Now that winter is over and spring is finally here, people looking to sip on a cold beer or alcoholic drink outside can order from these local breweries and distilleries.
Sweetwater Tavern (3066 Gate House Plaza), a microbrewery in Merrifield, is offering curbside pick-up for growlers and carry-out beer and wine orders from 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., according to its website. The online menu includes all-day lunch, kids meals and seven growlers to-go.
Over in Falls Church, Audacious Aleworks Brewery and Taproom (110 E. Fairfax Street) is open 2-7 p.m. daily for only carry-out cans and growlers, according to its website. The small craft brewery specializes in small batch ales, and the taproom has up to 20 beers on tap.
The Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Suite A) has closed its restaurant for right now, but the on-site ABC store is still open, according to a Facebook post. The distillery produces several small-batch spirits including vodkas, gins, rums and whiskeys.
Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. (2822 Fallfax Drive), a nano-brewery in Falls Church, is offering pick-up orders from noon-7 p.m. daily, according to a Facebook post.
The Caboose Brewing Company, a 15-barrel-brewhouse is behind Caboose Commons in Merrifield and Caboose Tavern in Vienna, is accepting to-go orders for both locations.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (7861 Tysons Corner Center) in Tysons Corner Center is temporarily closed.
While not a brewery, the newly opened Black Dog Beer Shop (2672 Avenir Place, Suite M) is offering curbside delivery and pick-up for beer and groceries. Near the Dun Lorring-Merrifield Metro stop, the shop is open from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays.
Photo courtesy Caboose Commons
A new proposal submitted to Fairfax County aims to transform the Dunn Loring Center into a residential mixed-use project.
The site (2722 Merrilee Drive) near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station is currently home to a three-story office building that was built in 1984.
According to county documents, Merilee Ventures, L.C. wants to rezone the 2-acre property for a mixed-use development with a five-story building with up to 239 multifamily dwelling units, including 40 Workforce Dwelling Units, atop two-and-a-half levels of parking with 293 spaces.
The development would also include 3,875 square feet of ground-floor retail use, a public plaza to “bookend” the Halstead Square development to the east and changes to the Merilee Drive streetscape, including a 6-foot sidewalk and 8-foot parking lane.
Merilee Ventures says that the redevelopment will help implement the Comprehensive Plan for the Merrifield Suburban Center, according to county documents.
More from the documents:
The Comprehensive Plan guidance for the area envisions mixed use redevelopment in a pedestrian-oriented urban environment.
Merrilee Ventures, L.C.’s objective is to bring forth a development proposal that carries forward the theories and concepts reflected in the Plan language by establishing a highquality living environment that activates the street and complements other recent development projects in the area.
Ground floor retail and interior amenity space, in combination with a public plaza and additional streetscape improvements provide a strategic focal point that will create a sense of place and anchor the Halstead Square development to the east.
The county’s Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposal in September.
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County police said they recently arrested a woman for allegedly trespassing with a gun in a truck near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station.
The incident happened shortly before 3 p.m. in the 2600 block of Prosperity Avenue yesterday (Thursday).
“The victim saw a woman inside of his truck and confronted her,” police said. “The woman displayed a gun then left the area and was found by officers a short distance away”
Police charged the 24-year-old woman from South Carolina with brandishing a firearm, concealed carry weapon violation and vehicle trespassing.
File photo
(Updated 3/3/2020) Ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday, Caboose Commons plans to host a market on Thursday where shoppers can support female-run businesses.
This will be the local brewery’s second year hosting the market, which will feature more than two dozen businesses. The market will be open from 5-9 p.m. at 2918 Eskridge Road.
Shoppers can find the pop-ups in Caboose’s lofts, according to the event page. Some of the stores are:
- Amelia Lawrence Jewelry
- Green Papaya Candles
- Lele Apothecary
- The Little Flower Field, CBD Company
- MizzMosaic
In addition to the market, Caboose Commons will be canning a new IPA made with the 2020 Pink Boots blend from Yakima Chiefs Hops on Thursday morning, the brewery said on its website.
“This blend will create tropical, citrus and piney aromatic qualities,” according to Caboose Commons. The beer will be available for purchase at the market.
“For every one pound of hops sold, $3 goes back to the Pink Boots Society,” according to the event page.
Image via Caboose Commons/Facebook
Mardi Gras is approaching and throughout the weekend leading up to Tuesday (Feb. 25), several local businesses and eateries around town are holding festive events.
Tysons Reporter rounded up where and when to Mardi Gras celebrations around the Tysons area.
Vienna and Merrifield
On Friday, Feb. 21, Kim Stryker, a George Mason professor, will discuss holiday traditions and their origins during Folklore Friday at Bards Alley Bookshop (110 Church Street NW). The event is set to run from 7 to 8 p.m. King cake and Mardi Gras beads will be supplied. All are welcome to dress up in fun and festive attire for this event.
The Mardi Gras Bunco Party, hosted by the Vienna Arts Society (243 Church Street NW), next Saturday (Feb. 29) invites people to play Bunco, a dice game played with groups of 12 or more. A donation of $22 is suggested and refreshments will be served, according to the event page. This event runs from 7 to 9 p.m.
Inca Social (2670 Avenir Place) is hosting a Carnival Celebration next Saturday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The cover charge is $6 and includes an evening of dancing, drink specials and beads.
People looking for Mardi Gras-themed baked goods can visit Amphora Bakery in Vienna (405 W. Maple Ave) to purchase king cake or a variety of decorative treats, according to its website.
