Winter Weather Advisory Extended to 1 P.M. — The National Weather Service has extended its winter weather advisory for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, to 1 p.m. today due to “lingering snow bands.” There could be up to two inches of snow accumulation, and slippery roads could make the morning commute hazardous. [NWS]
Metro to Change Lost-and-Found Policy, Citing Budget Constraints — “Beginning March 1, Metro’s lost and found department will work to reunite customers with lost wallets and electronics (such as phones, tablets, and laptops) only. All other items lost in the system will be disposed of, donated to charity, destroyed, or auctioned.” [WMATA]
Mosaic District Partners with Virginia Plunge Again — The Polar Plunge Festival is the signature annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Virginia. In past years, the Mosaic District has hosted the Plunge, but due to the pandemic, the usual in-person event has been replaced by a week of festivities, culminating in a virtual ceremony on Saturday (Feb. 6). Registration is now open. [Mosaic District/Twitter, Polar Plunge]
Tysons-Based Media Company Buys Sports Podcast Network — “Tegna wants a bigger piece of the podcast action: The TV station group announced the acquisition of Locked On Podcast Network, which produces some 160 daily shows for teams across the U.S.’s four major pro sports leagues and more than 30 colleges.” [Variety]
Justice High School Graduate Drafted by Washington Spirit — “When the Washington Spirit returns to the field this spring, local fans may spot a familiar face at forward–Falls Church native Anna Heilferty. After graduating from Boston University this winter, Heilferty was selected 19th overall by the Spirit in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft.” [Washingtonian]
Broad and Washington Project Unanimously Approved — “A major mixed use development project at the City of Falls Church’s central intersection of Washington and Broad Streets (Rts. 29 and 7) to feature a huge new Whole Foods grocery was approved unanimously by the F.C. City Council Monday night.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Bloomingdale’s to Experiment with Downsized Store at Mosaic District — “The retailer’s small-format concept, dubbed Bloomie’s, is set to open this fall in Virginia’s Mosaic District shopping complex, reported FN’s sister publication WWD. It’s expected to span roughly 22,000 square feet — a departure from the chain’s average department store size, which measures about 200,000 square feet.” [Footwear News, Mosaic District/Twitter]
Virginia Extends COVID-19 Restrictions Through February — Gov. Ralph Northam has extended mask requirements and restrictions on social gatherings through the end of February. He also announced that the state will get a greater supply of vaccine and addressed questions about a gap between doses distributed and doses administered in a news conference on Wednesday. [Patch]
First Responders Flash Lights for Kids at Inova Children’s Hospital — “Tonight, we were honored to participate in a “flashlight salute” at @InovaHealth Children’s Hospital along with @DLVFRD and @FairfaxCountyPD. We turned on our emergency lights and shined our flashlights at the kids and they returned the favor!” [Vienna Volunteer Fire Department/Twitter]
Virginia Makes COVID-19 Workplace Safety Standards Permanent — “The new regulations, approved last week by Gov. Ralph Northam, require all employers in the state to provide personal protective equipment when workers can’t physically distance, close or control access to common areas like lunchrooms, develop safe “return to work” plans for workers recovering from COVID-19, and regularly clean areas with heavy foot traffic, among other measures. Employees who interact with the public must wear masks.” [DCist]
Photo via Vienna Volunteer Fire Department/Twitter
F45 Training is moving into the Mosaic District.
Construction is currently underway on the boutique, high-intensity gym franchise’s latest site at 2980 District Ave., which is currently home to the education center Kumon and expects to also add the Japanese barbeque restaurant Gyu-shige soon.
Husband-and-wife owners Kerri Palmer and Earl Pinto decided to bring F45 to the Mosaic District after trying out the franchise’s site at The Boro.
F45’s approach to workouts appealed to both of them, which Palmer says is a rarity, and they thought it would be a good fit for the Mosaic District based on the other businesses in the development and the number of residents and visitors it attracts.
“I think that the Mosaic District is magical, and I actually think it’s going to be one of the best territories that F45 will have,” Palmer said. “…Our business is one that has a great energy and a great vibe to it, and I think Mosaic District aligns with that as well.”
Palmer says F45’s functional training classes differ from other gyms because the workouts continually change, rather than relying on the same routines and equipment.
“It’s really engaging, and it challenges your body in different ways than the traditional gym would challenge your body,” she said.
