New bike lanes on Wakefield Chapel Road could be better
Wakefield Chapel Road in Annandale was recently marked with bike lanes as a traffic-calming measure. The lanes extend from just north of the intersection with Braddock Road to Pulley Court. See the county bike map for details. Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling says Wakefield Chapel was already wide enough for bike lanes before, but that … Continued
Annandale blog joins TBD network
The Annandale blog is now a part of the TBD network, a comprehensive, interactive local news website that integrates TV coverage from WJLA Channel 7, reports from TBD journalists, and about 130 local blogs covering Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. TBD is owned by the Allbritton Communications Co., which also owns Politico, WJLA, and … Continued
Road widening at Gallows Road/Lee Highway intersection to start next June
The traffic around Merrifield is going to get worse before it gets better. Construction is expected to start in Jun 2011 on a federally funded project to widen a portion of Gallows Road and Lee Highway where the two roads intersect. The project should be completed by December 2012, says Arifur Rahman of VDOT. Lee … Continued
Volunteers needed for Annandale Neighborhood Food Progam
The Annandale Neighborhood Food Program needs more volunteers to help distribute food to the needy. The food program is open every Thursday evening at the Immanuel United Methodist Church, 7900 Heritage Drive, Annandale, near the H Mart. The program is not a church program, however; it is open to everyone in the community who needs … Continued
Best young swimmers compete at All-Stars meet in Annandale
The Broyhill Crest Recreation Club in Annandale was swarming with stingrays, dolphins, barracudas, otters, and other marine life Saturday morning. These are some of the teams represented at the Northern Virginia Swimming League Individual All-Star Meet, which was hosted by the Broyhill Crest pool for the second year in a row. The All Stars results … Continued
‘Live fire’ training planned for Lacey Center
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is planning a “live fire” training exercise at the Lacey Center on or around Aug. 14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., says Fran Tunick, chief aide to Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. She wants residents of the Broyhill Crest neighborhood who live near the Lacey Center (3705 Crest Drive, Annandale) to know “this is … Continued
This weekend is a ‘tax holiday’ in Virginia
If you’re thinking of stocking up on school supplies or new clothes, this weekend is a good time to get started. Aug. 6-8 is a “tax holiday” in Virginia, meaning you won’t pay sales taxes on certain items. To qualify, school supplies must sell for $20 or less per item, and clothing must sell for … Continued
Seoul Soondae: A Korean diner offers something for the adventurous
By James Moon Seoul Soondae, at 4231 Markham Street, nestled deep in Annandale’s Seoul Plaza, is the Korean equivalent of a diner, serving the underside of Korean cuisine: working-class soups, homey noodles, plenty of fried foods, and the sort of exotic snacks you might eat with friends at a street vendor’s cart in Seoul, such … Continued
Watch out for solicitors on Annandale streets–It’s probably a scam
A reader reports that an individual recently seen collecting money in Annandale for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America is most likely a scam artist. A youngish man, looking to be in the mid-20s or low-30s dressed in business attire with a shaved head, was spotted at the intersection of Little River Turnpike and John Marr … Continued
Dazed and Confused in Annandale
Patrons of Annandale’s Cue Club took some paint to the plywood façade of the popular bar/restaurant/pool hall Aug. 2. But the new decorations won’t last long; the building is expected to be fixed in the next few days, says manager John Kim. The plywood has been on the building (7014 Columbia Pike in the Annandale … Continued
Neighborhood Spotlight: Holmes Run Acres is an architectural gem
In an area full of traditional colonials, ramblers, and split levels, Holmes Run Acres stands out as one of the few neighborhoods in the Annandale area where you can find mid-century modern houses with lots of wood and glass. The neighborhood’s distinctive architecture qualified it to be listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in … Continued
Ralph Buckley dies, was first principal of Annandale High School
Ralph E. Buckley, the first principal of Annandale High School, died of congestive heart failure July 17 at Inova Fairfax Hospital, the Washington Post reported July 31. He was 95. He was named principal of the brand-new school in 1954. On the school’s 50th anniversary in 2004, the school’s grand entrance hall was named in his … Continued
Hot days in Annandale: A good time for icy, spicy noodles
By James Moon The dog days of summer are on us and that means one thing in Annandale’s Koreatown: It’s time for something spicy yet refreshing. That’s where a bowl of noodles called naengmyeon (“neng myun”) comes in. Naengmyeon (literally “cold noodles”) are buckwheat noodles served icy and spicy. The main variety, called mul naengmyeon … Continued
Demolition of Lacey Center to start in about a month
Residents of the Broyhill Crest neighborhood should expect to hear a lot of noise next month, as demolition work begins on the Lacey Center. [Click on the site plan illustration to make it larger.] At a neighborhood meeting July 28, Mark Hilty, coordinator of capital projects for Fairfax County Public Schools, and Mason District School … Continued
Family event will focus on African American history in Annandale area
The 2010 Oak Hill History Day, scheduled for October, will focus on 19th century African American communities in the Annandale area. Oak Hill is a privately owned 18th century Georgian-style home at 4716 Wakefield Chapel Road in Annandale. The home, one of the oldest in Fairfax County, and adjacent properties are all that remain of the … Continued