A jewelry store that says it sells ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones has opened at the Mosaic District in Merrifield.
Brilliant Earth, which officially opened its doors yesterday (Thursday), takes up a little over 2,000 square feet of space at 2905 District Avenue in Suite 105.
This is Brilliant Earth’s second Virginia store, although there are other locations in Georgetown, Baltimore and Bethesda.
Taylor Jacobs, a spokesperson for the company, said the location “marks the digital-first jewelry company’s second showroom opening in Virginia.” The company, which is headquartered in San Francisco, has other locations in the works.
The Merrifield location includes services like walk-in consultations, “ethically sourced” jewelry, and gifts like engravable pieces and birthstone pendants.
The business was founded 2015 in order to foster a “more transparent, sustainable and compassionate jewelry industry,” FFXnow previously reported.
The home furniture store Pottery Barn and Faherty, a family-owned clothing business, are also expected to open in the Mosaic District at 2905 District Avenue this summer.
The “Lil Deli” from D.C. hot spot Call Your Mother is now serving up bagels, coffee and more in McLean.
Representing the self-described “Jew-ish” deli’s first foray into Virginia, the mobile truck opened for business in parking lot of the Chesterbrook Shopping Center (6216 Old Dominion Drive) yesterday.
“We’re stoked to bring good carbs and good vibes to the people of North Virginia who have been asking us to expand into their neighborhood for awhile,” Call Your Mother founder and co-owner Andrew Dana said in a press release. “We built this ‘Lil Deli’ to be able to take the CYM experience to more places and are excited that McLean will be its first home.”
Started by Dana and his wife, chef Daniela Moreira, as a farmers market vendor, Call Your Mother opened its first brick-and-mortar location in D.C.’s Petsworth neighborhood in 2018. The business has expanded to 11 locations now, including the one in McLean, a trolley in Bethesda and farmers markets.
Designed to resemble a quaint mobile house, the truck features a walk-up window and patio seating. The deli’s full regular menu is available, including its popular bagels, sandwiches, drinks and desserts such as babka muffins and black-and-white cookies.
Also available will be seasonal items and new products created by the company, like the vegan peanut butter line One Trick Pony that it launched in December.
Lil Deli is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. While the truck can be moved, the location is currently being treated as permanent.
“The Lil Deli is on wheels, so we dig the flexibility, but don’t worry we’re here to stay!” Dana said. “The mobile spot immediately grabs your attention when you drive past; they’re fun, vibrant and match the energy we like to bring to the table.”
Now that it has entered Virginia, Call Your Mother has started looking beyond the D.C. area with another location under construction in Denver.
The business also has its fingers crossed for a deli in Old Town Alexandria. FFXnow’s sister site ALXnow was told in March that it could open this summer, but a lease hadn’t been finalized at that time. There are no new updates to share regarding that location, a Call Your Mother spokesperson told FFXnow yesterday.
Early voting for the 2023 Democratic primary begins today (Friday) in Fairfax County with a number of notable races on the ballot.
Three locations in the county will open this morning for early in-person voting on weekdays through June 17.
Those include the Fairfax County Government Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as the Mount Vernon Government Center and North County Governmental Center, both open from 1-7 p.m.
Voting will also be available on two Saturdays — June 10 and 17 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three locations.
Starting June 10, 12 government centers and libraries will be open for in-person voting from 1-7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those two Saturdays (June 10 and 17) as well:
- Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road)
- Centreville Regional Library (14200 St. Germain Drive)
- Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road)
- Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike)
- Herndon-Fortnightly Library (768 Center Street)
- Lorton Community Center (9520 Richmond Highway)
- Mason Governmental Center (6507 Columbia Pike)
- McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road)
- Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive)
- Sully Governmental Center (4900 Stonecroft Blvd)
- Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd)
- Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike)
- West Springfield Governmental Center (6140 Rolling Road)
There are also ballot dropboxes at the Fairfax County Governmental Center for those who requested an absentee ballot by mail. One box is inside the complex, and one is outside near the handicapped parking spaces.
