Tysons is larger than many people realize.

The triangular area under Fairfax County’s Tysons Comprehensive Plan extends from Magarity Road in the east to Raglan Road Park in the west, with its southern tip just north of Marshall High School. That’s about 3.3 square miles or 2,100 acres — larger than the area between the Lincoln Memorial, Union Station, and the Wharf in D.C.

It’s difficult to even talk about such a large area, much less plan for it, as a single entity. D.C. has its famous quadrant system, Paris has its twenty arrondissements, and Tysons has eight districts.

Fairfax’s award-winning 2010 comprehensive plan for Tysons is clear that “the transformed Tysons will be organized around eight districts, each with a mix of land uses.” That is to say, these aren’t zones that each exclusively focus on one activity — rather, each district will include residences, workplaces, shopping, recreation, and civic centers. Ultimately, the vision is for eight neighborhoods, each one supplying everything needed for daily life.

The planning for these districts also envisions specialities for each one, emphasizing different ways they can contribute to Tysons’ urban mix. No neighborhood will be a single-use zone, but they will nonetheless have certain specialties.

Visually, the districts are simultaneously continuous and distinct. Although there are clear boundaries on a map, those boundaries won’t be apparent in reality.

“Each district will be connected to the others,” the plan says. “Boundaries between the districts will be blurred as people move seamlessly from one place to the next.”

These eight districts have their own identities. The comprehensive plan “encourage[s] design elements that highlight the distinct character of each district,” largely through parks, plazas, and other public spaces but also through streetscape design, architecture, and land uses. In the same way that Capitol Hill and the Washington Navy Yard feel clearly different, planners hope that each neighborhood of Tysons will be unique.

It’s worth noting that, although Fairfax has provided provisional names to the neighborhoods, they’re not always the most user-friendly — and the county “may consider modifying the district names” as identity formation progresses.

In a series of upcoming articles, linked as they become available, we’ll examine each of the districts in detail. For now, we’ll leave you with a quick overview.

Transit-Oriented Districts

The first four of the districts each correspond to a station on the Silver Line. These districts, combined, are expected to account for 75 percent of future development and “will resemble intense and busy downtowns.”

• Tysons West and the Spring Hill Metro station will welcome those arriving from Reston and beyond. It is “an optimal location for an arts and entertainment district, including restaurants and entertainment options that stay open after the workday ends.”
• Tysons Central 7 and the Greensboro Metro are envisioned as business-focused, with a high concentration of office space, but also “a civic center with a mix of public, residential and commercial uses.”
• Tysons Central 123, with two malls and the Tysons Corner station, is and will remain “the region’s signature shopping destination.”
• Tysons East and the McLean Metro station will be the eastern gateway of Tysons, defined by Scott’s Run, which is “envisioned to transform into a great urban park surrounded by mixed use development.”

Non-Transit-Oriented Districts

The four remaining districts are farther from Metro stations and are envisioned as transition zones leading into the nearby neighborhoods. They contain some “areas that should maintain their existing characters, uses, and intensities.” However, just because they’ll be less dense than the preceding four doesn’t mean they won’t be urban — most of these areas are already as dense as much of D.C. and most lie within a 10-15 minute walk of Metro.

• The West Side will continue to be a primarily residential neighborhood, with natural amenities and close proximity to the Metro corridor.
• Old Courthouse, in the southwestern part of Tysons, is expected to develop a wider range of neighborhood-serving retail and restaurant options while it functions as a transition zone between the core of Tysons Central 123 and the surrounding residential areas.
• North Central, sandwiched between the Dulles Airport Access Road and the center of Tysons, is expected to see the continuing development of urban neighborhoods like The Mile.
• The East Side, with investments in connectivity like a pedestrian bridge over the Beltway, will form a primarily residential community smoothly connecting Tysons to Pimmit Hills. These residences will be supported by local retail and live-work opportunities.

The Fairfax Library Foundation is hosting a 25th Anniversary Jubilee look at the foundation’s past they hope will help fund its future.

The foundation is scheduled for Saturday, April 6 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike).

The event will include cocktails, a silent auction, and a “wall of donuts.” Attendees will have a chance to network with foundation staff and its Board of Directors.

“All net proceeds benefit the Fairfax County Public Library,” the foundation says.

Tickets are $45 per person or $80 for a pair of tickets. A local librarian’s ticket can also be sponsored for $40.

“Libraries are a great equalizer,” Lisa Bryant, executive director of the Fairfax Library Foundation, said in a promotional video. “Individuals can come and expand their mind on any level of things. It’s important that as a foundation we are driving the funds that continue to move the innovation and the library forward so the next generations can continue to enjoy all that we have to offer.”

Photo via Facebook

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of the most 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 (March 26)

• Dining for Dollars at Chipotle — 5-9 p.m. at Chipotle Mexican Grill in Vienna (213 Maple Ave E) — Dining at Chipotle tomorrow can help raise money for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. Showing the cashier a flyer for the event — or just mentioning the fundraiser — will send 33 percent of the meal’s proceeds to the department.

