The ASPIRE HOUSE McLean Designer Show House opens this weekend, giving people an inside look at a 9,600-square-foot custom home decorated by dozens of designers.
The house (952 Mackall Farms Lane) features 30 rooms created and decorated by more than two dozen designers and architects, according to the event description.
Originally supposed to open in May, the event got pushed to June and then to late September. Now, the show house is set to open this Saturday (Aug. 22) to the general public through Sunday, Sept. 13. The show house will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
People can take house tours with up to 12 people every 15 minutes, with admission for the last tour starting at 4 p.m., and tour the rooms online.
Safety protocols for the in-person tours due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic include hand sanitizing stations around the show house, face masks required for entry and advising people to stay 6 feet away from each other.
Tickets cost $50 for adults and $45 for military and seniors. The proceeds will go toward a scholarship fund that will support aspiring design talent from underrepresented communities.
Hairstylist Daniel Bechara is looking to raise money ahead of his plans to help repair damaged homes in Lebanon, where he was born and raised.
Bechara, who owns Salon Daniel (6828A Old Dominion Drive) in McLean, started a GoFundMe to raise $50,000. So far, the fundraiser has netted more than $7,000 in six days.
Bechara’s fundraiser joins a growing list of local businesses in the Tysons area that are supporting relief efforts following a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, on Aug. 4.
“August 4, 2020 was a day that shattered my heart, the hearts of my fellow Lebanese people, and the rest of the world,” Bechara wrote on the fundraiser’s page. “Lebanon has experienced dark times, but nothing as devastating as the effects of COVID-19 followed by the massive explosion.”
Bechara shared that he moved to the D.C. area in 1985 and has been providing support to his family and parents in Lebanon, as the country grapples with economic turmoil.
Bechara said he plans to head back to Lebanon in early September to repair homes with the support of the mayor of Dekwaneh, a suburb near Beirut.
“$500 can put a house back into working condition (ie- repair broken glass and provide basic necessities like a microwave, pots, pans),” Bechara wrote, adding that he pledges to make contributions from his own wallet to rebuild four homes.
Photo via Salon Daniel/Facebook
One person has been taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a crash in McLean today (Thursday), according to Fairfax County police.
Police received the call shortly after noon for a collision involving two vehicles at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Swinks Mill Road, police spokesperson Tara Gerhard told Tysons Reporter.
One person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Gerhard said.
As of 12:50 p.m., traffic is backed up a short distance along both roads near the intersection, according to Google Maps. Gerhard said that she was not notified of any road or lane closures.
Map via Google Maps
Town Hall Tonight — Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand has been hosting weekly town halls to talk about the back-to-school plans and answer questions from the community. The town hall tonight will be live-streamed from 6-7 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Silent Auction Ends Today — The Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce started its virtual silent auction last Wednesday. Now, the event ends today at 11 p.m. So far, the auction has raised a little over $1,800, with the goal of hitting $2,500. [32auctions]
Blood Drive on Thursday — Inova is holding a blood drive at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Hall (400 Center Street S.) on Thursday from 1-7 p.m. [Inova]
Protest in McLean — “Youth activists gathered outside the McLean home of U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday morning, protesting what they called corruption in his role as the federal government’s top law enforcement officer.” [Patch]
Local Student Plays Golf Championship — “As one of the youngest players in the talented and experienced field, Kelly Chinn maintained a steady calm to record a strong finish during the 36-hole stroke-play portion of the 2020 men’s U.S. Amateur Golf Championship.” [Inside NoVa]
OrthoVirginia has combined its Tysons and McLean locations into one McLean-Tysons office, which is located at 1760 Old Meadow Road in McLean.
The McLean office was previously located on Greensboro Drive across from Tysons Galleria, and the Tysons office was previously located on Old Courthouse Road in Vienna.
The decision to make the move was to “consolidate property to go to a bigger space so we can combine all of our therapy and all of our physicians into one location,” according to an OrthoVirginia employee.
The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Their therapies are offered Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
The previous Tysons location is still open for MRI services Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
OrthoVirgina is Virginia’s largest provider of orthopedic medicine and therapy with services including on-site therapy, surgery centers and advanced imagery, according to their website. They have more than 100 orthopedic specialists in 26 locations across Northern Virginia.
Photo via OrthoVirginia/Facebook
More Delays for Dittmar’s Project in Tysons — “The Dittmar Co. is pushing back plans once again for its massive redevelopment of an old hotel site near the Greensboro Metro station in Tysons. The Arlington developer is asking Fairfax County for another delay for its Westpark Plaza project, proposing in late July to build a new public park, car storage and commercial parking space on the site as an interim use.” [Washington Business Journal]
McLean Company Lands Big Contract — “The U.S. Navy awarded McLean-based defense contractor Alion Science and Technology Corp. an $896 million contract to provide an integrated program to deliver a multidomain live, virtual and constructive training platform.The contract was awarded through the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) SeaPort-NxG multiple award contract.” [Virginia Business Monthly]
Feedback Sought on Grab and Go Meals — Fairfax County Public Schools are seeking feedback via a survey on its grab-and-go meal program for the next academic year. The survey will help the school system determine the best locations and bus routes for meal services. [FCPS]
Photo by Michelle Goldchain
(Updated 10:25 a.m.) Downed power lines and a fallen tree have shut down Old Dominion Drive and caused a small power outage in McLean.
Fairfax County sent out an alert about the road closure at Old Dominion Dive between Briar Ridge and Franklin Park roads shortly before 10 a.m.
