An Idylwood brewery that launched in 2018 is expanding to Oakton at Hunter Mill Plaza on Chain Bridge Road and Hunter Mill Road.
Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. will open Settle Down Easy — Oakton Tasting Room, an 80-seat, 4,000-square-foot space slated to open in the spring. Its website prominently displays the change as “coming soon.”
A marketing representative says to-go orders doubled the brewery’s production amid the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for the expansion.
Announced at Settle Down Easy’s three-year anniversary celebration on Saturday (Nov. 6), the new space will also offer cider and wine as well as artisanal meats and more through an exclusive food partnership with The Fermented Pig.
Per a news release:
The new 4,000-square-foot, 80-seat tasting room aims to become a community staple, celebrating local purveyors and businesses as well as providing an upscale yet relaxing atmosphere for customers to enjoy. Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.’s original location in Falls Church/Merrifield opened in November 2018 with a high-quality and approachable selection of craft beers and seasonal varietals. Now, three years later, the brand will expand to include this new addition in Oakton.
‘We experienced wonderful success following our initial opening, and even throughout the global pandemic we were able to expand our customer base through our to-go program,’ said Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. owner Frank R. Kuhns. ‘We are thrilled to open a new location in Oakton and really integrate our concept with the many incredible local food and beverage producers in the area.’
The Fermented Pig, a family-owned business that specializes in artisan meats and charcuterie, will partner with Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. to open its first brick and mortar location inside SDE — Oakton Tasting Room. The seasonal ‘farm to fork’ menu will offer artisanal paninis, fresh salads, local cheeses, charcuterie, entrees and more — all sourced from local suppliers within 100 miles of the tasting room. In addition to the food offerings, Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.’s flagship brews, SDE — Oakton Tasting Room will feature a rotating selection of taps from other Fairfax County breweries, as well as local ciders on tap and a curated wine list.
On Tuesday morning, the Fairfax County School Board approved a proposal to convert the Dunn Loring Administration Center into an elementary school.
All 10 board members who were present supported the measure. Two members were absent at the time of the vote.
The move is intended to relieve overcrowding at Shrevewood Elementary School in Falls Church and avoid the need to make multiple boundary adjustments.
“We want to limit the disruption to the community, and potentially facing several adjustments is not a path we want to go down,” Providence District Representative Karl Frisch told the board.
Fairfax County Public Schools staff support the plan but want to avoid setting a firm timeline to keep their focus on returning to school, he said. Once planning starts, a new school could be ready in five years.
“This is one of the first steps that needs to be done to deal with the development going on in that area,” Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen said.
Today, the Dunn Loring center houses some special education services and programs for parents, but it previously served as an elementary school from 1939 to 1978.
Converting it back will cost $36.8 million in school bond funds. The school board will be using funds that were earmarked for a new school in the Fairfax/Oakton area, which was intended to lessen overcrowding at Mosby Woods and Oakton elementary schools.
The student populations at those schools have since dropped below capacity, Frisch said. Meanwhile, Shrevewood is “bursting at the seams” and could reach 120% capacity by 2025.
The school was first identified as slightly overcrowded in 2012, and became substantially overcrowded in 2017, FCPS spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said. Since 2012, the school has taken steps to ease crowding, such as adding space, trailers and more parking, she said.
Repurposing the Dunn Loring center is a more viable long-term solution than redrawing boundaries, Shrevewood Elementary PTA president Kate Coho told Tysons Reporter.
“Dunn Loring provides the long-term solution to the problem that’s only going to get worse in this immediate area, as we see housing continuing to go up,” she said.
At-large school board member Abrar Omeish said Shrevewood’s over-capacity is not as stark as schools like Glen Forest Elementary School, which has “more kids in trailers than in the building” and a 75% poverty rate.
“When people say that we focus more on schools that have more than the ones that don’t, I can’t refute that,” she said.
Hunter Mill Representative Melanie Meren said no solution will serve everyone, but this repurposing option is available now.
“I thought this would be a more straightforward conversation,” she said.
