Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center will be staying open a little later than usual to accommodate shoppers enjoying holiday deals or finding last-minute gifts.

Tysons Galleria announced yesterday (Thursday) the new hours, allowing shoppers to come in earlier in the morning or stay later in the evening.

Here are the new times:

• Friday (Dec. 13): open until 9 p.m.
• Saturday (Dec. 14): 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Sunday (Dec. 15): 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Monday-Saturday (Dec. 16-21): 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Sunday (Dec. 23): 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Monday (Dec. 23): 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Christmas Eve: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Thursday (Dec. 26): 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday (Dec. 27-28): 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Sunday (Dec. 29): noon-6 p.m.
• Monday (Dec. 30): 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• New Year’s Day: noon-6 p.m.

“More gifting to do? We hear you! We’ve extended our hours so you can get in every bit of last-minute shopping you need,” the mall posted on Facebook.

Over at Tysons Corner Center, the holiday hours are:

• Friday (Dec. 13): open until 10 p.m.
• Saturday-Thursday (Dec. 14-19): 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Friday-Monday (Dec. 20-23): 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Christmas Eve: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Thursday (Dec. 26): 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Friday (Dec. 27): 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Saturday (Dec. 28): 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Sunday (Dec. 29): 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Monday (Dec. 30): 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• New Year’s Day: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Both malls will be closed on Christmas (Dec. 25).

With the holiday season in full swing, several residents in McLean are turning the exteriors of their homes into festive showcases.

Tysons Reporter spotted more than a dozen houses in the Ingleside and Langley areas with colorful lights and elaborate decorations. Blue-colored snowflake projections onto the side of the homes seemed to be a popular choice this year.

Check out the gallery above and let us know in the comments if you have — or are planning to — deck your residence or business with holiday spirit this year.

Have a photo you want to submit? Tag or direct message us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or email [email protected].

Starting next week, people can get free Lyft rides during the holiday season from the ridesharing app’s partnership with a local nonprofit to combat drunk driving.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is sponsoring the free rides starting next Friday (Dec. 20), according to a press release from WRAP.

Local residents in the D.C. area ages 21 and older can use a promo code for rides up to $15 from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. in Lyft’s D.C. coverage area, which includes all of Fairfax County.

Riders can find the codes starting at 9 p.m. on Dec. 20, 27 and 31. on SoberRide’s website. The program is set to run to Jan. 1.

Last December, 1,988 people in the D.C. area used WRAP’s SoberRide program, the press release said.

“More than a third of all U.S. traffic fatalities during the holiday season in 2018 involved drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” WRAP’s President Kurt Gregory Erickson said in the press release.

Image via Washington Regional Alcohol Program

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tysons Reporter also complied a list of the upcoming holiday events, for those seeking festivities.

Monday (Dec. 9)

• NVTC Tech 100 Party — 6 to 8 p.m. at Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner (1700 Tysons Blvd) — This event invites community members involved with technology to network and enjoy drinks and food. The cost of the event ranges from $195-$235.

Wednesday (Dec. 11)

• Holiday Cooking Party — 7 to 10 p.m. at McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) — Attendees will learn how to create recipes including festive fruits, veggies and desserts. Registration is $80 for the public and $65 for district residents. Participants must be over 18 years old.

Thursday (Dec. 12)

• Tysons Women’s Business Book Club — noon to 1 p.m. at 1751 Pinnacle Drive #600 — This book club invites industry professionals to come network and enjoy a new book. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and a lunch or snacks to share. It is not necessary to read the book beforehand.
• Holiday Happy Hour — 4 to 7 p.m. at Whole Foods (1635 Boro Place) — High Point Pub will host a happy hour with live music and drinks from Tory Pratt of Pratt Standard Cocktail Company.

Friday (Dec. 13)

• “The R-Word Film” Screening — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Capital One Bank (1680 Capital One Drive) — The McLean CapAbilities chapter will host this free event to educate the community on the lives of people with disabilities, using key characters in order to shift the conversation and societal views. Lunch will be provided and attendees will hear from the director and people highlighted in the film.
• Vienna Town Council Holiday Reception — 4 to 6 p.m. at Town Hall (127 S. Center Street) — Community members are invited to celebrate the holidays with the Vienna Town Council. This event is free and registration isn’t required.
• Live Nativity Scene — 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1325 Scotts Run Road) — This event will celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus with a nativity — including live animals petting zoo and actors. Cookies and hot cocoa will also be available.

