Seafood restaurant opens in Annandale
Mad Seafood is bringing a taste of Louisiana to Annandale. The new restaurant, at the corner of Annandale Road, Poplar Street, and Markham Street, specializes in Cajun-style, farm-raised fish and shrimp. It’s open now, but a grand opening is planned for May 30, says manager Moe Abed. The type of fish served is swai, which … Continued
Cafe specializing in chai tea coming to Falls Church
Karak House Coffee Co. is coming to the Bill Page retail strip in the Falls Church area of Mason District. Adnan Akhtar, the franchisee who is partnering with his brother, anticipates the café, located at 3000 Annandale Road, will open in a couple of months. Reconstruction of the interior is nearly finished. Karak House will … Continued
Virginia enacts paid family and medical leave
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed landmark legislation on May 11 that creates a paid family and medical leave program. Some 3 million workers will now be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to welcome a new baby, recover from a serious illness, care for a loved one, or meet the unique … Continued
Annandale mural honors local musician
A new mural going up in Annandale celebrates singer-songwriter Cat Janice, who died of cancer in 2024 shortly after one of her songs, “Dance Outta My Head,” went viral. That song reached number one on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, number 7 worldwide on iTunes, and number 2 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales. It also won the … Continued
Virginia redistricting ruling challenged in the Supreme Court
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and other Democratic leaders filed an emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court on May 11, asking the justices to let the state proceed with the congressional redistricting map approved by voters. On May 8, a 4-3 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court found that the constitutional amendment put forth … Continued
Police to get AEDs to help save lives
The Fairfax County Police Department is equipping patrol officers with devices for reviving heart attack victims. Each police station will receive five portable automated external defibrillators. Every second matters when someone experiences a cardiac emergency. “Quick access to an AED, combined with immediate intervention and CPR, can significantly improve a person’s chance of survival,” the … Continued
Ditch the car on Bike to Work Day
If you’ve thought about riding a bike to work, this Friday is a good day to start. May 15 is Bike to Work Day, and the weather is expected to be perfect – dry and not too hot. Bike to Work Day is an annual event organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Commuter … Continued
Yemeni cafe to open soon in Seven Corners
Qahwah, a Yemeni coffee shop, is expected to open in Seven Corners within the next couple of weeks, as soon as it clears the inspection process. The shop is located in a long vacant building at 6315A Leesburg Pike that once housed the Seven Corners Pub. After the pub closed in 2018, a Middle Eastern … Continued
Asian cultures celebrated at Mason District Park
Fairfax County’s annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration brought cultural performers, food, artists, vendors, and community resources to Annandale on May 9. The event, at Mason District Park, was sponsored by the Annandale-based Asian American Community Center and the Fairfax County Park Authority. Related story: Kites soar at a festival … Continued
A Seven Corners block party has a serious message
A block party at the Wilston Multicultural Center in Seven Corners on May 9 featured free food, clothing, and backpacks, plus entertainment, kids’ activities, and health screenings. It also focused on something a lot of people don’t want to think about. The event was sponsored by Infinite Legacy, an organization that encourages people to consider … Continued
Volunteer Fairfax honors ACCA volunteer Nancy Moy as a Community Champion
ACCA volunteer Nancy Moy is one of the exemplary Fairfax County residents honored by Volunteer Fairfax for going above and beyond to serve their communities. The 2026 Volunteer Service Awards were presented to one Community Champion per magisterial district on May 7 at the James Lee Community Center. Moy, the honoree for Mason District, contributes … Continued
Watch out for turtles
Wildlife officials urge residents to watch out for turtles crossing roads. May through July is nesting season for turtles. Males are on the move looking for mates. As the season progresses, females are more likely to cross roads as they look for nesting sites to lay eggs. Turtles tend to follow long-established migratory routes even … Continued
State Supreme Court strikes down redistricting amendment
In a major victory for Republicans, the Virginia Supreme Court on May 8 struck down a constitutional amendment on congressional redistricting narrowly passed by voters on April 21. The measure would have allowed the Democrats to flip four seats in the House of Representatives – with the ultimate goal of giving Democrats control over the … Continued
Board approves vehicle sales for Versar site
The Board of Supervisors on May 5 authorized a new use for a property in a hidden corner of Mason District with two vacant office buildings. The board passed a motion to rezone the property from I-5 to the C-8 to allow the sale of passenger vehicles. The two four-story office buildings on the site … Continued
Residents oppose multifamily housing on Little River Turnpike
Residents of Willow Run and nearby neighborhoods filled a conference room at the Mason Government Center on May 6 to confront the developer of a proposed 120-unit multifamily building at 6675 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. The residents complained that such a large building is inappropriate for the property, which is currently the site of … Continued