A new beer garden in a sky park plans to open next year atop Capital One Hall.

Construction is underway on the Capital One Center — the second phase of Capital One’s campus in Tysons, which is set to be completed in 2021.

Called “The Perch,” the outdoor space on top of the parking podium and Capital One Hall — 10 stories above the ground — plans to offer interactive art sculptures, a park, activities like yoga and beer at The Perch Biergarten, according to the website.

The Perch is set to open in the fall of 2021.

The “serene village green” will join Capital One’s planned additions for the Tysons East urban campus:

• an 80,000-square-foot Wegmans grocery store
• a performing arts center with a 1,500-seat main hall and a 250-seat black box theatre
• Davio’s, a Northern Italian restaurant
• more retail in the second half of 2021

In addition to the upcoming beer hall, Capital One is looking to change a previously approved — yet unbuilt — hotel into a new office building, according to Fairfax County documents.

Capital One says that the change would allow for more open space, jobs and retailers:

Consistent with well settled planning and economic development objectives, this application presents an opportunity to further add employment opportunities and vitality at the headquarters campus in a location immediately adjacent to the McLean Metro station…

A lower level lobby and retail uses along Capital One Drive North and Scotts Crossing Road will wrap the parking garage. The approved drop-off area for the previously contemplated hotel use will be removed and replaced with public open space to enhance and activate these ground floor uses…

Additional retail use is proposed for Building 3 in the location of the previously approved garage entrance that will be shifting eastward.

Image via Capital One Center  

Hat tip to Chris H.

Fairfax County police say a man accidentally discharged a gun while inside the Embassy Suites along Leesburg Pike in Tysons.

The incident happened around 11 a.m. on Sunday (Jan. 19).

“The bullet was located inside of a wall and nobody was injured,” according to the report.

Police said the 50-year-old man from Great Falls was charged with reckless handling of a firearm, discharge a firearm within a building and drunk in public, police said.

Image via Google Maps

As Tysons grows, so do the opportunities for tourism around the area.

Visit Fairfax, a non-profit organization that works to encourage tourism around Fairfax County, plans to promote a series of new initiatives to boost visitation in 2020, according to President and CEO Barry Biggar.

Among the upcoming changes, the organization plans to capitalize on student and international markets and expand capabilities to host large conferences in Tysons, Biggar told Tysons Reporter.

Biggar brought up how many locals see the constant construction in Tysons as a negative thing, but said perception changes depending on who he asks. For example, he said many international travelers see it as a sign of prosperity within a community.

As someone in charge of oversight for the marketing, sales and visitor services for Visit Fairfax, Biggar monitors larger trends across the county.

Fairfax County made over $3.2 billion in 2018 from tourism, according to Visit Fairfax’s website, which also noted that the county brings in the second most money for tourism in Virginia.

Though there are not yet statistics available for Tysons specifically, Biggar said he hopes to break down the numbers within the next year.

“When I think of Tysons, I think immediately of the opportunities we have for business travel,” he said. 

A large reason for the uptick in corporate and business events being held in Tysons, according to Biggar, is partially thanks to the expansion of the Silver Line to Tysons in 2014 and its upcoming expansion to the Dulles International Airport.

“Come 2020 we will have Silver Line service all the way to Dulles. Having that access all the way to Tysons or Reston will be significant in growing the business travel market,” Biggar said.  

Currently, the Sheraton Tysons ranks as the largest venue for conferences and events in the entire county, according to Biggar. But, Biggar hinted that this may soon change as the skyline view keeps shifting and making way for new developments like the Capital One Hall, which promises space to host not only corporate events but also theatrical productions.

Around Fairfax County as a whole, Biggar said Visit Fairfax is currently in the process of writing proposals to host an upcoming National Senior Games, which is a bi-yearly event under the United States Olympic Committee to bring together senior citizens from across the U.S. to compete in athletic challenges.

He said that Visit Fairfax wants to host more reunions for members of the military and armed services, because of Fairfax County’s proximity to Arlington Cemetery and the upcoming National Army Museum in Fort Belvoir.

Now, Visit Fairfax is working with the Tysons Partnership, an organization that promotes social and economic development of Tysons, to coordinate marketing efforts and help one another.

“We know them very, very well and will assist them with any information or intelligence that they may need,” Biggar said. 

One of the major gaps around Tysons, Biggar said, is the lack of live entertainment and nightlife. He said that the Capital One Center and other upcoming businesses are already planning to fill this niche market.

“If we look at Tysons Plaza or even Merrifield to see how they use their central green space to bring in performers, all of the development that is happening in Tysons should look at incorporating that,” he said.

“It brings about energy and creates an ongoing desire to go back and see what else is happening.”

Fairfax County police arrested a woman from California for allegedly making fraudulent credit card charges at a Marriott in Tysons.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Friday (Dec. 6) at 8028 Leesburg Pike.

