The long-awaited Tysons Technology Park near Leesburg Pike is about a month away from opening.

The athletic field just south of the intersection of Leesburg Pike and the Beltway will replace a surface parking lot with a five-level parking garage and a full-sized athletic field. The athletic field includes amenities like LED lighting, bleachers and bicycle racks.

The project was built as part of a proffer — an accommodation from a developer to qualify for zoning exemptions — from the Meridian Group for the nearby Boro project. Once opened, the field will be operated and maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Mike Killelea, a communications manager with construction contractor L.F. Jennings, said the project is a few weeks from completion.

“We should be turning it over to the Park Authority by the middle of May,” said Killelea “We should be done with construction by May 1.”

Killelea said after the handover to the Park Authority, the project will likely have to go through some paperwork and review before the it opens. Staff at the Park Authority said that until the park is handed over, it would be difficult to determine exactly how long that process will take, but that ribbon-cutting for the park is still tentatively planned for mid-late May.

Image courtesy L.F. Jennings

A new photography studio opening tomorrow (Thursday) in Vienna focuses on high-end, portraiture photoshoots.

The Melody Yazdani Studio at 144 Church Street NW. has a grand opening scheduled for 6 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m.

The studio specializes in portraits of women.

According to the website:

Session fees start at $275, with hair and makeup services available. Clients typically invest $1400-$5000 on custom collections. Session fees do not include prints or digital files, and travel fees may apply for sessions further than 15 miles from Vienna, Virginia.

The studio advises potential subjects to book a session at least two weeks before the photo shoot, though during peak seasons some slots fill up months in advance.

Exterior photo via Google Maps. Studio photo via Facebook.

Fairfax County police have arrested Jeffrey Cummins, owner of the Huntington Learning Centers franchises in Tysons and Springfield, on charges of sexually abusing two former students.

Cummins is a music teacher who gives lessons in his Annandale home and, in addition to the Huntington Learning Centers, is the founder and artistic director of Virginia Music Adventures — a music group for school-age children — according to a police report.

Police say Cummins, 56, was arrested on arrival at Dulles airport from international travel and is facing eight felony counts of indecent liberties by a custodian against children. Per a FCPD press release:

Detectives began their investigation in May 2018 when a juvenile disclosed that he had been inappropriately touched by Cummins over a period of several years. In January of this year, another victim came forward and disclosed he had also been abused for several years by Cummins. The investigation showed that the sexual abuse occurred both during music lessons and at other times when the juveniles were at his home.

Police say anyone who is concerned their child may have had inappropriate contact with Cummins should contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800.

Photo via Fairfax County Police Department

After a weather-related delay in February, the new half-mile Vesper Trail connecting Vienna and the Spring Hill Metro station is now open.

The new trail runs through the Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley Park, sometimes called “Tysons’ Last Forest.”

The trail is part of a series of necessary transportation improvements identified in the Tysons Metrorail Station Access Management Study. The trail is federally funded.

At the grand opening this morning (Tuesday), Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova and Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins spoke at the grand opening and emphasized the new trail’s crucial role in connecting Vienna residents to Tysons transit and retail.

New Vesper Trail makes it easier for residents to walk and bike to Spring Hill Metro and other shops in Tysons! @ffxconnector pic.twitter.com/gcjOLBHJg1

— Sharon Bulova (@SharonBulova) April 16, 2019

Photo via Twitter

Police say a Vienna resident broke into Oakton High School early this morning (Tuesday) and was seen riding a scooter around the hallways while trying to get into classrooms.

Around 1:41 a.m., security at the school reported that they saw someone riding a scooter inside of the school trying to open classroom doors, according to a police report.

The report says police found the man in the parking lot and placed him under arrest for unlawful entry and trespassing.

Photo via Google Maps

Jolie Hair Studio, a new hair and beauty salon, is open for business at 121 Maple Avenue W. in Vienna.

The store officially opened a little over a month ago, on Feb. 21.

The Vienna studio is the second location for Jolie Hair Studio, which also has a salon at 10132 Colvin Run Road in Great Falls.

Services at the store range from haircuts for $30-$35 to waxing for $10-$15, along with more involved blowouts and two-hour bridal make-up sessions for $200.

In addition to hair cuts, the studio offers beauty treatments like varicose vein removal, botox treatment and nail coloring.

A grand opening celebration included a ribbon-cutting with Town of Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco.

Photo via Facebook

Longtime Vienna furniture retailer Posh! is departing its longtime Maple Avenue home and offering a farewell warning that the town is on the cusp of losing its small retail.

Posh! started 37 years ago with an interior design focus aimed at filling the need for high-end residential clients. Now, store owner Mary Anne Antonides is closing down the sprawling location in Vienna and says traffic, parking, and the pressures of new developments are all partially to blame.

During early afternoons, Antonides says it can take an hour just to get across town, which deters people from traveling to Vienna.

“In Vienna, we’re losing our independent stores,” Antonides said. “We lost the shops along Church Street.”

It isn’t the first time Vienna traffic has been a problem for Posh! Antonides said the store relocated off of its original Church Street location because there wasn’t enough parking to support local retail.

