A new Halloween-themed experience opens this afternoon (Friday, Sept. 13) in Tysons Corner Center.
The American Scream Selfie Museum lets people interact with installations based off spooky movies, TV shows and pop-culture icons by snapping selfies.
The $18 entry fee gives guests 45 minutes to explore 4,200 square foot of space, spokesperson Maurisa Potts said.
Guests can interact with scenes similar to “Game of Thrones,” “Annabelle,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and other movies and TV shows, like a chair made of swords called “The Throne.”
Visitors can search for several “easter eggs” hidden throughout the selfie museum. These include framed newsprint of a historical Maryland witch hunt and an incident in the eighth season of “Game of Thrones” when actors left a Starbucks cup on set.
The space features $70,000 worth of props that set designers found at garage sales, antique shops and even Craigslist, according to Jon Libbesmeier, the set-designer and co-creator of American Scream.
Though dimply lit and designed to be spooky, staff said that there will not be anyone jumping out to scare visitors.
The company created similar installations in the D.C. metro area in past seasons, which attracted women aged 24 to 34, though all are welcome, Libbesmeier said.
“Groups of professional women coming to this as a group of friends is our bread and butter in the D.C. market,” Libbesmeier said.
He said this is not typical around the country but he assumed there are lots of young working professionals looking for things to do in the area.
The hours of operation are 3-10 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekends. The exhibit will also be open on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to Halloween.
The pop-up installation will run from Sept. 13-Nov. 1.
Work to repair one of two flood-damaged McLean roads is taking longer than originally expected.
The 1300 block of Kirby Road and Swinks Mill Road by Scott’s Run are still closed due to severe storm damage from July 8 flash flooding. The Virginia Department of Transporation (VDOT) has said that both roads will stay closed for several months.
In an update yesterday (Thursday), VDOT said that work on Kirby Road is slated to be finished in mid-December instead of late November.
“The road is expected to safely reopen to through traffic in mid-December, and final asphalt and lane striping will continue through May 2020,” VDOT said in an update yesterday (Thursday).
“Martins Construction Corporation has been awarded a $2.1 million emergency contract for repairs, and work is anticipated to begin the week of Sept. 23,” VDOT said.
Meanwhile, work on Swinks Mill Road is expected to be done by the end of this month, VDOT said, adding that crews are currently working on reconstructing the bridge deck and making sub-structure repairs.
VDOT also provided information on the progress this week for both roads:
Swinks Mill Road at Scotts Run
In the last month, crews have:
- Excavated and poured concrete working surfaces on the downstream side on which the footers will be built
- Installed rebar and poured two footers on the downstream side
- Installed rebar and support for the stem wall on the downstream right-side abutment
- Partially installed rebar for stem wall on the downstream left-side abutment
Kirby Road at Pimmit Run
Martins Construction Corporation’s work includes:
- Relocation of Little Pimmit Run to its previous stream alignment in compliance with federal/state permitting agencies
- Rebuilding the washed-out section of Kirby Road with concrete and rip rap
- Replacement of a more than 50-year-old, 24-inch sanitary sewer line
- Reconstruction of the bridge over Pimmit Run with work on the abutments, wing walls, parapets, bridge deck and approaches
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust wrote in an email to constituents yesterday that he is working with other elected officials to set up a community meeting “to provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about these emergency repairs and ask questions.”
Photo courtesy VDOT
Chubbies plans to close their Brandbox location in the Tysons Corner Center this weekend.
The men’s casual apparel pop-up store will close Sunday (Sept. 15), a store spokesperson said, adding that the location was never meant to be permanent.
Chubbies opened in March and offers customers a range of items including men’s swimwear, shorts and accessories.
A sign outside the sop announced a going-out-of-business sale, advertising clothing starting at $9.99.
During the location’s final days, the store will be open Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Several roads will be closed and parking restrictions will be in place in the City of Falls for a race on Sunday (Sept. 15).
Hosted by the Falls Church Education Foundation, the 15th annual Run for Schools race will raise money for the foundation and Fairfax County Public Schools.