Thursday (March 28)

• Black Politics: Beyond Northam — 7-9 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Vienna (450 Orchard Street) — The Fairfax County NAACP is hosting a meeting to discuss the state of the Democratic Party and how it handled the concerns of the African American community in Virginia in the wake of Ralph Northam’s blackface scandal. Tickets are free but RSVP is required.

Friday (March 29)

• LUSH Cosmetics 30-Year Birthday — 10 a.m. at LUSH Cosmetics in Tysons Corner Center — To celebrate the company’s 30th birthday, the Tysons location is hosting a weekend of activities starting with a raffle and bath-bomb giveaway on Friday.
• MAC Community Workshops — 6 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St) — The Town of Vienna is offering the public two opportunities this weekend to get a hands-on feel for the changes to the town’s controversial Maple Avenue Commercial zoning. The first workshop will be on Friday, with a second workshop on Saturday (March 30) at 11 a.m.

Saturday (March 30)

• DC Bulldog Playdate — 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Vienna Dog Park (700 Courthouse Road) — A regional bulldog meetup will be held in Vienna this weekend, giving dogs and humans a chance to play and mingle. The event listing notes that the bulldogs typically tire after 45 minutes, so those looking for the “full bulldog experience” should arrive right around 11 a.m. The meetup is free but RSVP is requested.
• Rise Against Hunger Food Packing — 1-3 p.m. at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church (1301 Trap Road) — The Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church in Vienna is hosting a meal packing event to put together nutritious meals for school feeding programs and crisis relief. The packaged meals transport quickly and has a shelf-life of two years.

Sunday (March 31)

• Tysons Galleria Fur Protest — 12 p.m. at Tysons Galleria (2001 International Drive) — A local group called the Help Our Animals and Planet Foundation is hosting a protest outside Tysons Galleria to advocate for banning the sale of fur in Fairfax County.
• Discussion with Local Thriller Writers — 2-3 p.m. at Bards Alley (110 Church Street SW) — Alma Katsu, author of The Hunter, and Greer Macallister, author of Woman 99, will be in Vienna’s Bards Alley bookstore this Sunday for a discussion and Q&A about their books, followed by signings by the authors. The event is free to attend, but RSVP is requested.
• Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” — 2-4:30 p.m. at the Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Ave.) — The Alden Theatre in McLean will host a performance of Shakespearian tragicomedy The Winter’s Tale by the American Shakespeare Center. Tickets are $110 or $80 for McLean residents.

Photo via Facebook

If last week’s surprise rainstorm was any indication, the Tysons area is in for a wet spring and some extensive flooding.

Last year was the rainiest on record for the region, which has not only taken a toll on local roads but also hit the area with flooding that has frequently closed streets.

A map put together by the Federal Emergency Management Agency showed the regional flood hazard areas, which unsurprisingly mostly follow local creeks.

Most of the flood hazards around Tysons itself are on the periphery. Old Courthouse Spring Branch just west of the Spring Hill Metro station is vulnerable to flooding, as is Scott’s Run, which runs through Tysons East.

In Vienna, the main flooding hazard is Wolftrap Creek, which runs along the Tysons-Vienna border. There are several low roads through the area, like Old Courthouse Road, which are subject to being washed out during flooding. The area north of Vienna along Piney Branch is also susceptible to flooding.

A 2016 study found that the sewer system along Maple Avenue in Vienna would be unable to handle significant rainfall, but sewer renovations remain unfunded.

In McLean, Dead Run Stream and Pimmit Run are both flood hazard areas, though Dead Run Stream has recently completed a series of revitalization projects whose aim was partially reducing the amount of flooding in the park.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

There are so many good restaurants in and around Tysons, but not all of them are known for their obnoxious birthday celebrations, especially for kids.

Where can you take your family to celebrate a birthday where they’ll totally embarrass you, your kids, but give everyone a good laugh? Here’s a list of places to go if you’re celebrating a big day!

Most are chains, so if you know of a hidden gem that should be mentioned, please mention it in the comments below.

Sakura: Hibachi — Always fun!

Maggiano’s — Candle in any dessert you order.

Chuy’s — They give you a huge sombrero and sing, along with ice cream.

Uncle Julio’s — Chocolate Pinata!

Guapo’s — The waiters sing loudly with instruments and give the kids a large sombrero.

Cyclebar, a premium indoor cycling studio, is planning to come to Tysons Galleria later this year as part of a series of transformations for the north end of the mall.

Macy’s, one of the mall’s anchor tenants, is mid-closure and Tysons Galleria is already in plans to replace the store with a selection of smaller venues like an Apple Store and iPic theater.

Don Brazelton, the owner of the Tysons franchise location, said the location is part of a stretch of wellness-oriented outlets planned inside the former Legal Sea Foods that closed in September. Brazelton said other fitness locations, like a yoga studio, could join the cycling studio.

