Pride Month starts today (June 1), and opportunities to celebrate in Fairfax County extend through the month.
This Saturday (June 3) features events in the Mosaic District, Reston and the City of Fairfax. Closer to the end of the month, folk-rock musician Brandi Carlile will headline the Out & About Festival at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
Pride Month marks the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and has become an occasion to celebrate LGBTQ individuals and communities.
Below are more details about Pride Month celebrations across the county this June:
Mosaic Pride Festival
Saturday, June 3
2-8:30 p.m.
District AvenueA parade begins at 2 p.m. in front of One Medical (2987 District Ave.) and will proceed down District Avenue to the main stage. Performances will feature drag queens, dance, and live music by George Mason University’s Green Machine band and more.
Reston Pride
Saturday, June 3
12-6 p.m.
Lake Anne PlazaIndie pop trio BETTY will headline the Reston Pride Festival at Lake Anne Plaza (1609-A Washington Plaza). The event will also feature comedian Chelsea Shorte and local businesses including Elden Street Tea Shop and Scrawl Books.
Fairfax Pride
Saturday, June 3
5-10 p.m.
Old Town HallThe City of Fairfax and George Mason University are hosting the first Fairfax Pride at Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive). The evening will begin with face painting, crafts and other activities. Later, there will be drag queen performances and a dance party.
Drag Bingo
Tuesday, June 6
6 p.m.
Starr Hill Biergarten at Capital One CenterDrag queens Crimsyn and Logan Stone will host a drag bingo night at Starr Hill Biergarten at Capital One Center (1805 Capital One Drive South, Suite 1100). There will also be music and drinks. An encore is scheduled for Sept. 12.
Pride Flow and Celebration
Sunday, June 11
10-11:30 a.m.
Lakeside ParkCelebrate pride with a colorful outdoor yoga class at Lakeside Park (5216 Pommeroy Drive). Attendees should bring their own yoga mats and water and plan to wear bright colors.
The Out & About Festival
Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25
Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods performances at 10:30 a.m.; festival starts at 4 p.m.
Wolf Trap National ParkBrandi Carlile, Yola, Rufus Wainwright and other artists will gather at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Road) in the last weekend in June for a three-stage festival. The festival features LGBTQ+ artists and allies.
Pride Month Poetry Reading
Saturday, June 24
3-4 p.m.
Ellanor C. Lawrence ParkPoets Sunu Chandy, Kim Roberts, Holly Mason Badra, and Malik Thompson will convene at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly (5040 Walney Road) for a reading. “This reading lifts up a variety of voices and experiences to honor the rich legacy and contributions of poets and poetry in the queer community,” according to the event description from Arts Fairfax.
Fairfax County Public Library is also hosting events throughout the month, including a “crafternoon” on Sunday (June 4) and a screening of the 2018 film “Rafiki” on June 7.
Photo via Mosaic District/Twitter
The opening timeframe for Reston Town Center’s new theater has been pushed again.
LOOK Dine-In Cinemas is now expected to open by the third quarter of 2023, which would be this fall, a company spokesperson told FFXnow. The opening estimate was first pushed in late 2022 and then delayed to sometime in the first half of this year.
A spokesperson for the company said that once a date is available, it will be shared on the cinema’s website.
In a statement to FFXnow, the spokesperson said it was not clear why the date changed, adding that sometimes things get pushed or delayed.
This is the first location in the D.C. area for the company, which is renovating the Reston theater. Other features of the “luxury” brand include a food, beverage and cocktail menu, according to the company’s website.
LOOK replaces BowTie Cinemas, which closed in May 2022 after more than a decade at 11940 Market Street.
A spokesperson for Reston Town Center said that there was no information to share on any openings in the town center, including CitySwing and the Peruvian restaurant Pisco Y Nazca.
