County Cuts Herndon Police From Training Academy — “In a March 18 letter…Deputy County Executive Thomas Arnold, who oversees public safety, said he had decided ‘to terminate the Town of Herndon Police Department’s affiliation with the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy effective June 1.'” The move came after Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard objected to the academy’s director signing graduation certificates in Chinese. [Washington Post]
Five Men Arrested in Online Child Solicitation Sting — “Five men have been arrested after a multi-day operation to bring down online predators, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on Wednesday…Those people then came to Fairfax County with the intention of committing a sex act with the minor, but instead found detectives waiting for them.” [WUSA9]
Reston Town Center Reports Strong Leasing — Boston Properties recently reported that 96% of its offices at Reston Town Center are leased, despite a 20% vacancy rate in Reston overall. Jake Stroman, co-head of the developer’s D.C. area office, attributes that success to RTC’s “scale and suburban location,” along with the mix of residents, retail, amenities and events. [Washington Business Journal]
Longtime Hybla Valley Dry Cleaner to Close — “South Valley Cleaners, a longtime tenant at Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley, is closing for good and urging customers to pick up their dry-cleaned garments April 6-7 from noon to 4 p.m.” An employee says business has been hampered by rent increases, inflation and staff shortages. [On the MoVe]
Dog Daycare Expanding to Lincolnia — “Playful Pack, a place offering dog daycare, boarding, and washing, is coming to Barcroft Plaza. The facility is expected to open at the end of the summer or early fall, depending on when the permits are approved, said Tyler Parker, a co-owner of Playful Pack LLC, along with his wife Alyssa and his brother, Scott.” [Annandale Today]
Centreville Students Open Prom Dress Shop — “Marketing students from Centreville High School and the Fair Oaks Classroom on the Mall program will open their Prom Dress Shop for the prom season on Friday, April 5, at Centreville High School…Any area student — not just those from Fairfax County Public Schools — who do not have the funds to purchase a prom dress may choose from hundreds of new dresses donated by Macy’s.” [FCPS]
Mobile Art Exhibit Coming to Tysons — “Capital One Hall is proud to host the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) for a FREE mobile exhibit [on] April 9th 11am-7pm and April 10th 9am-1pm…This dynamic compilation of paintings, prints, photographs, and film, by artists from a range of cultures and time periods, illustrates the universality of human emotions.” [Capital One Center]
Vienna’s Zero Waste Store Highlighted — “A zero waste store in Vienna, Virginia, is a shining example of how small businesses can make a big difference in building a more sustainable future. Through its innovative approach, Trace — The Zero Waste Store, at 140 Church St. Northwest, inspires customers to embrace a lifestyle that is not only mindful of the planet, but also enriching for the community.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm, with some storms potentially producing small hail. The high will near 56, and the chance of precipitation is 60%. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 39 and a chance of showers until 2 am. [NWS]
An office building in Tysons is being demolished to make way for workforce housing near the McLean Metro station.
SCG Development announced today (Wednesday) that it has closed on the financing needed to build the first phase of the project, which is being called Somos at McLean Metro. Construction can begin immediately on the mid-rise, 231-unit rental apartment building at 1750 Old Meadow Road.
“Somos at McLean Metro Phase A will bring high quality affordable housing options to families and individuals in a very high barrier to entry market that is walkable to the McLean Metro and all the surrounding amenities that Tysons has to offer,” SCG Development President Steve Wilson said in a press release. “We are thrilled to move this project to the construction phase after many years of effort. I am very thankful that our team and partners who have shared this vision for our community and worked hard to make it happen.”
Built in 1984, the existing, six-story office building was vacant, and its demolition is now underway, a process expected to take about six weeks, according to SCG. A three-story parking garage on the site will remain as the base of one of the new residential buildings.
Approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in October 2022, the Somos project will deliver a total of 456 workforce dwelling units (WDUs) across two buildings. All of the WDUs will be aimed at households earning 30-60% of the area median income (AMI), which was $145,164 for the county, as of 2022.