“When the Mill Street parking deal fell apart, that was it,” said Antonides. “Vienna is struggling with their development, and the impact for business is huge.”

More businesses are opening than closing in Vienna, but local experts warn that smaller retail locations are still being hit hard.

The move isn’t entirely driven by negative local experiences — Antonides also said she’s hoping to shift the brand from traditional retail to a more event-driven system.

With Posh! looking for a new location, Antonides says she’s hoping to reopen with a new warehouse in Merrifield and a studio in McLean where the store can showcase specialty designer items.

Finding a space in McLean that works for Posh! has also proved challenging. Antonides says the store needs a free-standing structure to be able to “create our own destiny.” In practical terms, Antonides says she wants to be able to host events that might involve putting a tent outside or other activities that wouldn’t be possible in a shared space.

But free-standing space in downtown McLean is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity as the town’s new Community Business Center aims to make the primary retail areas part of larger mixed-use developments.

Antonides also noted that many of these new mixed-use developments cater more to larger retail chains than local small businesses. She said that many of the new developments have leasing square footages that can be daunting for small businesses.

“My worry is that we’re losing our identity with artisans and small businesses,” Antonides said. “When they close, we lose connectivity and friendships.”

No specific closing date is planned, but once the Vienna location does close, Antonides says there’s a tenant currently finalizing a lease to take over the front space.

Photo via Facebook

There’s already been a substantial amount of digging and preliminary work at the Monarch, a 20-story condominium tower northeast of Tysons Galleria, but last week the project officially broke ground.

The tower at 7887 Jones Branch Drive is now under construction with an opening scheduled for late 2020.

The site is planned to have 94 residences with a dozen floor plans, from 880 to 3,4000 square feet, meaning the building will have a range of two to six units per floor. Designs show that all residents will have floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor balconies.

Prices range from $600,000 to just over $3 million.

The project is part of the Arbor Row development, a 19-acre stretch of mixed-use buildings along Westpark Drive. The first building of the project, the residential Nouvelle, was completed in 2015 and the next phase, senior living facility The Mather, is going to the Fairfax County Planning Commission next week.

“Arbor Row is the new Tysons’ most livable neighborhood,” Albert H. Small Jr., founder of developer Renaissance, said in a press release. “There already are pedestrian pathways that lead to enticing restaurants and shops, and more green space than you will find anywhere else in Tysons. With both Wegmans and Whole Foods opening soon in the immediate area, Arbor Row will offer extensive options to support a healthy lifestyle.”

While the project is planned to be walkable in the long-run, locals should be aware that construction activity has temporarily closed the sidewalk along Westpark Drive.

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (April 16)

• Vesper Trail Ribbon Cutting — 10 a.m. at Higdon Drive — The new Vesper Trail connecting Old Courthouse Road in Vienna to the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons after earlier delays.
• Sugar Mountain: Neil Young Tribute Band — 7:30 p.m. at Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave E) — The Neil Young Tribute Band Sugar Mountain is scheduled to play at Jammin Java tomorrow. Tickets are $20.

Wednesday (April 17)

• Maibock Tapping Party — 6-8 p.m. at Gordon Biersch Brewery (7861 Tysons Corner Center) — The Tysons Corner Center’s Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is tapping party to raise funds for the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department. The event is planned to include tastings, appetizers, live music and more. A quarter will be donated to the department for every pint served, and 15 percent of all restaurant sales during the party.

Thursday (April 18)

• Monty Python’s Life of Brian Screening — 7-9 p.m. at the Angelika Film Center (2911 District Ave.) — The Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District will host a screening of the controversial satire The Life of Brian. Tickets are $15.

Friday (April 19)

• Earth Day Party — 5-9 p.m. at the Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) — The Tysons Biergarten is hosting a live music and drinking party to celebrate Earth day, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Rainforest Trust. Bring a printed flyer for the event or a screenshot of the event page and show it to the bartender.

Saturday (April 20)

• Spring Fest — 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave) — The McLean Community Center is hosting a spring festival with a mix of live entertainment and self-guided arts and crafts. The program aims at children ages 3-8. Registration in advance for $5 is required.

Sunday (April 21)

• Early Mornings in the Garden — 6-10 a.m. at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct.) — Photographers, birdwatchers, and other interested parties are invited to a special early morning walk through the gardens. The gardens typically open at 10 a.m., but early visitors will have a chance to see some of the birds in their most active times. Standard garden admission — $3 to $6 — applies.
• Easter Brunch — 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Mad Fox Brewing Company (444 W Broad Street) — The Mad Fox Brewing Company is opening early for a brunch buffet aimed at accommodating entire families. Adults tickets are $28 and kid tickets are $12.

Photo via Facebook

City of Falls Church police are looking for more information regarding a peeping tom seen outside of Saint James Catholic School (830 Park Avenue).

According to a press release, a man was spotted outside of the school on Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m.

“An unknown subject was observed outside watching parents and children through a window while touching himself inappropriately,” according to the police report. “The suspect ran when confronted.”

The suspect was described as “a Hispanic male, approximately 30 years of age, 5’6” height, medium build, ‘crew-cut’ hairstyle, wearing a white button down shirt with blue jeans.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Falls Church Police at 703-248-5053.

File photo