The Tysons Corner Center ice skating rink won’t be coming back this year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still options to put on those skates and hit the ice.
Ranked by proximity to the Tysons Corner Center, site of the former rink, these are your skating alternatives throughout the region:
- SkateQuest (1800 Michael Faraday Ct) — An indoor ice-skating rink 8 miles/12 minutes away in Reston. The skating rink offers public skating sessions over the weekends and during lunch on Wednesday and Friday. SkateQuest also has various types of skating classes and pick-up hockey games Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
- Fairfax Ice Arena (3779 Pickett Road) — An 8 mile/15 minute drive south of Tysons.
- MedStar Capitals Iceplex (627 N Glebe Rd) — An 8 mile/15 minute drive to Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood, though that time estimate could vary considerably with traffic on I-66. Like SkateQuest, the rink offers public skating on weekends as well as pick-up hockey games.
- Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion (1818 Discovery St) — A 10 mile/13 minute drive from Tysons to Reston Town Center, if you’re willing to take the Dulles Toll Road. This is the closest choice for those looking for the outdoor plaza skating experience.
- Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Skating (1201 S Joyce St) — A 13 mile/20 minute drive from Tysons, this Arlington ice skating rink bills itself as the largest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia and the second largest rink in the state.
Photo via Facebook
FCPD Reports Increase in Hate Crimes — “County police have documented 77 crimes and incidents motivated by racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and other kinds of bias in 2018 so far. With one month remaining in the year, Fairfax County seems to be on pace to end 2018 roughly in line with 2017, which saw 87 hate crimes and incidents, a two-thirds increase from 2016.” [Fairfax Times]
Fairfax Flags at Half-Mast for Bush — “The U. S., Virginia and Fairfax County flags are lowered in respect and memory of President George H.W. Bush. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset 30 days from the day of his death on Nov. 30.” [Twitter]
Candle Caution Urged for Hanukkah Celebrations — “While the use of open-flame candles can add ambiance to a holiday and provide ‘warmth’ to a home, battery-powered candles are a safer alternative and one our firefighters and paramedics highly recommend you use.” [Fairfax County Fire & Rescue]
Santa Snapper Sells Spiffy Shoes — Andrea Smith’s current job is taking photos of children with Santa Claus at the Tysons Corner Center mall, but her passion is beautifying old and unwanted sneakers and boots. [Washington Post]
High Student Debt Hurts Regional Home Sales — “Prospective buyers in the local region could afford to purchase 71 percent of homes in the market if they do not carry student debt, but only 62 percent if they carry an average level of debt.” [InsideNova]
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!
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Winterbock Ugly Sweater Tapping Party
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (7861 Tysons Corner Center)
Time: 6-8 p.m.
The Tysons Corner Center restaurant will be tapping into its Winterbock, a German-style beer, at an ugly sweater party. Proceeds of the party and Winterbock sales through December will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
Friday, Nov. 30
10th Annual Virginia Women’s Business Conference
Sheraton Tysons Hotel (8661 Leesburg Pike)
Time: 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
The conference is a one-day event for women in the area to make business connections. The keynote speaker will be Michelle Poler, founder of the Hello Fears social movement. Tickets are $349 for general admission or $499 for the VIP upgrade.
Saturday, Dec. 1
Annual Norwegian Christmas Luncheon/Julefest
Seasons 52 (7863 Tysons Corner Center)
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Norwegian Christmas celebration, hosted by Norwegian heritage group Lakselaget DC, will include live musical guests and a lunch with Norwegian Kransekake for dessert. Tickets are $40 per person.
Pictures with Santa
Tysons West (1500 Cornerside Blvd)
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Selfies with Santa, or a free professional photo, are available at the Tysons West shopping center. Hot chocolate, cookie decorating, and holiday crafts will also be available.
Much like “The Facebook” became just “Facebook,” what was founded as Tysons Corner is now just Tysons — at least, according to the federal government.
Compared to issues like traffic or a lack of affordable housing, it can seem like a small or pedantic difference, but Drew Sunderland, Director of Communications at the Tysons Partnership, said the effort to rebrand the rapidly urbanizing area between McLean and Vienna as “Tysons” — to “drop the Corner,” so to speak — is part of working towards building a cohesive identity.
“Rebranding Tysons is a core element of our charter,” said Sunderland. “Historically, Tysons Corner is synonymous with the [Tysons Corner Center] mall. It’s a vital anchor, but in terms of the greater community, the mall is a component but it’s not limited to the mall… it’s surrounded by millions of square feet of new development. It’s vital to understand that Tysons is more diverse than just a suburban mall.”
It’s an issue that’s even drawn heated feelings. There is at least one anonymous Twitter account waging a one-user-war on the “Corner” using the hashtag #dropthecorner.
— Tysons, VA (@TysonsVA) October 28, 2018
Virginia Case, Chair of the Board for the Tysons Chamber of Commerce, said the change from Tysons Corner to Tysons is part of the area shedding its image as a small suburban community.
