What to Do With Your Christmas Tree — “Residents can leave out trees for regular trash collections after removing decorations… Fairfax County collectors will be taking Christmas trees left out at homes on Jan. 1-11. Trees should be put out separately and be less than 8 feet tall. ” [Patch]
Local Malls Still Busy — “Christmas may have passed but shoppers are still swarming the malls to spend gift cards and return unwanted gifts.” [Fox 5]
Vienna Man Wins Big in Md. Lottery — “A man from Vienna is getting some help to open a restaurant with a lucky lottery win. The scratch ticket won the restaurateur $50,000, according to the Maryland Lottery… He plans to use the winnings for finishing touches on the restaurant.” [Patch]
A new skincare company is scheduled to open its first Virginia location in Tysons Corner Center mall next month.
Aesop, an Australia-based company, will be moving into the second floor of the mall, between jewelry vendor Swarovski and work accessory store Levenger.
The exact opening date is still to be determined. Greg Mitola, a spokesperson representing Aesop, said the store is planning to launch in early January.
The store offers a variety of cosmetic products, from a $10 hand wash to a $295 skincare kit made from parsley seed.
The author of the press release, credited as Cynthia Leung from Native Agents, wrote a lengthy explanation of how the store’s design is an homage to Virginia’s mountains:
Writing on the Appalachian cultural expression and antimodernist movement of the 1920s and ’30s, the scholar, abolitionist and former Berea College president William Goodell Frost famously referred to mountain people as ‘our contemporary ancestors’. The mountains themselves are, of course, the true ancestors, predating Frost’s writing–and indeed, all human presence–by millions of years. Such was the heat and pressure generated by successive eruptions and sedimentation that the area’s Precambrian crystalline granite contains no trace of fossilized early life-forms.
It was this geological history that informed the design of Aesop’s inaugural signature store in Virginia, situated within the Tysons Corner retail complex. Created by the company’s in-house Design Department, the space assumes a unitary material palette of granite, lent nuance by different finishes: vertical surfaces with rough-textured flamed granite, and horizontal surfaces, including the flooring, ceiling, sales counter, demonstration sink and domed basins, with smoother honed granite. The stone’s unpolished minerality is punctuated only by the matte powder-coated gray metal of the product shelving.
The influence of Virginia’s landscape is also expressed through the space’s monolithic forms. Large granite elements that form the store’s façade effect both a sense of intrigue for passers-by, with glimpses of the demonstration sink and product display, and an impression of seclusion for customers upon entry. Muted lighting complements the interior’s mineral tones to evince a soothing, understated interior.
Clients can explore and select from a complete range of skin, hair and body care products, distinguished by botanical and laboratory-generated ingredients of the highest quality. The store’s trained consultants are able to offer advice about products best suited to individual needs.
Photo courtesy Aesop
(Updated 3:30) There’s lots of new development around Tysons, but one of the more unusual is a series of residential buildings constructed last night inside the Tysons Biergarten, made entirely from gingerbread.
The Tysons Biergarten is normally a pretty adult-oriented place, one of the few hotspots of the local nightlife, but yesterday (Wednesday) evening the Biergarten toned down the “bier” part and hosted its 3rd annual toy drive for local youth shelter Second Story. The event included gingerbread house making with youth involved with Second Story and a visit by Santa.
The event was the culmination of a month of toy collection at the Biergarten, where over fifty toys were collected. An earlier fundraiser for the organization raised $500.
Second Story, formerly known as Alternative House, is a youth services and safe shelter near Tysons that was founded in 1972.
The shelter offers a variety of programs, from caring for infants and young mothers to helping teenagers and young adults in distress, and offers a crisis shelter for teens for up to three weeks at a time. It also provides counseling for anyone in need across any of the shelter’s programsand offers longer-term support programs, like rent assistance and help with applications and training.
Abigail Brougher, a communications specialist for Second Story, said the Tysons Biergarten event, along with toy drives hosted by the Tysons Partnership and Tysons Corner Center, mean the shelter will be able to make sure every child and youth involved with the program is able to get a Christmas present.
