Good Morning Fairfax County

Reston’s ChalkFest brings sidewalk art back on Sunday, a Revolutionary War ship serves drinks in Old Town Alexandria, Fairfax County is building its first new high school in two decades near Herndon, residents give Fairfax City high marks in community survey, and a new Indian restaurant just opened in Reston. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• ChalkFest 2025 in Reston: https://www.therestonletter.com/post/chalkfest-2025-the-chalk-fun-is-back-this-fall
• Tall Ship Providence in Alexandria: https://wtop.com/matt-about-town/2025/10/matt-about-town-old-town-alexandria-tall-ship-providence/
• New high school near Herndon: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/15/fcps-leans-toward-traditional-model-for-new-western-high-school-near-herndon/
• Fairfax City community survey: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/15/fairfax-city-receives-positive-reviews-from-residents-in-community-survey/
• Masti restaurant opening: https://theburn.com/2025/10/15/reston-town-center-welcomes-new-masti-restaurant-this-week/

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Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

McLean High graduate Michelle Vaccaro won the Army Ten-Miler in her first attempt, Wonder food hall is opening in Franconia on October 23rd with a Reston location coming soon, Dar Mariam brings authentic Iraqi and Kuwaiti cuisine to Vienna’s Maple Avenue, and a brunch-focused chain is coming to Fairfax Mall. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• McLean grad wins Army Ten-Miler: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/14/mclean-graduate-wins-title-in-her-first-ever-army-ten-miler-race/
• Wonder food hall opening: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/14/wonder-food-hall-to-open-first-fairfax-county-locations-this-month/
• Dar Mariam restaurant: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/14/recently-opened-vienna-restaurant-champions-cuisine-from-arabian-gulf/
• Brunch chain at Fairfax Mall: https://patch.com/virginia/fairfaxcity/brunch-centric-chain-open-restaurant-fairfax-mall-report

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com – Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Alexandria firefighters finally get relief from 56-hour workweeks after a 20-year fight, five Fairfax County restaurants make the Washington Post food critic’s final Top 40 list, and more buyers closed on homes in September thanks to lower interest rates. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Alexandria firefighters work schedule change
• Fairfax and McLean restaurants on WaPo Top 40 list
• Lower interest rates help Fairfax home sales

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com – Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

The Washington West Film Festival brings 38 films and Olympic guests to Reston Town Center through Sunday, local rock band Out of Order’s debut single “Loretta” racks up thousands of streams, Wolf Trap raises a record-breaking $2.3 million at their Bollywood Ball gala, kids’ artwork goes on display at Lake Anne Plaza, hundreds of Fairfax sixth graders dive into Algebra I, and Meridian field hockey wins their 11th straight game. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Washington West Film Festival in Reston: https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/washington-west-film-festival-returns-with-powerful-lineup-and-purpose/article_dccb0bec-ef66-474d-8aa0-74188a43d8c7.html
• Out of Order band debut single: https://www.therestonletter.com/post/reston-s-own-ignite-the-stage-local-band-debuts-with-breakout-single
• Wolf Trap record fundraising gala: https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/record-breaking-funds-raised-at-wolf-trap-annual-gala/article_0eaf9109-3a16-4c8a-afd1-f06016ad893e.html
• Kids’ art exhibit at Used Book Shop: https://www.therestonletter.com/post/new-reston-art-gallery-kids-exhibit-at-reston-s-used-book-shop
• FCPS sixth graders in Algebra I: https://wtop.com/education/2025/10/why-hundreds-of-fairfax-co-elementary-schoolers-are-taking-high-school-math-this-year/
• Meridian field hockey wins 11th straight: https://www.fcnp.com/2025/10/09/meridian-field-hockey-returns-home-on-senior-night-beats-edison-for-11th-straight-win/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Annandale hosts its first-ever Mason District Arts Festival this Saturday with 29 artists and live performances, South Lakes High launches Fairfax County’s first girls’ flag football team backed by the Commanders, Warby Parker opens at Reston Town Center on October 18th with free opening-day tote bags, FABB celebrates 20 years of bike advocacy with a party on October 25th, and young jazz musician Daniel Murray brings classic standards to Gen Z audiences in Alexandria. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Inaugural Mason Arts Festival in Annandale (Oct. 11)
• South Lakes High’s first girls’ flag football team
• Warby Parker opening at Reston Town Center (Oct. 18)
• FABB 20-year celebration (Oct. 25)
• Jazz musician Daniel Murray bringing classics to Gen Z
• South Lakes alum Andrew Siciliano in Broadcasting Hall of Fame

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Dogfish Head Alehouse is coming back to Reston Town Center in summer 2026, the Main Street Community Band kicks off its new season this Saturday morning at the Fairfax Fall Festival, construction begins on 86 new condos with public park space in Tysons, and Allegra Marketing Print Mail wins Peak Performance award for business excellence. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Dogfish Head Alehouse Returns to Reston
• Main Street Community Band New Conductor
• Flats at Tysons Condos Construction
• Allegra Marketing Print Mail Peak Performance Award

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

A new specialty coffee shop brings outdoor seating to Old Town Fairfax, Yorktown football stays undefeated in district play with their third straight win, and global tech company Workday triples their office space with a move to Reston Town Center. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Common Culture Coffee opens in Old Town Fairfax: https://patch.com/virginia/fairfaxcity/coffee-house-creates-welcoming-space-old-town-fairfax
• Yorktown football’s third straight victory: https://www.arlnow.com/2025/10/06/winning-formula-continues-for-yorktown-football-in-teams-third-straight-victory/
• Workday moves to Reston Town Center: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/06/global-hr-software-company-to-trade-tysons-office-for-reston/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Vienna’s beloved holiday tradition needs a little help this year – the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department is raising money to fix Santa’s sleigh for the annual neighborhood rides that bring Christmas magic to families every December. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Vienna Fire Department Santa Sleigh Fundraiser

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Fairfax County has a fun weekend ahead with events in Arlington and Falls Church, plus Masti opens at Reston Town Center Wednesday and Lesly’s returns to its Latin American roots in Falls Church. Janatha Bar & Biryani expands to Ashburn, Lidl opens in Herndon October 29, Meridian High crushes it in golf and football, Fairfax Connector celebrates 40 years, and Alexandria offers free attraction passes to federal workers during the shutdown. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Weekend events in Arlington and Falls Church
• Masti opening at Reston Town Center
• Lesly’s returns to Latin American menu
• Janatha Bar & Biryani expands to Ashburn
• Lidl opening in Herndon
• Meridian High sports wins
• Fairfax Connector celebrates 40 years
• Alexandria free attraction passes

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com

The Washington West Film Festival kicks off Friday in Reston with NASA’s Bill Nelson and Olympic legend Edwin Moses, The Salty donut shop is still coming to Mosaic District after all, Kusshi Sushi opened with 20% off at Reston Town Center, a new health center opens in Franconia next week, and Falls Church schools just got ranked #1 in all of Virginia. Your daily dose of good news from Fairfax County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Washington West Film Festival: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/01/movies-about-space-olympic-athletes-highlight-upcoming-washington-west-film-festival/
• The Salty donut shop: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/01/the-salty-donut-shop-still-coming-to-merrifield-after-eviction-scare/
• Kusshi Sushi opening: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/01/kusshi-sushi-rolls-out-new-look-expanded-menu-at-reston-town-center/
• Franconia-Springfield health center: https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/01/franconia-springfield-health-center-set-to-open-next-week/
• Falls Church schools ranked #1: https://www.fcnp.com/2025/10/01/students-show-stellar-results/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com to get notified when new episodes drop.

Check out Steve’s true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com