Curbside voting will be available for residents who are 65 and older or have a physical disability.
The ballot
Perhaps the most hotly contested race on the primary ballot is for Fairfax County commonwealth’s attorney, with incumbent Steve Descano facing a challenge from prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Ed Nuttall.
In a recent radio talk, Descano accused Nuttall of associating with “MAGA, antisemitic conspiracy theorists,” while Nuttall retorted by calling Descano a “liar” and “incompetent.”
While both are running as Democrats, they have shared differing positions, methods, and visions for the office. No Republican challenger for the seat has emerged.
The Democratic nomination for county sheriff is also up for grabs between incumbent Stacey Kincaid and Herndon High School football coach (and former D.C. police officer) Kelvin Garcia. Kincaid was the county’s first female sheriff when she took office a decade ago. Garcia is positioning himself as a more progressive option.
Elsewhere in local races, all Board of Supervisors seats are up for election in November, but only two incumbents are on the primary ballot: Chairman Jeff McKay, who has been challenged by retired CIA staffer Lisa Downing, and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, who is facing off with Maritza Zermeño.
Other contests feature newcomers seeking to challenge or succeed incumbents:
- Dranesville District — With John Foust retiring, the candidates are Jimmy Bierman, former chair of the Dranesville District Democratic Committee, and David Fiske, a McLean Citizens Association board member
- Mason District — Four candidates are vying to replace retiring Penny Gross, including Planning Commissioner Andres Jimenez, Rep. Don Beyer staffer Jeremy Allen, Steve Lee, and Reid Voss.
- Springfield District — Albert Vega and John Nowadly are vying in the primary to take on incumbent Pat Herrity, the only Republican on the board
The Fairfax County School Board isn’t on this primary ballot since candidates must run as independents. However, today is the last day to register to participate in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee endorsement caucus. This is the first time the FCDC is opening the process up to all registered voters.
On the state side, every seat in the Virginia General Assembly is up for election this year. The impacts of redistricting and a number of veteran lawmakers not running again have set the stage for a unique year in terms of open seats.
- House District 7 — Four candidates look to fill the seat long held by the retiring Ken Plum, including at-large school board member Karen Keys-Gamarra, Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth and Mary Barthelson
- House District 15 — Springfield District school board representative Laura Jane Cohen, software company founder Eric Schmidt and teacher Dr. Henri’ Thompson
- House District 19 — Woodbridge residents Rozia “J.R.” Henson, Mayka Little, and Natalie Shorter. While most of the district lies in Prince William County, about 38% of it is in Fairfax County.
- Senate District 33 — Former lieutenant governor candidate Hala Ayala is facing off against former gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carrol Foy in a high-profile race
- Senate District 35 — State Sen. Dave Marsden and nonprofit worker Heidi Drauschak compete to succeed the retiring Dick Saslaw
- Senate District 36 — Sully District School Board Representative Stella Pekarsky is challenging incumbent George Barker
- Senate District 37 — The primary pits “old-fashioned” incumbent Chap Petersen against “progressive” challenger Saddam Azlan Salim
The Democratic primary will be held June 20, when dozens of polling places will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ZMOD Recommended by Planning Commission Again — After being struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court, Fairfax County’s zoning code overhaul got the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support on Wednesday (May 3), even as “dozens of residents” voiced “the same complaints raised the first time” it was proposed. Concerns included allowances for data centers and accessory living units. [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Introduces Solar-Powered Port-a-Potties — “Now open in Old Town Square and Van Dyck Park, Throne bathrooms bring the feeling of an indoor bathroom out into the parks. Thrones are ADA-accessible, are run by solar-power, have no touch entry and exit, changing tables, no touch flush, and running water!” [Fairfax City Parks and Recreation/Facebook]