The developer received funding help from Virginia, Fairfax County and Amazon for the project’s first phase, per the press release:
Virginia Housing, Virginia’s state housing finance agency, has committed over $54.5 million in financing, as well as 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). These tax credits make it possible for the residential units to be available at rents affordable to residents earning 60% or less the area median income (AMI).
“Our investment towards Somos at McLean provides much needed increased affordable inventory in the Northern Virginia area,” said Tammy Neale, CEO of Virginia Housing. “We look forward to seeing the impact this property will have on residents and the community of McLean.”
Amazon is also supporting this new affordable housing community with a $28.97 million low-rate loan to Phase A from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, a more than $2 billion commitment to create or preserve more than 20,000 affordable homes for low- to moderate-income families in the Arlington, Virginia-Washington D.C. region, Washington state’s Puget Sound region, and the Nashville, Tennessee region. SCG Development is also receiving substantial support from Fairfax County, reflecting the significance of this large-scale, transit-oriented development opportunity, and a contribution of tax credit equity from Stratford Capital Group.
Amazon also contributed a $55 million grant to accelerate construction of an all-affordable housing project near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons. The nonprofit Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) broke ground on the 516-unit Exchange at Spring Hill Station in December.
Through affiliates, SCG is leasing the Somos site from the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), which has a ground lease that will ensure the housing is designated as affordable for at least 99 years.
“We are committed to creating groundbreaking solutions for Fairfax County’s affordable housing needs. Innovative partnership has enabled us to leverage private equity to convert an unused office building site into hundreds of affordable homes,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said, adding that she’s looking forward to a formal groundbreaking.
While it doesn’t have any commercial space, the Somos development plan included a “play and pedestrian court area,” a 6-foot-wide recreational trail and a 21,008-square-foot publicly accessible park along Old Meadow Road. The project will have a total of 1.21 acres of park space.
Construction on the first phase is expected to be 25 months, according to SCG.
“Phase B is looking towards a fall closing and will provide another 225 units,” the developer said.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is seeking public input on several projects vying for inclusion in its six-year funding program.
The biggest request by far comes from Fairfax County, which applied for $587.2 million to fund four major projects — more than the other eight localities participating in the fiscal year 2024-2029 Six-Year Program combined.
“With funding requests totaling nearly $1 billion, the projects cover various transportation modes including transit, rail, roadway enhancements, technology, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and intersection/interchange improvements,” the NVTA said in a press release.
Leading the way among Fairfax County’s requests is a multimodal improvements project that would expand about one mile of Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and I-66 in the Pimmit Hills area.
Adding one lane in each direction, the project is intended to make room for the planned Route 7 bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which will initially travel between the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons and the West Falls Church Metro station. Ultimately, regional and local officials hope to extend the service down to the Mark Center in Alexandria.
In the Pimmit Hills portion of Route 7, the buses will travel in dedicated lanes in the median. Shared-use paths on both sides of the road and improvements at five signalized intersections would also be implemented, according to NVTA’s description of the project.
“The separation of vehicular traffic and the installation of shared use paths will create a safer environment that is accessible to all users,” NVTA says. “The future implementation of BRT will enhance regional sustainability by reducing congestion and getting more people out of automobiles.”
The county is seeking $210 million in regional funding from NVTA for the project, which carries a total estimated cost of $244.4 million.
Other projects submitted by Fairfax County include:
- Frontier Drive Extension (nearly $165 million requested): The road would be extended from the Franconia-Springfield Metro station to Loisdale Road, accompanied by new, separated pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
- Seven Corners Ring Road ($122 million): The first segment of the planned road would add “travel lanes, a bi-directional cycletrack, and parking lanes” from the westbound Arlington Blvd (Route 50) ramp to Leesburg Pike (Route 7).
- Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements ($90 million): The second phase of the project calls for shared-use paths, High-Intensity Activated crosswalk beacons, trail connections and other intersection improvements from Humphries Drive to Southampton Drive near Kings Park.
