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 neighborhoods are between Tysons and City of Falls Church?

Answer: The neighborhood of Idylwood is located in Falls Church. It originally developed as a suburban community along the route of the W&OD Railroad, and later along Virginia State Route 7. It is bordered to the east by the city of Falls Church, to the north by Pimmit Hills and Tysons, to the west by Dunn Loring, and to the southwest by Merrifield.

Here are the top reasons that make Idylwood an awesome neighborhood:

Great Location

It’s located within 3 miles, of West Falls Church station on the Orange Line, and Greensboro station on the Silver Line. It’s easy access to I-66, 495, Dulles Access Toll Road, and just minutes from Tysons — only 12 miles from D.C.

For joggers and bikers, there’s easy access to the W&OD Trail, going all the way from Shirlington to Purcellville.

Things To Do

It’s located just a couple of miles from all the fun, shopping and entertainment in Tysons and City of Falls Church. Idylwood Park (7715 Virginia Lane) offers baseball fields, tennis courts, a playground and a large soccer field. What I enjoy most about this park is that it is literally walking distance to the W&OD trail.

Jefferson District Park offers a Mini-Golf course, lighted tennis and basketball courts, picnic facilities, a children’s playground and nine-hole executive golf course.

There’s also a range of ethnic restaurants. Taco Bamba is one of my all-time favorites. They have amazing tacos and the best Mexican street corn. Crisp & Juicy for Peruvian Chicken (expert here!); Victor Grill, super casual and delicious Argentinian steakhouse (they have the best deals on wine, especially Malbec); and 2941 Restaurant if you want to celebrate a special occasion or try fancy French-American food.

Idylwood Plaza has everything you need! From Whole Foods, to Starbucks, to My Eye Dr. Just give yourself time to find parking as the shopping center is very busy.

You’re also close to all the fun in Mosaic District!

Many Housing Options

There are different options from detached homes, townhomes and condos. In Idlywood, there are currently 26 properties for sale, ranging from a one bedroom condo for $199,999, to a $1.699M 5 bedroom home built in 2015, located by West Falls Church Metro. You can see all active listings here.

Seventeen properties are currently under contract, ranging from a 2 bedroom condo at $240,000 to a custom built 5 bedroom Craftsman house at $1.649 million.

In the past 6 months, 73 condos were sold for a median price of $265,000, 35 townhouses were sold for a median price of $592,5000, and 51 single family homes sold for a median price of $775,000.

Great Quality of Life.

Falls Church Ranked as No. 1 Healthiest Community in U.S. in 2018. Need to say more?

Changes on the Horizon

While the area has a timeless quality to it, things will change a bit in the next few years. Founder’s Row is a mixed use project located at the corner of W. Broad and N. West Streets and it will include a 6-8 screen dine-in movie theater with 850 seats, 5,000 square feet of office and 60,000 square feet of retail-restaurant space and 72 senior and 322 market rate apartments. Also, new developments in Tysons and Mosaic District are in progress. I’ll keep you posted!

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.

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.

A nail salon is set to open in The Boro around early November.

Tysons Nail Lounge (1640 Boro Place, Suite 205) will be located near Whole Foods and offer customers waxing services and nail treatments. The location is expected to open next Friday, Nov. 1, according to Kieu Nguyen, a co-owner of the business.

“Our philosophy focuses on healing, wellness and relaxation with an emphasis on natural ingredients. All of our treatments are quality spa experiences,” Nguyen said.

The location will use products that are free of formaldehyde, DBP and toluene, according to Nguyen.

“Our salon is extremely focused on strict hygiene standards,” Nguyen said.

Tysons Nail Lounge will operate Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Image via Facebook

EcoPlay, a new children’s playspace, is now open along Leesburg Pike in Tysons.

The children’s center held grand opening events over the weekend (Oct. 19-20). The indoor play area replaced the Performance Bicycle Shop’s space in Pike 7 Plaza.

