your First Order (Valid at All Locations Until July 1, 2024)
MOLTN Cookies, celebrated for its ultra-fresh, bake-to-order approach, announces the opening of our newest location in Chantilly, nestled within Eggholic at 13951 Metrotech Dr. Each cookie is baked fresh upon your order, ensuring ultimate warmth and freshness.
Baked to Order: Freshness You Can Taste
Our unique process ensures that every cookie is baked only after you place your order, guaranteeing the freshest, warmest cookies directly from the oven, ready in just 15-20 minutes.
Explore Our Unique Cookie and Cream Offerings
Our menu features a variety of flavors including classic Chocolate Chip, decadent Peanut Butter, and the new Cookies and Cream. Seasonal favorites like Lemon Blueberry are also available. Complement your cookies with exclusive ice cream pairings in flavors like rich Vanilla Bean and indulgent Honey Graham from Baltimore Based Taharka Brothers.
Extended Hours for Your Convenience
MOLTN Cookies will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.on weekdays and until 12 a.m. on weekends.
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(@foodooboos)Simplify with Online Ordering
For the quickest service, order online in advance. Your cookies will be freshly baked and ready as soon as you arrive.
Expanding to Serve You Better
Join us in Chantilly or visit our other locations in Arlington, Washington, D.C., and Ashburn. Discover why MOLTN Cookies is a favorite among cookie aficionados. Order online at MOLTN Cookies for pickup or delivery.
Celebrate our Chantilly opening with us. It’s not just a treat; it’s a fresh, warm MOLTN Cookies experience — where every cookie is a personal journey of taste and indulgence!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
So many of the families we talk with during the admissions process are wondering if private school tuition could ever be affordable for them.
They recognize the value of the small school and classroom, the opportunity for extraordinary educational experiences, and the potential to finally find a school that fits their kid. They also have to live in reality, where the tuition costs are substantial, and they wonder if they could be affordable.
About half of our families receive financial aid of some sort
When we describe our tuition aid program to families, they usually express some combination of shock and disbelief. Their assumption was that “the price was the price,” and that an independent school education was out of reach for their child, no matter how great a fit the school might be. The truth is, most independent private schools have a significant financial aid program.
The Howard Gardner School actively seeks to have a diversity of socio-economic backgrounds in our community. To achieve that, our community and board supports the process, and we are able to help all kinds of different families afford their child’s tuition. HGS isn’t unique in this. In fact, most of the private independent schools in the region work specifically to help families from a variety of financial circumstances find a way to afford the educational setting that best fits their kids.
“Well, I don’t think we’d qualify.”
“We make too much for aid, but not enough to afford tuition.”
These are two common misconceptions we hear from families. In fact, at The Howard Gardner School we provide as many 25% aid awards as we do 50% and 75% aid awards. In other words, our financial aid program is specifically designed to help a family regardless of financial circumstance. HGS, like most schools, also provides a small number of full scholarships (99% aid awards), but our financial aid program is set up to help provide a broad diversity of access.
Monthly payments, lump sum discounts, 529 plans
Another way to “take the edge off,” for families seeking the best fit for their student, is to help provide monthly payment planning without the burden of finance costs. In fact, at The Howard Gardner School, we provide a discount to families who choose to pay in a lump sum. By spreading the costs of a private school education over the full school year, families can budget and plan in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Additionally, using money from a 529 plan is now permitted to pay tuition at private schools in Virginia. Many schools in this region have a variety of options when it comes to planning for or spreading out payments, and their admissions staff can help you understand those.
The key is to reach out
The staff at independent schools want to help — whether that means helping with aid applications to organizations like ISM FAST or NAIS SSS (both financial aid recommenders), sharing the ways that each school helps their families budget, plan, and ultimately afford tuition, or just offering their expertise and experience with this process. Financial aid is an important way for places like The Howard Gardner School to build a strong, healthy community of families from a variety of backgrounds and financial situations.
The Howard Gardner School is an intentionally small, hands-on, experiential, university prep school serving students in grades 6-12. It is our mission to help bright, creative, non-traditional students use their unique strengths to thrive academically, intellectually, and emotionally.
Please check out our website at www.TheHowardGardnerSchool.org, and call or email to learn more about how the school that is great for your child can be affordable for your family.
The Howard Gardner School
Serving bright, creative, non-traditional learners in grades 6-12
Alexandria, VA & Sterling, VA
703-822-9300
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Earn top dollar with full benefits!
When you join the Electrical Alliance, you get to contribute to the biggest projects in the area, all while earning top dollar and employer paid benefits.
As an Electrical Alliance worker, you get:
- Salary Range $11.50-$54.00/Hour
- Paid Apprenticeship
- Continuing education to advance within the industry
- Safer working conditions and top-tier safety training
- Full Family medical care, eye care, dental care, and EAP programs
- Paid time off
- Employer Paid Retirement Benefits: Pensions and Annuity
This opportunity is open to electricians with 3 to 11 years of experience.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
This sponsored column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road in Arlington). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Experience Arrowine’s Tastings & Events. Have a question? Email [email protected].
This question often perplexes those of us in the industry. However, the answer, in its essence, is remarkably straightforward.