Warm-ups start at 7:45 before the 1-mile-long race kicks off at 8 a.m. at 300 Park Avenue.
More than a dozen roads will be closed from 6:30-10:30 a.m. and not permit parking.
“The City of Falls Church Police Department appreciates the public’s cooperation with the road closures, helping to ensure the safety of the race participants and volunteers,” according to a press release from the city.
Map via City of Falls Church
A new fast-food restaurant in Tysons Corner Center wants to help refugees.
Falafel Inc. opened for business at their new location on level one of the mall earlier this week, according to a staff member. Besides just serving an array of Mediterranian fare to customers, the company also provides jobs and food for refugees, according to its website.
“Falafel Inc. is the world’s first falafel quick-service food social enterprise,” according to the company’s website. Tysons Reporter has reached out to learn more about how the proceeds benefit refugees.
Menu items include falafels, hummus, various dips and fries, with prices ranging from $3 to $4.
The company has three spots in the D.C. area and six “coming soon” to Boston, Palo Alton and Los Angeles in California, Amman in Jordan, Dubai and Mexico City.
Falafel Inc. will celebrate its new Tysons spot with a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Falls Church and Vienna residents are concerned that proposed changes to urbanize Fairview Park will worsen traffic and put on a strain on overcrowded schools.
Fairfax County is currently considering altering the Merrifield Suburban Center to turn an office park engulfed by I-495, Lee Hwy and Route 50 into a mixed-use development with more office space, multi-family homes, a hotel, retail and recreational uses.
Fairview Park is currently home to offices — including the four-story-tall HIIT Contracting building — and residential communities by a lake.
County staff said in a report that mixed-use developments are more attractive to employees than single-use office parks. Additionally, the plan amendment would encourage developers to include affordable housing dwelling units or workforce dwelling units, along with senior living and student housing options.
Elizabeth Baker, a senior land use planner for Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, told the Planning Commission that the fact that three of the eight previously planned office buildings have been built points to office parks being out an outdated concept. The offices at Fairview Park had a 29% vacancy rate last year, she said.
At the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s public hearing last night (Wednesday), residents urged the commissioners to scale back the number of housing units proposed for the area and speed up pedestrian and biking improvements, like a pedestrian bridge over Route 50 (Arlington Blvd).
While several residents who testified said they don’t want to see a new building along the man-made peninsula, county staff said that they have language in the plan amendment that would discourage that. If a developer decided to build there, they would be prevented from creating a mixed-use development.
Charlie Hall, who was on the task force that helped evaluate the proposed changes, told the commissioners that schools, park and transportation in the area “are under strain.”
While Hall noted that the Planning Commission is probably eager to repeat the “spectacular” Mosaic District, they are “in danger of choking on its success.”
Hall — and several other people — pointed to New Providence and Yancey drives at Fairview Park Drive as a “unique situation” that would require road work to make it safer — especially if thousands of more people eventually come to the area.
The plan currently proposes up to 1,060 dwelling units. Several of the residents who testified said that they prefer scaling back the number of units to 840.
Hall said that he thinks 840 housing units are “economically viable and will create an attractive community.”
Baker, the land use planner, argued that the extra units could help the housing shortage in the area. “We really do feel the need for the 1,060 [units],” she said.
Several residents also raised concerns about the anticipated 119 students the changes could add to the area, saying that nearby schools — like Falls Church High School — are over capacity.
Magaret Irish, representing the homeowners’ association for Carr at New Providence, said that plan amendment would be “the end of quiet evenings in our neighborhood,” in addition to threatening wildlife and trees in the area.
“When does more become enough?” she asked the commissioners. “We need less traffic. We need better infrastructure… We need schools, not wide roads.”
Kevin Warhurst, a McLean resident and member of the Greater Merrifield Business Association said that — while he is sympathetic to residents’ concerns — the changes “will allow [Fairview Park] to grow and thrive.”
“Having a mixed-use is important,” he said.
Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, the commissioner for the Providence District, asked the commission to delay the vote on the plan amendment until next Thursday (Sept. 19) to give the Planning Commission time to review the public comments.
The proposal is set to head to the Board of Supervisors for a hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Images via Fairfax County
Urban Hot Pot is expanding to the Mosaic District, adding to the several other eateries and shops popping up in the commercial center.
The restaurant, known for its traditional Chinese-style dining, will move into an open space at 2980 District Avenue, Suite 110, according to a construction permit application.
The location is preparing to open this winter, a company spokesperson said, adding that owners are still awaiting county approval to redesign the space’s interior.
The original location in Rockville, Md. at 1800 Rockville Pike will remain open for business as the company expands.
Unlimited lunch prices start at $19 and $26 dinner, according to the menu. The price includes unlimited food featuring sliced meats, vegetables and noodles that diners cook themselves in a pot of steaming broth.
The hours of operation for the new location have not been announced yet.
Photo via Facebook
The Town of Vienna Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect linked to dirt bike theft along Maple Avenue.
Police tweeted that they are looking for the “subject seen at the Shell gas station (545 W. Maple Avenue) attempting to put a stolen dirt bike into a possible silver 2002 Mercedes CLK320.”
The incident happened around 4 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 11). Police said the dirt bike was reported stolen from Paris Court SW.
“The subject is a black male, mid 30s, 6’2, slender, short cut beard, bald,” police said. “He was last seen wearing a tan cap, light grey or white shirt and black jeans.”
Image via Google Maps
A woman died after her vehicle ran off of Route 267 in Tysons East and struck two trees early this morning (Thursday).
The fatal crash happened around 2:30 a.m. on westbound Route 267 (Dulles Access Road) just west of Route 123, Corinne Geller, a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, said.
“A Honda Civic was traveling west on Route 267 when it ran off the road and struck two trees. The impact of the crash caused the vehicle to roll over the guardrail and back into the westbound lanes of the highway,” Geller said.
The woman, who was the only person in the vehicle, died at the scene, Geller said.
Police are still trying to contact the woman’s next of kin and have not released her name.
The crash remains under investigation.
Map via Google Map
As conditions worsen on GW Parkway, some McLean residents question when they will see repairs.
Charles Cuvelier, the new GW Parkway superintendent, told attendees at the McLean Citizens Association (MCA) meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 10) that the parkway will need work to maintain structural integrity.
“After 60 years, the brick and mortar has become porous,” he said.
A community member at the meeting said that she finds the road frightening to drive on. In terms of repairs to potentially dangerous areas, the superintendent said that data about traffic and other roadway incidents are used to identify which areas of the roadway need immediate attention.
He noted that one of the worst areas in terms of damage is Route 123 near Chain Bridge.
In March, a giant sinkhole opened in the region, causing havoc and closures for those who frequent the roadway. To repair much of the road, crews will need to solidify the ground up to 50 feet under, Cuvelier said.
The next steps are unclear since community leaders rely on grants from the federal government for repairs, Cuvelier said. They will submit the next round of grants in 2020, and if approved, construction will likely begin in 2022 to be completed in 2023, he added.
Until now, the National Park Service and Virginia Department of Transportation have been relying on grants of $30 million or less for small maintenance projects, Cuvelier said. He referred to the funding allowance between federal and state funds as a “regional formula.”
Cuvelier said the National Park Service is working with VDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to find solutions for repairs. When a community member asked if they could see the correspondence, he replied that they have nothing to hide and community members are free to file a Freedom of Information Act request.
Louise Epstein sits on the MCA board as the chair for the budget and taxation committee. She is also the president of her neighborhood homeowners association, which backs up to GW Parkway.
“The problem is that we are relying, unfortunately, on hope. I’m sort of a cynic and I don’t like to rely on hope,” Epstein said, “Things are falling apart, and we need to figure out what’s going on.”
She added that she doesn’t think federal grant money will be enough to fix the problem, saying that the community needs to begin brainstorming new ways to come up with funding to fix the highway.
“We have to look for other ways to get that money sooner,” Epstein said.
