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.

There’s been a few Stuff the Bus events around the area lately, but none more accessible to Tysonians than one planned this Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Walmart Supercenter.

Prepackaged supplies are available for purchase at the Walmart at 1500 Cornerside Blvd. Each paper bag of supplies costs $4.72.

The Stuff the Bus event in Tysons will benefit the Committee for Helping Others (CHO), an all-volunteer organization in Vienna that provides food aid, clothing, furniture and other emergency needs throughout the area.

Food pantries need us most right now, after holiday giving ends. Our #StuffTheBus campaign continues Saturday 2/2 at the Tysons Walmart & Village Center at Dulles Giant. Come and donate groceries to families in need. https://t.co/bbXhduipwV pic.twitter.com/3ot6SMF7Hs

— Fairfax Youth Thrive (@ffxyouththrive) January 30, 2019

A few Stuff the Bus events have already been held around Tysons, like one a few weeks ago at a Giant in McLean.

In addition to the Tysons event, one will be held in that Herndon Giant at 2425 Centreville Road from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m benefitting LINK.

If you can’t make it out to the Stuff the Bus event but still want to help, the CHO is in need of volunteers for the food, clothing, and emergency assistance programs, as well as drivers for the furniture program.

Donations to the group can be made by calling 703-281-7614 or emailing [email protected].

Photo via Facebook

After the holiday rush of donations and food drives, supplies at food pantries can start to run dry. In an effort to combat the post-holiday slump, Fairfax County is hosting a Stuff the Bus event in McLean this weekend to support local nonprofit food pantries.

From 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., a bus will be located outside the Giant at 1454 Chain Bridge Road. The food and money collected will go to benefit Share, Inc.

On Feb. 2, another Stuff the Bus event will be held at the Walmart in Tysons at 1500 Cornerside Blvd.

The Stuff the Bus event has been an annual tradition in Fairfax for nine years. According to the website, last year’s event:

• Collected more than 250,000 lbs. of food

• Provided 170,000 meals to those in need

• Received nearly $50,000 in monetary contributions

• More than 5,000 community volunteers have contributed approximately 15,000 hours of service

• Aided more than 32 local food pantries in their winter food collections

Photo via Fairfax County

It’s still chilly out, but locals are invited to change into their bathing suit and take a “polar plunge” at the Mosaic District later this month.

The NOVA Polar Plunge Festival on Saturday, Jan. 19, is held in support of the Special Olympics. For a $100 donation to the Special Olympics, attendees can cannonball into an icy pool of water.

Beyond the donation to take the plunge, the event has certain fundraising benchmarks — from a commemorative t-shirt for $100 donors to a name on the Special Olympics walk of fame for those who raise $5,000.

The event starts with check-in at noon, with the first plunge starting at 1 p.m. and a costume contest and award ceremony at 2 p.m.

Parking for the event is free and available at the garages at 2987 and 2920 District Ave.

Polar Plunge festivals take place in four different locations across Virginia. According to the Polar Plunge website, funding goes to support Special Olympics Virginia to provide “year-round sports training, competition, leadership opportunities and health service to more than 23,000 athletes of all abilities.”

Currently, donors have chipped in $8,263 of the group’s $35,000 goal.

Photo via Facebook

(Updated 3:30) There’s lots of new development around Tysons, but one of the more unusual is a series of residential buildings constructed last night inside the Tysons Biergarten, made entirely from gingerbread.

The Tysons Biergarten is normally a pretty adult-oriented place, one of the few hotspots of the local nightlife, but yesterday (Wednesday) evening the Biergarten toned down the “bier” part and hosted its 3rd annual toy drive for local youth shelter Second Story. The event included gingerbread house making with youth involved with Second Story and a visit by Santa.

The event was the culmination of a month of toy collection at the Biergarten, where over fifty toys were collected. An earlier fundraiser for the organization raised $500.

Second Story, formerly known as Alternative House, is a youth services and safe shelter near Tysons that was founded in 1972.

The shelter offers a variety of programs, from caring for infants and young mothers to helping teenagers and young adults in distress, and offers a crisis shelter for teens for up to three weeks at a time. It also provides counseling for anyone in need across any of the shelter’s programsand offers longer-term support programs, like rent assistance and help with applications and training.

