Wee Chic, a Maryland-based kids’ clothing boutique, recently opened its doors in the former spot of Dawn Price Baby in the Mosaic District.

The store opened at 2905 District Ave, Suite 120 on Saturday, April 6, Ellie Heath, the store’s manager and former Dawn Price Baby employee, told Tysons Reporter.

Wee Chic, which started in Baltimore, wanted to expand into the D.C. market and saw the recent closure of Dawn Price Baby store in the Mosaic District as an opportunity to fill a need for kids’ clothing in the area, Heath said.

After 15 years in business, Dawn Price Baby closed three of its four stores, including the ones in Reston and Georgetown, leaving just the Capitol Hill location open.

“Our store leases have come up for renewal and we have decided to start a new chapter,” Dawn Price, the owner of Dawn Price Baby, posted on the website. “Dawn Price Baby has been one of the most rewarding, challenging and exciting times of my life.”

In addition to filling Dawn Price Baby’s former spot, Heath said Wee Chic offers appropriate tween clothing for kids from fifth to eighth grade — ages that parents can find particularly hard to shop for, Heath said.

Wee Chic carries clothing for girls’ sizes from newborn up to size 16 and for boys from newborn up to size 8, along with toys and books, Heath said.

Heath said the popular items right now are anything with avocados, tacos and sushi, like the sushi-printed bib set for $20, a taco-shaped silicone teether for $16.50 and a taco onesie for $42. Only two avocado bibs are left in the store, Heath said.

A takeout eatery is getting ready to move into the Mosaic District space that previously belonged to Capital Teas.

The tea retailer’s spot at 2910 District Avenue, Suite 168 closed in the summer along with all of its other stores when Capital Teas Inc. filed for bankruptcy in August, an employee told Tysons Reporter. In October, Anchor Beverages took over the brand, and Capital Teas is now just selling its products online.

The vacant spot is getting prepared for a new takeout food establishment named Playa Bowl, according to a building permit.

A similarly named franchise called Playa Bowls serves up acai bowls, poke, smoothies and juice. It is unclear whether the franchise is the same future Mosaic District tenant.

Playa Bowls and EDENS, the retail real estate owner behind the Mosaic District, did not return inquiries from Tysons Reporter.

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!

Tuesday (April 16)

• Vesper Trail Ribbon Cutting — 10 a.m. at Higdon Drive — The new Vesper Trail connecting Old Courthouse Road in Vienna to the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons after earlier delays.
• Sugar Mountain: Neil Young Tribute Band — 7:30 p.m. at Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave E) — The Neil Young Tribute Band Sugar Mountain is scheduled to play at Jammin Java tomorrow. Tickets are $20.

Wednesday (April 17)

• Maibock Tapping Party — 6-8 p.m. at Gordon Biersch Brewery (7861 Tysons Corner Center) — The Tysons Corner Center’s Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is tapping party to raise funds for the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department. The event is planned to include tastings, appetizers, live music and more. A quarter will be donated to the department for every pint served, and 15 percent of all restaurant sales during the party.

Thursday (April 18)

• Monty Python’s Life of Brian Screening — 7-9 p.m. at the Angelika Film Center (2911 District Ave.) — The Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District will host a screening of the controversial satire The Life of Brian. Tickets are $15.

Friday (April 19)

• Earth Day Party — 5-9 p.m. at the Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) — The Tysons Biergarten is hosting a live music and drinking party to celebrate Earth day, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Rainforest Trust. Bring a printed flyer for the event or a screenshot of the event page and show it to the bartender.

Saturday (April 20)

• Spring Fest — 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave) — The McLean Community Center is hosting a spring festival with a mix of live entertainment and self-guided arts and crafts. The program aims at children ages 3-8. Registration in advance for $5 is required.

Sunday (April 21)

• Early Mornings in the Garden — 6-10 a.m. at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct.) — Photographers, birdwatchers, and other interested parties are invited to a special early morning walk through the gardens. The gardens typically open at 10 a.m., but early visitors will have a chance to see some of the birds in their most active times. Standard garden admission — $3 to $6 — applies.
• Easter Brunch — 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Mad Fox Brewing Company (444 W Broad Street) — The Mad Fox Brewing Company is opening early for a brunch buffet aimed at accommodating entire families. Adults tickets are $28 and kid tickets are $12.