In addition, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has asked for $6.1 million to upgrade its Backlick Road station (6900 Hechinger Drive) in Springfield, including by building a longer, 300-foot platform that can fit eight-car trains.
Updated every two years, NVTA’s six-year programs are supported by sales and grantors’ taxes, the state’s Northern Virginia Transportation District Fund and the Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program. The authority is required to devote 70% of its revenue to regional projects, while the remaining 30% goes directly to its localities.
Public comments on the FY 2024-2029 program are being accepted online, by phone (703-947-7606) and by mail until 11:59 p.m. on May 19. A public hearing will be held at NVTA’s offices (2600 Park Tower Drive, Suite 601, Vienna) at 7 p.m. on May 9.
National Poetry Month has arrived, bringing a new slate of free poetry readings and other events at Fairfax County parks.
For the final year of her tenure, Fairfax County Poet Laureate Danielle Badra has organized a second “Poetry in the Parks” initiative, inviting community members to experience linguistic and natural beauty at the same time.
Announced Monday (April 1) by ArtsFairfax, the series will kick off on April 27 with a “National Poetry Month Reading” at Green Spring Gardens (4603 Green Spring Road) in Lincolnia. D.C. area writers Camisha L. Jones, Emilia Philips, Benjamin Renne and Marcielo Shirley will participate in the reading, which is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m.
Subsequent months will see the returns of a “Pride Month Poetry Reading” and two “Poetry Beneath the Stars” events, which were both included in last year’s inaugural “Poetry in the Parks” series.
Brought back “by popular demand,” the “Poetry Beneath the Stars” writing workshops will be held on May 4 and Aug. 17 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Turner Farm Park (925 Springvale Road) in Great Falls. Attendees will craft verse about the cosmos while viewing it through telescopes in the park’s Roll Top Observatory.
This year’s Pride Month poetry reading will bring Badra, Gowri Koneswaran, Brian Teare and other LGBTQ+ poets together on June 1 from 1-2:30 p.m. to highlight the role of poetry in the queer community. The event has shifted to Green Spring Garden after previously being hosted by Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly.
“Poetry in the Parks brings together nature lovers and poetry lovers in an incredible way,” Badra said in a press release. “Last year, we had professional stargazers with a newfound admiration for poetry, and poets who were first-time visitors to a featured park creating outstanding verses. It was such a beautiful melding of worlds, which is ultimately the goal of each Poetry in the Parks event.”
The three “Poetry in the Parks” events in 2023 were attended by more than 120 people, according to ArtsFairfax, which partnered with Badra and the Fairfax County Park Authority for the program.
As part of the 2024 series, Badra will also unveil new permanent plaques with poems about nature at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Riverbend Park in Great Falls.
“As a long-term expression of Poetry in the Parks, the plaques will invite park visitors to reflect on their environment, with the additional opportunity to submit a poetic or artistic response to the plaque through a link on the ArtsFairfax website,” ArtsFairfax says. “Selected submissions will be featured in a digital collection.”
Appointed in November 2022, Badra became Fairfax County’s second poet laureate, following in the footsteps of “How to Prove a Theory” author and Northern Virginia Community College professor Nicole Tong. ArtsFairfax created the two-year position in 2020 as a way to promote poetry in the community.
The search for Badra’s successor will begin when applications open on April 15. ArtsFairfax will hold a virtual information session to discuss the poet laureate program from noon to 1:30 p.m. on April 23.
