Fairfax County is leading the way in terms of representation in the record-breaking 2026 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
A total of 1,356 residents aged 50 and older from across the local area are competing in 96 events at 34 locations during the 22 days of competition.
A man from Spotsylvania was arrested last week for allegedly threatening to bomb one of Northern Virginia’s biggest mosques.
The threat was posted as a comment on the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center’s Instagram page, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
Fairfax families now have a vibrant new destination for creative exploration — a dedicated children’s art studio has officially opened its doors, bringing with it one of the largest selections of children’s art programs in the area.
The journey behind this new studio is a simple but meaningful one: a belief that every child in the Fairfax community deserves access to quality art education. That conviction became the driving force behind building a space where young people can discover, create, and grow — not just as artists, but as individuals.
“We wanted to provide the opportunity of art education to the Fairfax community,” the studio shared.
What makes this studio particularly remarkable is its breadth. Children have access to more than 40 varieties of art, offering a rare opportunity to explore disciplines far beyond the typical drawing and painting classes. Whether a child is drawn to sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, or illustration, there’s a path here waiting to be discovered.
The philosophy is intentional: instead of narrowing a child’s focus too soon, the programs are designed to let curiosity lead the way. Children are encouraged to try, experiment, and explore until something clicks — because finding a true passion is just as important as developing a skill.
The studio has been thoughtfully designed to meet families where they are, with age-appropriate programs that build skills progressively and purposefully. Here’s a closer look at what’s available:
Art is a skill developed over time, and it all starts here. In Tiny Hands classes, children begin to express themselves through art in guided, small group activities that encourage community, collaboration, and relationships. This two-year program introduces young learners to drawing, painting, clay, printmaking, collage, design, and more — laying the foundation for a lifelong creative journey.
This two-year program introduces children to beginning art skills, tools, and basic vocabulary. Students are encouraged to explore different mediums and express their growing interests, working with clay, printmaking, charcoal drawing, painting, design, montage, watercolors, sculpture, stained glass, and more. Along the way, they’ll learn about color theory — including primary, secondary, cool, and warm colors — while gaining self-confidence and earning recognition for their creations.
Building on the foundation of Intro to Art, Beginning Art is designed for children ready to deepen their skills and grow more comfortable with art tools. Students expand their art vocabulary, apply their knowledge of color theory, and explore design principles through hands-on creating. This two-year program offers opportunities to work with charcoal, mono printing, clay, ink, color design, collage, self-portrait, watercolors, balsa wood carving, sculpture, and much more.
Art 1 is the foundation of the studio’s four-year curriculum — a class designed to maximize and maintain each child’s art interest as they develop a higher level of skills and knowledge. Students also begin building their personal portfolio. Projects include ebony pencil from photomontage, charcoal still life, India ink design, and scratchboard art, with a strong focus on line, value, and texture. Later in the program, students dive into an in-depth study of color theory and apply it to a series of color design projects. Art 1 also includes hand building with clay.
A Fredericksburg-based specialty pet supply store plans to open its tenth location in Chantilly — its first in Fairfax County — this fall.
Dog Krazy, a franchise founded in 2006 by Nancy Guinn, will open at 13932 Route 50 in Sully Plaza. In addition to food and supplies for both dogs and cats, the 2,400-square foot store will offer self-service dog washes and grooming.
Since it began collecting near-miss data for local roads in 2021, Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets has accumulated more evidence that such close calls between drivers and other travelers reflect patterns of behavior, rather than random or one-time slip-ups.
More than 70% or 94 of the 129 near-misses reported by community members in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church between January 2025 and June of this year were marked as recurring incidents, according to an analysis released by the volunteer-led safety advocacy organization on Sept. 10.
Red Wine, Explained: Tannin, Body & Alcohol
Looking for a fun night out with friends, a unique date night, or a chance to meet new people? Join us at Wine Junction in McLean for a relaxed, approachable wine class featuring a guided tasting of red wines and light bites.
A missing piece that would complete Discovery Square’s transformation from planned office park into a mixed-use, residential development in the Sully District is nearing the final stages of approval from Fairfax County.
