Shoppers Pack Local Malls — Despite the popularity of online shopping, the holiday season is still a busy one for local malls. Shoppers packed Tysons Corner Center on Friday, and National Public Radio was there interviewing mall-goers about why they decided to brave the crowds rather than shop in the comfort of their own home. [NPR]

Teens Suspected of Marco Polo Arson — Police believe a pair of teens deliberately set the empty former Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna on fire. The teens are also suspected of separate acts of vandalism, arson and making fake bomb threats, according to WJLA’s Tim Barber. [Twitter]

Council Worried About Bike Corral Taking Up Parking Space — Members of the Vienna Town Council “voted unanimously Nov. 19 to table their decision about potentially relocating a bicycle ‘corral’ on Church Street until other alternatives become available,” because the proposed place for the corral to be relocated would eliminate a parking space. [InsideNova]

More on Falls Church Murder-Suicide — “Officers responded to the 7300 block of Parkwood Court at 10:48 after a relative discovered 51-year-old Judith Garcia Gonzales de Gudiel and her husband 60-year-old Ever Gudiel dead. Preliminarily, it appears Gudiel attacked Garcia, causing trauma to her upper body before hanging himself.” [FCPD]

Fairfax County police and firefighters are on the scene of a crash in McLean in which a car ran off the side of the road.

The crash was reported around 5 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Kirby Road and Barbee Street. Initial reports suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle and careened into a wooded area along the side of the road.

At least one person could be seen being loaded into an ambulance, which then left the scene en route to a local hospital.

There were no significant traffic backups as a result of the crash.

Map and street view via Google Maps

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue is working to rescue a person “trapped on the rocks” near a trail in Scott’s Run Nature Preserve.

The “low-angle rescue” was underway as of 4:50 p.m., according to the fire department’s Twitter account. So far there’s no word on the nature of the patient’s injuries, though initial reports suggest that the patient was found near a creek and rescuers are worried about him or her becoming hypothermic.

An ATV, a stokes basket and spotlights are reportedly being utilized as part of the rescue operation.

The nature preserve abuts Georgetown Pike, the Capital Beltway and the Potomac River.

Update at 5:30 p.m. — The victim has been carried out of the woods, according to scanner traffic.

Units on scene 7400 Georgetown Pike with one patient trapped on the rocks off the trail. Crews attempting low-angle rescue. Unknown injuries. #fcfrd #news pic.twitter.com/p5PEgtyfbZ

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) November 21, 2018

Photo via Fairfax County Park Authority. Map via Google Maps.

Here at Tysons Reporter, we’re thankful to have you as a reader.

This Thanksgiving, as we take the long four-day weekend off after a busy two months since our launch, we have just one request: as you gather with friends and family this holiday season, tell any fellow locals about Tysons Reporter. We greatly appreciate all email referrals as we work to deliver professional, daily local news coverage to the community.

Whether you’re traveling or staying in town — our poll suggests it’s about 50/50 among readers — we hope you stay warm, eat well (or not) and have a very happy Thanksgiving.

We’ll see you back here on Monday.

Three companies based in Tysons are on a new list of the fastest-growing tech companies.

The companies, plus five others from Fairfax County, are included in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list, which looks at the fastest-growing technology firms in North America. That’s according to the latest Fairfax County Economic Development Authority email newsletter.

The Tysons-based firms are:

• GTT Communications, a telecommunications infrastructure company
• KLDiscovery, which provides data-driven software and services to law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies
• Digital Harbor, an enterprise software company focused on the healthcare industry

Other Fairfax County companies on the list are: LookingGlass Cyber Solutions of Reston (“leads local companies on the list with an 883 percent growth,” per FCEDA), GoCanvas of Reston, Research Innovations of Alexandria, Acero Health Technologies of Alexandria and ScienceLogic of Reston.

Black Friday makes the headlines, but this upcoming Small Business Saturday (Nov. 24) will give locals a chance to check out some of the small stores throughout the area and maybe get some holiday shopping done.