“Second Story is so thankful for relationships in Tysons,” said Brougher. “It’s important to us to be able to give out toys at Christmas and they are all donated.”
Brougher said there’s no total tally of toys and funds raised yet, and it won’t be counted until after the holiday season, but roughly speaking the shelter has received hundreds of toys.
“Our two objectives are providing safe havens and opportunities,” said Brougher. “The opportunity to have that Christmas experience is important to us.”
While it’s a little late in the year to still give toys, Brougher said there’s still plenty that Tysonians can do to support the shelter year-round. Tysons Corner Center is also still collecting toys until Monday, Dec. 24, at the Santa HQ outside the Nordstrom.
“The biggest thing is to get involved,” said Brougher. “We have tours once a month. That is a really important way to learn about Second Story. We hold them on the second Tuesday of the month and you can sign up online. You get to tour our teen shelter, see where young people are staying, and learn more.”
For those looking to learn more about the shelter but can’t make it out for a tour, Brougher said Second Story also recently finished the first season of its podcast, which interviews people who went through the program.
“We have so much support from the Tysons community,” said Brougher. “They’re a huge part of us being able to do what we do.”
https://www.facebook.com/TysonsBiergarten/videos/375456116351572/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCx2HOlHfUy8WA2QtNQ7hRCyru8ha-sA061a0OmRhoyBJkKdKoIAguX0NV_QYREVK2LpwhY9yQQWCfGNm7gACS9oWqV6vFcoIJZD-Aaotc6ttAhKvWvB04iNuEUO0fcUk3KzCp4KD2zxpEeMcqiPDM_NkUdEJcC2RIQUnNZlhd5OSRl6rJqallOPR6hLg20_Bnh3oTyZ9cYPWQWwOWDtkDxZ4VbzLOkyXVu75AnEVSNjiuDWxYkQ7ct9SqH1Cz34zYsCcQorno-jo34M0ZVQ_KkI8H-0e64jiUI-WYn1B5v3_dcWLrO3LskB9zAtt1lANF9dRckRJSkIBL6X7JNTNkUEVFCJgIiTNs1yaMn6ur9LnLVp1Kn_A0euqYwcIrgdAiTqC2twFMx2nKeoJoAc83fu8H8u2eCJ_t3QFt8JyZjr4x2-0gXlJr-HV6TsQ&__tn__=-R
Photo courtesy Matt Rofougaran
Two women in their 20s were arrested at Tysons Corner Center Tuesday night and now face a dozen criminal charges apiece.
Police say the women, both 27 and from California, used a stolen credit card to buy merchandise and then returned it to a store in the mall for credit to their personal accounts. Police were called and followed the women as they ran out of the store, according to Fairfax County Police.
“The officers followed and arrested both women,” FCPD said in a crime report. The pair “were found to have numerous stolen credit cards in their possession” and “charged with eight counts of credit card theft, two counts of defrauding a merchant, receiving goods from credit card, and identity fraud.”
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) The Motherhood Maternity store at Tysons Corner Center is closing.
The maternity clothing retailer is selling merchandise at 75 percent off the regular price leading up to its final day in business on Christmas Eve — Monday, Dec. 24 — but all sales are final. With the discount, leggings and t-shirts are as inexpensive as $2-3.
Other nearby maternity clothing retailers include A Pea in the Pod, which is owned by the same company as Motherhood Maternity, at nearby Tysons Galleria. A selection of Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod merchandise is also available at the Tysons Corner Center Macy’s store, according to the company’s website.
Tysons Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in the Tysons area.
We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield and McLean. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Today, Dec. 17
Free Movie Screening: Bumblebee
AMC Tysons Corner (7850 Tysons Corner)
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.
ThingstodoDC.com is hosting a free screening of the new movie Bumblebee, the latest in the long-running Transformers series. Reviews have been surprisingly positive so far.