Falls Church
Foodies can participate in a free Free Mardi Gras Crawfish Eating Contest on Tuesday (Feb. 25) from noon to 10 p.m. The contest will begin at 6 p.m., but drink specials will be available all day. People can submit their names to become a contestant but participation is not guaranteed. People who place in the top three will receive gift cards.
The Fat Tuesday Beer Dinner at the Dogfish Head Alehouse (6220 Leesburg Pike) in Seven Corners offers guests a four-course meal for the price of $55. Admission includes beer pairings and a hurricane cocktail, according to the event page. This event begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Sol Roots Band with guest Ron Holloway will be performing Mardi Gras-themed music at JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd) on Tuesday beginning at 8:30 p.m. The groups will be performing a variety of funk, soul, deep blues, R&B and rock, according to the event page.
This Sunday (Feb. 23), JV’s Restaurant will be hosting another Mardi Gras celebration for the community. This event will feature a DJ and dancing from 4-7 p.m., the Facebook page said.
Photo via Kristina Evstifeeva/Unsplash
Haven’t gotten around to buying Girl Scout cookies yet?
The Northern Virginia Girl Scouts have an ongoing sale in the Mosaic District. They will be selling them every day of the week, though the hours vary.
Cookies will be on sale on Mondays-Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. On Fridays, they will be available from 5-8 p.m. The cookies will also be on sale all day on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sundays, they will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Girl Scouts will be selling the cookies from the lobby of the Target (2905 District Avenue, Suite 400).
Here are some other places around Tysons Corner where you can pick up a box your favorite girl scout cookies this week from Thursday-Sunday (Feb. 20-23):
- Metro Station (1824 Dolley Madison Blvd): Thursday: 3:30-7:30 p.m.; Friday: 3:30-7:30 p.m.
- Silver Diner (8101 Fletcher Avenue): Friday: 4:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Marshalls (8353 Leesburg Pike): Friday: 4:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 1-3 p.m.
- TJ Maxx (8389 Leesburg Pike): Friday: 5-9 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- 7-Eleven (1931 Old Gallows Road): Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Petsmart (8204 Leesburg Pike): Saturday): 11 a.m.-5 p.m
- OLGC Church (8601 Wolftrap Road): Sunday: 7-10 a.m.
For a full list of the places and times where you can get Girl Scout cookies after next week, an online list and app provide updated information.
Photo via Facebook
Welcome back from the long weekend! Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:
Vienna Officials Grapple With Mishaps — “The Vienna Town Council and town staffers devoted the first half of a Feb. 10 work session to discussing why some recent missteps occurred, and what can be done to prevent them in the future.” [Inside NoVa]
Fairfax County Reconsidering Mother-in-Law Suites — “Fairfax County could soon substantially loosen its regulations governing accessory dwelling units, perhaps following the lead of D.C. and other local jurisdictions looking to expand available housing options for renters.” [Washington Business Journal]
Leaders Say Merrifield Needs More Community — “Greater Merrifield Business Association leaders want to foster a community atmosphere in Merrifield, but know they’re at a disadvantage compared with long-established communities such as Vienna, Fairfax or Falls Church.” [Inside NoVa]
Sneak Peek: Later this week, expect Tysons Reporter to provide an update on e-scooters in Vienna and a profile on Fava Pot in Falls Church.
Within the last weeks, there have been several changes at the Mosaic District.
After Neiman Marcus closed in the Mosaic District, home goods store Great Gatherings decided to take over the vacant spot at 2905 District Ave.
The store’s new location opened a couple of weeks ago, according to the manager, who added that the business decided to switch spots because it is a slightly smaller space and more visible to traffic.
Employees were in the process of putting finishing touches on the store when Tysons Reporter stopped by yesterday (Feb. 13).
Down the street at the former spot of Brine (2985 District Ave, Suite 120), it appears that crews are doing work at the location. It is unclear what will move into the unoccupied space.
Nearby, Black Dog Beer Shop (2672 Avenir Place, Suite M) opened for business today (Feb. 14).
The location offers a variety of brews for consumption off-site and will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., according to the website.
Customers can purchase specialty brews not found anywhere else except the breweries themselves, Jeff Kirkland, the store manager, told Tysons Reporter, adding that there are almost 300 varieties of beer at the shop.
To get ready for summer platform work, WMATA is closing several Orange Line stations this weekend, affecting riders in Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield.
Riders can expect trains every 16 minutes between the West Falls Church and New Carrollton stations with additional trains between Ballston and New Carrollton from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 8), according to WMATA’s website.
Free shuttle buses will replace trains at the Vienna, Dunn Loring and East Falls Church stations.
The bus routes will be:
- between East Falls Church and Ballston
- between Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church
- express bus between Vienna and West Falls Church
Riders can expect trains to single track through the East Falls Church station. The West Falls Church station will stay open.
“Customers on Ballston-bound Orange Line trains who are continuing on to West Falls Church should exit the train at Virginia Square for a same platform transfer,” according to the website.
A craft beer store inspired by the owner’s dog has delayed its grand opening near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station.
Owner Tyler Cohen, who lives in the Mosaic District and has been blogging his tours of breweries across Virginia, previously told Tysons Reporter that his black dog, Ash, inspired the name Black Dog Beer Shop.
The store is now set to hold a grand opening at 2672M Avenir Place on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), according to the website.
More from the website:
Black Dog Beer Shop has a robust selection of craft beers from around Virginia as well as regional and national craft brands. We have 16 taps for growler fills and tons of cold refrigerator space. Whether you’re looking for a good, local cider of the newest double dry-hopped DIPA, we’ve got you covered.
The store plans to be open from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays, according to the website.
