The Vienna Arts Society recently announced that it is seeking submissions for a new community-wide project.

Called “The Art of Kindness,” the project aims to gather pieces that portray a kind act within the town, according to the art group’s website.

Submissions may be in the form of poems, photographs or illustrations, the website said, but they must be sent in anonymously.

Digital submissions can be emailed to organizers. Hard copy works must not exceed 8.5 by 11 inches in diameter and can be sent to Amy-Jo Hendrix at the Town of Vienna’s Parks and Recreation Department (127 Center Street S.) or dropped off at a list of pre-arranged locations.

Everyone is encouraged to participate, and organizers are working with “Vienna schools and churches to involve as many citizens as possible,” according to the event page.

The submission deadline is Sept. 30 and event organizers plan to debut the finished project at the gallery Oct. 24-25.

Image via Vienna Arts Society

A Tysons teenager decided to use his newly found free time to assist with COVID-19 relief efforts by creating his own campaign to help health care workers and local eateries.

Arul Nigam, who is 17, founded Heroes of COVID to arrange food deliveries to hospitals in pandemic hotspots around the country and support local eateries in the process by paying them for their services.

Thanks to donors, Nigam uses funds from a GoFundMe page to purchases meals from struggling eateries to give to hospital workers.

So far, Nigam said the project has raised around $9,000 and has helped people not only around the Tysons area but in nine different states as well.

Just last Wednesday, Heroes of COVID delivered a meal to Inova in Falls Church, according to its Facebook Page.

Each meal that is delivered to a medical worker also features a personal note, Nigam said.

Along with meal deliveries, the organization also features medical professionals who work in challenging conditions and gives them a platform to voice their experiences.

“We are creating a platform for health care workers to share their message and share what it’s like working on the front lines, he said. “A lot of health care workers want to use it as a platform to educate people on the types of precautions they should take during this time to protect themselves and everyone around them.”

Anyone who works in the medical field and wants to share their experience can message the Facebook page or drop a comment on one of its recent posts.

“We hope that showcasing their stories and broadcasting their messages will help spread awareness, build confidence, and foster safety, while encouraging us all to be more cautious and cognizant,” the Facebook page said.

People can also follow the Heroes of COVID’s Instagram account if they’d like to hear about the personal narratives from healthcare workers.

This experience helped Nigam to hone his networking, logistic and coordination skills, he said. But, this isn’t his first experience with campaigning.

He previously started an organization that works with companies to host community service events that allow staff members to bond with their co-workers while helping their community. A popular project, Nigam said, is gathering members of a company during a lunch break to assemble meals to give to homeless shelters.

As a junior in high school, he added that his peers are really interested in his work.

“A lot of them have shared information about it with friends and family, which has helped elevate us on social media,” he said. “That has been really helpful.”

As of last week, Heroes of COVID has managed to help feed workers at roughly 17 different hospitals around the country.

Photo courtesy Shirali Nigam

After the COVID-19 pandemic prompted its closure, Lebanese Taverna in Tysons Galleria reopened last week for delivery and takeout.

The local chain’s Facebook page said that the eateries closed on March 18, but that owners reopened several locations, including the one in Tysons Galleria, on April 30.

The eatery serves Lebanese fare such as shawarma, falafels, rice dishes, bowls, salads and appetizers, according to its website.

Anyone interested in ordering from the Tysons location can call 703-847-5244, the eatery’s Facebook page said, adding that people can also order through services like Doordash and UberEats.

Along with reopening for customers, the eatery has also been active catering meals for medical staff and first responders, according to its Facebook page.

Photo via Lebanese Taverna/Facebook

Wegmans announced today (Tuesday) that 300 part-time employees are currently being hired and trained for the upcoming Tysons store.

The supermarket chain previously said that it plans to employ roughly 480 people at the store at 1835 S. Capital One Drive. Right next to the McLean Metro station, the 80,000-square-foot store will be a part of Capital One’s campus.

Now, Wegmans says that “the vast majority [are] hired locally.”

More from Wegmans on its job opportunities:

Part-time positions are available in all departments, offering competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and a workplace known for a caring, family atmosphere. Select full-time openings remain for cooks, produce, and bakery…

Applicants may apply online at jobs.wegmans.com/tysons-corner or call 571-423-0707 for more information.

