As 2020 nears, there are plenty of bars, restaurants and clubs around Tysons catering to people trying to spend their final hours of the year in style.
Here are some of the events Tysons Reporter spotted on New Year’s Eve.
Jammin Java will host an 80s’ themed dance party begging at 6:30 p.m. that will feature prizes for the best outfits, trivia and a champagne toast at midnight. There is a $35 cover for tickets but all ages are welcome to attend.
Greenhouse Bistro will host a Toast to the Decade event feating a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. People are invited to swing by Greenhouse Bistro (2070 Chain Bridge Road) around 9 p.m. and stay until 2 a.m. There is a $50 cover per person and there is a strict dress code for men, according to the event page.
New Year’s Eve Masquerade Rumba at Inca Social (2670 Avenir Place) will offer guests a chance to celebrate with dinner, a DJ and a midnight champagne toast to celebrate 2020. Guests will receive a masquerade mask and other goodies. Tickets start around $20.
Maggiano’s Little Italy (2001 International Drive) is hosting a murder mystery-themed dinner from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests will have the chance to investigate clues in order to solve a crime. Tickets are $100 and include a multi-course meal.
Sapphire Tysons (8201 Greensboro Drive) is hosting an event from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. with unlimited food and an open bar. The cost is $85 or $150 for a couple. People are encouraged to dress up to hit the dance floor and enjoy a DJ playing a variety of music genres.
Anyone excited about the return of the roaring 20s’ can gather at Blackfinn Ameripub (2750 Gallows Road) from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. and enjoy 1920s-inspired cocktails, a champagne toast at midnight, a live DJ and a photo station. Tickets start at $15 online and include appetizers and the toast.
Photo by Yasemin K. on Unsplash
(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) A man died this morning following an incident at the Capital One construction site in Tysons, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
FCPD said that the man, Nelson Aguilar-Salamanca, was brought to the hospital and pronounced dead after he was struck by a rebar that fell from a crane at the 1600 block of Capital One Drive.
A police spokesperson said the first 911 call was received around 7:30 a.m. and that the incident happened in front of the Capital One headquarters.
Aguilar-Salamanca was a 55-year old Maryland resident, according to an FCPD press release, which added that he was working on the site as a subcontractor.
Construction is still underway on the second phase of Capital One’s corporate campus in Tysons, which is set to include a Wegmans grocery store and a performing arts center. Construction is set to wrap up in 2021.
Anyone who witnessed this accident is asked to call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800 or submit an online tip.
Officers are on scene of a workplace accident in the 1600 blk of Capital One Dr. A man was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. Detectives are responding to the scene. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/hpwFsKcaJX
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 30, 2019
Map via Google Maps
The new year will mean a fresh look for Capital Grille near Tysons Corner Center.
The restaurant plans to expand at 1861 International Drive and relocate outdoor seating with a patio fence, according to a building permit.
The restaurant will also get a renovated vestibule area and demolish the “existing bank canopy” — possibly referring to the Presidential Bank branch next door.
Since the permit was processed yesterday (Dec. 26), it’s unclear when the work would start.
Image via Google Maps
The developer behind the Scotts Run development in Tysons wants to make some changes to the project.
The changes, which were proposed in November, include an adjustment to two heights to a parking podium connected to a residential building, according to Lynne Strobel, the attorney representing the Smith Group.
The developers want to raise the parking garage height from four stories to five for one building and from 4.5 to five for another, according to documentation from Strobel, adding that the height is still within the range originally approved by Fairfax County.
“The podium will appear to be an extension of the building with the use of glass and masonry,” the documents said.
The 26-story building, which will primarily include residential housing, would no longer include underground parking with the proposed changes.
“It’s within the same range of units,” Strobel said, adding the changes won’t affect residents outside of an aesthetic design shift.
When development changes are minor, a Fairfax County Planning Commission spokesperson said that it is not always necessary to host a public hearing or require the Fairfax Board of Supervisors to re-approve the proposal.
The upcoming buildings sit on roughly an acre of land, according to Fairfax County records and will be partially designated for affordable housing options.
Image via Cityline Partners
Fire investigators say a dishwasher caused a townhouse fire in the Tysons area yesterday morning.
The fire in the 2000 block of Meadow Springs Drive displaced two residents and killed one family dog.
“No occupants were home at the time of the fire,” Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said in an update today (Tuesday). “The fire was discovered by a neighbor who saw smoke coming from the house.”
The fire department said that the residents accepted Red Cross assistance.
The fire started by accident in the kitchen and involved an unattended operating dishwasher, according to the fire department.
The fire resulted in approximately $187,500 worth of damage.
Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter
Would you play a version of Monopoly based on Tysons? Yes — it does exist.
The Walmart by the Spring Hill Metro station used to carry “Tysons Corner Opoly” — what appears to be a local version of the popular board game. (Hat tip to Tysons Reporter’s former editor Vernon Miles, who spotted this on reddit.)
Tysons Reporter — along with the help of four store employees — hunted through the store yesterday (Monday) for the game to no avail. An assistant store manager said that the game was selling very well recently and now appears to be sold out.
The store manager said he does not know if or when the item will be back in stock.
