Wishing Tree, which offers short-term childcare, is on a brief hiatus from its Tysons Corner Center spot.

Unlike traditional childcare centers, Wishing Tree offers short-term services for parents who need a few kid-free hours, with options ranging from after-school programs to a “Grocery Drop” for kid-free shopping.

Its website says that the location on the second floor of the mall near Lord and Taylor is “reopening in August 2019.” Writing in the windows indicate that the Tysons location has Legos, spinning top toys by Beyblades, crafts and board games for kids’ entertainment, along with a summer camp for ages 8-12.

The childcare center has another location in Ashburn, which offers care for ages 3-12.

Editor’s note: Over the past several weeks, Tysons Reporter has profiled the eight districts of Tysons. This is the last article in that series.

Tysons’ West Side is unique among its eight districts: most of it is parkland and two neighborhoods with no pressing need for redevelopment.

The park and these neighborhoods provide a clear transition between the soon-to-be shining towers of downtown Tysons West and the suburban neighborhoods beyond.

The Stream Valley Park

Some residents call it “Tysons’ Last Forest.” Its full name is Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley Park, adjoining Freedom Hill Park and Raglan Road Park, but it’s easiest to simply refer to the entire thing as the Stream Valley Park. It defines the West Side.

The park was created mostly in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s as private landowners donated parts of the forest to Fairfax County. It includes Ash Grove, a historic site of some local significance that once belonged to the Lord Fairfax family.

It is an area of ecological significance. As the Neighborhood Coalition to Save Tysons’ Last Forest points out, the park “contains nationally-recognized ‘wetlands,’ which house the stream valley, a Palustrine forest of mature trees, and varied vegetation.” It provides animal habitat and, as part of the Difficult Run and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay watersheds, is important for stormwater management and for the region’s overall environmental water quality.

An active local environmental movement works to protect it from development — a movement which succeeded in preventing a highway ramp from being built in it. The only things that might disrupt the natural environment are bicycle paths, like the Vesper Trail that recently opened between Spring Hill Metro station and Higdon Road on the far side of the park.

Perhaps most importantly for residents, it also provides a natural urban green space. Less than a ten-minute walk from the Spring Hill Metro station, Stream Valley Park is accessible to residents of urban Tysons.

Gosnell and Ashgrove

The Gosnell and Ashgrove neighborhood seem like they will remain as peaceful, urban residential communities.

This pair of residential neighborhoods — Gosnell in the south and Ashgrove in the north — are communities of townhouses and multifamily structures that provide residential opportunities close to downtown Tysons’ employment centers and next to the natural amenity of the park. These residences were mostly built in the 1990s.

The Comprehensive Plan for Tysons found that, in fact, these neighborhoods already have the desired level of density. As such, they’re not slated for redevelopment anytime soon, meaning that this area is unlikely to change with anything near the speed or the intensity of other areas in Tysons.

Police say a man was held at gunpoint during an ATM withdrawal in Vienna yesterday (Sunday), but the suspect fled without obtaining any money.

Fairfax County police called in the helicopter and K-9s in search of a would-be robber. Despite the search the suspect escaped, according to a press release from the Town of Vienna.

According to the press release:

The helicopter responded to assist Vienna officers with an attempted robbery that happened at the Wells Fargo Bank ATM on Maple Avenue around 5:45 a.m. A citizen was attempting to withdraw money from the ATM when a black male with a handgun confronted him. The male suspect, described as a black male, early 20’s, 6’1″, wearing all dark clothing, fled the area without obtaining any money.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vienna Police Department at 703-255-6366 or [email protected].

We have had questions about the helicopter over Vienna Sunday morning. The helicopter responded to assist Vienna officers with an attempted robbery that happened at the Wells Fargo Bank ATM on Maple Avenue around 5:45am. A pic with more information is attached to this tweet. pic.twitter.com/HhxWBrRSdE

— Town of Vienna Police (@VPDVA) April 29, 2019

Photo via 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!

Thursday (May 2)

• 4th Anniversary Beer Dinner — 7:30-10 p.m. at Caboose Tavern (520 Mill Street NE) — In celebration of the company’s fourth anniversary, the Caboose Brewing Company is hosting a five-course evening meal and beer pairings. Tickets are $75 and limited, so they must be reserved in advance. Meals include deviled egg, tuna tartare and “deconstructed s’mores.”
• Harry Potter Trivia Night — 5-6 p.m. at Bards Alley (110 Church Street NW) — Vienna’s Bards Alley book shop is hosting a Harry Potter trivia contest. Complimentary non-alcoholic butterbeer will be on tap and Harry Potter-inspired attire is encouraged.

