A man followed a woman into a women’s restroom at Tysons Galleria and tried to ogle her between the stalls, according to Fairfax County Police.
The creepy incident happened in an unspecified area of the mall around 9 a.m. this past Sunday, police said. The woman confronted the man, who then fled the scene.
The suspect is described by FCPD as “white, 30 to 40 years-old, with brown hair.”
Lunar New Year celebrations are being held around the area.
Today is the Chinese New Year, and some local shopping centers are helping to ring in the year of the pig.
Over the weekend Tysons Corner Center held its Lunar New Year celebration, with cultural performances, plus arts and crafts, in front of a crowd of shoppers and onlookers.
Today the Eden Center in Falls Church (6751 Wilson Blvd) is holding the first of two days of new year celebrations, starting at 11 a.m. The family-friendly, midday festivities will feature a dragon dance and a flag ceremony. The celebrations continue on Sunday, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with a lion dance, entertainers, balloon sculptures, face painting and “other surprises and giveaways.”
McLean Company’s $1 Billion Sustainability Plan — Candy maker Mars, Inc., based in McLean and the largest private company in Fairfax County, “has pledged to invest $1 billion over the next few years to support efforts involving renewable energy, food sourcing, cross-industry action groups and farmers.” [FCEDA]
Hunter Mill Candidates Skeptical of Development — “In the Hunter Mill District, home to both Reston and Vienna, current member Cathy Hudgins is retiring. The three declared candidates, thus far, all have platforms which argue the county has been too favorable to development.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Store Closing at Tysons Corner Center — Clothing retailer Charlotte Russe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is reportedly closing nearly 100 stores, including its Tysons Corner Center location. [Fox 5]
Vienna Inn Anniversary — “The Vienna Inn sells over 10,000 of its famous chili dogs every month, so it wouldn’t be easy to tally all the chili dogs sales since its 1960 opening. What we do know is the Vienna Inn has been open for 59 years and will mark its anniversary in February.” [Patch]
Teen Charged for Menacing Video — “A video showing a masked figure pulling a gun out of the trunk of a car in front of Wakefield High School has led to an arrest and charges against a Falls Church teenager.” [ARLnow]
Tysons Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in the Tysons area.
We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield and McLean. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Monday, Feb. 4
Lost Dog Fundraiser for Westgate Elementary
Lost Dog Cafe McLean (1690 Anderson Rd)
Time: 5-11 p.m.
Lost Dog Cafe will be hosting a fundraiser tonight for the Westgate Elementary PTA. A portion of all purchases will be donated to the school organization.
Tuesday, Feb. 5
Greensboro Park Property Blood Drive
Greensboro Park Property (8180 Greensboro Dr.)
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Inova Bloodmobile will be parked outside the Greensboro Park Property tomorrow for a blood drive. Appointments can be made online or by calling 1-866-256-6372.
State of the Union Watch Party
Glory Days Grill (3059 Nutley St.)
Time: 8:30-10:30
The local Fairfax Area Young Republicans will be hosting a viewing of the State of the Union address near Vienna. Members, or other interested Republicans, are invited to attend.
Wednesday, Feb. 6
Movie Screening: Coming to America
Angelika Film Center (2911 District Ave.)
Time: 7-10 p.m.
The Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District will hold a screening of “Coming to America,” the 1988 comedy about a prince who comes to the United States to find love. Tickets are $14.50.
Thursday, Feb. 7
Trek Travel Night at Spokes Etc.
Spokes Etc. (224 Maple Avenue E)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Spokes Etc. will hope a social event and discussion on traveling and cycling in preparation for a group trip being organized to Portugal by Spokes Etc. later this year. The event is free and will include raffle prizes.
Bob Marley’s 74th Birthday Tribute featuring Adwela & The Uprising
Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave E)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Four bands will be playing an all-night tribute to reggae musician Bob Marley for what would be his 74th birthday. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 the day of the show.
The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) is hoping to rally local cyclists and pedestrians for a show of support for two bridges in a new planned urban center in Merrifield.
Tomorrow evening (Tuesday) at 7 p.m., the Merrifield Study Task Force is scheduled to host a meeting at the Providence District Office and Community Center at 3001 Vaden Drive in Fairfax to discuss the bicycle and pedestrian connectivity of the new plan.
The plan is to transform 203 acres of land at the Beltway-Arlington Boulevard interchange southeast of the Mosaic District into a new development that may contain office, hotel or residential buildings.
According to the organization’s website:
FABB is advocating for improved bicycle access as part of the comprehensive plan amendment. This includes two bike/ped bridges over the Beltway (one south of Route 50 at the Inova site and one north of Route 50) and improved connections to the Providence Recreation Center, Holmes Run Park, and the Cross County Trail.
Analysis of the plan’s impact will continue through the group’s March 5 meeting, after which the group will begin drafting recommendations for a final staff report estimated for June.
FABB is also scheduled to host a meeting on Feb. 20 at 7:30 to discuss the latest trail improvements through the Virginia Department of Transportations Transform I-66 project and discuss upcoming bicycling developments for the Tysons area.
Photo via Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning
By all accounts, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) was speaking to a friendly crowd in Tysons at the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce last Thursday.
But within 24 hours, Northam would find himself at the center of national headlines in a scandal involving a racist photograph on his medical school yearbook page, prompting calls to resign from many politicians, including Tysons-area representatives.
State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31st District) described herself as a personal friend of Northam’s, but expressed support for the Virginia Black Legislative Caucus’ statement that Northam should step down.