Final Meeting – Mclean MRC
Longfellow Middle (2000 Westmoreland St)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
This will be the final vision plan presentation discussing plans to renovate downtown McLean, which currently include turning a street into a pedestrian avenue and adding a new roundabout.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
In the Mix: NOVA Holiday Mixer
Tower Club (8000 Towers Crescent Drive)
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
A networking event at the Tower Club in Tysons aims to bring Northern Virginia community members together to form new career and business connections to start 2019 with. Tickets are complimentary for Tower Club members or $10 for guests.
Cheesetique Trivia Night
Cheesetique (2985 District Ave)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
A trivia night in the Mosaic District held alongside an extended happy hour running until 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Ugly Christmas Sweater Workout
CrossFit Route 7 (8504 Tyco Road)
Time: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Tysons CrossFit studio is hosting an all-day ugliest Christmas sweater or t-shirt contest, culminating with a class photo to commemorate a day of bad taste.
Second Story Toy Drive
Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike)
Time: 4-6 p.m.
The Biergarten will host its third annual toy drive for Second Story, a nonprofit youth shelter in Vienna. New or gently used toys can be brought to the Biergarten at a donation bin near the front door.
Thursday, Dec. 20
Devils Backbone Tap Takeover
Blackfinn Ameripub – Merrifield (2750 Gallows Rd)
Time: 5-7 p.m.
The Virginia-based Devils Backbone Brewing Company will take over the bar with the beers like their Vienna Lager or Gran-cose available on tap.
Fairfax County is currently mulling over changes to its sign ordinance that has schools, local realtors, and Tysons Corner Center concerned.
At a Planning Commission meeting last week, the commission deferred a decision on the new sign regulations until Jan. 16 to allow for more discussion on the impact of the ordinance.
Currently, county staff are reviewing changes to the zoning ordinance to make the language “content neutral.” The change is in response to the United States Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Reed vs. Town of Gilbert, which ruled that localities that define sign categories based on the message expressed, or content-based, is unconstitutional unless it furthers a compelling governmental interest.
Rather than allow free reign for Fairfax residents of businesses to erect signs regardless of content, a proposed amendment would tighten sign regulations across the board.
The proposed changes to the sign ordinance are wide-ranging but often minor corrections. One of the biggest changes is that one freestanding building identification sign is permitted for each detached building and such signs must be limited to identifying the name of the building or the individual enterprises located therein, the address, trademark or identifying symbol of the building occupant.
For instance, a real estate sign pointing to a nearby open house, but placed at the entrance to a subdivision, would be prohibited.
One of the proposed changes alters the definition of a sign from something “visible from the public right-of-way or adjoining property” to “visible from any street.” It’s a relatively small change, but any tampering with language in county ordinances could have a ripple effect. According to the staff documents, for instance, a representative of Tysons Corner Center expressed concerns about the impact of the change.
Tysons Corner Center currently has sign exemptions, allowing exceptions to current county rules, but these exemptions are based on the existing definitions of visibility from the public right-of-way or adjoining properties. As a result of these concerns, staff said new language was written into the proposed ordinance to allow greater flexibility.
According to county staff, minor signs — formerly referred to as temporary signs — were the largest challenge in the zoning ordinance rewrite.
“While staff acknowledges that the proposed language could negatively affect some developments that are currently exempt from regulation, we continue to recommend the language found in the draft text as it provides the closest level of regulation as the current provision.”
A representative from real estate investment company Macerich, which owns Tysons Corner Center, said at the meeting that the company had a laundry list of concerns but has been working with county staff to whittle those issues down. Another local realtor at the meeting said the new ordinance could push open house signs and corner signs off of local lawns and into already-crowded street medians.
The sign ordinance changes also sparked concern with the inclusion of language that would remove government exemptions from sign ordinances.
“Staff has received comments from both Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), neither of which is in favor of eliminating the current exemption status. Of particular concern to the Park Authority is the limitation on the size, number and location of minor signs permitted for non-residential uses in a residential district. These signs are used to announce summer concert series, camps and other activities at the parks. The schools have raised concerns with the proposed height of permitted freestanding signs for non-residential uses in residential districts which is proposed to be limited to 8 feet in height.”
As a result, staff said at the Planning Commission meeting that there would be modifications to the ordinance allowing some exceptions for schools and parks.
