Attempted burglary sparks major police response at Annandale condos
Residents of the Lafayette Forest condominium development in Annandale were awakened in the early morning of Jan. 3 by a huge commotion involving the police. “I was woken by a yelling police officer and a barking K-9 in pursuit of a fleeing suspect at about 4 a.m.,” one resident reports. “They got him to lie … Continued
Scene around A-town: An angel graces Evergreen Lane
Drivers along Evergreen Lane in Annandale are watched over by an angel – or at least a statue of one. Mi Suk Kim recently put up this statue of the archangel St. Michael on the side of her house at 4303 Evergreen Lane. Kim purchased the statue last fall from St. Michael Church, where it … Continued
Restaurant 2941 closed for remodeling
If you’ve got something big to celebrate and were hoping to dine at 2941, the upscale restaurant between Annandale and Falls Church (2941 Fairview Park Drive), you’ll have to wait a few weeks. 2941 Restaurant closed at the end of 2011 for major retooling. It is tentatively scheduled to reopen later this month—no earlier than … Continued
Reader appreciates service at Annandale business: Hats off to Bracken Opticians!
The first day of the new year is a great time to publish a good-news story about a local business. A blog reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, submitted the following report on Dec. 31: While she and her husband were visiting family in Ohio during the Christmas holiday, the frame of her eyeglasses broke. … Continued
The Annandale blog top 10 for 2011
Here are the most popular stories we did in 2011: Annandale losing popular KORUS festival (May) Police shoot dog in Parklawn (September) Unidentified creature spotted in Holmes Run Park (April) Falls Church HS principal and parents oppose charter school at Graham Road (November) Ravenwood Park steps up fight against townhouses (February) Penny Gross launches re-election … Continued
Blog sign stolen
Someone stole the Annandale Blog sign from the grassy area at the intersection of Gallows Road and Columbia Pike sometime between 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 29 and 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 30. I don’t think it was the wind, as signs advertising massages and other things are still up in the Columbia Pike median.
Community input sought on name for Annandale’s new elementary school
Fairfax County Public Schools invites local residents to a meeting at Falls Church High School Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., to discuss a name for the new elementary school under construction on the Lacey site in Annandale. “The purpose of this meeting is to determine what proposed names are most popular within the community,” states … Continued
Welch says charter school won’t compete with Falls Church HS
If approved, the charter school would be housed at the Graham Road Elementary School building Eric Welch, the founder of the proposed charter school opposed by many Falls Church High School parents, wants to set the record straight: He feels that the parents who organized a group to oppose the charter school, UPROAR (United Parents … Continued
New gym to replace Maxx Fitness
The owners of Maxx Fitness have decided to close the gym, at 7060 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Dec. 30, because it has not been profitable. Carol Zach Reuss, the manager of the Annandale Shopping Center, told the gym owners the building will be renovated and a new gym will open in that space in six weeks. … Continued
BB&T bank in Annandale robbed for second time this year
The Fairfax County Police posted photos of a suspect who allegedly robbed the BB&T Bank at 4401 Backlick Road, Annandale, on Saturday, Dec. 24. That bank was also robbed last March. According to the Franconia Police District, a man entered the bank, next to the CVS on the corner of Backlick and Little River Turnpike, … Continued
At NOVA’s Annandale campus: A lesson in daring design
By Elizabeth Kirchner The new student services building on the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is more than good architecture. It blends beauty and utility in an energy-smart, dual-flush, stormwater-absorbing reflection of the progressive ideals of the school’s faculty and staff. In 2006, the building was already in its design phase when … Continued
New Year’s Eve celebrations scheduled
Sunset Grille Looking for something fun to do on New Year’s Eve close to home? Here are some options in Annandale and nearby: Sunset Grille – Special dinner (pork, chicken, steak, or crab) served 5-9 p.m. Beginning at 9 p.m., music, by DJ Syn of Synergy Productions; party favors and champagne toast at midnight. 7250 … Continued
Two Annandale properties face blight hearings
7101 Vellex Lane The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings to consider blight abatement ordinances for several properties including two in Annandale: the derelict building on 7130 Little River Turnpike that used to house the Frame Factory and a single-family home at 7101Vellex Lane in the Wilburdale community. Properties can be declared … Continued
Maxx Fitness to close Dec. 30
Patrons of Maxx Fitness were surprised to learn the Annandale gym will close for six weeks, beginning Dec. 30, as the owners of the Annandale Shopping Center plan to renovate the building. Flyers posted at Maxx say the new gym will honor memberships to Maxx and that those memberships will be extended for an additional … Continued
Annandale RoomStore will close
The RoomStore in Annandale (7031 Columbia Pike) will close “in about a month or less,” says store manager Tigist Badeg. The Richmond-based company filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code Dec. 12 and is closing 24 of its 64 stores. The RoomStore in Seven Corners will remain open. Meanwhile, everything in … Continued