(1 of 2) Gov. & First Lady Northam are personal friends. I know my friend and his good record of public service to VA. I also know VA history and that the picture in question is offensive and hurtful. https://t.co/sBO3oCwCzu
— Barbara Favola (@BarbaraFavola) February 2, 2019
Del. Rip Sullivan (D-48th) shared the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus statement on Twitter and said he stood with the Virginia House Democrat’s call for Northam to resign.
Delegates Mark Keam (D-35th) and Marcus Simon (D-53rd) expressed similar condemnation for Northam.
Back in Richmond to continue the people’s work in the Virginia legislature.
Here’s my latest but consistent position on the Governor:
“Everybody deserves forgiveness,” he said. “But nobody deserves to be governor.”https://t.co/4VKABjyjC9
— Mark Keam 🇺🇸 (@MarkKeam) February 4, 2019
State Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd District) said on her Facebook page that she does not believe Northam is racist, but that if he is one of the people in the now-infamous photograph he would need to resign. Northam himself has wavered back and forth over whether he does or doesn’t appear in the photograph.
Congressional Reps. Don Beyer (D-8th District) and Gerry Connolly (D-11th District) shared a joint statement calling on Northam to resign, while Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10th District) said she’s personally spoken with Northam and asked him to step down.
The Governor needs to resign. We’ve spoken twice since this story broke, and I encouraged him to resign because it's what's best for Virginia.
This is a difficult time for our Commonwealth, but I know we can move forward & start healing under the leadership of @LGJustinFairfax.
— Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) February 2, 2019
One of the few silent voices on the issue has been State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34th District).
Petersen has not shared any statements on Northam, though many on his Facebook page speculated his quoting of the Bible verse about those without sin casting the first stone was a thinly veiled reference. In an interview with WDVM, Petersen said he was baffled by the situation.
Photo via Facebook
Anyone who’s driven to the western end of Maple Avenue has probably spotted the enormous castle-looking building under construction just past Nutley Street.
The new building’s unusual design is representative of an eclectic mix of uses planned for 540 Maple Ave W.
The ground floor will host a Chick-fil-A restaurant with a ramp leading up to the Flagship Carwash on the second floor. The site will also include a wider pedestrian walkway in front of the building.
And after a series of delays and public backlash, construction has resumed on what is planned to be the first of a series of new projects approved under the Town of Vienna’s contentious Maple Avenue Commercial (MAC) process.
The process allows greater sizes and densities for new buildings on Maple Avenue as part of an effort to push back against rampant vacancies plaguing the town’s main street.
Signs from last year indicated that the new site had planned to be opened by winter 2018, a deadline that has come and gone with construction noticeably far from complete.
Construction at the facility had briefly stalled in 2018, but has made significant project over the last month. InsideNova reported the delay was likely related to the water table at the location. But whatever the reason, the work has resumed at the project.
No new timeline has been posted.
A vehicle was fully engulfed by flames on the Beltway near Tysons Monday morning.
The fire was reported around 10:45 a.m., on the Outer Loop near I-66 and Tysons, according to WTOP Traffic.
Traffic camera images show two left-hand lanes of the Beltway blocked by first responders, as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. Thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the air prior to the fire being extinguished.
https://twitter.com/WTOPtraffic/status/1092450614792069122
There are a few stores opening, or shuffling around, at Tysons Corner Center mall over the next few months.
Arabian Oud, an oil and incense store, is scheduled to open sometime in early 2019 and signs on the store exterior say it is currently hiring staff.
The store’s oils and perfumes are higher end, with many priced over $100. The Royal Oud Set, described as a blend of roses and musk from Cambodia, will set you back $1,500.
Francesca’s, a trendy women’s clothing store on the mall’s second floor, is opening a new location on the mall’s first floor across from the food court. The store offers a variety of clothes, accessories and some home decor.
Next door, Aldo is also opening a second location in the mall sometime this spring. The store specializes in leather shoes and bags.
Photo via Facebook
Police Looking for Missing Local Man — Fairfax County Police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing, endangered 21-year-old man who was last seen January 31 on the 3100 block of Monticello Drive in Falls Church. [Twitter]
Part of Development Project Offered for Sale — “A piece of the planned 2.5-million-square-foot Arbor Row mixed-use development in Tysons is being offered for sale as its owners seek to capitalize on the momentum growing through other recently completed or planned projects in the area.” [Washington Business Journal, Bisnow]
West Falls Church Development Modified — The Falls Church City Council is set to vote on a series of five modifications to a plan for the private development of a 10.3 acre city-owned property near the West Falls Church Metro station. Among the changes are “an increase in residential density allowing an additional 50,000 square feet in senior housing and an additional 100,000 square feet in residential density of either condominiums or studio and one bedroom apartments.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Pair Arrested for Mall Theft, Assault on Officer — Two women from Laurel, Maryland were arrested last week and charged with stealing items from the Superdry store at Tysons Corner Center. One of the women is charged with assault on law enforcement after allegedly trying to fight the arresting officers. [FCPD]
Gannett Rejects Takeover Offer — Tysons-based newspaper chain Gannett has rejected an unsolicited takeover proposal, made by a hedge fund-owned company best known for slashing costs and jobs. [USA Today, BusinessWire]
Free Soup at Barnes and Noble — The Tysons Corner Center Barnes and Noble store is offering free soup with the purchase of a sandwich this month. [Instagram]