EcoPlay originally planned to open in the summer, but experienced “minor construction delays,” according to a Facebook post.

According to the company’s Facebook:

EcoPlay provides children with an environment that sparks creativity and promotes learning through play. When designing the play space, we researched (and researched) to ensure that every toy, every surface and play area is non-toxic, BPA and PVC free, and made of plant-based materials.

Open playtime supervised by a parent or other responsible adult costs $20 per child, while supervised playtime with a drop-off option is $30.

Parents can also book the facility for private or semi-private party spaces for up to 25 children.

Photo via EcoPlay/Facebook

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (Oct. 22)

• Beer School 101 — 6 to 8 p.m. at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (7861 Tysons Corner Center) — Gordon Biersch’s head brewer is hosting an event to teach attendees how to start the beer-making process. Light appetizers are included with the $10 admission price. Tickets are $10 and can be found online.

Wednesday (Oct. 23)

• Startup Social — 6 to 9 p.m. at Office Evolution (8609 Westwood Center Drive, Suite 110) — Aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome to come and learn more about how to start a business from a panel of business founders. Attendees should register online beforehand.

Thursday (Oct. 24)

• Lauren Liess Book Signing — 7-9 p.m. at Ballard Designs (8084 Tysons Corner Center) — The HGTV host of “Best House on the Block” will be at the mall signing her new book and talking about her inspiration. This event is free and there will be light appetizers and drinks.
• Falls Church City Council Election Debate — 7 p.m. at Falls Church American Legion Hall, Post 130 (400 N. Oak Street) — In this debate, the candidates for the upcoming Falls Church City Council will face-off and discuss topics surrounding the community. This event is free and open to the public.
• Kirby Road Community Meeting — 7 p.m. at Chesterbrook Elementary School (1753 Kirby Road) — This meeting will discuss the flood damage in the area and cover what is being done to fix it. This event is free and open to the public. 

Saturday (Oct. 26)

• Code and Coffee Meetup — 9 a.m. until 13:30 p.m. at NuAxis Innovations (8605 Westwood Center Drive) —  This monthly event will provide people a chance to enjoy snacks, coffee, free wifi and the company of other coders. It is free, but participants are encouraged to RSVP.
• Wellness Fair — 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Church of the Holy Comforter (543 Beulah Road NE) — This event is open to everyone and will give people the chance to enjoy keynote speakers, try yoga, hang out with therapy dogs, have lunch and play in a bounce house. Tickets are $12 per adult, $5 for kids or $25 for the whole family and can be purchased online.
• Pup-Tober Fest — 5-7:30 p.m. at Dogtopia (1524 Spring Hill Road) — This event invites pet owners to gather for an evening of deals, food, a raffle and treats. This event is free and open to the public.

Sunday (Oct. 27)

• Spooky Yoga — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) — This seasonal event invites all ages to try out a yoga class. Tickets are $25. Attendees must bring their own mat and costumes are welcome.

Ready for spooky season? Tysons Reporter also rounded up Halloween events.

Image via Facebook/Dogtopia

Swinks Mill Road Reopens in McLean — Severely damaged by flooding in July, the road at Scotts Run reopened Friday (Oct. 18). [VDOT/Twitter]

McLean Resident Retires From NVTC — “Northern Virginia Technology Council’s (NVTC) president and CEO Bobbie Kilberg is set to retire on June 30 after 22 years leading the organization.” [Technical.ly]

Pedestrian Killed Along Route 50 in Falls Church — “A police cruiser struck and killed a man who was crossing an intersection in West Falls Church, Virginia, early Sunday morning, police say.” [NBC4]

Home Catches Fire in Dunn Loring — Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 8100 block of Timber Valley Court in Dunn Loring area on Saturday. The fire is now out. “No reported injuries at this time.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

How Walkable is Tysons? — Find out what it’s like to stroll around Tysons with a walkability researcher, who measured the noise levels and air quality. [Greater Greater Washington]