Second Arrest Made in Idylwood Double Homicide — An 18-year-old from Falls Church was charged on Tuesday (May 30) with robbery resulting in death in connection with Monday’s fatal shooting and stabbing at the Tysons View Apartments. Police announced earlier that a 17-year-old had been charged in the incident, which left two people dead and two injured. [FCPD]
N. Va. Dems Criticize National Guard Deployment — “Local Democrats slammed Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to deploy Virginia National Guard service men and women to Texas to ‘secure’ the southern U.S. border with Mexico.” Democrats, including Fairfax County senator Scott Surovell, blasted Youngkin for “using service men and women for political gain” as speculation swirls that he plans to run for president. [Inside NoVA]
Man Hospitalized in Annandale Nightclub Shooting — “A man was shot at the Diamond Lounge, a nightclub in Annandale, at 2 a.m. [Wednesday], the Fairfax County Police Department reports…The Diamond Lounge, at 7203 Little River Turnpike, has been the scene of several violent incidents. In 2020, a man was fatally shot in the Diamond Lounge parking lot.” [Annandale Today]
FCPS Revises Messaging for College Help Program — Fairfax County Public Schools has taken out mentions of race and ethnicity from an email and website seeking applications to a College Partnership Program, which assists students who face barriers to higher education. The Virginia Attorney General’s office told FCPS on March 9 that the original message violated the Virginia Human Rights Act. [WTOP]
Amtrak Works to Address Traffic From Train Backups — Amtrak has added a message board and revised its queuing procedures at the Lorton Auto Train Station (8006 Lorton Road) after community members raised concerns about traffic spillover from vehicles being loading onto trains. For a permanent solution, the South County Federation has proposed that more land for an outbound vehicle queue is needed. [On the MoVe]
Snake Rescued After Wandering into Springfield Home — “Sneaky snake! [On Monday], Animal Protection Police Officer Paisley rescued a copperhead snake after it slithered into a home in Springfield and got stuck in a glue trap. Officers worked carefully to free the snake and send it on its way!” [FCPD/Facebook]
GMU to Compete for College World Series — “For the eighth time in school history, the George Mason Patriots will send a baseball team to the NCAA Division I Regionals. The school has not advanced to that level of play since 2014, but now GMU will be one of 64 teams vying for a chance to compete in the College World Series.” [WUSA9]
County Marks National Pollinator Month — “June is National Pollinator Month and the Fairfax County Park Authority is encouraging residents to celebrate and raise awareness about the significant impacts that bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and even bats have on our surroundings and what we can do to protect them.” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind around 7 mph. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. [Weather.gov]
After a recent study showed an uptick in homelessness, Fairfax County staff say that data connects pretty cleanly to a matching rise in evictions over the last year.
The county saw a 10% increase — 119 people — in people experiencing homelessness for an estimated total of 1,310 people.
“In many ways the connection between housing and homelessness are logical, as homelessness is essentially defined as not having housing,” said Tom Barnett, deputy director of the county’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. “Much of the work of a homeless system is helping people in housing crisis find and secure new housing opportunities that match their means and unique needs.”
Barnett said the increase in evictions, in turn, came at the same time as the end of federal and state eviction moratoria.
“The latest trends in evictions coincide with the ending of federal and state eviction moratoria and declining federal resources for emergency rental assistance from pandemic-era funding,” Barnett said. “The federal eviction moratorium ended in August 2021 and the Virginia eviction moratorium ended on June 30, 2022.”
According to the county’s eviction dashboard, there were 2,674 formal writs of eviction issued between June 1, 2020 and the end of 2022. Before Virginia’s moratorium ended, there were only two months in that period with 100 or more writs, but those numbers soared to 280 in October, 317 in November and 248 in December.
Barnett noted that some households are “evicted informally” and can’t be tracked.
In 2021, the county established a Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program that assisted households who couldn’t pay rent or utilities during the pandemic, allowing thousands to stay in their homes when they might otherwise have been evicted.
A new program was set up to cover some of those expiring benefits, but Barnett says the $14 million funding that program only accounts for a fraction of the $95 million in federal assistance provided over the last three years.
According to Barnett:
In anticipation of expiring federal benefits, [Health and Human Services] created the ERA Bridge Program in May 2022 and began accepting applications on July 1, 2022. The goal of this program is to keep significant resources in the community while beginning to transition to a new post-COVID operating and funding level still to be determined. The ERA Bridge Program totals approximately $14.0 million and is funded through a combination of federal and County funding. This funding is supplemented by leveraging community-based organization funds (private and federal) in addition to their Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP) funding. This support is facilitated through the County and nonprofit partnership model that existed pre-COVID-19.