Planning Commissioner Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner said at the meeting he was generally in favor of holding Fairfax County government to many of the same sign regulations as the public.
“There’s something to be said with us being able to model our behavior consistent with what we expect from the private sector,” said Niedzielski-Eichner. “There is a different benefit to be realized to the public with the park authority and public school [having] latitude with signs, but frankly I’m comfortable with them doing it within a regulatory context… not unfettered.”
Photo via Flickr/Alan Levine
Tysons Corner Center estimates 3.65 million shoppers are likely to visit the mall during this year’s holiday season.
With the crush of shoppers filling parking lots and local roads, the mall and I-495 Express Lanes operator Transurban put together some suggestions for spending more time shopping and less time parking.
The best time to shop, we’re told, is before noon from Monday through Thursday, between Dec. 10-20. On Dec. 21, winter break for many local schools starts and lasts until Jan. 4, meaning even the mornings at the mall are more likely to be crowded.
The fastest suggested route into the mall is to access to eastern garage near Barnes and Noble using Westpark Drive. Shoppers are also encouraged to use the Jones Branch Connector, which partially opens this weekend.
Transurban, naturally, recommends the Express Lanes as a time-saving option.
“Shoppers driving to the mall can save time by taking the 495 Express Lanes and using Westpark Drive for direct access to Tysons Corner Center,” said Elisa Bell, a marketing director for the company.
Metro is also an option. The Tysons Corner Metro station connects to The Plaza, which is connected to Tysons Corner Center.
If you want a take a car but don’t want to park, services like Uber and Lyft can get you there — just “ask your driver to enter the Center near the entrances to Rt. 7 or International Drive off Fletcher Street to avoid time in traffic around the Center,” according to the mall.
Valet parking is available for $12 near Coastal Flats outside the Bloomingdale’s. A portion of valet proceeds are also donated to the Northern Virginia Family Services. The “Front and Center” parking in Garage C, meanwhile, is closest to the mall and costs $7. Both of these parking options earn shoppers discounts at mall stores and restaurants.
For those who don’t mind a longer walk, Garage B and C are both still free.
New French Bistro Coming to Mosaic District — “Brothers Ian and Eric Hilton are betting third time’s a charm for the Mosaic District space where both RJ Cooper’s Gypsy Soul and Mike Isabella’s Requin Brasserie imploded. The restaurateurs behind Chez Billy Sud, Marvin, and around a dozen other bars and restaurants will open a French bistro in the Fairfax development by early summer.” [Washingtonian]
How to Prevent Clogged Pipes — “Avoid clogged pipes this holiday season — don’t pour fats, oils and grease down the drain. Wipes pots and pans clean before rinsing them in the sink. Cooking oil can be recycled at the I-66 transfer station and I-95 landfill complex.” [Twitter]
Holiday Hours for Tysons Malls — “Many malls will be offering extended hours in the days before Christmas, including Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria.” [Patch]
One of Tysons’ oldest remaining restaurants could be demolished to make way for a new residential development.
An application submitted to the Fairfax County Department of Planning and zoning this summer proposes replacing J.R.’s Stockyards Inn, a two-story restaurant that’s occupied 8130 Watson Street for the last 40 years, with a new large-scale residential development. According to the application:
“After many years of successful community restaurant services, it is time to advance the transformation of this part of Tysons by pursuing a new vision for the Subject Property for future generations.”
The residential mixed-use building proposed for the site, designed by KGD Architecture, would consist of adjoining 11-story and 23-story towers. According to the application, the new building would be part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the older retail-commercial area near the Tysons Corner Center mall and set a precedent for future redevelopment in the area.
According to the architect’s website, the project would include 291 luxury apartments, 5,300 square feet of ground floor non-residential uses, and a 200-seat children’s theater. The proposal says the new building will also have three levels of below-grade parking and one level of podium parking.
J.R.’s Stockyards Inn, one of the first restaurants in Tysons to open outside of Tysons Corner Center mall, closed its daily restaurant operations in 2011 to focus on banquet and catering operations.
The proposal is currently under review by Fairfax County government staff and no hearing for the project has been scheduled so far.