New Leader at McLean Private School — “BASIS Independent McLean, a preK to grade 12 private school in McLean, Va., recently named Paul Geise as its head of school. As a veteran educator with more than 40 years of experience, Geise excels in leadership of schools in the United States and United Kingdom, specializing in strategic plans and fostering student and community development in schools.” [Patch]

Marshall HS Students Visit Capital One HQ — “Members of Marshall High’s Latinos United Club took a field trip to Capital One’s headquarters in McLean to meet with their mentors. Students learned about the vast career opportunities in technology at Capital One and participated in various activities with the mentors including job shadowing, panel discussions, and a tour.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]

USA Today May Phase Out Print Edition — “After a nearly 40-year run, USA Today and its digital sites are about to undergo a major restructuring that will include building up digital marketing while phasing out the print edition.” [Poynter]

Falls Church Receives High Bond Ratings — “For the second consecutive year, the city has earned the highest credit rating from all three major bond rating agencies.” [City of Falls Church]

Falls Church Polling Place Moved — “Due to delays in a renovation of the Falls Green apartments (formerly Oakwood), the City of Falls Church’s Ward 2 polling place has to be moved for the upcoming Nov. 5 election.” [Falls Church News-Press]

New Natural Health Center in Vienna — “The Health Improvement Center, a natural health care center, has moved to a new location in Vienna. The move to a larger space happened in August, while a ribbon-cutting is set for Nov. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The new location is 407 Church Street NE Suite C.” [Patch]

Tysons may not have the liveliest nightlife at the moment, but that could soon change as more late-night restaurants and places to hang out open. “Tysons After Dark” will highlight a different spot every week.

Now that the Washington Nationals won the National League Championship Series, the D.C. baseball team heads to the World Series next week.

The Nats will face the winner of the American League Championship Series — between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees — in their first World Series since 1933.

Tysons Reporter found some places around the Tysons area offering specials for the World Series Games.

Taco Bamba spots in Falls Church (2190 Pimmit Drive) and Vienna (164 W. Maple Avenue) will feature the “Baby Shark Taco” for $4.50, according to a press release. The taco will include Venezuelan spiced fish “cazón” style with guacamole, green goddess-dressed cilantro and cabbage.

Meanwhile, pizza chain Matchbox will give diners wearing Nats gear on game days food and drinks at happy hour prices. Matchbox has a local spot in the Mosaic District at 2911 District Avenue, Suite 120.

As for watch parties, people can head to The Plaza outside Tysons Corner Center to view the first game of the World Series on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) plans to have watch parties for all of the World Series Games with the Nats.

Here are some watering holes in Tysons where locals can bring their Natitude to watch the games:

• City Works Eatery and Pour House (1640 Capital One Drive North): The self-described “beer geek” restaurant has 24 flat-screen TVs and 90 craft beers on tap.
• Greenhouse Bistro and Tea Lounge (2070 Chain Bridge Road): The restaurant has three unique spaces, including a sports bars.
• XTreme Wings and Sports Bar (8119 Watson Street): The bar serves up wings and pastas for diners to enjoy with the games.
• Tysons Social Tavern (1960 Chain Bridge Road): The sports bar with patio is located in the DoubleTree Tysons.
• BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse (8027 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100): The restaurant will have its regular happy hour specials during the games next week.
• Gordon Biersch (7861 Tysons Corner Center): Located in Tysons Corner Center, the restaurant has seven plasma televisions.

Photo via Taco Bamba/Facebook

The birthplace of “Tysons Corner” may soon become the site of new development.

The site at the corner of Route 7 and Route 123 is known by locals as the place where Tysons originated with a tiny country store, according to the Tysons Partnership.

But after almost 100 years in the family, the site is now available to rent out to developers as a ground lease, Janet Caldwell, a relative, told Tysons Reporter.

