From charity 5Ks to half marathons, Fairfax County hosts a variety of races throughout each year that will get the legs and hearts pumping.
Here are the nominees for “Best Races for Runners in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. Did we miss your favorite event below? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 24.
A few weeks ago, we voted on the Best Golf Course in Fairfax County. The results are now official:
After about 40 minutes of debate, the Vienna Town Council voted 5-2 on Monday (July 6) to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 22, 2027 on whether the town should reduce its meals tax rate from 4% to 3%.
Choosing the right dentist starts with knowing what matters most. Whether you’re searching for a dentist near me for routine dental cleanings, a second opinion through a dental consultation, Invisalign treatment, or a trusted office for a dental emergency, finding a practice that combines experience, technology, and personalized care can make all the difference.
Here’s what matters most:
A practice that can handle everything in one place: Cleanings, cosmetic work, orthodontics, and emergencies saves you from getting bounced between offices, which matters most for busy families and professionals.
Prevention, not just repair: The best care stays ahead of problems with regular exams and cleanings instead of only fixing things once they hurt.
Modern technology: A well-equipped office usually means faster, more accurate, and more comfortable visits.
Convenience: Easy parking, online booking, and appointments that don’t have you waiting weeks. Location close to home or work counts too.
Insurance and honest advice: Check that a practice takes your plan and has a reputation for straight talk, not a hard sell.
Emergency care when you need it: Toothaches never happen at a good time, so it helps to know your dentist can fit you in fast.
One local option: Lumen Dental of Tysons Corner
If you’re looking for a practice that checks these boxes, Lumen Dental is currently accepting new patients. Dr. Nima Raoufinia has been recognized as a Washingtonian Magazine Top Dentist for four consecutive years and provides personalized care using advanced technology in a modern office across from The Boro.
Modern Dentistry Is About More Than Clean Teeth
Today’s patients want a dental practice that focuses on prevention, education, and long-term oral health—not just treating problems after they occur.
At Lumen Dental of Tysons Corner, patients can receive a full range of services, including:
Honest treatment recommendations and individualized care
Schedule Your Visit
If you’re looking for a trusted dentist in Tysons Corner, Lumen Dental is currently accepting new patients.
Conveniently located across from The Boro in Tysons Corner, Lumen Dental welcomes new patients from Tysons Corner, Vienna, McLean, Falls Church, Great Falls, and nearby Northern Virginia communities.
Visit LumenDentalTysonsCorner.com to schedule your appointment online and discover why more Northern Virginia patients are choosing Lumen Dental for their dental care.
Mod Pizza at Plaza America in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Mod Pizza is shuttering its last restaurant in Fairfax County, making way at Plaza America in Reston for the past decade for a RAMMYs Award-winning chain.
A Mod Pizza spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow that its Reston location will permanently close at the end of September, just over a decade after opening its doors at 11642 Plaza America Drive.
Police and fire response to wrong-way crash on I-395 near Edsall Road in Springfield (courtesy Dave Statter/X)
A driver was taken into police custody last night (Thursday) after allegedly traveling the wrong way on I-95 and crashing into two different vehicles on I-395.
The Virginia State Police responded at around 7:37 p.m. after being notified that a vehicle was traveling north in the I-95 Express Lanes in Prince William County at a time when traffic on the highway was supposed to be flowing south, according to a VSP spokesperson.
Partners in Care, a group of united professionals in the healthcare industry in Northern Virginia is delighted to have Kareem Rosser as part of their polo team on July 18th at Morven Park in Leesburg. We invite families and polo enthusiasts to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to sit on the lawn along with coolers to enjoy each match. There are food and beverage vendors to purchase goodies from as well. The cost to enter is $45/per car for admission. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Kareem Rosser during an exclusive book signing.
Discount code for parking pass – 26Guest5 for a $5 discount.