Acknowledging that some people might be skeptical of a gym opening during a pandemic, Palmer expressed confidence in F45’s COVID-19 protocols. Studios across the franchise are placed at five tiers that range from all-virtual to fully open depending on the public health situation of their individual locations.
F45 Mosaic will determine what approach to take once it gets closer to opening.
While the process of establishing the business has taken longer than anticipated, Palmer says their landlord and contractor, as well as Fairfax County staff have been supportive as she and Pinto have navigated unfamiliar territory.
This is their first attempt at starting a business together. Palmer works in the banking industry, while Pinto has a government job.
Palmer and Pinto have been documenting the construction process with regular updates on the F45 Mosaic Facebook and Instagram pages.
The current plan is to hold a soft opening for F45 Mosaic in May and a grand opening in June, “as long as everything continues to meet the timelines we have, and we’re very optimistic that will happen,” Palmer said.
Photo courtesy F45
(Updated at 12:05 p.m. on 1/26/2021) The Mosaic District in Merrifield is getting a new men’s salon: Boardroom Salon for Men (2920 District Ave., Suite 165), slated to open its doors on Saturday (Jan. 30).
This location marks Boardroom Salon’s debut in the D.C. area. The salon got its start in 2004 in Southlake, Texas, and has since expanded to 42 locations across the U.S. Its co-founders — husband-and-wife duo Bruce and Heather Schultz — plan to continue growing this year.
“The Mosaic District brings a distinct community atmosphere to Northern Virginians looking for upscale retail, residential, restaurant and entertainment offerings,” Boardroom Salon Fairfax Manager Nicole Morales said in a statement. “We look forward to introducing Boardroom with our professional talented stylists and barbers to clients who want an elevated grooming experience in a sophisticated yet still approachable way.”
The salon features dark-wood paneling and a lounge with oversized leather chairs and complimentary beverages. Its signature haircut service, The Benchmark, provides tailored haircuts, massages, a steamed towel, a parrafin hand dip, and styling advice.
For COVID-19 safety, team members wear masks and gloves and take their temperatures before each shift.
Clients can purchase one-month, six-month, or annual memberships, which provide unlimited haircut services and a 10% discount on all products and services, as well as complimentary referral Benchmark haircuts to give to friends and family.
Memberships are honored at all Boardroom locations, which can also be found in Arizona, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. The salon is also planning to open a venue in Maryland.
In honor of the opening, Boardroom Salon is offering discounts and promotions. A limited number of Founder’s Memberships are available, giving buyers exclusive discounts and a branded Boardroom silver beverage tumbler. Clients can also buy discounted three-month haircut memberships, starting at $125.
Boardroom will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The salon is also seeking applicants for stylist and front-of-house positions.
Photo courtesy Boardroom Salon for Men
(Updated on 1/22/2021) Several restaurants in the Tysons area will take part in Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week starting next Monday (Jan. 25).
For two weeks through Feb. 7, restaurants around the D.C. region will offer prix fixe meals for two or four people. Takeout and delivery options are available, with some venues offering only “to go” meals.
Lunch and brunch meals for one cost $22. There are two dinner menus: one for $35 (or $60 for two people and $120 for four), and one for $55 ($100 for two, $200 for four).
Organized by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, the annual restaurant week was originally scheduled to launch this week but got delayed by one week “in consideration of the fluid nature of activities and regulatory measures” affecting the area, according to RAMW website.
The following local restaurants will take part in the promotional week:
Tysons
- Randy’s Prime Seafood and Steaks: lunch and $55 dinner menu (no takeout)
- Founding Farmers: lunch, $35 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairings (takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining available)
- Chima Steakhouse: $35 and $55 dinner menus (no takeout, delivery, or outdoor dining)
- Fogo de Chao: two dinners for $60 (takeout and delivery only)
- Wildfire Tysons Galleria: lunch, $35 and $55 dinner menus, cocktail and wine pairings (takeout and delivery only)
- Eddie V’s Prime Seafood: $35 dinner menu only (takeout and delivery only)
- American Prime: lunch and $55 dinner menus, cocktail and wine pairings (takeout and outdoor dining available)
- Agora Tysons: $35 and $55 dinner menus, cocktail and wine pairings (indoor and outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery available)
Vienna
- Maple Ave. Restaurant: $35 dinner menu only (takeout only)
- Caboose Brewing Company: lunch and $35 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairings (outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery available)
- Blend 111: brunch, lunch, $35 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairings (takeout and outdoor dining available)
McLean
- The Capital Grille: lunch and $55 dinner menu (takeout and delivery available for Restaurant Week to-go dinner orders)
- J. Gilbert’s: lunch, $35 and $55 dinner menus, cocktail and wine pairings (takeout and delivery available)
Falls Church
- 2941 Restaurant: $55 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairings (dine-in, takeout, and delivery available)
- Trio Grill: $55 dinner menu only (outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery available)
Mosaic District
- Alta Strada: brunch, lunch, $35 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairings (outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery available)
- Matchbox Pizza: $55 dinner menu, cocktail and wine pairings (takeout only)
Tysons area restaurants could get another boost this spring, when the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce is planning to host a second Tysons Restaurant Week after the inaugural one proved to be a success in October.