Friday (May 3)

• Intro to Djembe Drumming — 7-8:30 p.m. at Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Avenue) — The Alden in the McLean Community Center is hosting a drum circle class run by artist Kofi Dennis to teach local families about djembe drumming. The class is designed for families and children under 14 must have an adult.

Saturday (May 4)

• Bike Rodeo — 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (400 Center Street S) — Veteran cyclists will be on hand to help children learn some real-life handling skills, like road rules and how to handle obstacles. Children must wear a helmet to participate.
• May the Fourth Be With You Party — 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike) — The Tysons library is hosting a Star Wars themed party, including crafts, snacks and children’s activities. A costume contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. The event is for all ages with adult supervision. A screening of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” will be held after the party at 2 p.m. The movie is rated PG-13, so all ages under 13 require an adult.
• The Organic Butcher’s Spring Block Party — 12-4 p.m. at The Organic Butcher (6712 Old Dominion Drive) — The Organic Butcher in McLean is hosting its annual block party, with live music, food, wine, beer and cider tastings. Artisans and farmers are set to attend. A sausage-making demonstration is planned for 2 p.m.
• May the 4th Be With You and Your Margarita — 8 p.m. at Inca Social (2670 Avenir Pl.) — Inca Social, a new bar in Merrifield, is hosting a special Star Wars themed evening with margarita and gosarita specials all evening. The DJ starts at 9 p.m., and table reservations can be made online.

Sunday (May 5)

• Cinco de Mayo and Official Patio Launch Party — 10 a.m.-11 p.m. at Mad Fox Brewing Company (444 W Broad Street) — The Falls Church bar is hosting a Cinco de Mayo party and opening up the bar’s patio with a selection of drinking and food specials, including discounts on Tequila flights.

Image via Facebook

A portion of Church Street in Vienna will be closed for four weeks starting next Monday (May 6) for construction work.

The Town of Vienna hired Ashburn Construction to install a new sidewalk, storm sewer, curb and gutter and driveway aprons on Church Street NE from the intersection of Glyndon Street to 344 Church Street NE. The contractor will also replace the speed hump in front of 342 Church Street NE.

The 300 block of Church Street will be closed from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays and only residents who live in that block will be able to access the area, according to the town. Vienna does not have any utility disruptions planned.

During construction, traffic on Church Street will get diverted onto Maple Avenue briefly before returning to Church Street.

Some people commented under Vienna’s Facebook post about the closure that the street needs the improvements, but the work is ill-timed.

“Much needed agreed but wish it was to be done over summer when traffic is a bit less,” one commentator wrote under the post. Another person wrote, “Much needed improvements …. very inconvenient. Sigh.”

Vienna is using the announcement about the road closure to encourage locals to sign up for the town’s new notification system.

Hey folks: The 300 block of Church Street between Glyndon and Beulah will be closed for approximately 4 weeks starting May 6 for sidewalk, curb, and gutter installation. ICYMI you can sign up for our alert system for up-to-date info: https://t.co/BgKCH3E38U pic.twitter.com/bO9mVZgQnC

— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) April 26, 2019

First image via Town of Vienna and second via Google Maps

Tysons just lost its Irish pub.

Paddy Barry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant closed last Tuesday (April 23) at 8150 Leesburg Pike, according to a sign in the storefront window.

“Unfortunately with costs outstripping our sales we have no option but to close,” the sign said.

The restaurant was one of the few places serving Irish fare in the area.

Diners looking for a bangers skillet and Irish potatoes can check out the Old Brogue Irish Pub (760-C Walker Road, Great Falls) and Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad Street, Falls Church).

A new mall kiosk at Tysons Corner Center now lets shoppers buy products with cannabidiol, a natural remedy commonly known as CBD.

CBD is one of the chemical compounds found in marijuana plants and has quickly gained prominence in the health and wellness world for reportedly helping with pain and anxiety.

While possessing and selling marijuana is illegal in Virginia, except for approved medical marijuana use, state laws remain hazy concerning over-the-counter sales of CBD oil.

Located on the first floor between Zumiez and Forever 21, Create Bright Days offers a variety of CBD-infused products, including $27.99 pet treats, $24.99 massage oil, $124.99 vape e-liquid and $39.99 body butter moisturizer.

The self-described boutique store for CBD products claims on its website that the oil helps with pain relief, seizures, anxiety, cancer and reducing the risk of diabetes.

“Products on this site are not meant to cure or treat any ailment,” the site says. “The FDA has not approved these products.”

Industrious, a new coworking space, launched last Wednesday (April 24) in the heart of Tysons as part of an expansion across Northern Virginia.