Republicans Propose Renaming Dulles Airport After Trump — “Several Republican members of Congress introduced a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport for former President Trump. HR 7845, which is apparently a real thing, would make Dulles the second DC-area airport named for a President who was broadly unpopular in the region.” [Washingtonian]
Aspiring Casino Developer Denies Arena Interference — “Comstock CEO Chris Clemente told AP the idea of pairing the casino with the arena had been bandied about by lawmakers of both parties. He rejected the notion that there was any kind of coordinated attempt to hold off the initial arena deal in favor of an arena-casino pairing.” [Associated Press]
Yellow Diner Now Open in Vienna — “The long-awaited Yellow Diner in Vienna open[ed] Monday, bringing American classics and old-school diner food to an eager clientele. Created by the Pagonis family, owners of the renowned Tysons-area Greek restaurant Nostos…the cheerful, 94-seat diner offers a modern take on classic diner cuisine, as well as a full bar.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
County Police Auditor Releases Annual Report — “Fairfax County police mostly were vindicated in the independent police auditor’s recent review of seven incidents between 2017 and 2020 in which officers pointed firearms at people, but an officer violated policy in one case and others failed significantly in another.” [Gazette Leader]
Tysons Salon Extends Stay — “Sola Salons Studios, a premier provider of salon studios, secured a lease renewal and extension at 8607 Westwood Center, Suite 100 in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The approximately 3,900 square feet space will continue to serve as a hub for Sola Salons Studios’ operations in the region.” [CityBiz]
Early Female FCPD Officer Dies — “With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of one of our first female officers, Karen Blackmon. Karen embarked on her journey with our department on January 31, 1972. With unwavering commitment, Karen served with distinction. Our thoughts & prayers are with her family & friends.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Lorton HVAC Company Gets New Owner — “United Air Temp, Air Conditioning and Heating, a fast-growing residential HVAC and plumbing company based in Lorton, has been sold to a new private equity owner.” Connecticut-based Littlejohn & Co. LLC says “it will help accelerate United Air Temp’s additional organic growth and M&A activity,” including plans to expand into Georgia. [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Wednesday — Chances of precipitation are 100%. Expect showers and thunderstorms before 4pm, followed by scattered showers and storms, with heavy rain possible. Patchy fog and a high near 59 are anticipated. At night, there is a 50% chance of showers before 2am. Conditions will be mostly cloudy with a low around 41. [NWS]
The Mosaic District will celebrate an unusually long cherry blossom season this weekend with the return of its annual Art Blooms festival.
Organized in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the two-day event will bring artisan and farmers’ markets, live entertainment and family-friendly activities to the Merrifield neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (April 6-7).
Typically open on Sundays, FreshFarm’s farmers market will also be present at the Mosaic District this Saturday for the Art Blooms festival. More than 50 local produce and food vendors are expected, along with a pumpkin painting area for kids.
An additional 90 vendors selling artwork, clothes and other handmade goods will be on site from URBN Market.
Festival emcee Tommy McFly will kick off the live entertainment around 10:45 a.m. on both days.
Saturday, April 6
- 11 a.m. — Vienna Singing Princesses
- Noon — The Cassaday Concoction
- 2 p.m. — A Mosaic Partners Fashion Show
- 4 p.m. — The Significant Others
Sunday, April 7
- 11 a.m. — Vienna Singing Princesses
- 11:15 a.m. — Tiny Dancers
- 12:30 p.m. — School of Rock
- 4 p.m. — So Fetch
Other attractions will include a games corner, spring-themed selfie stations created by the Merrifield Garden Center and the option to sip cocktails from participating restaurants in the Mosaic District while walking outside.
Complimentary shuttles will be provided from the Dunn Loring Metro station, according to the event page.
The famed Yoshino cherry trees at the Tidal Basin in D.C. reached peak bloom — when 70% of their flowers have opened — on March 17, the second-earliest date on record. But inconsistent weather this spring has kept trees around the D.C. area flowering for much longer than usual, according to the Washington Post.
In addition to attending Art Blooms at Mosaic, those looking to celebrate the extended bloom without leaving Fairfax County can still visit the Children’s Science Center lab in Fair Oaks Mall, where they can make a kite and origami and partake in an educational scavenger hunt. Timed tickets are available for $15.
Though it’s not part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival this time, the Tysons Community Alliance is bringing back its Pedal with Petals Family Bicycle Ride. This year’s event will take place on May 11 during National Bike Month at the Tysons Concourse business park (1593 Spring Hill Road).