Correction: This article has been updated to note that 2941 Restaurant and Agora are offering their Restaurant Week menus for dine-in customers as well, not just for takeout and delivery as previously stated.
Fatimah Waseem contributed to this report.
Staff photo by Ashley Hopko
Choolaah has left the Mosaic District in Merrifield.
The fast-casual Indian restaurant shut its doors on Mar. 19 for what was expected to be a temporary hiatus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the chain announced in a Facebook post on Jan. 5 that the closure is now permanent “despite our efforts to find a viable pathway for reopening.”
“This has been a challenging time for our friends, families, community and country,” Choolaah said. “That being said, we are heartened by the amazing support and kindness shown throughout this difficult period. We thank you for the warmth, joy and delight you have brought us over the years and hope to be back in the future.”
The announcement drew an outpouring of emotions from commenters, with multiple people calling the restaurant their favorite place in the Mosaic District.
Wholesome International, the company that owns Choolaah, and EDENS, the Mosaic District property owner, did not return requests for further comment from Tysons Reporter by publication time.
However, a Mosaic District employee told Tysons Reporter that the closure possibly stemmed from the owners being unable to afford rent payments for the space.
Choolaah opened its first and only Fairfax County location at the Mosaic District in December 2016. The chain started in 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio, and now has five venues.
Choolaah has a location in Sterling that remains open. That restaurant also closed last spring due to the pandemic, but it reopened for delivery, takeout, and curbside pickup service in July. The company says on Facebook it is looking at “new opportunities in the area.”
The Mosaic District has lost several tenants in the past year. Other departures include the restaurants Brine, Cheesetique, and BGR Burger Grilled Right, the furniture retailer Great Gatherings, the chocolate shop Artisan Confections, and the jewelry store Alex and Ani.
Photo via Google Maps
Vienna Police Move into New Temporary Home — With construction on a new station set to begin soon, the Vienna Police Department relocated to the former Faith Baptist Church at 301 Center Street on Jan. 7. Operations and responses haven’t been affected by the move, but the department is taking non-emergency calls at 703-255-6366. [Vienna Happenings]
Mosaic District to Add Dutch Snack Outlet — Poffy will serve traditional Dutch mini pancakes called poffertjes that are often prepared by street vendors. Owner Lilian Wanandy-Perez hopes to open the store in May or June, depending on the permitting process. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Golf Training Center Opens in Tysons — “GOLFTEC Tysons Corner, a golf instruction and club fitting center, has opened in Tysons. Located at 1430 Spring Hill Road, Suite 102, McLean, the 2,500 -square-foot facility offers golf lessons for a variety of individual needs.” [Patch]
Tysons IT Company Receives Acquisition Proposal — DXC Technology confirmed on Jan. 7 that it received an unsolicited, preliminary and non-binding proposal from Atos SE to acquire all DXC shares. The company’s board of directors will be evaluating the proposal. [Business Wire]
Home Sales in McLean Were Up in 2020 — “Year over year, there has been marginal improvement in the number of home sales with a total count of 1,249 in 2020 compared to 1,219 in 2019. Compared to one decade ago in 2010, there is significantly better news as sales are up 39 percent over that time frame.” [Connection Newspapers]
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
Jinya Ramen Bar will kick off the new year with a pop-up in the Mosaic District, the noodle shop chain announced today (Wednesday).
Scheduled to open within the next six weeks, the space will be paired with a Japanese-inspired dessert shop that offers soft-serve ice cream and donuts. The pop-up space will be open Thursdays through Sundays.