The Fairfax County School Board currently does not have any official policies dictating a public process for reallocating bond funds to different projects than the ones they were intended to support when approved by voters.
Frisch held two community meetings in December on the Dunn Loring repurposing proposal, one for the Shrevewood community and one for the Mosby Woods/Oakton area. However, the school board’s guidebook does not require those meetings or even a forum discussion for proposals to change how bond funds are allocated.
As part of the approval, the school board also directed its governance committee, which is chaired by Frisch, to look at developing a mechanism for a public process to ensure more clarity and transparency for future projects such as this one.
Updated at 6:30 p.m. — Blake Lane has reopened. The person who was injured in the crash is a bicyclist, and they remain hospitalized. The incident is under investigation by Fairfax County police detectives.
Earlier — Blake Lane is currently closed between Hibbard Street and Bushman Drive in Oakton due to a vehicle crash that occurred this afternoon.
Fairfax County police reported the accident just after 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday). One person has been transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Police are asking people to avoid the area, and travel delays should be expected.
Blake Lane is now open. Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate. The bicyclist remains hospitalized. #FCPD https://t.co/P2gyh3QUk5
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 3, 2020
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
It took 5 years and a pandemic for my family to find random short cuts to the W&OD Trail, which have led to other great discoveries.
I’ve also noticed the W&OD Trail is getting really crowded, especially on great weather days, so I am sharing some of my favorite places to explore for a walk, kid friendly hike, or our personal favorite — places to throw rocks into water. Given the CDC guidance right now on walking or biking to these places, please share other hidden paths with us in the comments so others might explore their own neighborhoods as well!
- Wildwood Park: Access points at the end of Mashie Drive near OLGC, the end of Delano/Alma, the end of Valley, and from the intersection of Fellini Ct/W&OD Trail — short path with lots of places to jump on rocks, see deer and throw stones into the water. I’ve seen people fishing in this water, but I have yet to see any actual fish.
- Northside Park: The current location for the “LOVE” letter installation — access at the end of Glyndon, Talisman Drive or the W&OD Trail.
- Foxstone Park: Paved and gravel paths along with a stream. Access at the end of Druid Hill Rd NE, John Marshall Dr NE and Ridge Lane.
- Wolftrap Stream Valley Park: Includes a basketball court, paved path, and a stream. Access behind Cardinal Hill Swim Club or Talisman Drive.
- Daniels Run Park: Many easy access points along Old Lee Highway side streets (Heritage, Parklane, Embassy, Queen Anne and St Andrews) located next to Army Navy Country Club. Gravel paths, stream and easy hill climb.
- Difficult Run: Begins in Great Falls/McLean and has a 9 mile loop trail that ends by Colvin Run Road; there’s also a Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Oakton which runs along Difficult Run River.
- Peterson Lane Park: We discovered this hidden path when we first moved to Vienna — there’s an access point on Riviera Drive as well as the main access on Vale. There are basketball hoops, as well as a trail with streams.
If none of these are easily accessible to you, you can use Trail Buddy on the Fairfax County website so explore other paths near you. We have found this to be a great way to get the kids outside and burn off some energy with the walk there and home.
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: What can you tell me about living in Oakton?
Answer: Oakton is a great place to live. According to a new set of rankings released by Niche, Oakton is the 8th best place to live in the state. The ranking looked at several factors, such as public schools, housing, diversity and family environment. Oakton received an A+ for its public schools, A for diversity, A+ for family environment and B for housing.
So What’s So Great About Oakton?
Location — The Vienna Metro is the last stop on the Orange Line. The station is located in Oakton, in the median of Interstate 66 at Nutley Street, which provides quick access to 495 and can take you to D.C. in 25 minutes. You can get to Dulles Airport in 20 minutes. It’s also less than 3 miles from the Town of Vienna and all its amenities. (Check my past column about Town of Vienna).
Shopping and Dining — The Oakton Farmer’s Market operates year round. Hunter Mill Plaza and Oakton Shopping Center have a great selection of eateries, including Chipotle, Luciano’s Italian, Old Peking, Yoko Japanese, Starbucks and other services include Giant, CVS, Wells Fargo Bank and a wide variety of medical offices.
