As local leaders work to make Tysons more walkable, a big part of that push is going to involve keeping the sidewalks clear during snowstorms.

One day after the first snowstorm of 2019, Tysons seem to have mostly — but not entirely — met that goal.

While most of the roads are cleared by the Virginia Department of Transportation, Robin Geiger, head of communications for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, says private organizations and individuals around Tysons are entirely to credit for the clear sidewalks.

“Neither VDOT nor the county clears snow and ice from public walkways (sidewalks and most trails),” Geiger wrote. “While not legally obligated, residents and businesses are asked to help keep sidewalks safe, when possible, by clearing snow off the sidewalks in front of their property so that all pedestrians, especially school children, those with disabilities and the elderly, may walk securely.”

“Homeowner associations may require members of their communities to clear the private walkways abutting their property,” she added.

According to Geiger, the only sidewalks cleared by the county are those outside county-operated facilities, like police stations, fire stations, libraries and community centers.

By early afternoon yesterday (Monday), many of the sidewalks near Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria were mostly or entirely cleared of snow. Undaunted by the cold, there were also a fair number of people taking advantage of the snow day to shop at both malls and other surrounding businesses.

Many of the outlying streets, like Jones Branch Drive, also had sidewalks on at least one side of the road clear, with some of the streets near residential developments remaining snow-covered. For many of the sidewalks on the fringes of Tysons, even those with a path through the snow are still covered with ice.

Geiger said if sidewalks in front of private property are not cleared by the owners or other private entities, the job falls upon Mother Nature.

“Many businesses, [homeowners associations], and residents clear sidewalks, but they are not required to by county ordinance,” said Geiger. “Some sidewalks do not get cleared during snow events.”

In Fairfax City, Falls Church, Alexandria and Arlington, ordinances do require business owners and residents to clear their sidewalks.

The Barns at Wolf Trap don’t feature as many big names in February as in previous months, but there’s plenty of excitement in next month’s musical lineup.

Most of the biggest performances are tributes to classic rock, folk and classical performances.

On Feb. 2, Dustbowl Revival will be performing a mashup of traditional Americana music with modern dance music in a celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Band. They will be performing alongside Austin-based Hot Club of Cowtown, a jazz and western swing band. Tickets range from $32 for rear orchestra or side balcony seats to $37 for prime orchestra or prime balcony.

While you’ll never get a chance to see The Beatles live, the next best thing might be the cover band 1965 The Tribute, performing on Feb. 14 and 15. The performance starts at 8 p.m. and tickets range from $38-$42.

On Feb. 22, Pianist Wu Han will lead a small ensemble in an “exploration of Schubert’s oeuvre.” Following the performance, attendees will have a chance to meet the artists at a dessert reception. Tickets are $40.

The list of Wolf Trap events in February:

• Feb. 1: St. Lawrence String Quartet
• Feb. 2: The Dustbowl Revival & Hot Club of Cowtown
• Feb. 9 and Feb. 10: Le Vin Herbé
• Feb. 14 and 15: 1964 The Tribute
• Feb. 16 and 17: Masters of Hawaiian Music
• Feb. 19 and 20: Cherish the Ladies
• Feb. 22: Wu Han and Friends

The full Wolf Trap schedule is available online.

Photo via Wolf Trap

A 24-year-old Fairfax man is facing a litany of charges, including assault on law enforcement, after an incident in the Falls Church area over the weekend.

Police say Victor Vanegas was “causing a disturbance and breaking items” at an address near George Mason High School when police responded and an officer attempted to place him under arrest.

Vanegas “then assaulted the officer and tried to run away,” but was soon thereafter caught and taken into custody.

More from Fairfax County Police:

ASSAULT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER/DRUNK IN PUBLIC/DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: 7100 block of Shreve Road, 01/12/19, 11:50 p.m. An officer responded to a man causing a disturbance and breaking items. The officer located the suspect and attempted to place him under arrest. The suspect then assaulted the officer and tried to run away.  He was then caught and placed under arrest. Victor Vanegas, 24, of Fairfax was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, drunk in public, destruction of property and possession of schedule 1 narcotics.