The family decided to work with real estate firm Cushman and Wakefield to help them find a tenant for the 7 acres of land. The ground lease would allow developers to build on the property while paying rent to the original owners.

“You don’t find parcels of this size in an urban environment,” Paul Collins, the vice-chairman of Cushman and Wakefield, told Tysons Reporter, adding that this is a rare opportunity in the area considering the land’s visibility and close proximity to the Greensboro Metro station.

Less than 2% of development deals are made up of ground leases, Collins said.

He was not sure how much the land would rent for or how long the lease would be. He also couldn’t reveal the identity of the several parties interested in developing the land, but he did say “large international developments tend to be interested in this type of property.”

Once developed, Collins said he imagines the property will become a mix-used development with housing and retail similar to The Boro development nearby.

Photo via Tysons Partnership 

A new international clothing store is now open in Tysons Galleria.

Ba&sh opened its first store in Virginia on Sept. 26, according to a store spokesperson.

Shoppers can now check out the designer clothing and accessories for women and men on level one by Saks Fifth Avenue.

“Ba&sh is a French fashion brand founded by best friends Barbara and Sharon who wanted to bring to life their dream wardrobe for all occasions,” according to the Tysons Galleria.

The store is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Photo via Ba&sh/Facebook 

As coworking becomes the “new normal,” several options have popped up in Tysons for people who want to work in shared office space.

Coworking lets different companies — large and small — rent out portions of a single office space or even allow people to have virtual offices where they can use services at a certain location without owning or leasing traditional office space.

Here’s an updated list of coworking spaces available in Tysons’ neighborhoods.

Tysons Central 123

• WeWork (1775 Tysons Blvd)
• Carr Workplaces (1750 Tysons Blvd, Suite 1500)
• Regus (8000 Towers Crescent Drive, 13th floor)

Old Courthouse 

• Regus (8300 Boone Blvd, Suite 500)
• Intelligent Office (1934 Old Gallows Road, Suite 350)

Tysons Central 7

• MakeOffices (1751 Pinnacle Drive, 6th floor)
• Chisel (1751 Pinnacle Drive, 10th floor)
• Metro Offices (1765 Greensboro Station)
• Industrious (1660 International Drive)
• Spaces (1640 Boro Place — opening on Nov. 11)

Tysons West

• Office Evolution (8609 Westwood Center Drive, Suite 110)
• Source Office Suites (1420 Spring Hill Road, Suite 600)

Play, Work or Dash, a coworking space that offered childcare, closed last November at 8214 Old Courthouse Road, according to a Facebook post.

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) Work may start on a new underground power line running through Tysons before the end of the year.

The existing load on power lines from the Tysons and McLean areas is expected to exceed 300 megawatts by 2022, according to Dominion Energy. The new power line will keep Dominion under the limits.

To make sure there’s enough power, Dominion is building an additional power source to avoid violating mandatory standards.

At a meeting last night (Tuesday) at Kilmer Middle School, Dominion officials said that construction is set to kick off in November or December — depending on the weather and when permits get approved — for the Idylwood-Tysons 230 kilovolt (kV) Project.

The project will add a new 4-mile-long transmission line underground, running under the W&OD Trail by I-66 and I-495 before heading up Gallows Road to International Drive in Tysons .

Commuters and pedestrians can expect lane closures along Gallows Road and International Drive in Tysons when construction starts.

Specific dates for the construction schedule and closures have not been determined yet, an engineer for the project told Tysons Reporter. People can expect an interactive online map, which will show what’s been completed and what’s under construction.

“People who live and work in the area will most likely be impacted by the construction,” Peggy Fox, a Dominion spokesperson, said. “We do not expect to interrupt service to our electric customers.”

Currently, the bidding process is underway for the project’s contractor. The final cost will be determined once the contractor is selected — the estimated cost right now is roughly $120 million.

The State Corporation Commission approved the project last fall.

The project is expected to be completed by late 2022, with rehabilitation work going into 2023.