Abigail Brougher, a communications specialist for Second Story, said the Tysons Biergarten event, along with toy drives hosted by the Tysons Partnership and Tysons Corner Center, mean the shelter will be able to make sure every child and youth involved with the program is able to get a Christmas present.

“Second Story is so thankful for relationships in Tysons,” said Brougher. “It’s important to us to be able to give out toys at Christmas and they are all donated.”

Brougher said there’s no total tally of toys and funds raised yet, and it won’t be counted until after the holiday season, but roughly speaking the shelter has received hundreds of toys.

“Our two objectives are providing safe havens and opportunities,” said Brougher. “The opportunity to have that Christmas experience is important to us.”

While it’s a little late in the year to still give toys, Brougher said there’s still plenty that Tysonians can do to support the shelter year-round. Tysons Corner Center is also still collecting toys until Monday, Dec. 24, at the Santa HQ outside the Nordstrom.

“The biggest thing is to get involved,” said Brougher. “We have tours once a month. That is a really important way to learn about Second Story. We hold them on the second Tuesday of the month and you can sign up online. You get to tour our teen shelter, see where young people are staying, and learn more.”

For those looking to learn more about the shelter but can’t make it out for a tour, Brougher said Second Story also recently finished the first season of its podcast, which interviews people who went through the program.

“We have so much support from the Tysons community,” said Brougher. “They’re a huge part of us being able to do what we do.”

https://www.facebook.com/TysonsBiergarten/videos/375456116351572/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCx2HOlHfUy8WA2QtNQ7hRCyru8ha-sA061a0OmRhoyBJkKdKoIAguX0NV_QYREVK2LpwhY9yQQWCfGNm7gACS9oWqV6vFcoIJZD-Aaotc6ttAhKvWvB04iNuEUO0fcUk3KzCp4KD2zxpEeMcqiPDM_NkUdEJcC2RIQUnNZlhd5OSRl6rJqallOPR6hLg20_Bnh3oTyZ9cYPWQWwOWDtkDxZ4VbzLOkyXVu75AnEVSNjiuDWxYkQ7ct9SqH1Cz34zYsCcQorno-jo34M0ZVQ_KkI8H-0e64jiUI-WYn1B5v3_dcWLrO3LskB9zAtt1lANF9dRckRJSkIBL6X7JNTNkUEVFCJgIiTNs1yaMn6ur9LnLVp1Kn_A0euqYwcIrgdAiTqC2twFMx2nKeoJoAc83fu8H8u2eCJ_t3QFt8JyZjr4x2-0gXlJr-HV6TsQ&__tn__=-R

Photo courtesy Matt Rofougaran

Toys for Tots Campaign Begins Today — “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is accepting donations for the Toys for Tots campaign from Nov. 19 to Dec. 12. Individuals can drop off new, unwrapped toys at any county fire station during the period. Last year, the initiative resulted in the collection of more than 14,000 toys.” [InsideNova, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue]

Dancing Stars Gala Raises >$250K — “On Nov. 10, the fifth annual DC’s Dancing Stars Gala netted more than $250,000 for local charities, bringing the event’s 5-year total to $1.3 million. The event was hosted by co-founders and co-chairs Maria Coakley David and Jim David at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner and featured seven local Celebrities, four Corporate Challenge Dancers and one Alumni Dancer who have spent the past several months training for Saturday night’s performance.” [Fairfax Times]

Vienna Planners Urge Developer to Save Cabin — “It’s not technically a certified historic structure, but the log cabin at 307 Cabin Road, S.E., in Vienna gave the street its name and was built by an African-American. The Vienna Planning Commission on Nov. 14 unanimously recommended the Vienna Town Council approve plans by Signature Properties to build a two-house subdivision on the 0.52-acre property, but urged the developer to work with local history advocates to save the cabin, if possible.” [InsideNova]

Runners will be able to “wattle” to the finish line in the 16th annual Vienna Turkey Trot. Registration is open for the annual 10K, 5K, and fun run through Vienna next Sunday (Nov. 18).

The course starts at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department at 400 Center Street. Following the race, music and refreshments will be offered at a festival near the finish line.

Today (Friday), tickets for the 5K are $35 and tickets for the 10K are $40, but starting tomorrow each price increases by $5.

Those who register before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11 will be entered to win a $25 Whole Foods gift card. Those who enter by noon Friday, Nov. 16 have a chance to win a free teeth whitening at Tysons Elite Dental if they “like” the Facebook page.