The Vienna Business Association has put together a list of all small businesses in the areas with special deals on Saturday, including:

• Bards Alley LLC (110 Church St NW) — A book store in Vienna that will have giveaways for purchase over $50, refreshments, and a signing by local authors Katy Upperman, author of The Impossibility of Us, at 11:00 a.m., Eugenia Kim author of The Kinship of Secrets, at 1:00 p.m., and Anna Whiston Donaldson, author of the book A Hug from Heaven, at 3:00 p.m.
• Elements Massage (122 Maple Ave W) — A massage parlor offering $30 discount off of your first one-hour massage session. The deal will run both Saturday and Sunday.
• Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom (258 Maple Ave E) — The mattress store will be offering 30 percent off all Savvy Rest Mattresses and 25 percent off all other products.
• Bikes @ Vienna (128 A Church Street NW) — This store bicycle, which specializes in non-traditional models, will be offering 10 percent off select bicycles and accessories.
• Aesthetic Medical Center (8150 Leesburg Pike) — Calling the clinic (703-992-7979) on small business Saturday will net a 15 percent discount on any single treatment through Dec. 31.
• Colleen’s Creations, LLC — This online-only business run out of a Vienna home will be offering a variety of discounts on lipstick and glosses. All cosmetics and skincare materials are 40 percent off. Pickup is available in Vienna or via mail for a $4 charge.
• Generation Code (112 Church St NW) — This kids coding camp will offer five percent off winter break camps.
• Freeman Store (131 Church St NE) — The Freeman Store and Museum, a historically styled general goods store, will offer a 10 percent discount (15 percent for members) on merchandise in the store excluding used books.
• Potomac River Running Store (111 Maple Ave W) — The regional chain is offering buy one, get one 40 percent off. A Potomac River graphic t-shirt is available for $10 with any purchase of $20 or more.
• Skintelligence (421 Church St) — This skincare and spa treatment clinic in Vienna is offering 10 percent off any massage scheduled on Nov. 24 for any day between Nov. 26 and Dec. 23. All skin care products are also 20 percent off.
• John Edwards Hair Design (103 Church St NE) – A cosmetic studio offering 40 percent off any facial or skin care peel.

Meanwhile, for those looking to support small businesses in Tysons and McLean, here is a partial list put together from both American Express’s map of small businesses and the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce’s retail directory.

• Color Wheel (1374 Chain Bridge Road) — A family business offering paint and specialty finishes and custom photo framing.
• Mangan Jewelers of McLean (6801 Whittier Ave) — A jewelry store featuring wedding rings, fashion jewelry and estate pieces.
• McLean Hardware Co. Inc. (1445 Chain Bridge Rd) — McLean’s local hardware and household goods shop, offering a variety of gardening, plumbing, electric and houseware supplies.
• Mayflowers of McLean (1363 Chain Bridge Rd) — A florist shop in downtown McLean.
• Treasure Trove (1317 Chain Bridge Rd) — A used merchandise store offering everything from old books to clothing. All proceeds benefit Inova Hospital.
• Mesmeralda’s Gifts (1339 Chain Bridge Rd) — A gifts and novelty items store.
• Gegi Couture (1339 Chain Bridge Rd) — A fashion store focusing on custom clothing and tailoring for women.
• Carpet Impressions (1339 Chain Bridge Rd) — A carpet and handmade rug store.
• The Preppy Pink Pony (6829 Redmond Drive) — A monogrammed gifts and invitations store.
• Tysons Tailors (8099 Tysons Corner Center) — An alterations and tailoring shop inside Tysons Corner Center.
• Tysons Watch and Jewelry Exchange (8150 Leesburg Pike) — a store trading in jewelry, watches and luxury items.
• Aram Boutique (2001 International Dr) — A women’s fashion store in Tysons Galleria.
• Vienna Hot Tubs & Patio (1524 Spring Hill Rd) — An emporium stocking home spas, fire pits and patio furniture
• Shiraz Market (8486 Tyco Rd) — An international grocery store featuring Middle Eastern and Asian goods.

Photo via Facebook

Driving through fancy neighborhoods and marveling at Christmas decorations is a time-honored American suburban tradition, but the Woman’s Club of McLean is offering visitors a chance to go inside those homes for a tour.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, the club will host their 52nd annual Holiday Homes Tour. The tour, which will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will stop at four homes throughout the area. Homes on the tour range from older colonial style brick homes to a sprawling seven-bedroom home in Odricks Corner, just north of Tysons.

This year’s honorary tour host will be state Sen. Barbara Favola (D).

Tickets for the tour are $30 in advance or $35 at the door, with all proceeds going to local charities. Tickets can be purchased at:

• Mesmeralda’s in McLean (1339 Chain Bridge Rd)
• Karen’s Florist in Vienna (527 Maple Ave E)
• Great Dogs of Great Falls (9859 Old Georgetown Pike)

In addition to the tours, one home in River Oaks will be selling jewelry, handmade wreaths and gift baskets. There will also be a raffle for gift certificates to several local businesses.