“It’s a rich market, especially with Amazon moving in,” Joyce Oh, an area manager for Industrious, said. “We’re trying to be proactive and support the companies there.”

Before its official launch, Industrious recently hosted several events in the new space at 1660 International Drive.

The company also has a new Ballston location in Arlington and a location in Alexandria, with another opening in the Courthouse neighborhood of Arlington later this year or early next year. While Amazon and Alexandria are the main hubs of Amazon-hullabaloo, Oh said Tysons as a hub for other government contractors and consulting firms made it a perfect target for a new coworking space.

“We were excited to open with higher occupancy [than normal],” Oh said. “It speaks to the level of demand we see in the market and the different product.”

Oh said that most of the offices are built with one to eight people in mind, though if they find a demand for larger offices, Oh said that’s something the company could look into.

Industrious fits 300 at max capacity, with individual rooms able to support up to 12 people. Oh said prices vary by the size of the office, with smaller offices starting at $800 per month or coworking memberships for a desk at the facility at $515.

While there are already a handful of other coworking spaces in Tysons, like MakeOffices and WeWork, Oh said Industrious sets itself apart with a more “mature” aesthetic and sense of hospitality.

“We’re a coworking office, but we train our staff to be hospitality staff and make members feel at home,” Oh said. “It attracts a different type of demographic. If you walk into Industrious, the space feels more mature than other coworking spaces. There’s a lot of maple — a lot of natural woods. We have a more polished feel.”

Rite Aid, Walgreens Raising Age to Buy Tobacco —  “Beginning Sept. 1, Walgreens will stop selling tobacco products to people who aren’t legally allowed to drink alcohol. Rite Aid will do the same, and plans to implement the policy at all stores by July 22.” Rite Aid has two locations in McLean. [McLean Patch]

WWII Vet Lauded at Earl’s — “A World War II veteran born in 1919 is spending his centennial birthday year on the road traveling to all 50 states and the nation’s capital on a journey he calls the ‘No Regrets Tour’ … While at dinner Friday night [April 19], [the reporter] witnessed all the patrons and staff at Earl’s Kitchen and Bar in Tysons Corner give him a standing ovation when his son and daughter brought him to the restaurant.” [ABC7]

Absentee Voting Began Friday — Absentee voting started on Friday (April 26) for the June 11 primary elections statewide. People can vote absentee in-person at their local voter registration office or by mail. [Virginia Department of Elections]

Vienna Students Honor Fallen Warriors — Madison High students and staff members “cut yellow ribbons and attached the name tag of a fallen warrior: one for each service member killed in-theater since September 11, 2001… The ribbons and their attached tags will be suspended from the rafters at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Three Arrested at Tysons Corner Center — “On Thursday, Fairfax County police said they arrested 22-year-old Molly Helmer, of Annandale, and accused her of shoplifting from a Spencer’s store… As Helmer left the store with friends, 19-year-old Lia Chen, of Annandale, was accused of throwing her water bottle down and spilling her drink all over the store’s floor, police said… During the incident a third person was arrested, 27-year-old Steven Bun, of Fairfax. Police said Bun ‘aggressively approached officers, cursing at them and attempting to interfere with their investigation.’ Bun was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.” [WUSA9]

Veronica Youngblood Not Appearing in Court — “Fairfax County prosecutors were frustrated that the Tysons mom, 33-year-old Veronica Youngblood was absent again for court. The judge appeared to be, as well, telling the courtroom, ‘This case has got to move on.’ Youngblood is accused of shooting and killing her two daughters inside their Fairfax County apartment in August 2018.” [ABC7]

Development Hits Height Issues — “It may not be the largest senior living facility unit-wise, but The Mather will almost certainly be the region’s tallest. And that is a problem for Fairfax County planners, who have recommended denial of the application citing three reasons: its height — the building will rise to a maximum 285 feet — design and open space plan.” [Washington Business Journal]

There was little major criminal activity of note in Vienna this week, but there was a hat.

Last Friday, according to the Vienna Police Department’s latest crime report, police found a hat in the 100 block of Moore Avenue, SE. Separately, an athletic bag was found at Cottage Street and Moore Avenue, SW.

Other entries in the crime report — which chronicles every police incident of note in the Town of Vienna, from the serious to the most mundane — include animal incidents and lost items.

Police say a cat bit an employee of an animal hospital during a medical procedure last week, noting “the cat resides in Town and was placed on a 10-day quarantine.”

If you or someone you know lost a cell phone and purse last week, check the Vienna police station. Last Thursday (April 18), an Uber driver turned in those items left by customers in his vehicle, the report says.

Photo via Facebook