Photo via Facebook

After surviving its first winter, Caboose Commons (2918 Eskridge Road) is celebrating spring with its first craft brewery festival: Springfest.

The festival is planned for Saturday, April 27, from 12-7 p.m. The event will feature live music throughout the day.

According to an email, at least ten breweries will be participating.

• Ono Brewing Company
• Vasen Brewing Company
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company
• Mad Fox Brewing Company
• Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company
• Settle Down Easy Brewing
• Forge Brew Works
• Lake Anne Brewhouse
• Caboose Brewing Company

Tickets are available day-of or can be ordered online.

Photo via Caboose Brewing Company

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: Can you tell me more about Mosaic District? What housing options are available within walking distance?

Answer: The Mosaic District is a new urban neighborhood. It’s lively and vibrant, and no matter how often I am there, I always notice something new going on. It’s definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods and hangout spots. You really have everything there at the convenience of your fingertips.

Here’s why I’m a big fan:

Great Location — It’s perfectly situated where Route 50, 66 and the Beltway meet. The Dunn Loring Metro station is only 1 mile away, and you can be in D.C. in 25 minutes. You can drive to Tysons in less than 10 minutes. There’s free garage parking and when they have big events, they offer a free shuttle to the metro.

Environmentally Friendly — Mosaic’s architecture is much more contemporary than is typically found in Northern Virginia, with more flat roofs, glass and steel. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide) for Neighborhood Development pilot project is LEED-Silver certified; and all of the townhomes were built to LEED for Homes standards. Several of the District’s buildings also have green roofs.

Activities and Shopping — So convenient! From unique boutiques to Target, fitness studios, spas and salons, Mom’s Organic Market, banks, furniture stores, coffee shops, bars, a brewery and lots of restaurants for either a quick bite or a nice date. Check out my favorite spots: Sisters Thai, True Food Kitchen for brunch, B Side for amazing drinks, Sea Pearl has the best happy hour deal and Caboose Commons with their awesome dog friendly patio. You can see the full directory here.

The Angelika Film Center is a multiscreen cinema with reserved seating, a coffee shop, full bar, gourmet snacks and great digital projection and sound technology. There’s also a giant screen on the front of the theater facing the park, where people can watch family films for free.

Strawberry Park is usually where most of the outdoor activities are held. The turf is made of recycled components and it requires no water or chemicals. Outdoor activities include yoga, Lululemon run club, seasonal festivals and Farmer’s Market. See what’s on their schedule here.

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As the Mosaic District moves forward with plans to relaunch its weekly farmers market, the old market’s leadership is starting a competing market four miles away.

The Mosaic District announced in early March that the nonprofit FRESHFARM would be taking over the Mosaic Farmers Market.

Central Farm Markets, the organization that for the last six years had managed the farmers market at the Mosaic District, said on their website that the announcement was a shock to them.

“We were told, with just a few weeks notice and for no reason, that we had to leave the property,” the organization said on their website. “As you can imagine this has been a very difficult time for us and our vendors. In a matter of weeks we had to find a new location, enroll vendors and take care of all of the business matters associated with such an enormous move.”

Tysons Reporter reached out to the Mosaic District inquiring about the change but received no response.

The Mosaic Central Farm Market was able to find a space at George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) and rebranded as NOVA Central Farm Market.

Debra Moser, co-owner of Central Farm Market, said many of the vendors from the earlier Mosaic venue will carry over to the new location, and the arrangement with local non-profits to pick up left over food and deliver it to those in need will continue.

Both markets are planning a grand opening this Sunday (April 7).

Moser said Central Farm Market was never given a reason for why they were replaced.

“Moving a market, getting it reestablished in a short period of time was a great undertaking,” Moser said. “But we’re looking forward to the opening on Sunday.”

Photo via Facebook

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of the most 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!

Monday (April 1)

• Providence District Supervisor Election Forum — 7:30-9:15 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School (3020 Gallows Road) — The Democratic candidates running for the nomination in the Providence District Supervisor election are scheduled to meet tonight for a debate. The event will be held in the auditorium and is open to the public.