Dominion Energy’s power outage map says that 60 customers are affected by the outage and that power is expected to get restored by 3 p.m. today.
Fairfax County police said in a tweet that people should expect extended delays and avoid the area.
ROAD CLOSURE: Old Dominion Drive is closed between Briar Ridge Rd and Franklin Park Rd in McLean due to a fallen tree blocking the roadway. Expect extended delays. Please avoid the area. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/lo1HY3YNML
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 12, 2020
Image via Google Maps, map via Dominion Energy
McLean local Dr. John Kim dedicated his life to his work as an electrical engineer. Now, he hopes to connect aspiring engineers to the field through a newly published memoir.
“In Pursuit of Science and Technology” explores topics ranging from Kim’s work in physics and engineering to his journey of faith and illness to his life traveling through four different global capitals — Tokyo, Pyongyang, Seoul and D.C.
Kim said there were two main inspirations behind the book — the first being his six grandchildren. He wanted them to tangibly have his stories and studies. The other was sharing his studies.
“I want to leave something behind me of all the things that I have done in science and technology,” said Kim.
He noted his target audience is young people going into the science and technology field, saying his message is to show them what it’s like to pursue this field. He elaborated on the differences between education and real-world experience and how important it is for young people to get both.
“If you go to engineering school today… that’s something where they teach you how to do it. But that’s not everything in a private corporation,” Kim said.
Kim focuses much of the memoir on his work as an electrical engineer towards furthering science and technology while discussing different topics as well. For example, he shares the time he spent working on military advancement and how he advised people to cultivate business opportunities on the engineer career ladder, according to his synopsis.
He also includes stories about the time he spent working with Howard Aiken, the “father of the digital electromagnetic computer,” according to his synopsis.
Kim also addresses personal adversity. He lived in Tokyo during World War II, Pyongyang while trapped by the Iron Curtain and South Korea during the Korean War. Additionally, he surmounted a battle with cancer about 15 years ago.
The process of creating his memoir was long. He didn’t plan it, but after he made the decision after he retired in 2013, he collected letters, reports, technical and scientific writings from journals and 144 pictures of his family and colleagues. The editing process took four years, said Kim.
This book is available for purchase online and in-stores.
Photo courtesy John Kim
A power outage is affecting hundreds in McLean just south of Scott’s Run Nature Preserve.
The outage stretches from Georgetown Pike to Route 694, just west of I-495. Dominion Energy’s power outage map says that 466 customers are impacted.
The outage was caused by the storm that hit the D.C. region today, according to Dominion.
The energy company expects power to be restored between 3-8 p.m.
Map via Dominion Energy
A newly proposed senior living community in McLean aims to promote aging in place.
Tri-State Chain Bridge Road wants to build 33 townhouse-style units on just over 3 acres on the north side of Chain Bridge Road near Westmoreland Street. The townhomes would be for seniors ages 60 and up.
Lori Greenlief, the land use planner with McGuireWoods who is representing the applicant, said that the proposal fills a need for senior living in McLean, noting that several options in the area are multi-family, four- to seven-story buildings.
Roughly 15% of the units will be affordable, and all of the units would be designed for aging in place with one-level living and options for an elevator and live-in caregiver suite, according to a document from the applicant to the county. The proposed community would also have a 3,600-square-foot amenity building for gardening classes, on-site physical therapy appointments, a fitness center and more.
Tri-State Chain Bridge Road said that the proposed independent living community is about one-fourth of a mile away from McLean’s downtown area.
More from the applicant:
Supported by the 50+ Community Action Plan Initiatives for housing and the well-documented need for senior housing in the Policy Plan of the Comprehensive Plan, this community will offer area residents the opportunity to remain in the McLean/Great Falls area and age-in-place in a purpose-built community designed for seniors.
The community will provide the array of amenities and services desired by the older adult population with homes designed to allow residents to age-in-place. Both the 50+ plan and the Comprehensive Plan highlight the need for options for seniors and the attached product proposed in this application will provide an alternative to the multi-family independent living lifestyle.
The focus of this community will be to create an atmosphere where residents will be able to interact for weekly or daily dining, classess, and a myriad of recreational and educational activities, with like-aged and like-minded people who are dealing with similar lifestyles and issues. At the same time, they will have the freedom to own their own space.
This community will be a safe space in that if there arises a need for added security, such as a pandemic, residents will be able to insulate within the community in their own homes but stay in community. This type of community will become more and more important as our seniors adapt to the “new normal.”
The applicant recently submitted the proposal to the county, which will get reviewed by county staff. Once accepted, the county website will add the scheduled hearing dates for the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
So far, Tri-State Chain Bridge Road has reached out to the surrounding neighborhoods and the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), Greenlief said.
Scott Spitzer, the chair of MCA’s Planning and Zoning Committee, told Tysons Reporter that the committee is currently evaluating the application.
Winnie Pizzano, the president of the Stoneleigh Homeowners’ Association, told Tysons Reporter that she has heard support for the project from her board, which oversees 134 townhomes.
“It’s obviously needed given the demographic is so much older in McLean than anywhere else,” Pizzano said, adding that it will be a good alternative to assisted living for people looking to downsize.
Greenlief noted that the proposal is in its early stages and that there is plenty of room for citizen input. Some aspects of the proposal are still getting figured out, like specifics around what “60+” will mean, Greenlief said.
People who want to provide feedback can contact Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, Greenlief at McGuireWoods and Tri-State Chain Bridge Road. Once a staff coordinator is assigned, people will also be able to reach out to the county staffer.
Map via Google Maps
