Reminder: Winter Weather Advisory Today — “A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued from 9 PM Thursday to 5 AM Friday. Expected snow in the county at this time is between 2-4 inches. Plan on slippery road conditions and continue to monitor the forecast.” [Ready Fairfax/Twitter]
Vienna Police Warn of “McAfee Antivirus” Scam — “The scam usually begins with an email that purports to be from McAfee informing citizens that they are being charged $300 for ‘McAfee Total Protection anti-virus software’ unless they cancel the order by calling a phone number provided in the email. If you call the number provided, you will be greeted by a scammer posing as a McAfee employee who will ask for personal information, including a bank account number supposedly to verify the account.” [Vienna Police Department/Twitter]
New Tysons Gym Opens Today — PureGym has a grand opening today (Thursday) for its new Tysons Square gym, the British company’s first in the U.S. PureGym says Tysons stood out for “its mix of office and residential, as well as its accessibility by car, bus and rail via Metro’s Greensboro station.” [Washington Business Journal]
Park Authority Board Reverts to Virtual Meetings — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board’s regular meetings and committee sessions will return to a virtual format until further notice. Meetings will be accessible via livestream beginning Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. This change is reflective of current social distancing recommendations and safety concerns related to the current surge in COVID-19 cases.” [FCPA]
Tysons Nail Salon Relocates to Reston — “Beauty Nail Bar, currently operating out of Tysons, should open at its new location (1675 Reston Parkway) by the end of February, according to owner Nam Huynh of Wolf Trap. He said he decided to move his operation for more space, but it will otherwise be exactly the same.” [Reston Now]
F45 Training is moving into the Mosaic District.
Construction is currently underway on the boutique, high-intensity gym franchise’s latest site at 2980 District Ave., which is currently home to the education center Kumon and expects to also add the Japanese barbeque restaurant Gyu-shige soon.
Husband-and-wife owners Kerri Palmer and Earl Pinto decided to bring F45 to the Mosaic District after trying out the franchise’s site at The Boro.
F45’s approach to workouts appealed to both of them, which Palmer says is a rarity, and they thought it would be a good fit for the Mosaic District based on the other businesses in the development and the number of residents and visitors it attracts.
“I think that the Mosaic District is magical, and I actually think it’s going to be one of the best territories that F45 will have,” Palmer said. “…Our business is one that has a great energy and a great vibe to it, and I think Mosaic District aligns with that as well.”
Palmer says F45’s functional training classes differ from other gyms because the workouts continually change, rather than relying on the same routines and equipment.
“It’s really engaging, and it challenges your body in different ways than the traditional gym would challenge your body,” she said.
Acknowledging that some people might be skeptical of a gym opening during a pandemic, Palmer expressed confidence in F45’s COVID-19 protocols. Studios across the franchise are placed at five tiers that range from all-virtual to fully open depending on the public health situation of their individual locations.
F45 Mosaic will determine what approach to take once it gets closer to opening.
While the process of establishing the business has taken longer than anticipated, Palmer says their landlord and contractor, as well as Fairfax County staff have been supportive as she and Pinto have navigated unfamiliar territory.
This is their first attempt at starting a business together. Palmer works in the banking industry, while Pinto has a government job.
Palmer and Pinto have been documenting the construction process with regular updates on the F45 Mosaic Facebook and Instagram pages.
The current plan is to hold a soft opening for F45 Mosaic in May and a grand opening in June, “as long as everything continues to meet the timelines we have, and we’re very optimistic that will happen,” Palmer said.
Photo courtesy F45
Fairfax NAACP Head May Run for Lt. Governor — “Fairfax County NAACP president Sean Perryman announced an exploratory bid for the position of lieutenant governor Monday, explaining that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and resultant economic crisis had catalyzed his run.” [WTOP]
Upzoning in Tysons — “While there are advantages and disadvantages relative to replacing single-family zoning with two- to four-unit zoning, Tysons’ plan may provide an alternative model for suburban upzoning in locations where eliminating single-family zoning runs into political roadblocks.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Gym Eyeing Tysons — “United Kingdom-based gym chain PureGym will open its first location in the United States in Springfield… Parties are now drafting construction drawings for the Springfield location to apply for permits with Fairfax County, the source said, adding that PureGym is eyeing more locations in the region, including in Tysons.” [Washington Business Journal]
Renamed School Holiday — “The Fairfax County School Board has voted to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day for the previously approved 2020-21 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) school year calendar as well as the yet-to-be approved 2021-22 school year calendar. The 2021-22 calendar is scheduled to be adopted in September.” [FCPS]
Topics for the 8/11 On Deck with Mercury include policing in Vienna, use of force, and a path forward. Advance registration is required and open to ToV residents only: https://t.co/zixwSegceY The conversation with Chief Jim Morris and others will be live-streamed on YouTube. pic.twitter.com/7R87DWXBf9
— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) July 28, 2020
Photo courtesy Joanne Liebig
As fitness centers are starting to reopen in the Tysons area as Virginia continues to roll back COVID-19 restrictions.Â
Currently, Northern Virginia is in Phase Two and plans to enter Phase Three on Wednesday (July 1).