Thursday (April 4)

• Bubbles Salons Grand Opening Blowout Party — 6-9 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center (8043 Tysons Corner Center) — Food, drinks, and giveaways are planned for a “blowout party” at the new Bubbles Salon, a hair stylist specializing in coloring and shaping.
• Maple Avenue Corridor Multimodal Study — 7 p.m. at the Vienna Town Hall (127 Center Street) — The Town of Vienna is hosting the first of three community meetings to discuss a multimodal transportation and land use study, giving the public an opportunity to ask questions about the study and provide feedback.

Friday (April 5)

• Board of Supervisors Breakfast — 7:30 a.m. at Fairview Park Marriott (3111 Fairview Park Dr) — Leadership Fairfax is presenting a breakfast with Fairfax County and regional leaders for a discussion with the Board of Supervisors regarding the state of the County. Tickets are $50 for class members, $75 for Leadership Fairfax members, and $100 for the general public.

Saturday (April 6)

• Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo — 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church (1301 Trap Road) — The Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church is hosting a free Easter Egg hunt for children. Kids can bring their own basket or one will be provided. In addition to the egg hunt, a petting zoo will include rabbits, ducks, chickens, guinea pigs and a pig.
• Art Blooms in Mosaic — 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Mosaic District (2910 District Ave) — The Mosaic District is hosting a cherry blossom-themed event in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival this Saturday and Sunday. Activities include a painting class focused on creating a cherry blossom vase and artwork from Torpedo Factory artists.

Sunday (April 7)

• National Arab American Women’s Association Dinner — 5 p.m. at Sheraton Tysons (8661 Leesburg Pike) — The NAAWA will host a dinner featuring Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib as the keynote speaker. Front row tickets are sold out, but general seating tickets and meals are still available at $75.

Image via Facebook

Several newcomers are heading to the Mosaic District.

Two restaurants are set to open this fall, according to EDENS, a retail real estate owner and developer.

French bistro Parc de Ville will fill the former spot of Mike Isabella’s Requin (8296 Glass Alley, Suite 110), Washingtonian reported.

This is will be the first Northern Virginia location for D.C. restauranteurs Ian and Eric Hilton, who are known for their concepts Chez Billy Sud, Players Club and The Brixton, according to EDENS.

RyuKai, a Japanese BBQ and soba noodle restaurant, will include a demo kitchen where Shuichi Kotani will teach soba noodle making, EDENS said in a press release. The restaurant is set to occupy a 5,820-square-foot-space at 2980 District Ave, the Commercial Observer reported.

Kumon, an afterschool math and reading program, will join RyuKai at 2980 District Ave. Building permits indicate that Kumon will take up a 1,377-square-foot space in suite 150.

Up the street, Wee Chic, a Maryland-based kids’ clothing boutique, will take the former spot of Dawn Price Baby (2905 District Ave suite 120).

First and last images via Google Maps 

Starbucks is joining Barnes & Noble at the bookstore giant’s upcoming Mosaic District spot.

The Barnes and Noble will soon have an 8,630-square-f00t-corner spot at 2921 District Ave — a substantially smaller space than a typical store.

Signs in the storefront windows say that the store is “coming soon.” It appears from the signs that Starbucks will have a home inside the scaled-down book store.

At last check, shoppers were told to expect a June opening.

The MacMillan Whisky Room is set to bring a high-end neighborhood bar offering international whiskies to the Mosaic District at the beginning of May.

Derek Anderson, who co-owns the bar along with his wife Emma Hand, told Tysons Reporter that they have seen construction move along quickly since they received their permits on Jan. 30.

Construction updates on the restaurant and bar’s Facebook page celebrated the recently built bar and drywall. Anderson said the contractor expects the work finalized by mid-April.

“If our schedule holds, we anticipate a week or two soft opening and then a big weekend grand opening between Friday, May 3, and Cinco de Mayo,” Anderson said.

Along with a variety of whiskies, scotches, vodkas and other liquors, the MacMillan Whisky Room (2920 District Ave) plans to serve burgers along with classic British bar fare like scotch eggs, fish and chips and other dishes.

After opening, Anderson said that the Kentucky Derby on May 4 is the next big event to look forward to with the “big hats and bigger mint juleps.”

A sign in the storefront window says that the MacMillan Whisky Room is hiring bartenders, servers, kitchen staff and supervisors.

Last two photos via Facebook