Registration for family and advanced bicycle rides is now open. There will also be a food truck, free bike repairs, a DJ and other activities.
Paving and re-striping season has descended upon Fairfax County once again, ushering in a series of public meetings later this month on proposed projects that include bicycle lanes and improved crosswalks.
Hundreds of miles of roadway will be repaved and re-striped by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as part of the program throughout the state.
“VDOT and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) use this program as an opportunity to increase driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety with road and crosswalk improvements while minimizing the financial investment in restriping work,” FCDOT says on its website.
The first meeting kicks off next Monday (April 8) at 7 p.m. for the Franconia and Mount Vernon districts.
In the Franconia District, bicycle lanes on Oakwood Road between Van Dorn Street and Crown Royal Drive are proposed, along with crosswalk improvements at Terrapin Place and at the Crown Royal Drive and Founders Hill Place intersection.
The Mount Vernon District is slated for:
- Bike lanes on Laurel Crest Drive between Silverbrook Road and Douglas Fir Drive
- Bike lanes on Old Mount Vernon Road between Drews Court and Maryland Street
- Crosswalk improvements at Laurel Crest Drive and Paper Birch Drive
The Hunter Mill District’s meeting on April 9 will focus on Center Harbor Road in Reston, where bicycle lanes are proposed between Wiehle Avenue and Reston Parkway, and crosswalk improvements proposed at the Sundial Road intersection.
The Providence District meeting is set for April 10, with bike lanes proposed on Anderson Road between Birdwood Avenue and Magarity Road. A Capital Bikeshare station is also proposed near the intersection of Anderson Road and Dartford Drive.
Meetings for the Braddock, Mason and Springfield Districts are slated for April 11. Braddock is expected to have the following projects:
- Bike lanes on Heming Avenue between Heming Place and Braddock Road
- Crosswalk improvements at Heming Avenue and Hogarth Street
- Crosswalk improvements on Heming Ave at Elgar Street and Axton Street
Springfield is only slated for one road restriping that would add crosswalk improvements on Center Road and Garden Road.
The Sully District has the most proposed changes, which will be discussed at a meeting on April 23 at 7 p.m.:
- Bike lanes on Walney Road between Westfields Boulevard and Westmore Street
- Bike lanes on Field Encampment Road between Golden Oaks Lane and Centrewood Drive
- Crosswalk improvements on Field Encampment Road at Cider Barrel Circle and St. Germain Drive
- Crosswalk improvements at Compton Village Drive and Bradenton Drive
Paving begins in the spring and concludes in November. Exact dates for each project will be available 10 days before work is expected to begin.
Work hours are usually limited to outside of rush hours, although residents can expect work vehicles in their neighborhood during the project.
Links for each web meeting are available on FCDOT’s website, along with dial-in information.
Fairfax County is gearing up for the return of its 10 farmers’ markets this spring, with some locations set to return later this month and others in May.
The 2024 season starts on April 17 with the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market outside the Sherwood Regional Library (2501 Sherwood Hall Lane), the Fairfax County Park Authority announced last week.
Farmers and producers are only allowed to sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch and come from within a 125-mile radius of Fairfax County, with a few exceptions for hard-to-find products, according to the county website.
“This year, you can expect to find locally grown produce, delicious baked goods, and prepared foods at our farmers markets,” the Fairfax County Park Authority said in a news release. “Additionally, enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities from musical performances, games — and don’t forget to bring your food scraps to support our community composting efforts.”
A list of vendors can be found on each market’s webpage, and SNAP will be accepted at the Mount Vernon, Annandale, Lorton, Reston and Wakefield locations.
Three farmers markets are coming back later in April, all operating from 8 a.m. to noon:
- April 17: McCutcheon/Mount Vernon on Wednesdays
- April 20: Burke at Burke Centre Field (5671 Roberts Parkway) on Saturdays
- April 27: Reston at Lake Anne Plaza (1608 Washington Plaza North) on Saturdays
The seven remaining farmers markets will open in May:
- May 1: Oakton at the recently renamed Oakmont Rec Center (3200 Jermantown Road) on Wednesdays 8 a.m.-noon, Wakefield at the Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Road) in Annandale on Wednesdays 2-6 p.m.