It’s unclear how many of the comments on reddit are jokes versus actual information about the game. Here are a few of the 90+ comments:
“‘Tyson’s corner opoly’ the game of traffic congestion and looking for a parking spot.”
“Toilet Bowl Building” is spot on. We all know immediately what it refers to, even without a pic.
“Walk light is too short and you only made it halfway across Route 7. Lose a turn.”
Sound like something you’d choose for game night? Let Tysons Reporter know if you would play Tysons Corner Opoly.
And if someone reading this has a version and is willing to let the Tysons Reporter team borrow it for game night, our email is [email protected].
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) Firefighters have extinguished a fire in a townhouse in the Tysons area today (Monday) that killed one family dog.
Firefighters were on the scene of the blaze in the 2000 block of Meadow Springs Drive shortly before 11 a.m, according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweet.
“First arriving reports three-story middle of the row townhouse with smoke showing from the attic,” the tweet said.
In an update about 45 minutes later, the fire department tweeted that the fire was extinguished.
“No reported injuries at this time,” the tweet said. “Sadly one family dog found deceased.”
Units on scene of townhouse fire in the 2000 block of Meadow Springs Drive in Tysons area. First arriving reports 3-story middle of the row townhouse with smoke showing from the attic. Crews working to extinguish fire. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/w74vHHrg20
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 23, 2019
Map via Google Maps, photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter
With the upcoming holidays, several businesses and services around the area are making adjustments for their hours of operation.
Tysons Reporter compiled a list of key changes for community members who may be affected.
County-Wide
For people who take public transit, the Fairfax Connector will operate on a normal schedule on both Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), according to a Fairfax County Department of Transportation press release. On Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) the buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. Times for specific busses can be found online.
All Fairfax County government offices will be operating on a half-day schedule on Dec. 24 and be closed on Dec. 25.
The United States Postal Service will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Metro riders can expect trains to run on a varied schedule during the holidays:
- Dec. 24: 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Dec. 25: 8 a.m. t0 11 p.m.
- Dec. 31: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Jan. 1: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Vienna
The Town of Vienna Community Center will be closed on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. During New Year’s Eve, the center will be open but on a modified schedule, according to the website.
Government offices for the town will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with a half-day on Christmas Eve.
Trash collection services will be running on a normal scheduled on Christmas Eve but not in operation on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
Falls Church
The Mary Riley Styles Public Library will close at noon on Christmas Eve and 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. It will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
City Hall and the community center (223 Little Falls Street) will both close at noon on Christmas Eve and reopen Thursday (Dec. 26).
Most government offices will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, according to the city’s website and most meetings originally scheduled for the day will be canceled.
All curbside trash, rubbage or recycle collection originally scheduled for Dec. 24 will be moved to Saturday (Dec. 26). Collection scheduled for New Years Day (Jan. 1) will be moved to Saturday (Jan. 4).
McLean
The McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) will close early at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and the day after Christmas (Dec. 26) at 8 p.m. The center will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Due to holiday festivities, Tysons Reporter won’t be publishing on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. We will be pushing on a shortened schedule from tomorrow (Dec. 24) to next Tuesday (Dec. 31).
School Start Time Changes in Falls Church — “The Falls Church City Public Schools will begin classes two weeks prior to Labor Day next fall, on Aug. 24, based on a 4-2 vote by the School Board Tuesday night. The new calendar will conclude the school year next spring with graduation on June 2 and the last day of school on June 10.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Where Can You Eat Out This Christmas? — Here are lists of restaurants open for the holidays in McLean and Vienna. [Patch, Patch]
Local Police Fighting Crime at Tysons Malls — “Tysons urban team patrols the shopping centers. Over the past six years they busted organized retail criminals from other states, and even Russia, Romania and China.” [ABC7]
Want to Work at Wolf Trap? — The performing arts center and National Park plans to host three job fairs — one on Sunday (Dec. 29) noon-4 p.m., Saturday (Jan. 4) noon-4 p.m. and Tuesday (Jan. 7) 4-8 p.m. [Potomac Local]
A fish-focused taco spot and Italian restaurant now plan to open in The Boro early next year.
Earlier this fall, a construction contractor working on-site told Tysons Reporter that North Italia was expected this December, but a recent press release says that the restaurant plans to open Feb. 5 at 1651 Boro Place.
The restaurant is slated to host job fair sessions from Jan. 6-18 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., the press release said.
More from the press release:
North Italia’s menu is centered around made-from-scratch Italian favorites for lunch, dinner, weekday happy hour and weekend brunch, along with rotating daily specials.
Made with the freshest ingredients, menu highlights include: White Truffle Garlic Bread with house made ricotta, mozzarella, grana Padano and fresh herbs; Tuscan Kale Salad with crispy pancetta, charred grape, apple, pistachio, breadcrumbs and parmesan vinaigrette; house-specialty Bolognese served atop a bed of fresh tagliatelle noodles sprinkled with grana Padano; a selection of Italian desserts such as the signature Bombolini; and a kids menu offering a variety of child-friendly options.
Back in November, a sign said Fish Taco planned to open in December too.
An employee at Fish Taco said that the Maryland-based eatery has pushed its anticipated opening to early January.