It’s only a 5 minute drive to the thriving Mosaic District, offering many options for dining, shopping, fitness and entertainment.
Active Community —Â Oakton has plenty of parks for different activities: Oakton Community Park has a nice playground, Tattersall Park has quiet jogging and hiking trails, and Waples Mill Meadow Park is great for birding (who knew!).
The Oak Marr Golf Complex includes not only the challenging 1,456 yard, 9-hole par three golf course, with holes from 95-200 yards, but also a lighted 78 station driving range with target greens and covered, heated tees. And the Oak Marr Rec Center offers a gym with state-of-the-art equipment, group exercise classes, swimming pools, racquetball, spa, and many activities. Check the full calendar here.
If you have a dog, you can walk to Moorefield Park. The play area is shaded by mature trees and completely fenced in, providing a cool and safe retreat for dogs and their families. Water is available on site as well. All dogs must be licensed by the Town of Vienna or Fairfax County.
Housing
There are many different options for detached homes, townhomes and condos. There are 48 properties for sale, ranging from a one bedroom condo for $249,900, to a brand new 8,000 sq. ft., 7 bedroom single family home for $4,895,950. You can see the active listings here.
Twenty-nine properties are under contract, ranging from a 1 bedroom condo at $260,000, to an 8 bedroom single family house at $1,699,900.
In the past 6 months, 46 condos were sold for a median price of $290,900; 34 townhouses were sold for a median price of $523,450; and 88 single family homes sold for a median price of $900,000.
If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my bi-weekly column, please reach out to [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon.
Val Sotillo is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite #10C Arlington, VA 22203, 703-390-9460.
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: I’m looking to purchase a home that’s walking distance from the metro station. What are my housing options and what neighborhoods do you recommend around the Vienna Metro Station?
Answer: Vienna Metro Station is the last stop on the Orange Line. The station is in Oakton, in the median of Interstate 66 at Nutley Street (Virginia State Route 243) which provides quick access to 495 and can take you to D.C. in 25 minutes. You can get to Dulles Airport in 20 minutes. Overall, a great location!
The communities around the metro are beautiful and offer many housing options. It’s a mix of original homes and new construction; condos and large homes. The area is very walkable with lots of green spaces, and it tends to be quiet during the weekends.
What’s Great About The Neighborhood
Location — The Vienna Metro is located minutes away from Tysons. Depending on which side of the metro you are, you could walk to Pan Am Shopping Center. It’s less than 2 miles from the upcoming mixed use development Scout on the Circle, which will have small shop retail, and a 54,000 sq. ft. Giant Food.
It’s also less than 3 miles from the Town of Vienna and all its amenities. (Check my past column about Town of Vienna)
It’s only a 5 minute drive to the thriving Mosaic District, offering many options for dining (True Food and B Side are some my favorites!), shopping, fitness and entertainment.
Active Community —Â The Providence Community Center is just steps from the metro and it provides the residents of all ages various fun activities such as Yoga, crafts,and chess club. Here’s the full schedule.
There are parks within walking distance such as Nottoway Park, offering tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, gardens, picnic areas and wooded nature paths.
If you have a dog, you can walk to Moorefield Park. The play area is shaded by mature trees and completely fenced in, providing a cool and safe retreat for dogs and their families. Water is available on site as well. All dogs must be licensed by the Town of Vienna or Fairfax County.
Housing
There are many different options for detached homes, townhomes and condos. If you’re interested in new construction, check out my column about Metro West.
Within 1.2 miles from the metro, there are 66 properties for sale, ranging from a one bedroom condo for $179,900, to a brand new 6,000 sq. ft., 5 bedroom single family home for $2,295,000. You can see the active listings here.
Twelve properties are under contract, ranging from a 1 bedroom condo at $195,000, to a new custom built, 6 bedroom single family house at $1,449,900.
