Shoppers at Tysons Corner Center may have spotted some new additions to the mall, including a cafe serving up matcha drinks and the return of a Christmas pop-up shop.

A Christmas to Remember comes to the mall during the holiday season to sell a wide variety of ornaments, lights, gifts and collectibles. The holiday decoration store opened a few days ago by the Barnes and Noble on the second level and will stay open through January, an employee said.

Over by the entrance to The Plaza, Matcha Cafe Maiko started serving matcha-focused ice cream and drinks over the weekend.

The chain’s online menu features shaved ice, soft serve, lattes, teas, floats, sweet red bean soup and parfaits.

People looking to get in the mood for Halloween can find a costume and decor store on the first level by H&M, according to the mall’s directory. Spirit Halloween sells costumes for kids and adults, decorations and party goods.

Now Closed

While several stores have opened in the mall, a few have closed.

Candy store Sugarfina closed about a week ago in the mall on the first level by Macy’s, an employee at a neighboring store said.

Frozen yogurt eatery Fruity Yogurt closed a few days ago, an employee at nearby Auntie Anne’s said. The space has a generic wraparound covering it.

Coming Soon 

Canadian clothing brand Roots plans to open in the former Aldo space on the second level in October. The store is currently hiring along with Abercrombie Kids, which is planning to open in November on the first level near Nordstrom.

No new information on when Beauty Nail Bar or Moge Tee will open.

Cinnabon is temporarily closed on the first level in the food court area. A wraparound says that it is “reopening soon.”

Wolf Trap has a variety of acts lined up for October.

After a short break at the end of summer, the venue will kick off the season on Thursday, Oct. 10, with a performance by singer and songwriter Lucy Kaplansky.

Tickets to Kaplansky’s show are on sale now and start at $28. The performance begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Barns (1635 Trap Road).

Later in the month, The Pat McGee Band will headline two shows on Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, due to popular demand. As a Virginia based rock band, they have played alongside The Who, Counting Crows, Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor, according to their website. Tickets start at $37 and doors open at 6:30 p.m. both nights.

The list of Wolf Trap events in October:

• Oct. 10: Lucy Kaplansky
• Oct. 11: Rain Over Shine
• Oct. Flamenco Legends
• Oct. 17 and 18: Pat McGee Band
• Oct. 19: Jesse Cook
• Oct. 20: Magpie
• Oct. 27: David Finckel on cello with pianist Wu Han
• Oct. 30 and 31: George Winston

Photo via Wolf Trap

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!

Monday (Sept. 30)

• Mr. Brown’s Park Dedication — 6-7 p.m. at former Downtown Park (100 block of W. Broad Street) —  This event celebrates the transition from Downtown Park to Mr. Brown’s Park, which will now be named after the oldest business in the City of Falls Church. Local officials will be on-site commemorating the renaming.

Thursday (Oct. 3)

• Tysons Reporter Happy Hour — 5-7 p.m. at the Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) — Celebrate Tysons Reporter’s first anniversary. Community members will have the chance to grab a drink or a slice of cake with the journalists behind the site. The first 50 attendees will receive a free drink. Rumor has it that there will also be free swag.

Friday (Oct. 4)

• Vienna Oktoberfest — 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Historic Church Street (131 Church Street NE) —  This 12th annual event offers visitors a variety of vendors, live music acts, food, kids activities and alcoholic beverages. It is free.
• WellieWishers™ Friendship Tea Party — 2-4 p.m. at American Girl Store (8090 Tysons Corner) — Kids 5 and up are welcome to gather for an afternoon of dining, crafts and a cupcake-decorating. Tickets are $13.50 per person.
• Block Party — 3-7 p.m. at Capital One Center (1640 Capital One Drive) — Capital One is hosting a block party with City Works Eatery and Pour House to celebrate the new mixed-use development space. There will be live music, games, food and drinks available. Admission is free and includes a free drink. There will be over 90 beers on tap.

Saturday (Oct. 5)

• Ribbon Cutting for Synthetic Turf Field — 10 a.m. at Larry Graves Park (300 Hillwood Avenue) — This event celebrates the grand opening of a field in Larry Graves Park that includes striping for several different sports. All are welcome to attend this free event.
• Moon Festival – Tet Trung Thu — noon-5 p.m. at Eden Center (6761 Wilson Blvd) — This Vietnamese festival invites the community to gather for an afternoon of colorful lantern displays, music, cultural performances and food. It is free and all ages are welcome to attend.

