Tysons’ 1st Stage Theatre is starting a series for virtual meet and greets with the staff and performers, along with a peek at the creative process.
The theater announced the new series yesterday (Monday). Called “Community Conversations,” the series kicks off on Saturday, May 9.
Since the coronavirus pandemic prompted show cancellations, the theater has taken to social media to share videos of short performances.
The line-up for the series includes:
- May 9: Meet the Staff
- May 16: Artistic Directors in Conversation
- May 23: Performers in Quarantine
- May 30: How 1st Stage Develops New Work
- June 6: The Life of a Solo Artist
- June 13: Cultural Tysons
All of the conversations will take place at 2 p.m. EST on Zoom and will be posted on social media afterwards for people who couldn’t attend live, according to the theater.
People interested in joining, can register online for each conversation.
More than 100 people in Fairfax County have died as a result of COVID-19, according to state data.
As of today (Tuesday), 114 people in the county died from the respiratory illness. The number of total cases continues to rise.
A dashboard created by the county offers new insights into localized data.
The number of new cases by week for the Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county, is below:
- Feb. 28: four cases
- March 1: 27 cases
- March 8: 103 cases
- March 15: 247 cases
- March 22: 305 cases
- March 29: 411 cases
- April 5: 532 cases
- April 12: 553 cases
- April 19: 239 cases
Data for the last three weeks is incomplete due to gaps between the time of exposure and the onset of symptoms, according to the county.
So far, the pandemic continues to grow exponentially if the number of total confirmed cases is charted against the number of new confirmed cases per week. This means that the rate of new cases is equal to the rate of existing cases.
A slowdown in new cases is detected when the line begins to trend downward.
Images via Fairfax County Health Department
Budget Public Hearings Start Today — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors starts its public hearings on the proposed fiscal year 2021 budget today. [Fairfax County]
How Vienna Candidates Campaign in COVID-19 Crisis — “Candidates told the Sun Gazette they miss door-to-door campaigning, but are reaching out to voters through social media. The election’s date, which had remained a moving target until late last week, complicated matters further, they said.” [Inside NoVa]
Gov. Northam Says Child Vaccines Declining — “Due to COVID-19, the state is starting to see a decline in immunizations, Northam said, as parents decide not to take their children to the pediatrician for their vaccines.” [Inside NoVa]
Virginia Scores Poorly for Social Distancing — “Virginia has scored a D- while the City of Falls Church has received an overall social distancing grade of C+ based on community activity using metrics comparing current mobility data to that before the Covid-19 outbreak. The assessments come from data company Unacast.” [Falls Church News-Press]
APRIL 27: COVID-19 Update for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Personnel. Information is up-to-date as of 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 26. More: https://t.co/J5tdoSU2g4 #FCFRD #FFXCOVID pic.twitter.com/JMBpJ7r4OJ
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 27, 2020
Ramadan is underway, and worshipers in the Tysons area are adapting so they can still celebrate while social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders are in place.
The month of fasting and communal prayer celebrates the time of year when God was said to reveal to the Prophet Muhammad the Qurʾān, Islam’s holy book. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, people are foregoing traditional in-person community dinners and prayer services at mosques.
Religious leaders and volunteers from both the privatized Aga Khan Council and the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, which is a public mosque, told Tysons Reporter that they are encouraging worshipers to stay home with their families this year and celebrate using digital methods.
Ramadan began on April 23 and will end on May 32. The religious holiday is considered one of the holiest months for the Islamic faith and involves “intense spiritual rejuvenation,” according to the Islamic Networks Group.
Dar Al-Hijrah, which is located in the outskirts of Falls Church, is struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Saif Rahman, the director of public works and government affairs for the center.
“We were hit pretty hard,” he said.
The first weekend in March was when the center was scheduled to host its fundraising dinner and also the same weekend places of worship were shut down around the area, he said. The center lost roughly 15- 20% of its yearly funding, he said.
“This meant that the 4,000 people who gather for Friday prayers could not gather for the first time in our history,” the website said.
Still, during this time Rahman said the center feels obligated to help the community in time of need, especially during Ramadan. Despite the lack of funding, the mosque is feeding hundreds of families of all faiths each Thursday, according to Rahman. The center is actively seeking donations and details can be found online.
Dar Al-Hijrah is also providing Iftar meals for the elderly and people who are incarcerated. As part of the Ramadan ceremony, Iftar meals are usually served with family and the extended community to mark the end of fasting for the day.
This year, instead of serving meals together in a community space, Rahman said volunteers organized a drive up and drop off system for the food.
“Ramadan is a time communities come together,” he said. “That physical connection may not be there, but we are trying to keep that spiritual connection through the means available to us. “
Going forward, Rahman said that the end of Ramadan will be among the hardest time for the families and really “hit home.” He compared the end of Ramadan to Christmas dinner, adding that it will become especially difficult and sad when people cannot be around their larger communities and support systems.