It is important to note that pre-pandemic, all rental and transitional housing assistance funded through CCFP totaled approximately $4.0 million. It is understood that post-pandemic funding needs will significantly exceed that amount, and the ERA Bridge Program provides time and space to evaluate future funding level needs.
Barnett said the long-term answers are going to come from investing in housing stability and eviction prevention.
The county has partnered with the Legal Services of Northern Virginia to provide legal aid for residents in the court system and has participated in direct outreach to landlords. The legal services partnership is funded for one year, with staff set to determine whether or not those services are required beyond that.
Within the court system, the county has also worked to streamline the rental assistance process and to proactively identify and assist residents at risk of eviction, Barnett said.
Even so, Fairfax County is experiencing higher demand in shelters for those experiencing homelessness, particularly in shelters designed for families, according to Barnett.
Shelter demand for families with children has surged since late 2021, which has increased the number of families in emergency shelters. As of March 6, 2023, County-contracted family shelter providers were serving 140 households, which is 246 percent of the number of households that they were contracted to serve in shelters. Similar trends are seen in the County’s two domestic violence shelters.
To address increased demand, HHS is currently working with emergency shelter providers to evaluate existing program models to determine if additional investments are needed to support emergency financial and rental assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. HHS is committed to working with its nonprofit partners to ensure that no families with children are unsheltered.
The final pieces of the massive Arrowbrook Centre development near Herndon’s Innovation Center Metro station got the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s unanimous support last week.
The commission recommended on May 24 that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approve changes to the final, nearly 10-acre section of the mixed-use development, which is being built and managed by a Launders Charitable Trust.
Specifically, the proposal swaps a 435-unit residential building called Aura from the eastern corner of the property with an office building directly east to it. Aura will be constructed by Trinsic Residential Group.
The swap pushes a hotel planned at the site further east, leaving space for two office buildings at the corner of the site, according to Tabatha Cole of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development.
The proposal also removes a parking structure in the land bay.
“Arrowbrook is not seeking to increase any density or any of the uses that are approved,” said John McGranahan, a partner with Hunton Andrew Kurth LLP.
But it’ll be a few years before the office and residential units will go online. To maintain the terms of the charitable trust that govern the development, the developer plans interim uses.
Early talks are underway for a potential partnership with the Virginia Tech Foundation and Virginia Cooperative Extension, a venture that focus heavily on sustainable agriculture, culinary arts and urban farming programs.
“That will be the home run,” McGranahan said. “That is what we’re hoping for. That’s what we’re planning for.”
If that plan falls through, the developer plans to install a community garden in addition to other uses like a lighted trail and outdoor plaza.
Jeff Fairfield, the trust’s manager, said the lease could be ready by the first half of next year, with the community garden as a fallback.
“My preference would be community-wide, first come, first serve,” Fairfield said regarding how use of the garden would be determined.
Hunter Mill District Commissioner John Carter clarified that the setback of the building near the Dulles Toll Road will be 71 feet instead of 200 feet — the current requirement in the county’s zoning ordinance. An exemption was supported by county staff.
Several planning commissioners lauded the developer for the quality of services provided. Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina called Arrowbrook Park — a park created by the developer — “stunning.” The developer also built a nearly 1,550 linear feet trail from Centreville Road to the Metro station.
“It’s pretty striking to go to that colosseum of a field out there and to see the high quality that it is,” Cortina said, adding that “you can really see the work that was done on that park.”
But some residents said they were concerned about issues related to traffic from construction and unmet promises of a grocery store and other retail on the site.
So far, the development includes Ovation at Arrowbrook, a 274- unit development for lease for tenants earning between 30 to 60% of the area median income. It includes roughly 36,000 square feet of retail space, 75% of which is leased.
As previously reported, upcoming tenants at the development include South Asian grocery Hello2India, Ornery Beer Company Public House and Paris Baguette. Those tenants are “coming soon,” Fairfield said.