In the past 6 months, 86 condos were sold for a median price of $327,500; 110 townhouses were sold for a median price of $549,000; and 71 single family homes sold for a median price of $815,000.
I visited some active listings in the area, and the nearest to the metro is a 2 bedroom condo, located at 2971 Centerboro Drive #379 (Courtesy of RLAH Real Estate).
Here’s a little video tour for you:
If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my weekly column, please reach out to [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon.
Val Sotillo is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, 703-390-9460.
Tequila Grande will have a new home this fall as owners AJ Prakash and his wife Renu Prakash plan the restaurant’s relocation to Oakton.
They are currently awaiting a city permit so they can move into the former Bob Evans location at 10443 White Granite Drive. The owners hope the new location will be in a position to start serving food to customers by late October.
Tequila Grande announced the move on their Facebook page and asked for recommendations or feedback. Patrons commented on the post — almost all of them praising the current menu and asking to keep it as-is.
“We are super excited to be working towards our relocation,” the post said.
The decision to move comes after controversy when the Vienna Town Council slated and approved the restaurant’s current location (444 W. Maple Avenue) for redevelopment.
Council member Howard Springsteen expressed disapproval of the decision to remodel the existing buildings in the vicinity and turn it into a four-story mixed-use development.
“Look at the turnout tonight and the signs around town. People are not happy, so I’m not going to vote in favor of this,” Springsteen said before the vote passed 5-2.
For the time being, Tequila Grande is still open for business at their Vienna location 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Sunday.
The restaurant offers guests a variety of Mexican cuisine and happy hour specials.
Image via Google Maps
Several public high schools in the Tysons-area, including Langley and McLean high schools, made the cut for U.S. News and World Report’s annual roundup of best high schools on the state and national levels.
“Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college,” according to U.S. News and World Report.
Fairfax County Public Schools dominated U.S. News and World Report’s “Best High Schools in Virginia,” and five out of the eight Fairfax County schools included two in McLean, two in Vienna and one in Falls Church:
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology: Alexandria
- Langley High School: McLean
- McLean High School: McLean
- Oakton High School: Vienna
- Open High School: Richmond
- Marshall High: Falls Church
- Madison High: Vienna
- West Springfield High School: Springfield
- W.T. Woodson High School: Fairfax
- Deep Run High School: Glen Allen
The Tysons-area high schools bumped up a few spots for this year’s list. Last year, Langley ranked #3, McLean was #5, Oakton was #6 and Marshall was #8.
Their rankings on the national level hit the top 200 and 300 categories:
- Langley: #123
- McLean: #127
- Oakton: #173
- Marshall: #251
- Madison: #261
Image via Google Maps
Police say a Vienna resident broke into Oakton High School early this morning (Tuesday) and was seen riding a scooter around the hallways while trying to get into classrooms.
Around 1:41 a.m., security at the school reported that they saw someone riding a scooter inside of the school trying to open classroom doors, according to a police report.
The report says police found the man in the parking lot and placed him under arrest for unlawful entry and trespassing.
Photo via Google Maps
Virginia State Police is investigating a chain reaction crash on I-66 near Oakton that happened during last night’s evening rush hour.
The crash — near the Chain Bridge Road exit — involved 14 vehicles, two of which caught fire after the wreck, but only one minor injury was reported.
“At approximately 5:50 p.m., Virginia State Police received a call about a two-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes of I-66 near Exit 60,” said VSP spokeswoman Corinne Geller. “As oncoming traffic swerved to avoid those vehicles and then one another, a chain-reaction crash occurred. In the end, there were 12 vehicles in the chain reaction crash. The last two vehicles caught fire.”
Geller says the crash is still under investigation but charges against at least one of the drivers are pending.
Approx 6 pm last night, crews responded to I-66 EB prior to Rte 123 for report of multiple vehicles involved in a crash w/1 on fire. Units arrived to find 2 cars on fire extending to 3rd car. 14 vehicles involved w/19 passengers total–17 adults and 2 children. No injuries. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/n3t8nv55xo
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 5, 2019
Photo courtesy Virginia State Police