“The victim, who resides in Florida, called the hotel to report that someone was using her credit card and making fraudulent charges at the hotel,” according to the police report.

When officers arrived at the hotel, they were directed to the reserved room and charged a 28-year-old with credit card theft, the report said.

Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner has partnered with JRINK to offer a hemp-infused beverage and activated charcoal.

The “Black Magic” option mixes activated charcoal and aloe vera juice. The activated charcoal will be included in the Entyse Espresso Bar’s menu, according to TAA PR. It will also be on the hotel’s “sleep sanctuary menu.”

Meanwhile, “Rose” is a hemp-infused drink from JRINK’s Apothekary line — a “natural farmacy.” People at the hotel can find “Rose” as part of the hotel’s spa offerings, which include cannabidiol products.

“The partnership with Jrink reinforces Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner’s commitment to embracing travelers’ changing tastes and interest in trips centered around physical and mental well-being,” according to TAA PR.

The partnership was announced yesterday (Oct. 30).

Work on the Archer Hotel is now underway as part of the Scotts Run project in Tysons East.

Cityline Partners’ mixed-use development also includes several apartments and office buildings and retail space, along with the completed 425-unit apartment complex called The Haden and the 14-story office building Mitre 4.

Construction company Hensel Phelps and Lodgeworks, the developer of the Archer Hotel collection, held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier today (Wednesday) for the hotel.

The hotel plans to accommodate 178 guests and will feature a rooftop terrace, event space, fitness studio and a bar and restaurant operated by chef Charlie Palmer.

The hotel is designed by LK Architecture — the same firm behind the Tysons Walmart and Hyatt House in Merrifield.

“The dynamic Scotts Run development is destined to be a new walkable urban village and will attract a wonderful cross-section of guests,” according to Hensel Phelps’ website.

The preliminary opening timeline for the hotel’s opening is summer 2021, according to Hensel Phelps.

As fall approaches, the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons announced a new line of spa treatments.

The company added four new items to their list of services, including a new CBD facial, a velvet massage and an apple manicure.

“As autumn approaches, days get shorter and the weather gets cooler — it’s time to talk skin. Chill temperatures make for dry, stale air and even drier skin,” Corryn Hurrington, a Ritz-Carlton spokesperson, said.

Each treatment is meant to relax and rejuvenate guests, according to the website.

Among the new treatments, the Seaberry Orange CBD Hemp Hydration Facial works to counteract several signs of skin damage and aging, according to the press release.

These seasonal treatments will be available from Sept. 15-Nov. 30. All treatments can be booked online or by calling (703) 744-3924.

Prices range from $55-205.

The spa operates on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Image courtesy Ritz-Carlton

New details have emerged about the “boutique hotel” in the upcoming Scotts Run development in Tysons East.

Archer Hotel recently released more information about the hotel’s design and offerings.

Situated adjacent to the McLean Metro station, the seven-story, 178-room hotel will have a bar and restaurant operated by chef Charlie Palmer, along with rooftop event space, a fitness studio and underground valet parking, the press release said.

The hotel is designed by LK Architecture — the same firm behind the Tysons Walmart and Hyatt House in Merrifield.

The hotel will be a part of the southern portion of the 8 million-square-foot mixed-use development, which is split into Scotts Run North and South.

Scotts Run South includes several apartments and office buildings — including the completed 425-unit apartment complex called The Haden and the 14-story office building Mitre 4 — the Archer Hotel and retail space.

Meanwhile, Scotts Run North proposes a high-density mix of residential and office buildings.

“The Tysons locale boasts megacity attributes and infrastructure, while retaining welcoming touches like tree-lined streets and a lower-stress lifestyle,” the press release said.

The Tysons location will be the seventh Archer Hotel and is slated to open in summer 2021.

Image via Cityline Partners, map via SmithGroup 

The Westin hotel at 7801 Leesburg Pike in Tysons is undergoing extensive remodeling, according to new permits filed with Fairfax County.

According to the permits, interior alterations include conversion of meeting rooms and office space into a new fitness center.

Interior alterations are also underway to remodel the public spaces to include:

• a new entry vestibule
• lobby lounge
• public restrooms
• ballrooms
• meeting rooms
• marketing rooms
• the Starbucks in the hotel
• the hotel bar/restaurant

The permits were processed on May 7. After repeated attempts to contact management, no one was available to answer specifics about the planned renovations.

Renovations for the hotel’s common areas have been in the works since 2018 when the property was purchased by a trio of investors.

Fairfax County police are looking for an armed man who tried to rob a hotel employee but ended up leaving empty-handed.

The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12. A man displayed a gun and tried to take money that an employee was counting at the Quality Inn on Spring Hill Road in Vienna, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The man left empty-handed after a brief struggle with the employee, who called out for help, police say.

“The suspect is described as black, 6’2″ to 6′ 5″, 180 to 200 pounds, wearing a red and white long sleeve shirt with a collar and a black backpack,” according to FCPD.

Photo via Google Maps