The mosque is encouraging people to touch base with family and friends through digital software.
For people interested in at-home prayer services, they can tune into prerecorded sessions on Dar Al-Hijrah‘s website.
Meanwhile, the McLean Islamic Center is a virtual program, with nightly Zoom sessions during Ramadan.
“While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will prevent us from being together physically, we can however connect in remarkable ways virtually,” according to the center’s website.
The Aga Khan Council, a private institution of worship that has a location in Falls Church, is offering free workshops for its members during Ramadan, volunteer Zak Karim said. Though the center doesn’t offer religious ceremonies, he said that the group’s leaders are encouraging virtual connection with friends and family.
The staff at their Jamat Khana, a place of worship for Shia Ismaili Muslims, is also encouraging people to pray at home with their families and engage in spiritual activities such as yoga.
“It’s about how healthy eating, healthy choices, cooking classes and then more of the educational meaning — learning how art and culture — intersect with one’s ability to contemplate thought,” Karim said.
Photo via Masjid Pogung Dalangan /Unsplash
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.
Tuesday (April 28)
- How to Market When Nothing is Business as Usual — noon to 1 p.m. — This free webinar will help business owners attract clients despite the economic concerns with COVID-19. Hosted by the Tysons Chamber of Commerce, people can connect with other entrepreneurs in the area. Susan Trivers will be the primary speaker for this event.
- Sweatworking — 5 to 7 p.m. — People have the chance to combine networking with their daily exercise schedule with a Vinyasa Flow Yoga class led by Candace Harding and the Tysons Chamber of Commerce followed by an hour of networking with other participants, the event page said. This event is free. Registration is optional.
Wednesday (April 29)
- Playwriting Workshop — 7 to 8:30 p.m. — This adult workshop is part of an eight-week course beginning this week. People will learn about character development, plot and best practices for emotional impact, according to the event description. It is taught through Creative Cauldron in Falls Church and the price is $240.
- An Evening With Local Poets — 7 p.m. — One More Page Books is hosting a free poetry event with Katherine Gekker and others who will be sharing their works. The event is free and open to the public, the event page said, adding it will be hosted on Facebook Live.
Thursday (April 30)
- Virtual Tasting With Tröegs — 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Black Dog Beer Shop will be doing a virtual tasting on Facebook Live for anyone who wishes to watch, according to the event page. People can order prearranged four-packs beforehand and get them delivered or just pick them up with curbside drop, the event page said.
Sunday (May 2)
- Traveling Players Auditions — time slots vary — The Tysons-based theater group is still hosting auditions for its summer series. Kids ages 4-12 are invited to audition through Zoom for their spot in an upcoming performance, according to the website. Parents can sign their kids up online for a spot.
Photo via Carl Barcelo/Unsplash
Drivers and pedestrians who traverse the Cedar Lane Bridge over I-66 between Vienna and Merrifield will soon have to use a detour.
The bridge is set to close around May 15 for demolition and construction on a new bridge, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
“The bridge will be rebuilt to accommodate the widening of I-66 and will include a shared-use path and wider sidewalk,” VDOT said in an email update.
More from VDOT:
Closing the bridge for this planned six-month period will reduce the duration and impacts of construction activities on travelers and surrounding neighborhoods. Other options were considered, including partial closure approaches that would have taken more than two years to complete. The full bridge closure also maximizes construction activity over Metrorail tracks during the planned Metro Orange Line shutdown between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.
The bridge will be closed for roughly six months. People who normally use the bridge will have marked detours to use Gallows Road to cross the interstate, according VDOT.
The bridge work is a part of VDOT’s multi-year Transform 66 project. The new bridge is expected to open in late November of this year, followed by the I-66 Express Lanes in December 2022, according to the project’s webpage.
Image via Virginia Department of Transportation
(Updated 5/11/2020) The Town of Vienna’s upcoming election is now set to take place on May 19.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday (April 24) a two-week delay for local elections, including Vienna’s.
Because of the altered date, absentee ballot applications are now due May 12, according to a tweet from town officials. Fairfax County officials are strongly urging absentee voting to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Due to #coronavirus, the Virginia Dept of Elections "strongly encourages" absentee voting in the May elections. Use reason "2A My illness or disability." Absentee vote by mail: https://t.co/xRsj4c4jP7#COVID19 #socialdistancing #FlattenTheCurve #VoteAbsentee #Vote @vaELECT pic.twitter.com/kDfRDDlRQU
— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) March 18, 2020
Three councilmembers are vying for Mayor Laurie DiRocco’s seat, while seven candidates running for council seats.
