News

Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.

📈 Today’s most-read stories

  1. Poll: The best deli in Fairfax County (1,000 views)
  2. Popular Malaysian restaurant in Centreville to close, as owners retire
  3. Falafel chain opens larger shop at Mosaic District with startup incubator

🕗 More from today

Everything else we published today, Oct 30, 2026.

📣 Announcements

Settle Down Easy Brewing – Mixed Beverage License
After 8 years in operation, Settle Down Easy Brewing would like to expand their offerings to… [Announcement]

Always Becoming: Next Chapter
Join artist Nora Naranjo Morse (Kha’p’o Owenge ([Santa Clara Pueblo]), creator of Always Becoming… [Announcement]

Artful Evenings: Water’s Edge with Artist Sky Hopinka
Reserve your spot for an after-hour event with multi-disciplinary artist Sky Hopinka, Thursday… [Announcement]

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Fairfax County, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

⭐ Featured events

Fairfax Funky Flea – Large outdoor flea market 10/31 from 9-3PM
Oct 31: Outdoor Flea Market with 70+ vintage dealers, food, fun and trick or treating! [Event]

Diwali: A Celebration of Inner Light – Hosted by the Brahma Kumaris
Nov 1: Celebrate the spirit of Diwali with us at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center for a joyful and uplifting afternoon for the whole family. [Event]

Dialogue for Democracy
Nov 3: Dialogue for Democracy invites high school students from across the DMV to George Mason University. [Event]

How Retirement Communities Work – A Free Workshop
Nov 4: Interested in learning about how Continuing Care Retirement Communities work, but don’t know where to start? Join us on 11/4 to learn more! [Event]

🎗️ Do It for Dan Fall Fundraiser
Nov 8: Join the Do It For Dan Foundation on Nov. 8 at Caboose Commons for live music, trivia, raffles & more, benefiting lung cancer research at Inova Schar Cancer Institute. [Event]

Submit events, announcements, or home listings to FFXnow.

🌤️ Weather update

Today: Fairfax County saw a high of 75° at 1:05 p.m. (11° above normal), a low of 50° at 5:20 a.m., no rain and a peak gust of 28 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 44. North wind 6 to 9 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 6 mph.

Thanks for reading!


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors saluted the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association earlier this week for 50 years of community service.

The organization is among those across Fairfax providing “opportunities for all people to engage and participate,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said at a proclamation ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 27.


News

As he campaigns for a third term, Herndon Vice Mayor Clark Hedrick is well aware that an electoral victory would come with some daunting responsibilities.

Among the tasks awaiting the next Herndon Town Council are the hiring of a new town manager, a resolution of the ongoing legal battle over Comstock Companies’ downtown property, the development of an affordable housing policy and the completion of a comprehensive plan update that will guide the town’s evolution over the next quarter-century.


Around Town

Falafel Inc. is officially cooking up new food and ideas in an expanded space at the Mosaic District.

The regional chain relocated within the Merrifield neighborhood last week (Oct. 23), moving from a 540-square-foot storefront adjacent to Our Mom Eugenia to a 2,760-square-foot space at 2985 District Avenue, Unit 115, previously filled by Kreole Seafood and Cocktails.


Event

On Sunday, November 15 at 4:00 PM, the St. Andrew the Apostle Concert Series proudly presents The Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Simeone Tartaglione, for a free afternoon of orchestral masterworks at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Clifton.

Program:
• Paul Dukas – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, best known from Disney’s Fantasia!
• Camille Saint-Saëns – Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor
Soloist: Vasily Popov, cello
• Camille Saint-Saëns – Symphony No. 3 in C minor, “Organ Symphony”
Organist: Michael Murphy


Opinion

Local delis in Fairfax County provide quick meals, custom sandwiches, and specialty market goods to busy neighborhoods. This week’s Readers’ Choice poll asks residents to select the top deli serving the community.

Here are the nominees for Best deli in Fairfax County as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice awards. Did we miss your favorite deli? Write it in!

Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Voting for Best Chinese restaurants in Fairfax County is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 11:59 p.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best burger restaurants in Fairfax County. The full results are now official:

  1. 🥇 Bun Papa — 1,112 votes
  2. 🥈 Big Buns Damn Good Burgers — 907 votes
  3. 🥉 The Burger Shack — 143 votes
  4. Social Burger — 61 votes
  5. Foster’s Grill — 51 votes

Launched out of Bread & Water Company’s storefront in Belle View in 2021, Bun Papa has become a local favorite for its filling, hand-crafted burgers, which feature seared beef patties, grilled brioche buns made in house and real cheddar cheese. Now offering a second location in Alexandria City, the shop is equally acclaimed for its Chicago-style hot dogs and chicken sandwiches.