Jinya’s existing Mosaic District location (2911 District Ave.) is also still open for takeout, delivery, and indoor dining in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
Jinya is also adding menu items for the holiday season that will be available at all four of its spots in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the Mosaic restaurant:
Holiday cocktails
- Sassy Old Fashioned: Toki whiskey with honey and saffron syrup and orange bitters, garnished with an orange peel and cherry
- Winter Blossom: Etsu gin with cranberry syrup, citrus, and Asian pear puree, topped with sake
Chef’s specials
- Soft Shell Crab Bun: a steamed bun stuffed with crispy soft-shell crab, avocado, and baby mixed greens
- Spicy Maze-Men: extra-thick noodles with no broth, dressed with umami bonito Japanese aioli and topped with pork chashu, kimchi, seasoned egg, green and white onions, bonito flakes, and nori (seaweed)
The specialty cocktails cost $10. The holiday menu items will be available through New Year’s Day.
Photo courtesy Jinya Ramen Bar
Fairfax County Public Schools Presents Final Options for TJ Admissions — “After months of debate, Fairfax County school officials are proposing final options for reforming admissions at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology — either switching to a lottery system or adopting a “holistic review,” revisions meant to boost diversity at the flagship STEM magnet school.” [The Washington Post]
Tex-Mex Restaurant Opens in Mosaic District — “Urbano Mosaic is a spinoff of Urbano116, a similar concept on lower King Street in Alexandria…The menu covers items such as appetizers, ceviches, tacos, salads, fajitas, chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos, entrées and platters.” [Patch]
Virginia Transit Leaders Discuss Post-Pandemic Commute Changes — “Democratic senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner — the latter in a recorded message — expressed optimism that lawmakers would soon pass a COVID-19 relief package. Kaine and Warner reiterated the importance of funding to enable Metro to avoid major service cuts despite its budget shortfalls.” [WTOP]
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
Fairfax County and Virginia state officials kicked off passenger service on Thursday (Oct. 22) for Relay, the first test of autonomous technology in public transportation in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
“Won’t it be great to look back and say, ‘We remember the day in 2020 when we were sitting in the Mosaic and this Relay vehicle successfully proved to the country that you can do this in a safe way and also look toward future innovations in transportation,” Jeffrey McKay, the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said.
Relay, a 100% electric, autonomous vehicle, runs 10 miles per hour from the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metrorail Station to the Barnes and Noble in the Mosaic District. It makes the trip every 15 to 20 minutes, Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Relay can transport up to 12 passengers — six seated and six standing — but to encourage social-distancing, it will currently only take three passengers and a safety attendant at a time. The shuttle is fully accessible for people with disabilities.
The project represents a public-private partnership between Fairfax County and Dominion Energy aimed at improving road safety, encouraging the use of public transit, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It received a $200,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and a $50,000 match from Fairfax County. The county is contracting with Transdev to manage the operations of Relay.
EDENS, the developer of the Mosaic District, provides shuttle storage and stop improvements. The Virginia Department of Transportation provided signage, lane striping and bus stops.
The ribbon-cutting event held Thursday, three months after its first test run, was abuzz with officials talking about the future and innovation.
Mark Webb, the chief innovation officer for Dominion Energy, said Relay “is just plain cool.”
“It’s the sort of thing we’d see in a Star Wars movie or Blade Runner movie without lift-off capabilities,” said Webb, whose company purchased the shuttle and contracted with EasyMile, a driverless technology company that mapped the route and manufactured the vehicle.
Even without the futuristic promises, Relay improves road safety, extends public transit, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, Webb said.
Connecting the two ends of the Mosaic District will encourage people to ride public transit who are dissuaded by getting to and from transit stops, said Catherine McGhee, the director of research and innovation for the Virginia Transportation Research Council.
“Relay serves a real purpose. It’s not a one-off demonstration in a parking lot,” she said. “It is part of the transit ecosystem here in Fairfax County.”
Officials also reminisced about the underutilized, industrial, dull feel of the Mosaic District before serious efforts were undertaken to develop it, spearheaded by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia).
“Without a Mosaic, there would be no Relay. There would be no autonomous vehicle project,” McKay said.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik wants to see the development extend to the older, industrial, and partially vacant zone in between the two Relay stops.
“I really hope it will help develop the areas between the two stops,” Palchik said. “We don’t stop here.”