To avoid long race-day lines, race packets can be picked up on Friday, Nov. 16 from 4-7 p.m. at Vienna Whole Foods (143 Maple Ave E) or Saturday, Nov. 17 from noon to 7 p.m. at Road Runner Sports (1120 West Broad Street).

All proceeds from the race benefit the James Madison High School Band and the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

Photo via Facebook

If you’re driving through McLean and you see a yard full of American flags, remember Vincent Hiltz.

Hiltz was a train engineer from northern Kentucky who served in the First World War, a war that ended 100 years ago this Veterans Day (Nov. 11). One of those flags is planted for him.

The McLean and Tysons Rotary Clubs are collaborating for Flags for Heroes, an effort to fill McLean with American flags every Memorial Day and Veterans Day (Sunday).

Sponsorship for a flag and a commemorative certificate is $60. Paul Kohlenberger, a Rotarian and President of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, said all proceeds of the fundraiser to go charity, predominately ones supporting veteran and first responder organizations locally.

Once a flag is purchased, it will be replanted every Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

In addition to veterans, flags can be purchased in honor of a first responder or even a personal hero. Those interested in purchasing a flag should contact Rotarian Vance Zavela at [email protected] or Kohlenberger at [email protected].

Robert Jansen, Past President of the Rotary Club of McLean, bought one of those flags to honor Hiltz, who was his grandmother’s brother.

Jansen said there was a story passed down in his family from the war, where Hiltz came face to face with a German soldier.

“They both stared at each other,” Jansen said. “Both were about the same age, very young in their early 20s. Vincent thought about the German’s soldier’s family and just how tragic the war was.”

Jansen didn’t say what happened next.

This is the first Veterans Day for which Flags for Heroes planted flags. Currently, there are 50 flags on display in front of the Sharon Masonic Temple (999 Balls Hill Road) and ten in front of the American Legion Post (1355 Balls Hill Road). Jansen said the organization’s goal is to gradually increase the number of flags planted to 200-300 as it expands year after year.

A brief ceremony will be held at the American Legion Post on Monday, Nov. 12, at noon.

DC’s Dancing Stars is coming to the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons this Saturday (Nov. 10) for an evening of glitz and glamour with some surprising names.

The annual gala pairs local celebrities with professional dance partners. The dance pairs compete for a mirror ball trophy and a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

The judges of the event are professional dancer and Dancing With the Stars regular Chelsie Hightower, Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta’s Monte Durham, and former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who turned down an invite to go on Dancing With the Stars last year. Spicer and Hightower were also judges in the 2017 competition.

The gala includes a cocktail reception, dinner, silent auction, professional performances and a live band in addition to the dance competition.

Eight local celebrities are scheduled to compete in the event. So far, construction executive George Nash has the lead in fundraising with $37,920 raised to benefit Youth For Tomorrow.

The gala will be emceed by Will Thomas, a former Fox 5 anchor, and Julie Donaldson, the NBC Sports Washington anchor and reporter.

General admission tickets to the gala is $175, which includes a seat to watch the competition from the balcony or back of the ballroom, dessert buffet, dancing and an open bar.

The VIP ticket includes access to a VIP-only cocktail hour, viewing of the show close to the stage, and a gourmet dinner and dessert.

Capital One Building Among Largest Projects in U.S. — “Capital One Financial’s new Headquarters II addition to its Tysons Corner campus, a 31-story, 971,000-square-foot, 470-foot tall tower at 1600 Capital One Blvd. — the tallest building in the Washington region — ranks as the 4th-largest office building project in the U.S. in 2018.” [WTOP]

Vienna Taco Shop Holding Competition for Charity — “On Thursday, Oct. 4, Taco Bamba will hold its first annual BAMBATHON, a charity drive to fight childhood hunger. Taco Bamba’s four locations will compete to sell the most tacos that day.” [Patch]

Fairfax Co. Wants VDOT to Mow More Often — “Tall grass along the road can make it tough to see whether it is safe to turn and create an eyesore for the community, so Fairfax County is asking the Virginia Department of Transportation to mow more often.” [WTOP]

Bisnow Event in Tysons This Week — Online business publication Bisnow is hosting an event — “Fairfax County Forecast: What Does the Future Hold for the Region’s Booming Market?” — Thursday morning at 1550 Westbranch Drive in Tysons. Tickets are $99. [Bisnow]