“[We tend] to think of it in the way you think of one named people being celebrities,” said Case. “Cher. Madonna. Kesha. It works well for us to be Tysons.”
For advocates of the change, there’s been progress. In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau, with some urging from the Tysons Partnership and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), changed the designation of Tysons Corner to Tysons. Sunderland said the census, labeling Tysons a place identifiable as a settled concentration of population but not incorporated under state laws, is the most official recognition in existence.
The change has had a ripple effect, altering the names on federal mapping agencies and, by extension, its designation on mapping services that use that data like Google Maps. New developments, like The Boro, almost exclusively refer to the area as Tysons.
While many prominent voices in the Tysons area, like the Tysons Chamber of Commerce, are all on board with “Tysons,” at least one local group said they still believe there’s value in the “Tysons Corner” name. Though the group would only speak off the record, a representative said Tysons Corner still has brand recognition.
Other news outlets, for instance, often use Tysons Corner when referring to the area. Some online sites like Twitter, when asking for your address, autofill “Tysons” to “Tysons Corner.”
There’s also the issue of Tysons sharing the name with other established brands. When looking up information on Tysons the news is often saturated with scandals involving Tysons chicken or former boxer Mike Tysons’ ongoing efforts to start a marijuana farm.
“People are always going to mistake your brand,” said Case. “Even my grandmother, whenever she was taking a plane, would take ‘a bluejet.’ We really do look at this place being a landmark.”
Case pointed to Paris as a somewhat bold comparison to Tysons, noting that there is a Paris, New York and a Paris Hilton, but the Paris that claims the landmark status is the one in France.
“Tysons Corner sounds sleepy,” said Case, “not like a prominent urban center.”
Case and Sunderland both noted that the name change can sometimes be an uphill battle. Case said most often the confusion comes from people who were from the area when it was still called Tysons Corner and are returning. But when they actually see how the area has changed, Case said most people she talks to understand that the area has outgrown the old name.
“You’re always going to have pushback when you embark,” said Sunderland. “People won’t necessarily understand the purpose behind the change. But if you look out the window, Tysons is a city. There are major high rises. There’s incredible density. We’re a city.”
Photo (top) via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter
Four women were arrested this past Friday, accused of stealing items from a store at Tysons Corner Center and then leading police on a chase the ended in a multi-vehicle crash.
The incident happened around 10 p.m. on “Black Friday,” one of the biggest shopping days of the year and a time when roads around Tysons are often jammed with traffic.
Three of the women allegedly “ran out of the Zara store with bags of merchandise,” then “got into a car and sped away from the area.” A police pursued ensued, ending “when the driver hit several other cars that were stopped at a red light,” according to Fairfax County Police.
The suspects, all of whom are between the ages of 18 and 20, are alleged to be part of a theft ring that has stolen from several businesses in the area, according to an FCPD crime report, below.
GRAND LARCENY / PURSUIT: 1961 Chain Bridge Road (Zara), 11/23/2018, 10:05 p.m. Three women ran out of the Zara store with bags of merchandise. They got into a car and sped away from the area. Officers attempted to stop the car, but the driver disregarded the officers’ attempts to stop them. The pursuit ended when the driver hit several other cars that were stopped at a red light, and all occupants were arrested. No one was injured. Caprice Davis, 18, of Capitol Heights, MD, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Keva Iracks, 19, of Washington, D.C., was charged with two counts of grand larceny, larceny with intent to distribute, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Germaine Johnson, 20, of Gaithersburg, MD, was charged with obstruction of justice, providing false identification to law enforcement, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, grand larceny, and larceny with intent to distribute. Daysha Robinson, 20, of Washington, D.C., was charged with felony child endangerment, grand larceny, and felony speed to elude. The group was responsible for stealing from multiple businesses in the area.