The younger generation aren’t collectors. The more you have, the more you have to move, and young people move around a lot these days for work or personal interests. Then there is the patience factor; a great bottle of wine needs time to develop into something grand. Not to mention, the snobbery thing doesn’t sit well with some.
But let’s look at what works on any level of wine appreciation. Wine tastes good and completes and heightens any culinary experience. It can turn even microwaved leftovers into something special. Then, there is the social aspect; wine is meant to be shared, contemplated, and discussed. There is no harm in enjoying a glass by yourself, but wine tastes better when shared in good company.
Understanding wine is easy. Most of it is geography, where the grapes were grown and the wine made. You need to know the basics. No one expects anyone to identify a wine blind and correctly identify it. That’s ridiculous for this discussion.
Wine is history and speaks to our past, who we are, and where we came from. Many Sunday afternoon lunches with family and friends always included wine. It was part of our culture and a remembrance of the “old country.” And that aspect should be cherished. It is who we are.
If you like to travel, wine can be your passport and companion. Anyone who has visited greater Europe, South America, Australia, or New Zealand will find that enjoying wine is part of the culture. Visiting a place and enjoying the local foods and wines are the sources of magical moments we will never forget.
Like playing golf, understanding and selecting a wine has become intrinsically interwoven with climbing the corporate ladder. Choosing the perfect wine for a business dinner is a plus. Trust me, you don’t need to be an expert; a few simple tips will suffice. You need to get started.
And that is what I’m here for. Nothing pleases me more than helping young people explore the world of wine. It is a fascinating journey that never ends and is constantly changing. There are few absolutes and a lot of surprises along the way. Like music and art, appreciation of wine is one of life’s great pleasures. Just come on in and get started.
One of the best ways to explore and learn about wine is our Friday (4:30- 6:30 p.m.) and Saturday (1-4 p.m.), Arlington’s Happy Hour evening tastings. There is no charge, and we often have cheeses to complete the experience.
We feature a multitude of wines on our email specials, which have been instrumental not just in educating clients but also saving them a heck of a lot of money for well over 25 years. You can sign up right here at Arrowine.com.
Everything we sell is guaranteed. If you don’t like it, bring it back. No harm done, no bad feelings. I don’t want you to drink anything that doesn’t please you. Trust is crucial. I have one of the best track records in the business and was the first to bring many highly-rated wines to the United States.
In closing, could you think of me as “your personal wine guide.” I’m always here to help you!
Doug Rosen
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
I came downstairs to my husband vacuuming the filter under our fridge yesterday and teaching my son how to clean it and it was a good reminder of all the little things we forget to do to keep our homes in good shape for the long run.
Here’s my list of stuff to do, that I would actually do on my own home:
- Extend your downspouts away from your house. Water is enemy #1 for a foundation and corrugated pipe extensions are cheap!
- Power wash your exterior stairs and/or siding, or “soft wash” hardiplank if you have build up on it. You’ll want to repaint any foundation that’s missing paint.
- Service your HVAC.
- Make sure any outside drains are clear of debris. Again, water.
- Clean your dryer vent annually.
- Check any trees around your house. If they’re touching or overhanging your home, get them cut back. It’s dangerous in storms and also invites easy access for critters into your attic.
- Caulk. Such an easy thing to do, and cheap, but can prevent so much damage from water. Check around doors, windows, light fixtures, hose bibs, and vents. Plumbers putty is your friend.
I’m going to end there. If you do those things, your house will be set up for a good spring and summer!
Remember, if you don’t know who to call for service, you can always download my free Vendor Guide!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Sold by Sharmane and Style by Valentine teamed up to bring you some quick and easy tips to ease into your summer style without the stress.
“More than any other season, summer style can be a struggle for just about everyone.” Says personal stylist Katie Valentine, from Style by Valentine.
We start out with the best intentions, but heat, humidity, bugs, and pit stains tend to throw a damper on even the most ardent summer fans. Summer is also a time when a lot of our favorite style tricks stop working. Katie says clients often wonder how to look pulled together when wearing a third piece feels out of the question. But just because the sun won’t quit, doesn’t mean your style has to.
Here are 3 easy ways to transition your style from spring to summer:
- Change your shoes. Instead of sneakers or heels, grab sandals and instantly cool off your feet, but not your style. “For this trick you want to think transitioning from closed to open toes,” suggests Katie. Pro tip, she suggests using color to unify the seasons. So, if you love to wear your white sneakers or flats in the spring, invest in a pair of white sandals. That way you don’t have to rethink your outfits. You are literally just changing your shoes.
- Accessories: Belts, purses, hats, and shoes made of raffia, weaves, and canvas are killer summer accessories to own and will instantly change the look and feel of your outfits. “Leather goods are still fine, as leather is breathable,” says Katie. But make sure you reach for warmer and neutral toned leather accessories.
- Third piece magic but make it summer. “Third pieces are one of the easiest ways to pull your look together AND flatter your figure,” says Katie. But who wants to wear a third piece when it’s 90 degrees out? She recommends investing in a summer blazer if your work life requires it, or a jean jacket or short sleeve cardigan if you lead a more casual lifestyle. Linen and open weaves are both trendy and will keep you cool. And remember, a shirt can be a third piece if it is worn open over a tank or dress.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