Wegmans also announced the Tysons store’s leadership.

Kevin Russell, who started as a produce clerk at a Wegmans in New York and was most recently the store manager for one in Massachusetts, is the opening store manager in Tysons.

As the executive chef, Patrick Deans will manage a team of 135 culinary employees. Meanwhile, Matt Collalto will be the service area manager and Claudia Worley will be the merchandising area manager.

Photo courtesy Wegmans

Several Tysons-area eateries are among the nominees for this year’s Rammy’s from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Announced yesterday (Monday), the nominees for several categories include restaurants in Tysons, Vienna, the Mosaic District and Falls Church.

Here are the nominations for local restaurants:

• Manager of the Year: Bethany Wagener of Alta Strada in the Mosaic District and Rizza Leguro of Founding Farmers Tysons
• Pastry Chef of the Year: Katherine Thompson of Thompson Italian
• Wine Program of the Year: Vienna’s Clarity
• Beer Program of the Year: B Side in the Mosaic District and Caboose Brewing Company in Vienna
• Restaurateur of the Year: Mark Fedorchak, Stephen Fedorchak and Brian Normile of The Liberty Tavern Group, which manages Northside Social in Falls Church, and Victor Albisu and Poca Madre of Taco Bamba Taqueria — a local chain with locations in Falls Church and Vienna

So far, the winners are expected to be announced at the awards gala in D.C. on July 26, but coronavirus-prompted closures and restrictions could alter the date.

“RAMW is considering an unspecified date later in the year with its partners at Events DC,” according to the announcement.

Congrats to the local nominees!

Photo via Thompson Italian/Facebook

With Virginia businesses poised to have fewer restrictions in mid-May, Fairfax County’s top official is urging people to stay home to save lives.

Yesterday, Gov. Ralph Northam unveiled a three-phase plan to roll back restrictions on businesses possibly starting on May 15 — after extending the closure of non-essential businesses through May 14.

Meanwhile, his stay-at-home order, which is in effect until June 10, would become a “safer at home” recommendation, according to his presentation.

Jeff McKay, the chairman for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is weighing in on the governor’s proposal and calling on people to continue to stay home.

“A path forward is necessary, but public health and saving lives are our biggest priorities,” he said in a statement to Tysons Reporter. “The first phase, however, doesn’t really change how we will operate.”

Fairfax County continues to have the highest reported number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths due to the illness in the state. As of today, the county has at least 4,834 cases and 201 deaths, according to the state’s health department.

McKay noted that Northam included a variety of data, including the number of daily positive test results and hospital bed capacity, when explaining the rationale behind the plan.

Both in the statement and a letter to county residents last night, McKay urged county residents to stay home, pointing to Fairfax County’s continued rise in COVID-19 cases.

“We are in the exponential growth period of our epidemic curve and will see more cases and deaths in the coming weeks,” the letter said. “I encourage you to not change what you are doing. We can’t see our friends and go to concerts yet, that’s the reality.”

State health officials recently said that social distancing has already prevented nearly 36,600 cases in Fairfax County — and an estimated 134,000 cases by June 10.

McKay’s full statement to Tysons Reporter:

It’s good to see that Governor Northam is establishing data- and science-driven metrics in his decision to gradually ease restrictions in Virginia. A path forward is necessary, but public health and saving lives are our biggest priorities. The first phase, however, doesn’t really change how we will operate. Just because certain parts of the economy will re-open, doesn’t mean that you have to or should leave the house. As Governor Northam said, it will [be] safer-to-stay home. I will continue to encourage county residents to do so because our case numbers continue to rise exponentially. It is my hope that we start seeing less cases soon, but we aren’t out of the woods just yet.