Map via Google Maps

Tysons Gymboree Expected to Close — “Children’s clothing retailer Gymboree Group Inc. is expected to seek bankruptcy protection this week, with plans to close all 900 of its stores, according to people familiar with the matter.” The company has a Gymboree location at the Tysons Corner Center mall. [Wall Street Journal]

Black Ice Warning This Morning — From Fairfax County Fire and Rescue: “Be careful walking out your front door as well. Please also walk with caution on sidewalks and parking lots.” [Twitter]

Cybersecurity CEO Gives Up Salary — Moe Jafari, the CEO of Tysons-based cybersecurity company and government contractor Human Touch, has given up his salary to save money during the government shutdown. [WUSA 9]

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!

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Valo Park Blood Drive
Valo Park (7950 Jones Branch Dr)
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Inova Blood Donor Services will be hosting a blood drive at Valo Park. Another blood drive will be hosted at 7900 Westpark Drive in Mclean later this week. To make an appointment, schedule online or call 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372).

Albert Lee at Jammin Java
Jammin’ Java  (227 Maple Ave E)
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Guitarist Albert Lee will be performing at Jammin Java. Lee, who has been performing with R&B, country, and rock and roll bands since 1959, is renowned for his speed. Doors open at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $25.

Wednesday, Jan. 16

Free Spaghetti Dinner for Furloughed Workers & Their Families
American Legion Dyer-Gunnell Post 180 (330 North Center Street)
Time: 5-8 p.m.

The Vienna American Legion Post is offering a free spaghetti dinner available to all furloughed government employees and their families.

Thursday, Jan. 17

Specialty Beer Release: Resilience
Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike)
Time: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

The Tysons Biergarten will host a party celebrating the launch of Resilience, a beer brewed by Sierra Nevada to support relief efforts for those affected by the California wildfires. All sales of the beer go to the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund.

Shutdown Lunch
McLean Presbyterian Church (1020 Balls Hill Rd)
Time: 12-1 p.m.

McLean Presbyterian Church will have lunch for employees who are furloughed and not working at all, essential employees who are still on the job but not getting paid, and their families.

John Oates at Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd)
Time: 8-11 p.m.

John Oates, half of the legendary ’80s duo Hall and Oates, will be performing in The Barnes at Wolf Trap on Thursday and Friday. Tickets start at $42.

Admittedly, the new Donburi in Tysons Galleria is a little smaller than the Adams Morgan or Dupont Circle locations.

But, for owner James Jang, this smaller location in the Taste of Urbanspace food hall allows him a special opportunity: he can try something new.

With two established locations in D.C., Jang said he’s hesitant to change the menus too much. But soon, Jang says he plans on trying out adding udon, a type of thick Japanese noodle dish, to the Tysons location.

“We’ve just opened here,” said Jang, “so we can be a little more creative with what we try out.”

Like the nearby Andy’s Pizza, the restaurant has also filed for an ABC permit in hopes of being able to serve Japanese beer and sake.

“We’re looking to get the beer on draft if we can,” said Jang. “We might do cocktails as well.”

Jang has owned and operated Donburi for six years and jumped at the chance to join Taste of Urbanspace, a collection of new locations from regional favorites that filled the void left by the high-profile collapse of Isabella Eatery.

For Jang, the opening in Tysons is also a homecoming, though he also said moving back into the area has been a rediscovery of how much it has changed since he grew up in nearby McLean.

“I used to live here,” Jang said. “I went to McLean High School, so this is more of a hometown than D.C.”

The most popular dishes on Donburi’s menu are the karaage salad, a soy sauce marinated chicken with mixed greens, and sakedon, a salmon sashimi that Jang says is the restaurant’s signature dish.

If you’re a government worker in Fairfax, chances are you might get two Mondays off in a row.

Next Monday (Jan. 21) is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and government offices will be closed.

Also closed:

• Fairfax County Public Schools
• School-Age Child Care
• Fairfax County Libraries
• Fairfax courts

Historic sites managed by Fairfax County Park Authority will also closed, but all RECenters and nature centers will be open.