Chef Peter Chang has also leased 3,500 square feet at the development for a Mama Chang restaurant, according to The Burn.
Granahan noted that Pulte — which has built most of the housing on the site — plans to conduct a community meeting once control of the streets flips from the builder to the homeowners’ association.
“The challenge is we’re in that period of developing a master plan community where the control of the streets is with the builder, not necessarily with the homeowners’ association,” he said.
He also said residents should have been aware of the intensity of the proposed development, which has been on the books for years.
Fairfield said Pulte hopes to transition control to the homeowners sometime in June.
The Launders’ trust was created after the death of the last remaining member of the family, which ran a cattle-grazing operation.
With the planning commission’s vote, the application is now scheduled for a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors next Tuesday (June 6).
A fast-casual chicken salad company is planning a move into Fairfax County, but exactly when and where it will stake its claim remains to be seen.
Chicken Salad Chick, which bills itself as the only fast-casual chicken salad concept in the U.S., has signed a development agreement with a local family to open eight new franchises in Fairfax and Arlington counties over the next five years, the business announced yesterday.
The franchises will be owned and operated by Devon Chamberlin — a mental health professional whose experience includes working in Fairfax County Emergency Services — and her father, Patrick Cavanaugh, and father-in-law, Barry Chamberlin.
All of them were born and raised in Northern Virginia, according to Chicken Salad Chick.
“After being a consumer of the brand for over a decade, it is a dream come true to have the opportunity to bring something so beloved to our community,” Devon Chamberlin said. “…People connect through their hearts and their stomachs, and we seek to do just that. I’m beyond grateful to run this operation as a family business and bring Chicken Salad Chick to the community.”
The first of the eight locations is slated to open in Arlington next spring, but an exact Fairfax County location isn’t ready to be announced yet, a Chicken Salad Chick spokesperson told FFXnow.
Founded in Auburn, Alabama in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick was born out of a desire by its founder, Stacy Brown, to craft the perfect chicken salad. It is now headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has more than 200 restaurants in 17 states.
In addition to various chicken salads, whose flavors range from Fruity Fran to spicy Jalapeño Holly, the menu offers sandwiches, salads, and signature soups that change for each day of the week.
Chicken Salad Chick CEO Scott Deviney says the company sees “tremendous growth opportunities” in Virginia, where it has five currently operating locations with another 14 in development. The existing restaurants are in Christiansburg, Hampton, Mechanicsville, Richmond, and Roanoke.
The Southern company’s northward expansion won’t stop with Northern Virginia, according to Deviney.
“As we make our way toward Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, we are gaining brand awareness and fueling our mission to become America’s favorite place for chicken salad,” he said. “That mission is shared by Devon, Patrick, and Barry who bring immense enthusiasm, knowledge, and expertise to our brand. We can’t wait to see the positive impact they’ll have throughout their community.”
Sarah Selvaraj-D’Souza, former president of Reston Association’s Board of Directors, has resigned from her position after more than three years on the board.
In a Facebook post announcing her resignation on Friday (May 26), Selvaraj-D’Souza said her commitments to other projects and her nonprofit advocacy organization Reston Strong motivated her decision to resign.
“My decision to resign from the Board of Directors is not the result of any disagreement with the operations, policies or procedures, but to focus on my family, my advocacy and Restonstrong,” she wrote.
First reported by Patch, the resignation was effective immediately.
Selvaraj-D’Souza also recently accepted a role as the Hunter Mill District representative on the county’s Affordable Housing Advisory Counsel and a board position on the Faith Alliance for Climate Change.
Selvaraj-D’Souza said those positions were in line with her work ons social justice, housing equality and environmental sustainability. She still plans to continue serving on RA’s Environmental Advisory Committee.
More from Selvaraj-D’Souza’s Facebook post:
I have appreciated the opportunity to serve on the board as both a Board Member and Board President, and wish you and RA the best as you continue to move forward. Restonstrong was born as a by-product of my decision to run for the RA board and for that I am eternally grateful. The last 3 plus years have been an exercise in self-discovery – RA propelled me from a happy go lucky small business owner selling frozen custard and ceramics to a community activist championing for our neighbors’ rights.