Here are a few updates on which gyms are reopening, which are staying virtual and which are closing for good.Â
Solidcore in Tysons is offering in-person classes as of June 23. They are enforcing a variety of measures to enforce social distancing, such as “alternating machines back-to-front” to maintain 6 feet of distance.
They are asking customers to “minimize gathering in common areas,” to use the bathroom at home and to bring duffles to be stored in the pit of their machine rather than in a common area, according to procedures posted on their website.
Additionally, coaches will not be giving hands-on corrections and will be wearing masks and gloves at all times.Â
Crunch in Vienna is offering special reopening hours from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on the weekend.
 24 Hour Fitness has closed permanently in Tysons. However, the Falls Church location plans to reopen soon with new protocols to maintain safety. They have created a way for customers to check-in on their own, make workout reservations and even continue working out at home via digital instruction through a mobile app.
Hot Yoga Tysons is offering “two to three” virtual classes each day throughout the week for people who are craving yoga and pilates sessions from their homes. Â
1 To 1 Fitness in Tysons is also continuing to offer virtual personal training. Their sign-up provides users the opportunity to request a trainer who meets their specific preferences in a coach and a workout.
May gyms and fitness centers may start to open up in July as future guidelines have fewer restrictions. Virginia’s Phase Three will allow fitness centers and pools to open up to 75% capacity.
Photo by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash
People who have missed hitting the gym for the last few months are seeing options reopen.
Several gyms and yoga studios in the Tysons-area pivoted to online classes in April. Ahead of Northern Virginia starting to ease COVID-19 restrictions, some fitness center owners and clients pushed for more opportunities.
Now, fitness centers are allowed to open indoor spaces at 30% occupancy under Phase Two, which Northern Virginia entered June 12.
Fairfax County offers indoor and outdoor public swimming only for lap swimming, diving, exercise and instruction. Public pools, including community pools, are not allowed to open for recreational use.
When Virginia enters Phase Three, Gov. Ralph Northam said that pools and gyms may open at 75% capacity. The date for when Virginia will enter that phase has not been announced yet.
Just because pools and gyms can open in limited capacities doesn’t mean that they will. Some gyms, like 24 Hour Fitness in Tysons, won’t reopen at all.
We want to know how you feel about going back to the gym during the pandemic. Let us know in the poll below.
Photo by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash
After a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 24 Hour Fitness location in Tysons is now closed permanently.
The facility at 1500 Cornerside Blvd previously offered a variety of workout membership services, according to its website.
Guests who visited the website for the Tysons location were greeted with a notice that read, “This Location Has Closed,” accompanied by a link to find other facilities in the area.
The Tysons gym is also on a list of 24 Hour Fitness location around the U.S. that are closed: “24 Hour Fitness has made the difficult decision to close the following locations.”
CNN reported today that 24 Hour Fitness has filed for bankruptcy and permanently closed 100 locations in 14 states — about a quarter of its gyms.
The gym chain now only lists two locations left in Virginia.
For people who want to take advantage of the company’s offerings, they can visit the Falls Church location (1000 E. Broad Street), which is set to reopen July 7, according to the website.
Photo via Google Maps
Owners of CrossFit gyms in the Tysons area are distancing themselves from an insensitive tweet by CrossFit’s CEO.
Greg Glassman, the CEO, recently apologized for saying “It’s FLOYD-19” in response to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s tweet calling racism a public health issue, according to BET.
Reebok and several CrossFit athletes have since cut ties with the branded fitness regimen because of the tweet, and hundreds of gyms across the U.S. have disaffiliated from CrossFit over the tweet, according to reports from Forbes and People.
Tysons Reporter reached out to CrossFit gyms located in Vienna, Falls Church and Tysons. Six of them have denounced Glassman’s tweet.
The staff behind the CrossFit Tysons Corner (8453-K Tyco Road) told Tysons Reporter in an email that they do not condone Glassman’s statements. “We are exploring options for de-affiliation,” the email said.
Curtis Blake of CrossFit Falls Church (130 W. Jefferson Street) said that its members are aware of the gym’s stance.
“I was deeply saddened by the insensitivity that was shown and/or the malice in Glassman’s post,” Blake told Tysons Reporter. “I would like to see him step down and a change in leadership before we personally [make] a decision.” Blake declined to comment further.