Fairfax County Has $200M of Federal Funds to Dole Out — “The one-time funds may be used only for county expenses incurred in response to the COVID-19 public-health emergency from March 1 through Dec. 30, 2020… The county government will be allowed to use the funds to cover public-health needs and other expenses directly related to the pandemic response, plus economic support for businesses and employees affected by the crisis.” [Inside NoVa]

Virginia Businesses May Soon Face Fewer Restrictions — “Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday that Virginia could begin Phase I of its economic re-opening as early as next week. Northam says he plans to extend his executive order that restricted certain businesses and banned gathering of more than 10 people through May 14.” [WJLA]

Drumroll for the Volunteer Fairfax Awards — The long list of winners for Fairfax County’s service awards is here. [Volunteer Fairfax]

Local Teacher Makes Blog to Support Kids — “The art department at Madison High created a blog to facilitate students’ transition to distance learning. The blog allows students enrolled in every level and medium of art class to feel a sense of community as they respond together to the weekly prompt.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Plot twist: #cyclists may find that the roads in and around #Tysons are a better option than the W&OD trail that is “so crowded with folks trying to get some sun that it's impossible to stay six feet apart.” #COVID19 #cyclinglifestyle #cyclinglife #covidlife https://t.co/bhiiy4kTXe

— Tysons Partnership (@tysonspartners) May 4, 2020

A new Tysons tech startup imagines a world where people can pay for goods and check into their favorite fitness studio with a smile.

Yombu, a biometrics and “identity management” company, is already working with more than 350 businesses around the world to manage the way clients check-in their patrons and manage payments using fingerprint identification, facial recognition and similar biometrics, according to Derek Sanford, the CEO and one of the company’s three co-founders.

Biometrics, according to the Department of Homeland Security, are defined as unique physical traits that can identify a person and are already used by government agencies like at immigration checkpoints.

Instead of governmental uses, Yombu is trying to set up a system where users won’t have to go through the process of setting up new accounts every time someone visits a different salon or a new service.

With the software, people can be identified by their biometrics and auto-populate basic information with a tap of a finger or glance at a camera.

“You have to fill out your name, birth date and all of that information every single time. With our system, you can just access your account and repopulate all of that,” he said.

Yombu also allows for “customer and employee check-in, access control, liability waiver verification, payment acceptance, [and] employee attendance,” according to the company’s website.

The founding trio settled on Tysons as a headquarter because a lot of the team was already located in the Northern Virginia area and happened upon a co-working space at 1751 Pinnacle Drive they liked.

Since its founding roughly five years ago, Yombu recently partnered with Mindbody, a California based scheduling company, to serve fitness centers and spas to help with digitization services.

Part of the reason Yombu has been successful, according to Sanford, is because of the growing trend to declutter front desks and modernize a hassle-free check-in process.

“It’s where everyone really wants to go. There’s a lot of systems out there, but not a lot of cohesion,” he said, adding that many systems don’t work well together and people don’t want to see printers and clutter on a desk.

Instead, Yombu’s leadership sees a future where a check-in desk involves a computer and tablet to the side.

Though the company has “fingers in a lot of different pies,” Sanford told Tysons Reporter that it is ahead of competing companies because the team is willing to reiterate products, push forward to meet ever-changing demand and blend several services into one package.

As the company looks to the future, Sanford said that the company is putting a heavy emphasis on facial recognition, since customers seem to be requesting it at a higher rate. With the rise of COVID-19, people will be less inclined to touch communal surfaces in the future, he added.

“Fingerprint is tried and true, fast and cost-effective, but a lot of people were asking about facial recognition,” Sanford said. 

For people who are concerned about security in an increasingly digital world, Sanford said the company doesn’t sell any personal data and closely follows the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulations, which he thinks are stricter than regulations in the United States.

People have control over their own data, he said: “If they want to delete their data or change it, that’s their prerogative.”

In the next several years, Sanford said he hopes Yombu becomes worth billions of dollars and focuses on innovating to help consumers and build alliances with partners.

Photo via Yombu/Facebook

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!

Though many in-person events are canceled, organizations and businesses are setting up digital events to keep people occupied.

For people interested in on-demand activities, the Fairfax County Park Authority is offering digital classes, scavenger hunts and activities for people of all ages. The Virtual Exploration Center lets people stream workout classes, and each week staffers will introduce a featured activity.

Tuesday (May 5)

• Ladies’ Night — Victory Comics is hosting a virtual Ladies’ Night book club at 7 p.m. for people interested in reading “Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights.” This free event invites people from around town to join the conversation.