If you’re looking for activities to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., on Sunday, Jan. 20, local hip hop and arts group B-Fly Entertainment will host “Liner Notes,” a performance that includes the music of the civil rights movement, at the McLean Community Center.

“Collide with music’s past and present through jazz standards, hip hop samples and actual liner notes from musicians of the civil rights movement in this multimedia concert experience,” B-Fly wrote on its Facebook page.

The show will be held in the center’s newly renovated Alden Theater at 1234 Ingleside Ave. Tickets are $25 for the general public or $15 for McLean residents.

Courtesy photo

For the eighth year in a row, Washington, DC History & Culture will host the McLean Chocolate Festival at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) on Sunday, Jan. 27.

The event is a fundraiser for the McLean Rotary, which provides funds to support other local non-profit groups.

The festival will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

In 2018, 2,500 people stopped by the event and the festival was able to raise $14,000 for local groups.

No advance tickets or registration is required. Admission is $2 for adults. Admission for children three or under is free. Credit cards are usually accepted at the event, but cash is recommended.

In addition to chocolate, the event will have a room set aside for live family-friendly entertainment throughout the day. A lecture will also be held on how chocolate was made in colonial America.

Photo via Facebook

‘Historic’ Tysons Apple Store May Move — “When Apple opened its first two retail spaces just hours apart at Tysons Corner Center and Glendale Galleria on May 19, 2001, nobody predicted the cultural impact and broad success Apple stores would have across the world. Now, that same success may cause Apple to leave the space that sparked a revolution in retail.” [9to5Mac]

New Tysons Chamber Chair Focusing on Growth — “‘When I look around Tysons, I can’t help but notice that we have one of the biggest darned fishing poles in the state of Virginia,’ he said. ‘There’s a lot of opportunity out there. All you have to do is look out these windows and see the construction, traffic and development.'” [InsideNova]

County Grappling with Government Shutdown — “One couple that contacted [Rep. Jennifer] Wexton had to return Christmas presents. Since they work for the same federal agency and are now both furloughed, they are now worried that they will not be able to pay their mortgage or the cost of their son’s preschool.” [Fairfax Times]

Vienna Council Squabbles Over Proclamations — “The Vienna Town Council on Jan. 7 approved, if a tad irritably, approved a pair of proclamations regarding social issues beyond its usual scope of duties… Council member Carey Sienicki, while not disputing the Council’s good intentions in signing off on the proclamations, wondered if those actions weren’t a little far afield.” [InsideNova]

Hedge Fund Gunning for Gannett — Tysons-based newspaper giant Gannett is considering a takeover offer from “a hedge-fund-backed media group known for buying up struggling local papers and cutting costs.” [Wall Street Journal]

Fairfax County government offices are opening at 10 a.m. today as VDOT crews continue to work to clear roads around Northern Virginia.

Most highways and main routes around Tysons appear to be clear. VDOT says it is working to clear neighborhood streets, some of which remain snow-covered.

“We’re focusing on neighborhood streets today,” the agency said on Twitter. “If you haven’t seen us yet, don’t worry, you will. If you’re clearing your driveway today, please pile snow to the right or it may get pushed back. No one wants to shovel a driveway twice.”

County courts opened on time today and trash collection started after daybreak, according to Fairfax County. Vacuum leaf collection has been suspended. Fairfax Connector service is operating on a Saturday schedule, with some delays expected.

Fairfax County Public Schools, meanwhile, are closed today, as is the federal government.

Officials are urging residents to completely clear snow from their cars before driving and to be careful on the roads.

You cleared your sidewalk and your driveway of #snow. How about your vehicle? Before you head out in your vehicle PLEASE remember to clear snow from it! Especially the roof! Not doing so could prove dangerous to others on the roads. #FCFRD #traffic #vatraffic #fairfaxcounty pic.twitter.com/kzdN7p8rji

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 14, 2019

We're responding to weather related events as road conditions continue to deteriorate causing hazardous conditions. Please stay home and off of the roads. Expect delays on your commute in the morning. Tips for driving in #inclementweather visit this link: https://t.co/9Z6upYu13a pic.twitter.com/DWtXvihCHa

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 14, 2019