- May 2: Annandale at Mason District Park (6621 Columbia Pike) and Herndon outside the Herndon Municipal Center (765 Lynn Street) on Thursdays 8 a.m.-noon
- May 3: McLean at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road) on Fridays 8 a.m.-noon, Kingstowne (5844-5862 Kingstowne Center) on Fridays 3-7 p.m.
- May 5: Lorton at Lorton Station Town Center (8994 Potomac Bend) on Sundays 8 a.m.-noon
Compass Coffee has opened in West Falls Church.
The regional coffee shop chain began now serving customers yesterday (Monday) at its newest location in the Shops at West Falls Church (7393 Lee Highway/Route 29). Visitors on that first day included Falls Church City Mayor Letti Hardy and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.
“[It] was an outstanding opening day with lots of members of the community stopping by the new cafe!” Compass Coffee co-founder and CEO Michael Haft told FFXnow by email. “…Everyone is very excited about the drive thru and central, accessible location.”
The launch comes just a couple of weeks after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a special exception to allow the cafe, which replaced a BB&T bank. This is the company’s second drive-thru location, joining one in Arlington, and its first shop in the county, though it can also be found in Fairfax City.
Haft says the company is “thrilled to…become a part of the growing West Falls Church neighborhood.”
Haft started the business with fellow Marine Harrison Suarez out of a desire to find the perfect cup of coffee after they were subjected to “terrible” blends during their deployments, according to Compass Coffee’s website.
“We are thrilled to become a part of the growing West Falls Church neighborhood and are excited to expand our commitment to providing exceptional coffee that’s not only delicious, but convenient for everyone,” Haft said. “We look forward to welcoming both new and familiar faces through our doors.”
With the West Falls Church opening, Compass Coffee has expanded to 17 shops since launching in D.C. a decade ago.
In addition to coffee and other hot and cold drinks, the cafe serves breakfast sandwiches and pastries. The West Falls Church location is only the second to also have paninis, including Mediterranean turkey panini and sun-dried tomato mozzarella options that “are already a fan-favorite within the community,” according to Haft.
The 2,552-square-foot building has two drive-thru aisles, one for in-person orders and another for online and mobile pick-ups.
“Whether you’re on your way to work or stopping by for an afternoon pick-me-up, we love being able to provide a quality coffee experience,” Haft said.
A grand opening celebration will be held this Friday (April 5). Details will be shared on Compass Coffee’s Twitter and Instagram pages.
Future Fairfax County sites could be on the horizon. Haft says Compass Coffee is “actively looking” at expansion options in Northern Virginia, though he didn’t share any specific locations.
“[We] are excited to see what the near future brings,” he said.