Thursday (May 7)

• The New Yorker Discussion Group — The Mary Styles Public Library is hosting a free Zoom conversation from 2-3 p.m. for people who are fans of The New Yorker. This week’s article of discussion will be “Why Americans are Dying from Despair” by Atul Gawande from the March 23 issue.
• Online Trivia with The Boro — The Boro, DC Fray and District Fray Magazine will team up to offer people a free trivia session on cities, 2000 music and Disney from 7:30-9:30 p.m. People need a computer and phone to participate. Participants have the chance to win a $50 e-gift card to Whole Foods.
• Virtual Romance Book Club — One More Page Books is hosting a free book club at 7 p.m. for people reading “An Extraordinary Union: An Epic Love Story of the Civil War.” Anyone interested can sign up online and receive a link via email, the page said.

Friday (May 8)

• Food Truck Friday Pickup Dinner — From 5-8 p.m. at Avalon Tysons Corner (1569 Onyx Drive), Curbside Kitchen is going to offer ready-made meals with no-contact pickup. Foodies who want a change of pace have the opportunity to try a new locally made dish.
• Adult Game Night on Zoom — The Emmanuel Lutheran Church is hosting a digital game night for the community from 7-8 p.m. People can RSVP and receive a link to play trivia and Jeopardy, the event page said.

Saturday (May 9)

• Theatrical Teens! Virtual Improv Workshop — From 2-3:30 p.m., kids ages 11-15 can take part in a virtual workshop. Registration is $18, and the event signup can be found online.
• Virtual UUAM Social Gathering and Farm Tour — The Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry in Vienna is offering people a chance to connect with animals digitally from 6:30-8 p.m. thanks to an organization out of Colorado. People might have the chance to e-meet cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, ducks, horses, a chukar partridge and a llama, the page said. This event is free but participants must register to receive a Zoom invite.

(Updated 8/24/2020) Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday — and local Mexican restaurants are offering specials, to-go margaritas and more for the festivities.

Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration stemming from the Mexican Army defeating the French Empire during a battle on May 5, 1862 and — especially in the U.S. — is a day to honor Mexican culture, according to History.com.

Tysons Reporter found several restaurants offering delivery and pick-up for diners craving Mexican fare tomorrow.

Rango’s Tex-Mex & Grill (1934 Old Gallows Road) opens at 2 p.m. for Cinco de Mayo for pick-up, according to its website. The online menu for the festivities includes a family meal to feed four to five people, a “30 Taco Pack” and margaritas and sangria. Diners can also order individual Mexican dishes as well.

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill’s local spots in Falls Church (7630 Lee Hwy) and McLean (1433 Center Street) both offer pick-up and delivery. Both the Falls Church menu and McLean menu include fajita combos, Pancho platters, enchiladas, burritos and more.

Anita’s New Mexico Style Mexican Food (521 Maple Ave E.) in Vienna is open for pick-up with a menu featuring margaritas and beer, an extensive breakfast menu, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more.

El Sol (262 Cedar Lane, Suite C) in the Cedar Park Shopping Center has a $7 to-go margaritas and $4 tequila and mezcal shots special for Cinco de Mayo, according to its Facebook page. Diners must order food and alcoholic drinks over the phone at (703) 712-7701. The menu includes tacos, quesadillas and more Mexican fare.

Wild Tacoz (7167 Lee Hwy) is offering a Cinco de Mayo special — 10% off all orders over $20 — and has delivery and curb-side pick-up options.

La Campesina Restaurant (8442 Lee Hwy) in Merrifield offers delivery and pick-up via Grubhub. The menu includes tres leches, tacos, burritos, chimichangas and more.

Taco Bamba’s spots in Falls Church (2190 Pimmit Drive) and Vienna (164 Maple Ave W.) both offer carry-out and delivery. The Falls Church menu features margarita mixes, breakfast, tacos and traditional rice pudding, while the Vienna menu has pineapple margaritas, cocktail mixers, beer, wine, breakfast dishes, tostadas, nachos, sandwiches and tacos.

With locations in Tysons (1500-C Cornerside Blvd) and Dunn Loring (2676-O Avenir Place), District Taco is offering pick-up, curbside delivery and delivery via Doordash for tacos, burritos, salads and quesadillas.

While La Sandia (7852 Tysons Corner Center) is closed, the restaurant has shared its Baja Fish Taco recipe on Facebook. Meanwhile, Tequila Grande (444 Maple Ave W.) in Vienna is closed and moving to Oakton.

Corrects name of Cedar Park Shopping Center

Photo via El Sol/Facebook