Sun breaks through clouds after a rain storm at Caffi Field in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Pedestrians in Bailey’s Crossroads Crash — “Officers responded around 2:53 p.m. [yesterday] to the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Crossroads Center Way following reports of a crash involving two vehicles. Police said preliminary investigation found one of the vehicles left the roadway and hit three pedestrians,” including one teenager. [WJLA]
Man Charged With Killing Infant in Court — “A Fairfax County man accused of fatally punching his infant daughter appeared in court Wednesday as prosecutors presented testimony from a police detective and the medical examiner about the child’s death.” [WUSA9]
Virginia Improves in Business Rankings — “Virginia has climbed a spot in CNBC’s annual ranking of the best states for business, a year after federal job cuts helped knock it out of the No. 1 position. The state placed third in the 2026 rankings released [yesterday], up from fourth last year.” [ARLnow]
Coaches Top Va. Payroll — “Virginia’s highest-paid workers were in a league of their own: university coaches and athletic directors dominated the top of the state’s payroll, with several earning more than $1 million. University of Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott earned over $3.4 million in total pay, the highest salary for a public employee in the Commonwealth in calendar year 2025.” [Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism]
Autism Therapy Center Opens in Fairfax — “SPARKS ABA is a contemporary applied behavior analysis, or ABA, provider of center-based autism services for children and adolescents ages 2-18 years. The Fairfax Learning Center provides center-based ABA therapy and on-site diagnostic services, as well as speech and occupational therapy.” [Inside NoVA]
Accessory Unit Zoning Review Continues — “In-law suites, au pair apartments and other home add-ons are becoming more popular as families look for flexible ways to live together — or bring in extra rental income. But in Fairfax County, Virginia, actually building one can be a complicated process. Now, county leaders are considering changes that could make it easier for homeowners to add those spaces.” [WTOP]
Park Authority Honors Volunteers — “At its meeting on June 24, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a resolution honoring 21 individuals as 2026 Outstanding Volunteers. These peer-nominated individuals were recognized for their dedication to their community and their invaluable service to the Fairfax County park system.” [FCPA]
Reston Contractor Acquires Fairfax Firm — “Reston federal technology contractor Empower AI has acquired Fairfax’s Highlight Technologies Inc. in a bid to expand its AI and cloud offerings for the federal government … It’s the first acquisition for Empower AI … since New York investment giant KKR & Co. Inc. purchased a majority stake in the company in 2022.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Friday — There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 90°F. There will be a west wind at 5 to 7 mph. Overnight, there’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, with isolated showers possible afterward. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 71°F and a light west wind. [NWS]
Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3 PM, with increasing clouds and a high near 89°F, accompanied by a west wind around 7 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. During the night, scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely before 2 AM, followed by isolated showers until 5 AM. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 71°F and a light west wind, with a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
Sabrina Bruce (courtesy Sabrina Bruce for Herndon Town Council)
More than a decade of military service came to an unwelcome end last year for Sabrina Bruce, but rather than retreating from government work, she hopes to continue serving, shifting her focus to the local community that embraced her as soon as she arrived.
Bruce officially obtained enough signatures last month to qualify for the ballot in the upcoming Herndon Town Council elections. If she wins one of six open seats on Nov. 3, she would become the first openly transgender person elected to any office in Fairfax County.
Fairfax County approved plans in 2025 for townhouse development on part of St. Paul's Lutheran Church's property in Idylwood received Fairfax County's approval (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County staff are beginning preparations for adhering to a new state law loosening zoning regulations on development of affordable housing.
Legislation known by proponents as the “Faith in Housing” bills was enacted by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) earlier this year. Set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, it requires localities to establish a streamlined process for construction of affordable units on land owned by religious organizations or nonprofit groups.
A building plan mockup of the future Milk & Honey storefront in Tysons Corner Center (via Wallace Creative/Fairfax County)
It appears South Asian cuisine will soon give way to comfort food from the southern U.S. at one restaurant space in Tysons Corner Center.
The “Southern-inspired” chain Milk & Honey from Reston-based Thompson Hospitality is planning to open a location in the mall at 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Suite G21U, taking over a roughly 4,900-square-foot space currently occupied by the Indian restaurant Dhoom, according to a building plan submitted last month to Fairfax County.