RA’s board will now select a new board member from a pool of applicants. The individual will serve until the next board election, after which the decision will be left up to the members.
Selvaraj-D’Souza is now the fourth RA board member to step down before the end of their term within the past two years. Three people resigned in 2022, including two members who left shortly after that year’s board election.
The results of this year’s board election, which saw 10 candidates vying for five seats, were announced in April. RA’s board has nine directors, including four at-large members, four who represent a specific district and one representative for apartment owners.
Local Orange Line Stations to Close This Weekend — The Vienna, Dunn Loring and West and East Falls Church Metro stations will be shut down Saturday (June 3) so a 40-year-old steel rail between the Vienna and Ballston stations can be replaced. Free shuttles will be provided throughout the closure, which will last through June 25 for the Falls Church stations and through July 16 for Vienna and Dunn Loring. [WMATA]
Former Fairfax County Resident Launches D.C. Music Venue — “As a teen growing up in Northern Virginia, Dave Grohl remembers attending shows at the old 9:30 Club and finding community. ‘I got to witness hundreds of bands that inspired me to become a musician myself,’ he recalled at the grand opening of the new Atlantis music venue Tuesday morning.” [DCist]
Developer Puts Plans for Huntington Apartments on Hold — Elme Communities has “paused development activities” at Riverside Apartments (5860 Cameron Run Terrace) near the Huntington Metro station. The developer had planned to expand the 28-acre complex with 767 new units, but says it will now wait for construction loans to become less pricey. [Washington Business Journal]
Baking Company Opens Kitchen in Fairfax — Liberty Baking Co. started in owner Allison Friedman’s home in Fairfax City. After moving to Herndon early in the pandemic, the business has returned to Fairfax with a commercial kitchen that opened on May 6. While there will be an occasional pop-up, orders are generally placed online for pickups at the kitchen or deliveries. [Patch]
Bicycle Crashes Increase in Virginia — “So far this year, there have been 160 bicycle-involved crashes on Virginia’s roadways, resulting in the deaths of nine bicyclists and injuries to 156 others, DMV officials said on May 30. This is a 125-percent increase in bicyclist-related fatalities compared to four last year at this time, they said.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Teens Campaign to Protect Maryland Forest — Four members of Girl Scout Troop 153 in Fairfax County are petitioning Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital to sell over 600 acres of forest in East Marlton to a group that would preserve it, instead of to developers. The organization got the land as a donation in 2019 and hopes to sell it to fund outdoor programming, camps and other operations. [The Washington Post]
Grants Available for Local Arts Organizations — “ArtsFairfax announces that one month remains for local arts organizations to apply for Ticket Subsidy Grants. Awarded up to $5,000 each, this grant funds free and reduced-price tickets for performances, workshops, classes, and camps for people who may not have regular opportunities to experience professional arts.” [ArtsFairfax]
Hurricane Season Begins Tomorrow — “Hurricane season officially begins on Thursday, June 1 and ends Nov. 30…Hurricanes can cause damage to property as well as loss of life and limb; it’s important to be prepared with an emergency kit and plan before one potentially strikes this summer.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 6 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
Space-oriented cybersecurity company SpiderOak has expanded its web of operations to Reston Town Center.
The U.S.-owned and operated software company opened its Reston office (11911 Freedom Drive) last month.
CEO Dave Pearah told the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) that the company chose to relocate from Kansas and Chicago to Fairfax County because customers in the space industry were seeking “complementary solutions for space.”
“The fact that we’re now in the space cyber resiliency market is a fun, exciting, and a surprising evolution of the company,” Pearah told the FCEDA. “I think that’s also true for Fairfax County in general terms of space development. It has taken off in the last few years.”
The county is a major hub for the defense and space industry, hosting offices for corporations like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Blue Origin.
Pearah added that the company was also drawn to the area because of the amenities in Reston Town Center.
“We are at this unique intersection of space, cybersecurity, and embedded hardware utilizing distributed ledger technology,” he said. “We need people with that same diverse mix of interests, which Reston delivers.”
The company is affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm.