Vehicle Crashes into Centreville Apartment — “#FCFRD are on the scene of a vehicle into a building in the 13000 Blk of Orchard Dr. Firefighters arrived with one vehicle into a garden-style apartment building. FCFRD TROT is working to stabilize the building. The building investigator is on scene. No reported injuries.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]
Art Studio Eyes Reston Location — “An unusual new paint-and-sip style art studio is working on its first location in the state and it will be right here in Northern Virginia. It’s called Hawaii Fluid Art and they have announced the signing of a franchisee to bring a location to Reston. The actual location hasn’t been revealed” and may not have been identified yet. [The Burn]
Mural Planned for Mount Vernon Church — “Public art continues to proliferate along the Richmond Highway Corridor in Fairfax County. The latest building about to get its façade painted is Rising Hope Mission Church on Russell Road. Soon, a nature-themed mural will adorn the side of the church facing Richmond Highway.” Painting will begin this month. [On the MoVe]
Safeway Employee Assaulted with Shopping Cart — Fairfax City police arrested a 31-year-old man last Friday (March 29) after he allegedly threw a shopping cart at a Safeway employee after an argument in the grocery store at 10350 Willard Way. During his arrest, the man “assaulted an officer,” police say. [Fairfax City Police/Twitter]
Singers at Wolf Trap Reflect on Beyoncé Album — “‘Well, happy Beyoncé Day,’ said Roberta Lea to cheers from a sold-out crowd at the Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. — coincidentally on the same day that Beyoncé released her new country-themed album, ‘Cowboy Carter.’” Lea and other artists in the Black Opry Revue hope the album will expand the genre to new listeners. [Washington Post]
Reston Company Warns About Robocall Tax Scams — “Transaction Network Services, which regularly analyzes more than 1.5 billion daily call events across hundreds of carrier networks to identify robocall trends, said residents in the D.C. metro have already received nearly 400,000 tax-related robocalls since the start of the year. Some of those calls pretend, convincingly, to be a real person.” [WTOP]
Local Nonprofit to Match Donations — “FACETS, a Fairfax-based social-safety-net provider that helps those affected by poverty, hunger and homelessness in Fairfax County, has launched a new website (www.FacetsCares.org) with a $10,000 match donation challenge. Every donation made through the new site will be doubled up to $10,000.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms mainly before 2pm, followed by a chance of storms after 2pm. Patchy fog may occur before 2pm. The high will be around 57, and there’s a 90% chance of precipitation. Night showers and thunderstorms are likely, along with patchy fog, especially after 8pm. The low will be around 50. [NWS]
(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 4/2/2024) Fresh off this past Saturday’s Easter celebration, Capital One Center in Tysons is gearing up to launch two restaurants and a new edition of Perchfest later this spring.
Stellina Pizzeria and Starr Hill Brewpub are both expected to open in late April, though precise dates haven’t been established yet, according to Capital One Center.
If that timeline holds, Stellina’s opening will come more than two years after it announced plans to expand with a 4,100-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor of Capital One’s headquarters (1610 Capital One Drive). This will be the D.C.-based pizzeria’s fourth location.
Starr Hill Brewpub hasn’t been in the works for quite as long. After opening a biergarten in The Perch in 2021, Starr Hill Brewery shared last year that it will add a 7,572-square-foot, street-level eatery at 7730 Capital One Tower Road. The pub will feature an expanded food menu and two bars with more than 20 beers on tap.
Both restaurants will arrive in time for Perchfest, the celebration that Capital One Center holds every spring and fall at The Perch. The tradition began in September 2021 as a grand opening for the 2.5-acre urban green space on top of Capital One Hall.
Scheduled for May 3 and 4, the spring 2024 Perchfest will have a “retro” theme that organizers hope attendees will support by wearing 1980s and 1990s attire.
“Capital One Center is delighted to host the next celebration of Perchfest…which has become an exceptional rooftop experience for our community and Capital One associates,” Capital One Center Head of Public Affairs Meghan Trossen said. “This will be our sixth Perchfest — and each year the event grows. Our community asked for a throwback theme, and we listened! We can’t wait to host the ultimate retro party for all our 80’s and 90’s kids!”
The proceedings will kick off from 2-6 p.m. on May 3 with a revival of the Perch Putt Open, a charity mini golf tournament first introduced at last September’s festival. Funds will go to Miriam’s Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness and the festival’s charity partner.
While the rest of Perchfest is free with a ticket, Capital One Center is encouraging donations. The development has raised over $25,000 for Miriam’s Kitchen, as of last Thursday (March 28), and hopes to reach $30,000.
Other festivities will include a free fitness class, pie-eating contests, a Made in Fairfax pop-up market sponsored by Celebrate Fairfax, a Kentucky Derby-related event at the restaurant Wren, and live music at both Starr Hill Biergarten and Starr Hill Brewpub, which will host “Perchfest After Dark” concerts.
Capital One Park, the baseball stadium across the street at 1820 Dolley Madison Drive, will also be active with three scheduled games between Marymount University and Marywood University from Dunmore, Pennsylvania.
The full festival schedule is below. Read More