Hybla Valley Is Getting a New Tex-Mex Restaurant — “A new Tex-Mex restaurant is coming to the former El Pollo Primero location in Hybla Valley. El Fresco, a fast-casual grill featuring ‘real fresh Mexican food,’ currently has locations in Chantilly and Centreville, and plans to expand in the near future to Sterling and Alexandria.” [On the MoVe]
John Legend Weighs in on County Prosecutor Race — “I’m excited to announce the endorsement of singer, songwriter, and philanthropist, John Legend. John’s activism has led him to work on justice reform in America. I’m proud to receive his support. Here’s the robocall he just released for my re-election.” [Steve Descano/Twitter]
Vienna Nonprofit Advocates for Memorial to Journalists — The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation has been approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to begin designing a “first-of-its-kind memorial honoring journalists who’ve lost their lives while covering the news.” In 2020, Congress authorized the memorial to be built with private funds on federal land in D.C. [Washingtonian]
Franconia Splash Pad Ranked No. 2 in Country — “The Park Authority’s Our Special Harbor spray ground was just named the No. 2 splash pad in the nation in the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards…After four weeks of voting, Our Special Harbor came in second in the nationwide people’s choice selection. The popular water feature is set to open the 2023 season on Saturday, May 27.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Reston Couple Gains Fans With Dinner Party Prep — “Every time Andy Hoyle posts photos of the dinner parties he hosts with his wife, Noelle Sharbaugh, on the Northern Virginia Foodies Facebook page, the 126,000-member group goes wild…The tablescapes, designed by Sharbaugh, are luscious and Pinterest-y…[Hoyle’s] elaborate, multicourse menus look professionally plated.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Free Lyft Rides Available for Cinco De Mayo — “The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) will activate its SoberRide initiative for the Cinco de Mayo holiday…In collaboration with Lyft, those who may have had too much to drink during the holiday will be able to receive a free ride home (up to $15 value) from May 5 at 4 p.m. to May 6 at 4 a.m.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Friday — Cloudy. Mild. High of 69 and low of 51. Sunrise at 6:06 am and sunset at 8:04 pm. [Weather.gov]
A local classical composer is preparing to blast off for the world premiere of his newest symphony.
The suite “Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony” will be performed for the first time by the National Philharmonic at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) in Tysons at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday (May 11).
Composer Henry Dehlinger, who was born in San Francisco but now lives in Oakton, was commissioned to develop the piece for the orchestra as part of an ongoing collaboration with NASA for the 2022-2023 concert season, according to a press release.
A second performance is scheduled for May 13 at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.
“Cosmic Cycles is a dream project because it bridges the gap between art and science,” Dehlinger said. “Together with two of D.C.’s biggest stars — NASA and NatPhil — we’re taking the audience on an exploration of the universe through an immersive experience that combines symphonic music and visual storytelling.”
Known for choral music and jazz arrangements as well as symphonic works, Dehlinger previously worked with NASA on “Return to the Moon,” a brass fanfare that debuted with the March 12, 2022 rollout of the main Artemis I launch vehicle for the agency’s new lunar program.
The National Philharmonic has also collaborated with NASA in the past, most recently when it played Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” in February 2022 at Capital One Hall and Strathmore. The music was accompanied by images of planets taken by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“Capital One Hall is a great venue with an oversized screen that really lends itself to a visual and aural presentation that is designed to project the awesomeness of space and the universe,” said National Philharmonic Director Piotr Gajewski, who will conduct both concerts.
For “Cosmic Cycles,” the process was flipped: Dehlinger composed the music in response to images provided by NASA.
“Henry Dehlinger has been a long-time collaborator with NatPhil and his style of music with sweeping melodies and brilliant orchestrations is perfect, I thought, for the images that NASA was putting forward,” Gajewski said. “When I saw the images, I immediately thought of Henry.”
Gajewski counts Dehlinger as a close friend, per the press release. This will be the third time that the philharmonic has premiered one of Dehlinger’s pieces.