Photo via Adi Goldstein/Unsplash
The Lake Anne area could pursue two different directions going forward, a consultant says: adhere to its status as Reston’s original village or transform into a destination landmark.
At a May 18 meeting, consultant Street Sense pitched the two visions for the nearly 60-year-old center. A second community workshop is planned in June.
Overall, the consultant suggests additional residential density on the Crescent site, allowing buildings from three to seven stories in height. The residential project should be between Lake Anne’s current density of 35 units per acre and 65 units.
Other changes are also suggested as part of the balancing act of preserving Lake Anne’s status as a local destination while charting its future growth. While an earlier public survey found community support for a grocery store, that’s off the books for Lake Anne’s economic future due to the nature of the center.
Angela McGarvey, managing director of brand at Street Sense, emphasized that multiple stakeholders, property owners, and properties at different stages of deterioration complicate the visioning effort.
“There is a financial imperative to move forward quickly and expediently toward a solution,” McGarvey said.
The first proposal envisions a “curated community with neighborhood draw.” It focuses on introducing new art studio spaces for rent, improving infrastructure, and redesigning the entry of Lake Anne Plaza’s existing surface lot to prioritize aesthetics, efficiency and wayfinding.
New development could feature low-rise apartments and townhomes, along with several accessibility projects like safe crossings from Lake Anne House and the Crescent to the plaza.
McGarvey noted that the plan puts less strain on existing infrastructure, maintains current programmed activities, and resembles the scale of current housing in the center.
But the vision would provide no new revenue sources, do little to change retail demand and revenue, and likely place the cost of infrastructure upkeep on existing residents and merchants. More partnerships with the county and others would be needed to maintain infrastructure, likely requiring changes to the Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association’s condominium agreement and responsibilities.
The second proposal positions Lake Anne as an “iconic destination with regional draw.” The addition of cultural attractions is proposed, along with consistent retail hours and a cohesive merchant’s organization.
The presented vision also includes a parking garage on the west public surface lot and new infrastructure for the farmers’ market.
A mid-rise, mostly multifamily residential development is proposed with a centralized green space and connections to the Crescent site and plaza. Also suggested is a connection of the current trail network to Lake Anne, restoration of the tunnel on the east side of the area, and a safer crossing from Lake Anne House and the Crescent to the plaza.
The second vision would create new revenue streams and potentially make Lake Anne a “year-round destination,” the consultant said. Using a more intense residential product would also free up more land for public amenities and cultural uses.
But the plan would require more upkeep, and new programming and venues could impact the amount of open space and the design of public areas around the commercial center.
Both plans simply state the need for a “solution-oriented approach” to clarify roles and responsibilities related to infrastructure, according to Streetsense. In recent years, infighting and local disputes have plagued the village center.
The consultant emphasized that “any movements forward will include a more targeted discussion with property owners.”
Streetsense conducted a visioning survey in February and March to court public opinions, along with in-person workshops and focus groups. A final report is slated for a June release.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn initiated the study last year to form a consensus around the economic vision for the Lake Anne Community Revitalization Area (LACRA).
Fairfax County is looking into adjusting its signage rules to allow for brighter and bigger electronic signs.
Casey Judge with the county’s Zoning Administration Division presented the proposed changes during a Board of Supervisors land use policy committee meeting on May 16.
The changes include increasing the maximum brightness for nonresidential districts to 300 nits (a unit that measures the brightness a sign is emitting) at sunset. Current regulations require electronic signs to automatically dim to 40-100 nits at sunset.
The changes also includes requiring sign permit applicants to submit sign specifications.
In addition, the three existing application processes that the county currently has for nonresidential areas could be consolidated into one process.
“This does mean that all sign applications would go to the board for approval rather than the current [comprehensive sign plans],” which only need to be approved by the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Judge said.
Proposed modifications for electronic display signs with special exceptions include increasing the number, height, and size of freestanding signs, allowing building-mounted electronic display signs, and increasing the brightness to 600 nits.
Last May, while discussing the matter, county staff told the committee that the existing rules are old and that businesses wanted to be more competitive. Judge also suggested that easing the application process could be helpful to businesses.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, the committee’s vice chair, questioned how the county is handling the convergence of “what’s a sign and what’s a display.”