Saturday (Dec. 14)

• “Another Silent Night – The Musical” — 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Columbia Baptist Church, The Sanctuary (103 W. Columbia Street) — This musical invites families to hear about an Army officer who returns from WW1 during the Christmas Season.  Childcare for kids ages 5 and under is available with preregistration. Tickets are $5 per person or up to $20 per family.

Photo via Ed Robertson/Unsplash

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tysons Reporter also complied a list of the upcoming holiday events, for those seeking festivities.

Tuesday (Dec. 3)

• Give a Little, Get a Snuggle — 4:30 until 7 p.m. at BrandBox in Tysons Corner Center — This event will allow people to play with adoptable puppies, that are all up for adoption. A $5 donation will go to the Wolf Trap Animal Rescue League and animals in need.
• Holiday Happy Hour — 6 to 8 p.m. at Urbanspace Tysons (2001 International Drive) — This free event offers snacks and drinks to attendees while they can take part in a meet and greet with Justin Schuble of @dcfoodporn. Tickets are expected to run out so people should reserve them beforehand.

Thursday (Dec. 5)

• Native Seed Swap — 7:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE) — This event allows community members to exchange seeds from native plants and listen to a talk from botanist Jay Lechtman. Even people without seeds are welcome to come and participate in this free event.

Friday (Dec. 6)

• Make Your Own Wreath and Bath Bomb — 9 until 11 a.m. at  LUSH (1961 Chain Bridge Road, Unit #G7U) — Guests can create their own bath bomb and holiday wreath at this community event. Tickets are $75 and participants should register beforehand.

Saturday (Dec. 7)

• Local for the Holidays — 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Whole Foods Market (1635 Boro Place) — Whole Foods is hosting a pop-up that allows visitors to check out local products. This free event will feature music by Brendan Schnabel Music and free gift wrapping.
• Wakefield Park Holiday Art and Craft Show — 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE) — This event will feature crafts. Admission is $2 for adults and free for kids under age 12.

Sunday (Dec. 8)

• Wonderland of Wishes — noon to 2 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton (1700 Tysons Blvd) — This fundraiser will benefit the Make-A-Wish® Foundation — Mid-Atlantic. Guests can enjoy food and drink while watching models introduce the latest Lilly Pulitzer styles. There will also be raffles and giveaways. Tickets start at $150 for adults.

Photo via Photo by Duffy Brook/Unsplash

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

Welcome to December! It’s time again for holiday light displays! Holiday lights really do make everything look more beautiful, unless you love yourself some tacky lights!

I’m redoing and updating my best holiday light displays list from last year to include some new additions. Make sure you check the hours of these light shows if it’s not just a decorative yard.

Vienna

• 10203 Lawyers Road — Lawyers is a busy road, so you’ll have to drive slowly because there’s nowhere to pull over, unless you go to the street across from the house (Galloping Way).
• 10000 Garrett Street — Also on the corner of Lawyers road and Garrett, this a beautiful corner lot with white lights and décor. Very pretty!
• 117 Hickory Circle SW — This is usually a large draw for animated lights but they’ll be dark in 2019. The front of the house will have some lights and blow ups, but no show this year. Follow them on Facebook.
• 117 Kingsley Road SE — This location is blow up heaven! They have so many favorites on display including Disney characters, Santa in a sleigh being pulled by his reindeer suspended mid-air above their roof and more. Plenty of street parking so you can easily take a walk by the house.
• 118 James Drive SW — 12.5 ft tall Christmas Ferris wheel with riders! If you get out of the car, they also have a magic button to start the display. Lights and sounds on 4:30-10:30 p.m.
• 2438 Cedar Lane — Beautiful and abundant light display, including a dancing tree of lights. No music from what I could tell, but beautiful.
• 2528 Drexel Street — The Ni Family Light show is one of the hits of Vienna. There’s plenty of street parking to pull over and watch. They have a playlist that accompanies the choreographed light show. Running a new playlist for 2019 including Baby Shark, A Million Dreams from the Greatest Showman, and You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch. The show runs 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 5-9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
• 317 Patrick Street SW — Lots of lights and blow ups. On 5-10 p.m.

Other homes with lights and blow ups: 1419 Cottage Street SW, 1405 Cottage Street SW, 922 Cottage Street SW, 401 Hillcrest Drive SW and 517 Hillcrest Drive SW.