The proposal, which calls for 108 multifamily units and about 31,400 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail on an 8-acre site in the northwest quadrant of Centreville Road and Wall Road, obtained a key endorsement from the Fairfax County Planning Commission earlier this month.
A Greek restaurant chain from Maryland will continue its recent expansion into Northern Virginia with a new location in Reston.
The Big Greek Cafe is coming to the North Point Village Center, where it will take over a space vacated in spring 2025 by California Tortilla, according to Nikos Kontos, the restaurant’s director of operations.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday, Sept. 15 that could lead to nearly 3,000 new multifamily units near the Dunn Loring Metro station in Merrifield.
The vote was another procedural step forward in allowing Malkin Properties to replace its existing 706-unit Merrifield at Dunn Loring Station apartment complex with up to 2,975 units located in high-rise and mid-rise buildings.
Woman Killed in Route 50 Crash Identified — Fairfax County police identified the woman who was killed in a crash while using a mobility wheelchair to cross Route 50 on Friday (Sept. 18) as 53-year-old Theresa Flynn of Chantilly. “Preliminarily, speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors for the driver.” [FCPD]
Trump Claims Arch Would Be Militarized — “President Donald Trump said Sunday that the massive arch he wants to build between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery would become a ‘top grade military complex’ able to host drones and snipers while storing ammunition.” [ARLnow]
Arch Gets OK From FAA — “The Federal Aviation Administration approved President Donald Trump’s ‘triumphal arch’ near Arlington National Cemetery, after determining that the structure will not pose a threat to aircraft.” However, the agency said an “eternal flame” and floodlights would be required to light the structure and make it easier for pilots to see. [FOX5]
State Faces Deficit for Highway Maintenance — “Virginia faces a funding gap of at least $1.7 billion for highway maintenance work, with roads falling into disrepair creating an economic and safety liability that could affect future construction projects across the commonwealth, state transportation department staff reported” last week. [Virginia Mercury]
Substation Near Dulles Airport Rejected — “The substation was proposed on 20 acres of an 83-acre industrially zoned property located south of Old Ox Road and just west of Carters School Road … During the Sept. 15 meeting, Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) won support to deny the application, citing concerns with converting flex industrial space to a substation use.” [Loudoun Now]
No Injuries in ‘Wild’ I-66 Crash — Traffic camera video shows a “wild” crash that occurred after a car stopped on I-66 West near Route 28 yesterday (Sunday) morning. “People got out. Then another car stopped, and more people got out. Five people were in or near the roadway when a driver didn’t see what was ahead, hit three vehicles, and scattered the extremely lucky people.” [Dave Statter/X]
Bus Rapid Transit Planned in Falls Church — “A blueprint for an expanded network of bus rapid transit (BRT) in Northern Virginia includes three lines passing through Falls Church.” Those lines would be on Route 7 from Tysons to Alexandria, Route 50 from Dunn Loring to Crystal City, and Route 29 from Dunn Loring to Farragut Square. [ARLnow]
New Middle Eastern Cafe in Bailey’s Crossroads — “Habibi House, a new café in Bailey’s Crossroads, is more than a coffee shop … Located at 3400-B Washington Drive between the Jerusalem Restaurant and the Afandina Hookah Lounge, Habibi House Café specializes in Middle Eastern coffee drinks and pastries.” [Annandale Today]
Funding for Reston Nonprofit — “Cornerstones, a Reston nonprofit that provides food and emergency assistance to Fairfax County families, has been awarded a three-year, $150,000 grant to expand its food access programs … The Cornerstones grant is part of more than $2 million the Maximus Foundation awarded to nonprofit organizations across the country this year.” [Patch]
New Legal Notice — Facility continues CACFP participation since 2003; meals free, nondiscriminatory. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Expect isolated showers in the afternoon with mostly cloudy skies and a high around 75°F. With a low around 62°F, there’s a 90% chance of rain overnight, with new precipitation amounts ranging from a quarter to half an inch. [NWS]
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A woman was killed earlier Friday (Sept. 18) after she was struck by a driver while traveling on Route 50 in a wheelchair.
Officers were dispatched at 7:27 p.m. to the Plaza Lane intersection just in front of Greenbriar Town Center near Chantilly after receiving a report of a pedestrian getting hit by a vehicle, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