Here’s more on “Cosmic Cycles” from the National Philharmonic:
Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony is a seven-movement symphonic suite that draws inspiration from images captured by NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes and visualizations created by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Each movement carries a programmatic title, alluding to the images, illustrations, and videos which informed the composer’s writing process: 1. The Sun; 2. Earth, Our Home; 3. Earth as Art; 4. The Moon; 5. Planetary Fantasia; 6. The Travelers; and 7. Echoes of the Big Bang. In the upcoming performances, these symphonic poems will be paired with HD projections of the visuals.
The concert will be preceded by a lecture and question-and-answer session with a NASA astronaut, along with educational “Ask a Scientist” booths and a kiosk with a touchable lunar rock. At Capital One Hall, those activities will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the booths and kiosk will also be open during intermission.
Tickets are available online through Capital One Hall’s website. Prices start at $19, but all kids get free admission.
A survey mostly taken by respondents who contacted the Fairfax County Police Department showed high levels of positive community sentiment for the department.
The survey — conducted as part of a nine-month pilot program to engage the community and find information on how the community feels about the agency — kicked off in late May last year through Axon’s My90 program.
The program sent text messages to people who reached out to the agency to request specific types of services.
“My90 is one of many tools we use to engage with our community, better understand how the public feels about interactions with our department, and build trust,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said. “Since deploying My90, we have collected thousands of responses from all over Fairfax County and have the opportunity to review the valuable feedback we gain from community members we have just served.”
It’s unclear how the method of pooling survey respondents skewed the results.
Most respondents contacted FCPD to report a crime, accident or concerns — suggesting some level of comfort with contacting the FCPD. As a result, roughly 45% of the interactions were with a dispatcher and 41% were with a police officer. The remaining 9% were with animal control.
“There is no way for us to tell if the results are skewed or not,” an FCPD spokesperson told FFXnow when asked how the survey method may have skewed results.
The spokesperson added that the police department did issue an open call for the survey last May.
Traffic offenses (22%) and theft of personal property (18%) were flagged as the top concerns in the community. Violent physical attacks was the top safety concern for roughly 15% of respondents, although 26% wrote “other” as the top safety concern.
When asked what FCPD should do to improve safety in the community, nearly half of respondents (48%) said they wanted to see increased patrol visibility.
Other improvements ranked relatively low in the community, including increasing the number of officers (14%), increased community engagement (13%), increased information sharing (9%) and other (14%).
More than 70% of respondents said they were treated with respect, treated fairly and felt safe contacting FCPD based on their interaction with the police department.
Respondents were predominantly white — 63% — followed by Asian American (10%) and African American (9%). Respondents also skewed older, with 36% between the ages of 46 and 60 and 27% over 61. The gender mix was roughly equally distributed.
Based on their recent interactions, 68% of respondents said their view of FCPD was very positive and 76% said they received the help they needed.
(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) Vienna Shopping Center has found a new occupant for the suite vacated over the winter by Chopt.
A Lebanese restaurant called El Janna has signed a lease for the 2,702-square-foot space and is slated to open at 160 Maple Avenue West this fall, property manager Rappaport announced yesterday (Wednesday).
“I am thrilled to bring El Janna to the Vienna community,” Rappaport Senior Director of Brokerage Chris Pamboukian said. “I think this restaurant will be great for the area and fill a demand for elegant Lebanese dining options.”
With a name that translates from Lebanese as “paradise,” El Janna will serve “traditional Mediterranean favorites alongside modern reimaginings,” according to the press release.
The concept comes from chef Rabih Abi-Aad, who has been trained in Lebanese cuisine and French pastry. He previously worked as general manager at Neyla and Paolo’s Ristorante in Georgetown before becoming a co-owner of Me Jana, a Lebanese restaurant in Arlington.
Now, Abi-Aad will bring similar cuisine to Vienna with his new restaurant.