CrossFit Route 7 (8504-B Tyco R0ad) and CrossFit North Vienna (234 Dominion Road NE) — a.k.a. the Phoenix Athletix Club — both shared on social media that they do not support Glassman’s comments.
“At this point, we do not know exactly what the next steps look like for the gym,” CrossFit Route 7 said in its Facebook post.
Meanwhile, CrossFit Fairfax (2831 Dorr Ave) wrote on Facebook that it will honor the Black Lives Matter movement on Saturday, June 13, but did not include a direct mention of Glassman’s tweet.
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our gym, the broader fitness community, or the world at large,” the post said.
Marcus Ford of Tinner Hill CrossFit (336 S. Washington Street) said that the gym took to Facebook yesterday to reaffirm the location’s beliefs.
“I simply wanted to iterate to our extended community that we are steadfast in our beliefs, have always and will always operate without discrimination,” Ford told Tysons Reporter. “We openly welcome ALL people with no concern for race, religion, gender(s), sexualities or otherwise.”
Ford said that the incident “called into question the beliefs of CrossFit affiliates all over the world, and I personally and professionally felt the need to remind our community that no matter what methodology we use for fitness, we are resolute in the principles we’ve been known for by our community.”
The location is still a CrossFit gym, “however only time will tell what the future may hold for us in terms of affiliation,” Ford said.
Photo via CrossFit Tysons Corner/Facebook
Later today (Thursday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider allowing easier expansion of outdoor dining and exercise activity.
Fairfax County announced the meeting yesterday following news that the county will start easing COVID-19 restrictions on businesses on Friday (May 29).
The meeting’s only agenda item is the emergency ordinance, which would temporarily allow “the expanded use of outdoor space for outdoor dining and for outdoor fitness and exercise activities, all under specified conditions and without the need for individualized determinations.”
The ordinance would kick in when the county starts the first phase on Friday of the governor’s reopening plan.
The meeting is set to start at 3 p.m.
The owner of a Tysons gym is gaining traction with an online petition asking that some restrictions get lifted for small gyms and fitness centers in Northern Virginia.
As Virginia readies to start its first reopening phase tomorrow (Friday), Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered that Northern Virginia maintain current COVID-19 restrictions until after Memorial Day.
Fairfax County has had the highest reported number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state, and top officials in Northern Virginia have been pushing for more time to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
But Tucker Jones, who WJLA reported is the owner of CrossFit gyms in Tysons and Arlington, thinks that the soon-approaching rollback of business restrictions in the rest of the state should also apply to small gyms in Northern Virginia.
“We strongly feel that we can continue to provide access to health and wellness through fitness in a way that keeps everyone safe,” the petition says.
Jones started the online petition three days ago and, at the time of this article, it has gathered more than 2,000 signatures.
The petition says that small class gyms that are about 3,000-8,000-square feet with a maximum capacity of 25-75 people can take the following safety steps:
- capping class sizes at 10 people
- daily deep cleaning
- disinfecting equipment before and after every use
- starting contactless check-in
- switching to reservation-only
- taking away access to showers and water fountains
- requiring employees and asking clients to wear masks
“We believe we can begin to provide our services to members following very strict guidelines of social distancing and extreme cleanliness just as other businesses are providing as they reopen,” the petition says.
Jones told WJLA he had to cancel his plans to offer outdoor fitness classes after Northam announced earlier this week the reopening delay for Northern Virginia.
Currently, CrossFit in Tysons has turned to online fitness classes, a nutrition challenge on social media and equipment rentals to keep the business going while the gyms are temporarily closed.
Photo via CrossFit Tysons Corner/Facebook
People looking to exercise with someone while staying home can turn to their local gyms and fitness studios.
While Gov. Ralph Northam’s stay-at-home order is in place, many fitness studios in Tysons have decided to offer virtual classes.
A few months ago, Tysons Reporter rounded up the gyms and fitness studios around Tysons. Now, we took a look to see which ones have pivoted to online services, including group classes and one-on-one sessions.
From boxing videos to yoga classes, here’s what we found:
- [solidcore]: As of yesterday (Tuesday), all of the chain’s studios are closed but people can sign up for virtual live classes
- 1TO1 Fitness: virtual personal training program
- Fitness Together: virtual one-on-one personal training
- F45: at-home workouts
- The Bar Method Tysons Corner: virtual classes
- 24 Hour Fitness: home workouts and live classes
- Tysons City Boxing: boxing videos on Facebook
- Hot Yoga Tysons: virtual classes
- BREAKAWAY Fitness: virtual training sessions
- CrossFit: workout guides online
Interested people can check out each studio’s website for more information.
Photo via BREAKAWAY/Facebook