Sunday (Oct. 6)

• MPAartfest –10 a.m.-5 p.m. at McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd) — This free event invites community members to check out pop-up art galleries, hands-on exhibits, food vendors and live music.
• Tysons Singles Seated Speed Dating — 7-9 p.m. at Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) — Singles in the area are invited for an evening of mingling at the Tysons Biergarten. Event organizers request that attendees arrive before 7 p.m. for check-in. Tickets start at $15.

Image via Facebook/Eden Center

A clothing boutique named Smith’s of Bermuda seems to have closed up shop in McLean.

The clothing boutique’s spot at 6651 Old Dominion Drive is next to Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market. While the sign is still at the location, the shop’s interior was mostly empty.

The woman at the home goods store on the other side of Smith’s of Bermuda said that today (Monday) was the store’s last day. The woman wasn’t sure how long Smith’s of Bermuda has been open, but did say that it has been there for at least 20 years.

Washingtonian included Smith’s of Bermuda in a round-up of shops for McLean and Vienna in 2009. “Ladies can find good daywear at this McLean boutique, which pairs classic staples with trendy accents,” Washingtonian reported.

Whole Foods’ new store in The Boro development is set to open by the end of October.

The new 70,000 square-foot grocery store will be the region’s largest Whole Foods and feature a food hall. It will be Whole Food’s Mid-Atlantic flagship store.

The store (1635 Boro Place) is set to open Oct. 30 with a celebration featuring music, samples of products and giveaways starting at 8 a.m., according to a press release.

The first 200 customers will receive a custom “Whole Foods Market Tysons Corner” reusable tote bag along with a savings card with a value ranging between $5 and $100.

“We can’t wait for this community to experience their new Whole Foods Market,” Carl DePree, the store’s team leader, said in the press release. “From its responsibly-sourced, local and innovative product offerings, to its in-store food hall, bar and game room, to its modern design elements, this store is unlike any other.”

The store will have a food hall on the first floor, including:

• Italian food from Officina, which was founded by Chef Nicholas Stefanelli
• Sushi, poke, dumplings and ramen from Genji Izakaya
• Curiosity Doughnuts
• Rappahannock Oyster Co.

Shoppers can also expect a pub and game room on the second floor, an in-house bakery, butcher and seafood departments, a specialty foods section, an Allegro coffee and tea bar and a JRINK juice bar.

Prepared foods at the hot and cold bars will have a pizza bar, an Indian venue with two in-store tandoori ovens, a barbecue bar and a deli, the press release said.

The store plans to donate 5% of its net sales on Thursday, Nov. 7, to Food For Others, a local nonprofit that helps hungry families.

Additionally, all donations from Whole Foods Market’s bag credit program for shoppers who bring their own bags will benefit Fairfax Casa, which advocates for abused or neglected kids, from opening day until the end of the year.

Whole Foods is also currently hiring for jobs at the Tysons spot, with hiring events this Friday and Saturday (Oct., 4-5). The location plan to employ roughly 325 full- and part-time employees, according to the press release.

After the grand opening, the store will be open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Passers-by may notice some new street art around Vienna.

Four local teens from Madison High School teamed up to paint three storm drains around the town last weekend. The works feature nature scenes and can be found outside the Freeman Store (131 Church Street NE).

Midge Biles, the chair for the Vienna Public Art Commission, said that the group often tries to partner with schools to sponsor art installations. For this project, the commission asked their student representative from Madison High School to recruit volunteers.

“The drains turned out beautifully and are all very different,” Biles said. “We are hoping to bring the message of environment and how it is all connected — what goes in the drain ends up in our oceans and has far-reaching effects on our water quality, sea life and beyond.”

The art should last for about six months, according to a tweet from the town.

The project required 10 gallons of paint which were donated by Vienna Paint (123 Lawers Road), Biles said.

In the future, she said that the group hopes to commission more paintings around town.

As Tysons Reporter celebrates its first anniversary, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most-read stories throughout the year.

From breaking news to announcements of upcoming developments, we’ve got it covered. Check it out.

10) Here’s What’s Opening With the Whole Foods in Tysons

Though Whole Foods at the Boro still isn’t open, shops and local businesses are gearing up to open their doors. Other eateries and businesses coming to the area include Flower Child, Ethan Allen, Fish Taco and Colour Bar Studio.

9) Chef Geoff’s Set to Close Tysons Restaurant in 12 Days

Chef Geoff’s closed their doors back in June after 10 years of business in the area.

8) Wawa Coming to Vienna

Wawa announced their upcoming presence in Vienna last year. Last week, Wawa unveiled that they are aiming to open April 2020, offering customers a fuel-free store.