“I come from a village in Lebanon called Dfoun,” Abi-Aad said. “I have had years of experience working in the culinary discipline and previously owned a restaurant in Arlington. I am excited for the opportunity to share my culture and cuisine with the Vienna area.”
Located at the corner of Maple Avenue and Courthouse Road, Vienna Shopping Center was once anchored by the grocery store MacGruder’s but pivoted to smaller retail spaces with a major renovation that finished in 2017.
Chopt was among several restaurants to arrive with the grand reopening in 2016, along with Taco Bamba and Mod Pizza. The 73,852-square-foot shopping center currently has four available spaces, including one that was filled by Cava until the fast-casual eatery relocated to 418 Maple Avenue East.
Democratic Candidates to Replace Ken Plum Sound Off — “Four Democrats running to represent Reston in the Virginia House of Delegates squared off Tuesday night during a candidate forum at the Reston Community Center — Lake Anne.” Topics ranged from education funding to protections for the LGBTQ community. [Patch]
Arrest for Armed Robbery and Carjacking in Penn Daw — “A 19-year-old Woodbridge man has been arrested and is facing several charges after robbing one person and carjacking another late Monday night, officers said. Officers with the Fairfax County Police Department say just before midnight they responded to Furman Lane, off of South Kings Highway…after a report of a robbery.” [WUSA9]
Grocery Store Lidl Has Opened in Chantilly — “I’m excited about Lidl opening their newest store in Chantilly. This is a great addition for the community &with the approval of more residential units in the area Lidl will provide options for the residents. I was pleased to work with Lidl and welcome them to the Sully District” [Kathy Smith/Twitter]
Springfield Auto Dealerships Seek Split — “Safford Automotive’s Hyundai and Genesis brands are separating in Springfield. The two operations, currently located under one roof on Loisdale Road,” are seeking Fairfax County’s approval to move the Genesis dealership to a parking lot east of the existing building. [Washington Business Journal]
McLean Wealth Manager Raises Big Bucks from Google — “Wealth management startup Range said Wednesday it has raised a $12 million Series A round led by Palo Alto, California’s Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI-focused venture fund. Range said it will use the funding to grow its product and engineering teams” [WBJ]
Reston CEO Tests EV With Cross-Country Trip — “Robert Barrosa, VP of technology at Electrify America, will become president and CEO of the company on June 1. From March 31 to April 6, Barrosa traveled almost 2,800 miles in a Hyundai IONIQ 5. He drove from Los Angeles to Electrify America’s HQ in Reston, Virginia. He stopped at 28 Electrify America charging stations in 13 states.” [Electrek]
Dominion Energy Proposal Criticized — Stating that “renewables alone aren’t expected to meet” projected future demand for electricity, Dominion Energy Virginia has filed a plan that could “keep most of its existing power stations online for decades” and add “small natural gas and nuclear units.” The filing “was quickly met with criticism from environmental groups and other clean-energy advocates.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Habitat for Humanity Builds Homes in Groveton — “Three neighboring homes being built in Groveton by Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia (Habitat DC-NOVA) are about 80% complete and will be ready for move-in by summer, according to staff members from the nonprofit.” The houses are the chapter’s largest to date and the first placed in a trust committed to keeping them affordable for future owners. [On the MoVe]
Native Plants for Sale in Vienna This Saturday — “The Spring Native Plant Sale, hosted by the town’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission, will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. It’s also the first weekend of the Vienna Farmers Market, which runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon in the Vienna Community Center parking lot.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Afternoon clouds. Cool. High of 62 and low of 43. Sunrise at 6:07 am and sunset at 8:03 pm. [Weather.gov]
The influx of federal money that has helped buoy Fairfax County Public Schools and other school systems around the U.S. as they emerged from the first year of the Covid pandemic is starting to run out.
Facing a September 2024 deadline, FCPS officials presented a plan to the school board last Thursday (April 27) for spending approximately $57.5 million remaining from the $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) awarded by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021.
