Memberships on sale for the St. James sports complex
Construction of the St. James complex is well under way. Although the huge new St. James sports, wellness, and entertainment center isn’t scheduled to open until September 2018, about 200 people have already purchased memberships. The complex, at 6805 Industrial Road in the Springfield area of Mason District, will have two ice rinks, a turf … Continued
Public input sought on future of Lake Accotink
Anyone who cares about preserving Lake Accotink is encouraged to come to a community meeting Jan. 22 hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority. The meeting, 7-8:30 p.m. at North Springfield Elementary School (7602 Heming Court, Springfield), is aimed at gathering public input toward the development of a vision for the future of Lake Accotink … Continued
Attempted robbery involves machete
Herrera-Chan [FCPD] There was an attempted robbery involving a machete in the 7900 block of Heritage Drive, Annandale, at about 5:50 p.m. on Dec. 28, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. A man was approached by someone who demanded his money and wallet. The victim refused to hand anything over, and the suspect began swinging … Continued
2017: The year in review
Here’s a look back at some of the major stories we covered in the Annandale Blog during the past year. January The Howard Hughes Corp. revises its proposal for redeveloping Landmark Mall after acquiring the Macy’s site. Fairfax County copes with a soaring number of opioid overdoses. Local immigrant advocacy groups denounce refugee ban. February The Fairfax County … Continued
Confusion surrounds effort to allow taxpayers to pay 2018 property taxes in advance
After many local residents paid their 2018 taxes early, the federal government announced that prepayment can only be done in limited circumstances. The Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (DTA) announced earlier this week that it has extended its hours for people who want to pay their 2018 taxes in advance – before the new federal … Continued
Two men arrested for auto theft, forgery
Two men were charged with auto theft on Dec. 23, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The victim had been warming up his car on the 2500 block of Parkwood Court, behind Graham Park Plaza, at around 6:30 a.m. He left it unlocked, and when he returned, it was gone. Police officers spotted the car … Continued
Paths at Green Spring Gardens being retrofitted for accessibility
Some paths are temporarily closed. [David Siegel] Work is under way at Green Spring Gardens to make the paths accessible for people with disabilities. The project is expected to completed this spring. Meanwhile some of the pedestrian routes may be temporarily closed, but the gardens will be open and programs at Green Spring will be … Continued
SoberRide aims to keep drunk drivers off the roads
No one wants to spend New Years Eve in the drunk tank – or worse. [FCPD] Partiers have an alternative to driving drunk. SoberRide, offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), provides free rides to would-be drunk drivers every evening 8 p.m.-4 a.m. through Monday, Jan. 1. SoberRide is aimed at keeping the roads … Continued
Annandale cited as a foodie destination
Photo: Lani Furbank/Thrillist Annandale is one of the top suburbs in the nation for having “true destination-worthy eats,” according to Thrillist. The website includes Annandale among its list of 11 top places in the United States outside metropolitan areas for foodies, noting “Annandale has long been the DC metro area’s go-to for some bibimbap with a … Continued
An early Christmas for Culmore children
Filling in for the real Santa is Bailey’s Crossroads firefighter Jon Hughes. Christmas came early for children in Culmore. Santa, along with personnel from the Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Station and their teenage helpers, distributed toys in the Culmore Family Resource Center, a program operated by Second Story. The Culmore Family Resource Center provides family-oriented … Continued
Immigrant activists urge Congress to support clean Dream Act
Sookyung Oh of NAKASEC holds up a sign urging Sen. Kaine to “stop the empty talk and keep your promise.” Dozens of Dreamers and their supporters, led by the Annandale-based National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), disrupted a speech by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) Dec. 20 to urge him to support a clean … Continued
A lovely holiday treat: ‘Christmas at the Old Bull and Bush’
Tracey Stephens and Albert Coia [Chris Banks] By David Siegel Brimming with heart, musical numbers to elicit smiles, a unique wit, audience sing-alongs, and moments that disrupt theatrical norms, MetroStage’s “Christmas at the Old Bull and Bush” is a charmer. It is lovely, lively fare for the holidays; a figgy pudding in all its sweet … Continued
Glory Days opens in Barcroft Plaza
Glory Days draws a large crowd on opening day. The much-anticipated Glory Days Grill, at 6341 Columbia Pike in Barcroft Plaza, finally opened. Local residents packed the place as soon as the doors opened, at 4 p.m. on Dec. 19. “I’ve been waiting for a neighborhood bar for 20 years,” said Parklawn resident Tom Dickson. … Continued
Fairfax County urges the public not to support panhandlers
Zoran at his post on the approach to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge in Arlington. He lives in the woods nearby and says, “I’m lucky to get $20 a day.” In response to an uptick in panhandling throughout Fairfax County, the county government is advising the public not to give money to people begging on the … Continued
Crime spree in Lincolnia
A D.C. man has been charged with robbery and other crimes following what Fairfax County Police are calling a “crime spree” in Lincolnia. It started with a commercial robbery at about 10 p.m. on Dec. 16 at a Verizon store at 6198M Little River Turnpike in Landmark Plaza. Two men forced the employees into a … Continued