“We’ve been trying to get one in the Tysons area for a while,” Brazelton said. “We were talking to the Boro and a couple of other places, but the economics given to us at the Galleria made it impossible to turn down. When you take into consideration some of the short term and long term plans — that mall is going to be entirely different. It’s going to have a different energy. We wanted to be a part of that, and they wanted us to be a part of that.”

The chain already has locations in Falls Church and on Arlington’s Columbia Pike. Brazelton said the “premium aspect” of Cyclebar fits well with the Galleria, which is noted for its higher-end, luxury retailers.

Among the amenities, Brazelton noted that the location will have heated tile floors and top-rated cycles.

Despite this, Brazelton said he’s committed to keeping the studio affordable.

“Typically, prices at cycling studios range from $110-130 per month depending on who it is,” Brazelton said. “I’m going to let people in my studio for $89 a month for unlimited rides.”

It’s hard to say where this fits in with other cycling studio subscriptions, as prices at cycling studios can vary significantly.

Brazelton said the Tysons location is targeting an August 2019 opening.

Photo courtesy Don Brazelton

The acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil is scheduled to return to Tysons with the show “Volta” — an extreme sports-themed program with bicycle, unicycle, and rope skipping tricks.

The circus is planned to open up inside a “big top” pavilion near the Tysons Galleria mall, the same location the troupe used when they visited Tysons last year.

The show is scheduled to run from July 26 through Sept. 8. Tickets range from $49 on the far exterior of the semi-circular arena to $250 “VIP” tickets close to the stage. Behind-the-scenes tickets with backstage tours are available for $495.

Prices on the tickets are subject to change as the event draws closer.

The circular arena is designed to visible from every angle for the audience. The ticketing information warns that poles holding up the tent could block some portions of the stage, but the main action will be visible from all seats.

Merchandise, like souvenir programs, apparel and accessories will also be available for purchase at the show.

The show’s description includes a warning that the flashing lights may cause difficulties for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Photo via Facebook

Metro has an ongoing project to provide mobile phone and data service inside its train tunnels, but you wouldn’t know it in the tunnel between Tysons Corner Center Metro station and the Greensboro Metro station.

Tysons Reporter tested cell service multiple times in the tunnel and every time, service was lost. For transit riders, it can be a frustrating coverage gap on the mostly above-ground Silver Line through Tysons.

“This is not good for those on business and personal calls traveling around and through the Tysons area using the Metrorail,” one anonymous tipster wrote to Tysons Reporter. “If fixed, you could have 25 minutes of seamless cell coverage from Wiehle-Reston almost to Ballston.”

The call drops remain more than ten years after Metro signed a contract for cell carriers to wire tunnels to provide continuing coverage. A series of problems delayed the implementation of the plan, however.

The tunnel frustrations haven’t been enough yet to deter local ridership; Tysons stations have had increasing ridership despite declines in other parts of the region.

There is cell coverage elsewhere on the Silver Line, with connectivity available between the Potomac Avenue and Stadium Armory Metro stations, for instance. Additional cell coverage is planned for several stretches of tunnels on the Red, Green and Yellow lines, with the current goal being wireless coverage system-wide by 2021.

But given the plan’s history of delays, riders might be better off just waiting until they’re on the other side of the tunnel to make that phone call.

Fairfax County Police say investigating a trail of broken eggs and gunshots yesterday (Thursday) led to a combative encounter on the 2000 block of George Washington Road.

Officers responded to a report from a homeowner whose entertainment center was damaged when a bullet came in through the window, according to a police report.

While investigating the gunshot, an unusual set of circumstances led police to a combative suspect.

According to the police report:

As officers were checking the area, they saw broken eggs on the outside wall of a nearby home. Officers spoke with a man inside that home, Varun Srivastav, 21, of Fairfax. Officers learned there was a handgun inside in Srivastav’s home.  This agitated Srivastav who became combative and hit two officers. Srivastav was arrested but continued to assault officers while being escorted to the cruiser. Once he arrived at the Adult Detention Center, Srivastav assaulted two deputies.

Police say Srivastav was charged with four counts of assault on law enforcement and resisting arrest, with additional charges possible pending investigation.

Photo via FCPD

Sanrio fans rejoice, a truck loaded with Hello Kitty merchandise is scheduled to stop by the Tysons Corner Center mall tomorrow (Saturday).

The truck is scheduled to stop in the mall’s plaza between 10 a.m.-8 p.m. to offer “supercute treats and merch” while supplies last.

The Hello Kitty truck started in 2014 at the Hello Kitty Convention. Since then, two Hello Kitty trucks have roamed the streets and byways of the United States, offering everything from Hello Kitty macarons to chubby bunny bows.

The Hello Kitty website advises visitors to arrive earlier rather than later.

“Items on the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck are also limited as it can only hold so many wonderful items at a time,” according to Sanrio, the brand of Japanese characters that includes Hello Kitty. “Please consider visiting earlier in the day to ensure that you’ll find what you’re looking for!”

Hat tip to Turquoise Jackson. Photo via Sanrio.