The biggest item in the plan is $22.2 million to extend contracts for special education teachers that compensate them for an additional 30 minutes of work per day, which FCPS says “is imperative” to attracting and retaining those faculty members.
“Our special education students were some of the students most impacted during the pandemic, and as a result, our special education teacher workload has significantly increased as they work very hard to meet the needs of those students,” FCPS Chief Academic Officer Sloan Presidio told the school board.
FCPS has 27,839 students with disabilities, who make up 15.5% of its enrollment, state data says. Based on data from before the pandemic, a report released last fall found significant disparities in test scores and discipline between those students and their peers not in special education.
In December, a U.S. Department of Education investigation determined that FCPS had failed to provide adequate support to special education students when it shifted to virtual learning early in the pandemic.
The proposed ESSER plan includes nearly $200,000 for compensatory services that FCPS is required to provide under its agreement with the DOE. The funds cover staffing as well as legal fees needed to reimburse for parents “for external educational costs incurred by them due to the pandemic-related school closures.”
When at-large school board member Abrar Omeish asked whether it was appropriate to use the funds on “trying to clean something up,” Presidio said the DOE confirmed it’s “an allowable expense” to address learning losses — one of four categories covered by ESSER.
While the spending plan mostly focuses on existing expenses, like a school health officer and the return of an expanded summer learning program, FCPS has proposed two new “projects”: $1.2 million to upgrade its website, and $250,000 to contract outside agencies that will work with chronically absent students.
About 15% of FCPS students missed 10% of school days or more during the 2021-2022 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
“Essentially, we’re identifying individuals that can connect with the student and connect with the family, understand the root causes of why that student is not able to attend school,” Presidio said. “It might be a health issue, it might be a transportation issue, it might be a work issue and a scheduling issue, and really help try to resolve those for the student and family as best as possible.”
He said counselors, teachers, social services and other school workers will stay involved, but the chronic absenteeism provider will have more capacity for the “labor-intensive” task of working with individual families.
“We need somebody who’s able to actually do those home visits and really coordinate and kind of case manage the services for the student and to be able to spend time with the family and student to understand what those root causes are,” he said.
Some school board members expressed concern about the amount of ESSER funds going to staff positions, from social workers to academic tutors, given that the money will run out after the 2023-2024 school year.
Presidio noted that some positions previously covered by ESSER have been phased out, like social distancing monitors, while other expenses, like additional English as a Second Language workers, have been incorporated into FCPS’ regular budget.
However, he acknowledged that in many cases, decisions will need to be made about “can we afford to retain any of these positions or do we lose them all.”
The proposed ESSER budget for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1, is scheduled to be approved by the school board on May 11. FCPS then hopes to get the VDOE’s approval by May 31.
The Town of Vienna will hold its big Fourth of July celebration two days early this year, the second in a row that has required a scheduling change.
The festivities at Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW) had to be moved up to Sunday, July 2, due to continued staffing shortages in the fireworks industry, the town announced on Monday (May 1).
“We are disappointed that we were again unable to secure a fireworks company for the traditional 4th of July event this year,” Vienna Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Herman said. “While July 2 is not our preferred date, we are excited to contract with Garden State Fireworks to provide the fireworks display for the Town’s Independence Day Celebration.”
Garden State Fireworks was secured for July 4 by the National Park Service to provide its annual pyrotechnic display at the National Mall in D.C., according to Herman.
Held on July 1, 2022, Vienna’s Fourth of July celebration wasn’t the only one moved outside of the official holiday last year, as staff limitations also affected events in Reston, McLean and Fairfax City. The McLean Community Center’s July 2 display ultimately got washed out by rain.
Though it’s taking place a little early again, Vienna’s celebration will feature all of the usual attractions, including live music, kids’ entertainment, and games starting at 4 p.m. Food and drinks will be available from food trucks and a concession stand run by Vienna Little League.
The fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. and last 20 minutes, launching from adjacent Southside Park.
More information about what’s permitted at the event, parking and street closures can be found on the town’s website.