Shoppers Pack Local Malls — Despite the popularity of online shopping, the holiday season is still a busy one for local malls. Shoppers packed Tysons Corner Center on Friday, and National Public Radio was there interviewing mall-goers about why they decided to brave the crowds rather than shop in the comfort of their own home. [NPR]
Teens Suspected of Marco Polo Arson — Police believe a pair of teens deliberately set the empty former Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna on fire. The teens are also suspected of separate acts of vandalism, arson and making fake bomb threats, according to WJLA’s Tim Barber. [Twitter]
Council Worried About Bike Corral Taking Up Parking Space — Members of the Vienna Town Council “voted unanimously Nov. 19 to table their decision about potentially relocating a bicycle ‘corral’ on Church Street until other alternatives become available,” because the proposed place for the corral to be relocated would eliminate a parking space. [InsideNova]
More on Falls Church Murder-Suicide — “Officers responded to the 7300 block of Parkwood Court at 10:48 after a relative discovered 51-year-old Judith Garcia Gonzales de Gudiel and her husband 60-year-old Ever Gudiel dead. Preliminarily, it appears Gudiel attacked Garcia, causing trauma to her upper body before hanging himself.” [FCPD]
‘Fish Taco’ Coming to Boro in Tysons — “Fish Taco, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with three locations in Maryland, plans to open its first Virginia store at the Boro development in Tysons… by June next year. A rep for Fish Taco tells Eater the new location in the mixed-use development will have space for 60 customers to consume taco platters, salads, rice bowls, burritos, and quesadillas — all utilizing local and seasonal ingredients.” [Eater]
Mall Hours for Black Friday — “Tysons Corner Center… will be open for 28 hours straight. This year, the mall opens at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22 and will remain open Friday, Nov. 23 from midnight-10 p.m. Across Chain Bridge Road, Tysons Galleria will be closed on Thanksgiving. On Black Friday, hours will be 8 a.m.-9 p.m.” [Patch]
Dulles Toll Road Rates Going Up — “The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors voted Nov. 14 to increase rates on the toll road again, starting this coming January. Drivers of two-axle vehicles, who now pay $2.50 at the main toll plaza, will see that rate jump to $3.25, and those entering or exiting tolled ramps will pay $1.50, up from the current $1.” [InsideNova]
Herndon Site Still in the Running for Apple — Though Apple is “seriously” looking at a site in Tysons for a large new East Coast office, the company is also eyeing some other locations, like the 26-acre, state-owned Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon and sites in Raleigh, N.C. and Atlanta, Georgia. [Washington Business Journal]
McLean Blood Drive Was a Success — “With the holiday season quickly approaching, hospitals are continuously using blood products faster than donations are replacing them. With an urgent blood drive, sponsored by McLean Dermatology and Skin Care Center, volunteers and staff aimed to reach a goal of getting 40 donors during this Sunday’s drive — in which the goal was met.” [WJLA]
Parks Dept. Riffs on Facebook Outage — A tweet this morning from Fairfax County Parks: “Facebook and Instagram are down. Seems like a great excuse to take a walk and enjoy some face-to-face conversation in a park.” [Twitter]
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) Local flower delivery startup UrbanStems and other digital-native retail brands, in addition to long-time mall staple DKNY, opened this weekend at a new physical location in Tysons Corner Center mall.
BrandBox, a project launched by mall operator Macerich, adds physical foot traffic to the mostly digital companies. Tysons Corner Center was the first location for the retail experiment, which opened this past Saturday (Nov. 17).
The first group of startups in the location will be:
- Naadam — a Mongolian cashmere apparel company.
- Winky Lux — a cruelty-free facial cosmetics retailer.
- Interior Define — a home furniture store specializing in custom-built pieces.
- Nectar — a memory-foam mattress retailer.
- UrbanStems — a same-day flower delivery service in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
For some startups, like Nectar, the Tysons Corner Center location is their first physical storefront. The company is offering $125 off mattresses and two free pillows starting today.
“Nectar’s space features an installation with hands-on components and a beautiful visual tour through a year of sleep to celebrate the brand’s one-of-a-kind 365 Night Trial with a vignette for each season,” said a PR rep.
DKNY, the New York-based fashion house, will use its BrandBox location to try new limited edition products and designs.
For the past year, the Turkish Coffee Lady has been the one-stop-shop for Turkish coffee and other delicacies inside the Tysons Corner Center mall. Tomorrow, for their anniversary celebration, the store will be hosting a Turkish holiday bazaar.
The event will run from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at the store on the ground level of the mall near the Lord and Taylor. The bazaar, styled after the marketplaces of Istanbul, will feature a variety of holiday gift items for sale.
Beyond just selling coffee, the Turkish Coffee Lady also offers group coffee and Turkish cuisine tastings and complimentary fortune readings, a tradition of Turkish coffee drinking.
Similarly, the bazaar activities are scheduled to highlight a variety of Turkish cultural activities. These will include a Turkish folk dance, calligraphy, face painting and more.
The Turkish Coffee Lady is a woman-owned business. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Washington Turkish Women Association, which aids Turkish children and schools.
Photo via Facebook
A trio of young men from Falls Church were arrested in Tysons Sunday after allegedly leading police on a foot chase.
Fairfax County Police say the men stole items from the Macy’s department store at Tysons Corner Center mall by first stacking the merchandise by the door and then, after gathering enough stuff, running off with it. But security guards noticed the scheme in progress and called police, and officers arrived just as the men were trying to make their getaway with the stolen goods, according to FCPD.
After a foot pursuit, all three were arrested, police said. They’re being charged with grand larceny.
More from a crime report:
1961 Chain Bridge Rd (Macys), 11/11/18, 4:12 p.m. Officers were notified by Macy’s loss prevention of three men putting merchandise by the door to steal. Officers arrived at the store as the men were running out with the stolen merchandise. They were caught within minutes after a short foot pursuit. Derlin Carcamo Alvarez, 21, Jorge Melendez Gonzalez, 20, and Wilson Mondrago Ochoa, 23, all of Falls Church, were charged with Grand Larceny.