“These things that we have traditionally dealt with as signs are being used in other means, or for other purposes,” Alcorn said.
Judge said a standard has been added that focuses on traffic safety and overall placemaking effects as part of the electronic display signs.
“I do hope that that standard can help guide our staff when they’re making that analysis to ensure that we’re looking at size and location, more so than the content in making our recommendations,” Judge said.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw questioned the proposed increase from 100 to 300 nits, which he called pretty significant.
“That’s really in response to research looking at other jurisdictions that have much higher nit level limitations and it allows for those higher definition screens that we’re seeing,” Judge answered.
Judge said the county is seeking authorization and public hearings later this year.
Fair Lakes Sidewalk Closed for Construction — “The sidewalk along eastbound Fair Lakes Circle (on the south side of the roadway) between the Fair Lakes Shopping Center entrance and the end of the sidewalk just before Roger Stover Drive will be closed beginning Wednesday, May 31, through approximately August 31 for construction of a new shared-use path as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.” [VDOT]
Navy Veteran Convicted for Shooting — “The gunman, Navy veteran Jaeyoung Lee, was convicted this month by a jury in Fairfax County…It’s a crime and story of extreme stalking turned violent that’s stayed under the radar until now. For [Jeremy] Tammone and his loved ones, it’s been more than five long years waiting for justice and coping with profound injuries.” [NBC4]
Commonwealth’s Attorneys Races Raise Questions About Reform — “Incumbent commonwealth’s attorneys in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties are all facing Democratic primary challenges this June. The contests, which will conclude on primary election day on June 20, have become arguments over what criminal justice reform in Northern Virginia should look like, and who is best placed to lead it.” [DCist]
Community Park in Glencarlyn Now Complete — “There is a new Park in town!! Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church is officially open!! The ADA-accessible park includes a picnic pavilion, an open play area, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, a playground, community gardens, trails and parking.” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]
Annandale Residents Vote for Favorite Restaurants — “According to a survey handed out at the Taste of Annandale, Popeye’s and Bon Chon are local residents’ favorite chicken places in Annandale. Bon Chon, unfortunately, has been closed since a fire destroyed the building in March.” [Annandale Today]
Memorial Day Recognized in Fairfax — “On Monday, the American Legion Fairfax Post 177 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469 held a Memorial Day ceremony to honor Fairfax, Virginia residents who died while serving the United States of America in the U.S. Armed Forces. Around 100 people gathered to hear the names of each Fairfax resident who lost their lives serving their country since World War I.” [ABC7]
McLean Summer Concert Series Announced — “The Alden Theatre of the McLean Community Center has announced the schedule for its 2023 Summer Sunday in the Park concert series, with free concerts being held at McLean Central Park, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd. Concerts are slated to begin at 3 p.m.” [Gazette Leader]
Tysons Law Firm Relocates Offices — “Venable LLP is on the move in Tysons, but not far, inking a lease for 24,000 square feet on the fourth floor of 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza — its existing Tysons office is at 1810 Towers Crescent Drive…In a statement, it described the new space as ‘open and airy, with clear glass walls, yet warm and welcoming'” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Tuesday — Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. At night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. [Weather.gov]
The Faraday Park neighborhood has officially welcomed another tenant: Eve’s Garden Lounge and Bar.
The Asian fusion restaurant celebrated its soft opening on Friday, May 12 at 11207 Reston Station Blvd at Faraday Park. It has now added lunch hours from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting today (Friday), according to its website.
Here’s a taste of what the restaurant hopes to offer to community, per its social media pages:
Journeying back to an era of refined taste and sophistication, where old fashioned drinks reign supreme. Indulge in the art of mixology as we unlock the secrets of vintage flavors, crafted with precision and passion. From the rich warmth of bourbon to the gentle kiss of bitters, every sip tells a tale of tradition and elegance.
Items on the menu include pho stone pot adventure — a Vietnamese broth served with rice noodles and fresh herbs — and blazing harmony, a hot stone bowl filled with rice and topped with meat and veggies.
The business did not return a request for comment from FFXnow by press time.