A total of 2,553 votes were cast.

See all FFXnow Readers’ Choice winners.


News

A Fairfax County judge has ordered a mental competency evaluation for the man accused of stabbing a Fredericksburg woman to death at a Hybla Valley bus stop earlier this year.

Circuit Court Judge Manuel Capsalis entered an order on Oct. 14 for the evaluation of 33-year-old Abdul Jalloh.


Countywide

Civil rights advocates pressed the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 27 to end the local government’s relationship with Flock Safety, remove its license plate readers and not replace them with similar equipment.

“Mass surveillance does not reduce violent crime or deter serious offenses,” said Christian Martinez Lemus, representing We Are CASA at the supervisors’ monthly public comment session.


Around Town

After nearly a decade in Centreville’s Sully Station Shopping Center, a family-run Malaysian restaurant is closing its doors this week for good.

With husband-and-wife team Leslie and Penny Phoon ready to retire, Malaysian Kopitiam (5085 Westfields Blvd) will serve its final customers tomorrow (Oct. 31).


Countywide
A ghost Halloween decoration in the window of a Vienna home urges passersby to vote (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

McLean Bicyclist Killed in Crash — “The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is investigating a fatal crash at the intersection of Welbourne Road and St. Louis Road in Middleburg [on Thursday, Oct. 29]. At approximately 10:41 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a crash involving a bicyclist and a pickup truck. The bicyclist, Karl David Salnoske, 72, of McLean, was pronounced deceased at the scene.” [LCSO]

Cerina Fairfax’s Family on Her Killing — “Six months after Dr. Cerina Fairfax, a Northern Virginia mom and dentist, was killed by her husband, former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, her sister spoke with the News4 I-Team about who she was and how their family lives with the tragedy.” Speaking for the first time since Cerina Fairfax’s death, Arisce Wanzer described her sister as someone who “was there for everybody.” [NBC4]

Court Considers Youth Social Media Law — “The Fourth Circuit weighed Wednesday whether a Virginia law restricting minors’ access to social media platforms violates the First Amendment. ​The hearing follows a preliminary injunction from U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles, a Joe Biden appointee, blocking enforcement of the law,” which requires social media platforms to limit users under 16 to an hour of screen time per day. [Courthouse News Service]

Lincolnia Pool Site Eyed for Electrical Tower — “The Lincolnia Park community is alarmed by Dominion Energy’s plans to build an electrical transmission tower on a field owned by the Lincolnia Park Recreation Club. The utility is threatening to use eminent domain to obtain rights to the property.” The monopole would support a substation proposed for Starwood Capital’s planned Plaza 500 data centers. [Annandale Today]

Va. Opening Health Insurance Relief Program — “Thousands of Virginians could see their monthly health insurance premiums shrink — or drop to $0 — under a new $150 million state savings program opening for enrollment Sunday … The new program — which lawmakers funded to help offset the loss of enhanced federal Affordable Care Act subsidies — could help up to 200,000 residents afford coverage next year, per state estimates.” [Axios Richmond]

New Fitness Studio Opening in Tysons — “A new fitness studio specializing in low-impact exercise, strength training and functional movement will open in Tysons on Nov. 2.” Located at 2070 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 185, Pvolve Tysons is offering complimentary introductory classes for potential members through Sunday, Nov. 1. [Patch]

Sky-High I-66 Tolls Spotted — “This week along the I-66 express lanes outside the Beltway in Northern Virginia, the tolls have been some of the highest we have ever seen. Rates are as high as $30, $60 and even $80 for the longest trips at peak times … When News4 asked officials what is going on with these higher prices, they said no doubt more people are using the lanes.” [NBC4]

Reston Man Indicted on Drug Charges — “A Reston man previously charged with federal firearms offenses has been indicted by a federal grand jury on five felony counts involving cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and firearms, according to court records filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.” [Patch]

It’s Friday — Sunny with a high near 75, accompanied by northwest winds of 5 to 13 mph and gusts up to 24 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with a low around 47 and north winds of 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]

No time to read? Now you can listen to your local news. Subscribe to the FFXnow Daily Update on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.