Due to the coronavirus, in-person debates were canceled and replaced with virtual debates — one for the mayoral candidates and the other for councilmember candidates — hosted by the North East Vienna Citizens Association and Vienna Business Association.
Tysons Reporter offered the candidates the opportunity to respond to a Q&A with topics ranging from climate change to height limitations for commercial development along Maple Avenue.
Here are the published Q&As, listed in alphabetical order by first name, that have been published so far:
Mayoral candidate Q&As:
Councilmember candidate Q&As:
Inside NoVa also published several candidate profiles.
Photo by Element5 Digital/Unsplash
Over the weekend, Fairfax County unveiled a new COVID-19 dashboard, providing more insight into geographic and racial data on the virus.
In addition to previously available data on total case numbers, deaths, age distributions and hospitalizations, the new dashboard now offers data on:
- cases by locality
- case rates by combined zip codes grouped by the first three digits
- cases by racial and ethnic groups
- trajectory of cases to show increases or decreases
- epidemic curve “shows the number of new cases that occur by week of onset”
“All data are subject to change, and this information should not be used to determine your individual level of risk or to self-diagnose,” according to the database.
Tysons, McLean and Vienna are a part of one zip code group, which also includes Wolf Trap, Oakton and Springfield, that has 618 reported cases — 252.4 cases per 100,000 people, according to the database.
While the county’s population is roughly 50% White, 16% Hispanic, 20% Asian and 10% Black, coronavirus patients are almost 50% Hispanic and roughly 26% White, 10% Black and 14% Asian.
The database includes this disclaimer with its racial ethnic group data:
Race and ethnicity data are not routinely reported by laboratories to the health department making collection of these data difficult. Caution should be used when interpreting these results. Rates by race and ethnic group also may reflect differences in seeking medical care and testing between groups.
As of today (Monday), Fairfax County has 3,002 cases and 100 deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The cities of Fairfax and Falls Church both have just over two dozen cases and two deaths.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes the county and its towns and cities, continues to lead the state in the number of cases and deaths.
Of the 199 outbreaks in Virginia, 34 are in the Fairfax Health District with 31 at long term care facilities and one each at a healthcare setting, correctional facility and educational setting.
Statewide, there are at least 13,535 cases, 2,066 hospitalizations and 458 deaths. More than 80,000 people have been tested for the virus.
Image via Fairfax County
Nominations Open for Volunteers at County Parks — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking nominations for a number of awards it bestows each year on those who volunteer in county parks.” [Inside NoVa]
Northam Outlines Plan for Reopening — “Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today [Friday] said that the earliest the state can begin its reopening plan is May 8… The blueprint includes a phased approach grounded in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and has specific goals to contain the spread of the virus through increased testing, personal protective equipment and supplies and medical capacity, a statement said.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Big Donation to Local Group — “The Arlington-based Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project received a donation of 35,500 pounds of food from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered on a tractor trailer from Salt Lake City, Utah.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Road Work in Tysons — “Motorists traveling along soundbound Route 123 will see continued daily lane closures as crews perform installation of underdrain in preparation of the Old Meadow Road realignment with Capital One Tower Drive. Lane closures are planned for Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1, and are needed to permit the relocation of various utilities.” [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]
We are so proud our project, @TheBoroTysons, was honored with the Best in Industry, Project of the Year @CREBAdc award! https://t.co/nYbXZGsaxA 🏆 #TheBoroTysons
— The Meridian Group (@MeridianDC) April 24, 2020
Nightlife is zilch in Tysons at the moment due to the pandemic. After a brief hiatus, the “Tysons After Dark” series is back to highlight different online activities from local organizations that keep people busy once the sun goes down.
Animal parents can now commemorate their household companions with painted pottery.
Kiln & Co (138 Church Street NW) is offering take-home paint sets for customers to recreate a likeness of their furry friend on a piece of pottery.
Though the classes used to be in person at Kiln’s studios around Vienna, Falls Church and Reston, the business decided to allow customers to bring the experience home so they have something to do while in self-isolation, according to the Dmitry Shakhov, the manger of the Vienna studio.
The multi-step process begins when the customer sends in a picture of their pet, which Shakhov will sketch onto the pottery and return to the customer with directions and supplies.
“It’s almost like paint by number,” Shakhov said. “First you start with your lighter tones and then you go darker.”
Orders can be placed over the phone at 703-255-7155, online or using the website’s chatbox, according to Shakhov, who added that people can pick up their sets at the shop.
Though the pieces’ price tags vary, a large platter runs around $30, which includes the supplies, glazing at the studio and the sketch of the animal. If a customer wants to add specialized coloring or details, Shakhov said they can do that without an extra charge.
A spokesperson for the pottery shop also said that Shakhov is in the process of arranging other at-home workshops at well.
Photo courtesy Kiln & Co