Photo via Eve’s Garden/Facebook
“American Idol” winner David Cook will headline this year’s Herndon Festival, set to take place from June 1-4 at Northwester Federal Credit Union (200 Spring Street).
Cook, who won the seventh season of the popular singing show, has since broken several Billboard chart records. The D.C.-based rock band Broke Royals will open his performance.
The Town of Herndon recently announced the line-up for the long-anticipated event in June.
Herndon’s own Pool Boys — a rock band that specializes in a mix of pop, rock and hip-hop — will kick off the festival on Thursday, June 1. Uncle Jesse will headline the event at night.
On Friday, June 2, Pablo Perez El Alcalde de la Salsa will perform, with an opening by The Chuck Brown Band.
On Saturday, June 3, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & the Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band will bring zydeco, the Creole cousin of jazz, to the festival.
Cook will close out the weekend with a show on Sunday, June 4, from 4:30-6 p.m.
“We are incredibly excited to present such a diverse and talented lineup for the Main Stage at this year’s Herndon Festival,” Cindy Roeder, one of the festival’s organizers, said. “We have carefully curated a mix of nationally recognized acts and regional talent to ensure that festival-goers have an unforgettable musical experience. Get ready to sing, dance, and create lasting memories with us!”
The complete schedule is available online.
The Water Mine and Other Parks Open for Summer — “Get ready to have fun in the sun with Fairfax County Park Authority this summer! May 27 is opening day for a wide variety of entertaining activities for families, friends and entire communities to enjoy at our local parks. From award-winning water features and waterfront parks to mini golf and amusements, there is something for everyone.” [FCPA]
FCPD Chief Says Force “Appropriate” in Fatal Penn Daw Shooting — “Officials released body-camera footage and other video Thursday showing a chaotic confrontation in which Fairfax County police fatally shot a man who tried to grab an officer’s gun…Chief Kevin Davis described the use of force as ‘more than appropriate.’ He said it was unclear which officer fired the fatal shot.” [The Washington Post]
Silver Line Phase 2 Hits New Ridership Milestone — “Good news: [On Wednesday] @wmata had its 500k customer trip at @Dulles_Airport Silver Line Station and we have now served 1.5m customers on the extension since opening in Nov! #yourmetro is the best way to [fly] on Memorial Day weekend.” [WMATA GM/Twitter]
Health Department Moves to Support Young Parents — “The Fairfax County Health Department is launching a new program to improve the health, educational, and socioeconomic outcomes for local expectant teen and young adult parents.” Open to soon-to-be parents aged 14-25, “Stable Families, Thriving Futures” will assist with financial planning, employment, health literacy and other services. [FCHD]
Modest Clothing Store Plans Tysons Expansion — Ayna Modest Boutique, a boutique that offers modest clothing with a specialty in hijabs and abayas for Muslim women, is expanding from Potomac Mills in Woodbridge with “a second, larger store in Tysons Corner Center, perhaps by mid-July.” Founder Fariba Sharifi says as much as 40% of her clientele come from Tysons. [Washington Business Journal]
FCPS Tests Salad Bars at Middle and High Schools — Fairfax County Public Schools has been piloting salad bars at South County High School in Lorton, Mark Twain Middle School in Rose Hill and John R. Lewis High School in Springfield this week. After adding salad bars at all 141 elementary schools, FCPS “wants to determine what the best arrangement will be for salad bars in middle and high schools.” [On the MoVe]
Lincolnia Ice Cream Shop Owner Honored — “When you go to Jake’s Ice Cream in Barcroft Plaza, many of the employees making the ice cream in house and serving customers will be people with disabilities…On Wednesday, [owner Robin] Rinearson received the Eleanor Sue Finkelstein Inclusion & Disabilities Award from the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.” [Patch]
Bee Hive Creates Buzz on The Boro Rooftop — “Saturday is World Bee Day. Many may not know there is something buzzworthy happening on DMV rooftops where thousands of honeybees live. At the Boro, a rooftop in Tysons, there are 40,000 bees being managed by Alveole. ‘These are pretty chill bees,’ said Jordan Freeman.” [ABC7]
It’s Friday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