7) Body Found Along Leesburg Pike in Tysons

Fairfax County police found a body near the Spring Hill Metro station back in May but noted there was no threat to the public.

6) Roads Closed in Tysons Area Following Major Flooding

In July, major flooding hit the Northern Virginia area, damaging local homes and several roads in the Tysons area.

5) Fairfax County Investigating American Disposal Services for Failed Trash Pick-Ups

American Disposal Services was under fire in May for failing to pick up trash, leading to an investigation by Fairfax County. The county later fined the collection company $2,500.

4) A Look at Scotts Run, the Tysons Development That Apple Has Its Eye On

In November 2018, Apple considered putting a new office in Tysons near Scotts Run.

3) Nothing Found After Police Respond to Reports of Man With Weapon at Gannett HQ

After a scare in early August, police determined that there was no threat to the Gannett HQ building in Tysons.

2) Apple Eyes Fairfax County As Arlington Lands Amazon

Apple reportedly considered bringing a campus to Tysons around the time tech-hub Amazon was eyeing Arlington. While Amazon decided to come to Arlington, Apple’s expansion plans don’t seem to include Fairfax County.

1) Macy’s in Tysons Galleria Closing With Big Clearance Sale

Macy’s offered customers discounts of 20-40% after announcing their closure in January at Tysons Galleria.

Whole Foods Is Hiring — The new store in Tysons is holding hiring events on Friday and Saturday. [Patch]

Tysons Development Moves Forward — “The 3 million-square-foot View at Tysons, featuring what would be Greater Washington’s tallest office building… just emerged from a long staff review with a recommendation for approval.” [Washington Business Journal]

Chefs Compete In Tysons Challenge — “An epic battle of chefs from six local restaurants competed in ‘Tysons Challenge,’ a Charity Classic event sponsored by The St. James at The Tower Club in Tysons Corner, Va. on Friday, Sept. 20.” [Inside NoVa]

Trail Links Up Tysons to Vienna — “A web of trails snake through the Vienna and Tysons area in northern Virginia, but for decades, they didn’t connect to each other… Now, after 20 years of work, residents are celebrating the final link in that network.” [Greater Greater Washington]

Lawsuit Continues Over Tyson Man’s Death —  “The family of Bijan Ghaisar, who was fatally shot by two U.S. Park Police officers in November 2017, has refiled its lawsuit against the federal government after it was dismissed from the case on technical grounds earlier this year.” [Washington Post]

Debates Begin For County Chair Contenders — “Candidates for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman on Sept. 23 offered starkly different visions of the county and its prospects during a forum at the Fairfax County Government Center.” [Inside NoVa]

Tysons may not have the liveliest nightlife at the moment, but that could soon change as more late-night restaurants and places to hang out open. “Tysons After Dark” will highlight a different spot every week.

Thursdays are for karaoke. Several restaurants around the Tysons area let people step up to the mic to sing popular songs.

TD Karaoke (2980 Gallows Road)

Locals can find a modern interior with karaoke and bar grill in Merrifield. Private rooms are available to book from $30-$180 per hour. TD Karaoke is open from 4 p.m.-2 .m. Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1 p.m.-2 a.m. on Sundays.

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington Street)

The “beach shack” serves up Floridian food with vegan and vegetarian options in Falls Church. “Boardwalk Karaoke” takes place from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month (Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7) through the end of the year. Dogs are welcome.

Mark’s Pub (2190 Pimmit Drive, Suite E)

Formerly known as Art’s Tavern, the Falls Church area sports bar has karaoke every Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike)

Every Thursday from 4:30-9 p.m., people can sing to old and new songs. There’s no cover charge. During the beer garden’s happy hour (3-9 p.m. on weekdays), people can order $5 beers.

Photo via Tysons Biergarten/Facebook

The Vienna Police Department is investigating two recent reports of stolen bicycles.

The first incident occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning (Sep.t 19-20). A Park Street SE resident reported that someone stole his bicycle from his front porch, police said.

Then on Sunday (Sept. 22) shortly before 6:30 p.m., a man parked his bicycle outside of the Exxon as 395 E. Maple Avenue while he ran in to make a purchase, police said. His bicycle was gone when he returned.

Aside from the stolen bicycles, Vienna police also responded to a report of a suspicious package that employees at Navy Federal Credit Union (820 Follin Lane SE) received in the mail on Monday (Sept. 23).

“The package was placed in a safe area, and the Fairfax County Police Bomb Squad responded to examine the package,” police said.

The bomb squad determined the package, which contained bank statements, was not a threat.

Photo via Facebook