A Civil War Christmas, a collection of stories linked by a pageant of carols, is coming to Tysons’ 1st Stage Theater (1524 Spring Hill Rd) starting next week.

The play, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel, follows several intertwining lives on Christmas Eve in 1864 from Northern Virginia battlefields to the White House.

A Civil War Christmas will run from Nov. 29 through Dec. 23. Showtimes are:

• Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
• Fridays at 8 p.m.
• Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Sundays at 2 p.m.

General admission tickets are $29. Tickets for seniors (65+) are $36. Student and military tickets are $15.

Captioned performances will be held the weekend of Dec. 6-9. An audio description will be available at the Dec. 8 performance.

1st Stage Theater also offers community conversations after several shows, giving audience members a chance to talk with the designers, cast, and cast about the show’s production and creative process. Prior to the Dec. 20 show, Sarah Jencks, Director of Education and Interpretation at Ford’s Theatre, will talk about the historical context of the show.

1st Stage Theater bills itself Tysons’ only stage theater venue. It was founded in 2008 in a converted office space.

A Civil War Christmas is the second production of the 1st Stage Theater’s 2018-2019 season.

Image via 1st Stage Theater

Long Lines at Local Whole Foods — If you ordered turkey or anything else for Thanksgiving dinner from the Whole Foods Market in Idylwood Plaza, expect long lines this morning. [Instagram]

County Offices Closed for Holiday — Fairfax County Government offices will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Also, the Fairfax Connector will be running on a modified holiday schedule both days. [Fairfax County, Fairfax County]

Turkey Frying Safety Tips — “Using a turkey fryer this year to cook your Thanksgiving dinner? Please make sure you fry the turkey and NOT your home!” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

‘Political Transformation’ in Fairfax Co. — “A group of younger candidates is gathering in the wings, frustrated by crowded classrooms, traffic congestion and the rising cost of living in the county of 1.1 million — Virginia’s most populous jurisdiction and its undisputed economic engine.” [Washington Post, Erika Yalowitz]

Holiday Stroll Planned in Vienna — “The 22nd annual Church Street Holiday Stroll is slated for Monday, Nov. 26 along historic Church Street in Vienna. Santa is expected to glide into the area on a 1946 fire truck at 6:15 p.m., then help Mayor Laurie DiRocco light the holiday tree at 6:20 p.m.” [InsideNova]

Big New Development for West End of Falls Church — “The development team of EYA, PN Hoffman and Regency Centers was chosen by the Falls Church City Council Monday night to orchestrate a dense and diverse $500 million development of 10.3 acres of City-owned land where its George Mason High School currently sits,” near the West Falls Church Metro station. [Falls Church News-Press]

(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) Fairfax County Police are on the lookout for a “suspicious man and woman” in a white van who tried to lure a young girl with the promise of a treat.

The incident happened after school dismissal Monday, several blocks from Pine Spring Elementary School in the Falls Church section of Fairfax County.

Police say the girl’s brother moved his sister away from the van and the siblings arrived home safely, reporting the incident to their parents who in turn notified the school on Tuesday.

Late Wednesday morning police released a sketch of the female suspect.

More from an FCPD press release:

Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are investigating a suspicious man and woman that approached a young girl in the Pine Spring Neighborhood in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County. The preliminary investigation shows a girl was walking home from elementary school with her adult brother yesterday afternoon around 3:45. They were approached by a man and a woman at the intersection of Pine Spring Road and Meadow View Road. The pair offered a treat to the girl and motioned her towards them. The brother moved his sister away from the pair. The siblings made it home safely and reported the incident to their mom. Their mom reported it to Pine Spring Elementary School employees today, and they immediately called us.

The woman is described as white, between 40 and 50 years old, 5’2″, 140 pounds, with shoulder length straight blonde or grey hair.  She was wearing black pants and a white jacket with a hood. Our initial description of the man is only that he is between 40 and 50 years old with short hair. The couple is believed to have been driving a newer model white passenger van, with a yellow license plate.

Detectives are asking for anyone with information or have encountered this similar circumstances to contact us at 703-246-7800. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-TIPS. They can also be sent in via text by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). Text STOP to 274637 to cancel, or HELP to 274637 for help. Message and data rates may apply. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1000 if their information leads to an arrest.

Map via Google Maps