• 1801 Beulah Road — This house has an amazing front yard that is completely decked out, including a mailbox for “Letters to Santa!” I’m not sure where those letters go, but this Christmas décor is stunning! There’s a pull off and a street across from it (Chestnut Farm Drive) if you want to pull over to take it all in.

Honorable Mention: The Vine Church (2501 Gallows Road) — The Ni Family also helps with this light show, which has over 10,000 pixels (it’s huge!)

McLean

• 1201 Balls Hill Road — Light show animated with music and blow ups.
• 7815 Birnam Wood Drive — The show runs 7-9:30 p.m. on weekdays, 6-11 p.m. on weekends. Completely covered in lights, even the lawn has light displays and blow ups.
• 6530 Heather Brook Court — Show runs from 5 p.m. to midnight daily. There is a start button and a radio station to listen to music while watching the light show. The display includes lights and tons of blow ups.

Remember, don’t go on the lawns! Stay on the sidewalk or the street and enjoy the display safely.

Are there any homes that were missed? Any other neighborhoods in the area worth a visit? If so, leave a comment with details.

Also, don’t forget about the Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Garden. There’s also the Bull Run Festival of Lights where you can drive through the display.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow (Thursday). For people in the Tysons area, some government facilities will be closed and public transit options will be operating on modified schedules.

Here’s a list of public services that will be affected by Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

County-wide

• Fairfax County government offices will be closed Thanksgiving and Friday.
• Public libraries run by Fairfax County will be closed Thanksgiving and Friday.
• Fairfax County Public Schools are on break from today (Wednesday, Nov. 27) to Friday.
• The Metrobus and Metrorail will run on holiday schedules for Thanksgiving and resume typical service on Friday.
• The Fairfax Connector will operate Sunday service on Thanksgiving Day and holiday weekday service on Friday.
• United States Postal Service offices will be closed on Thanksgiving.

Vienna

• The Vienna Community Center will be open on Friday (Nov. 29) from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.
• The Town of Vienna’s government offices will be closed Thanksgiving and Friday.

McLean

• The McLean Community Center will be closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Falls Church

• The City of Falls Church’s government offices and buildings, the community center and the Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
• Falls Church Community Center will be closed Thanksgiving and open from 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday.

Speaking of closed offices, Tysons Reporter will be on a break as well on Thursday and Friday.

Upcoming in December, Wolf Trap is selling tickets for three performances — two of which are Christmas-themed.

The month kicks off on Sunday (Dec. 1) with Jeffrey Kahane, a piano player who will perform “Chamber Music at The Barns.” Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the concert begins around 3 p.m. at The Barns (1635 Trap Road). Tickets are $42.

Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes will take the stage on Thursday (Dec. 5) and Friday (Dec. 6) at 8 p.m. at The Barns with the “Best Christmas Party Ever.” Tickets are $52 and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Eileen Ivers will give both a matinee performance of “A Joyful Christmas” at 3 p.m. and an evening performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 7). Tickets start at $29 and both events will take place in The Barns.

Finally, the “Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-Along” at 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 will wrap up the season at the Filene Center (1551 Trap Road). The free tickets are currently sold out, according to the website.

Photo via Eileen Ivers/Facebook

With Thanksgiving nearing, are you planning on staying in the area or going away for the holiday?

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, nearly 1.35 million people living in the D.C. area are expected to travel during the upcoming holiday period around 50 miles or more away from home.

About 91% of all D.C. area travelers will travel by car, compared to 7% traveling by air, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

For people staying — or coming — here, forecasters predict the weather will be partly cloudy.

Let Tysons Reporter know what your travel plans are for the holiday weekend.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Kids looking to write and mail letters to the North Pole ahead of the holidays can head to the U.S. Post Office in Merrifield on Saturday for an event.

The location at 8409 Lee Why plans to host Santa letter writing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30), according to a press release.

Postal workers will be on-site to help as part of Operation Santa program, which lets individuals and organizations adopt the letters and send responses and gifts in Santa’s place.

More from the press release:

The Postal Service began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago; however, it was in 1912 when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the letters — this became known as Operation Santa…

The letters — minus any personal information — will be posted at USPSOperationSanta.com, our new web address for letter adoption. Customers nationwide are searching now for letters to Santa to adopt online at the website. Children’s personal information remains anonymous.

USA Today reported that the program ran out of letters earlier this week. As of today (Tuesday, Nov. 26) letters were on the website.

Families and kids who can’t make the event can still send a letter to Santa’s new address: 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888.

Image via Google Maps