🌱 Patch AM: How much did Annandale rents jump compared to nearby Fairfax communities?

Good morning Annandale! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How much did Annandale rents jump compared to nearby Fairfax communities?
• Why did Fairfax parks suddenly remove boulders from Roundtree’s playing field?
• Remember when Annandale cars vanished under 1996’s record-breaking snow?

Also on today's calendar: Merritt Academy Winter Open Campus/Open House and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the hammer say after getting an A on a test? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Breezy with partial sunshine, with a high of 60 and low of 30 degrees.
• Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 57, low: 41.
• Friday: Occasional afternoon rain, with a high of 60 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Apartment rents higher to end 2025 in some parts of Fairfax County, down in others (ffxnow.com) — Annandale renters are facing higher costs, with 2025 median apartment rents rising about 5.2% to $1,951 for one-bedrooms and $2,226 for two-bedrooms, outpacing many nearby communities. The article compares these figures with Centreville, Fairfax, Tysons, and the broader D.C. and national markets, showing how local prices stack up.
   

2. Park authority rolls back boulders blocking field at West Falls Church park (ffxnow.com) — Neighbors near Annandale can keep using the open field at Roundtree Park after Fairfax County Park Authority leaders ordered the removal of boulders that had suddenly blocked play. Following complaints from residents and Mason District’s park board representative, officials clarified the field will stay open, even though it’s not maintained as a formal athletic facility.
   

3. The Blizzard of 1996: Looking Back at the Snow Storm That Brought the East Coast to a Standstill (people.com) — Annandale makes a cameo in this 30-year look back at the Blizzard of 1996, when cars here and across the East Coast sat buried for days. The story revisits how the massive nor’easter shut down cities, stranded travelers, and challenged cleanup crews from Washington, D.C. to New York and beyond.
   

4. Annandale student dies in crash (annandaletoday.com) — Annandale residents are mourning 15-year-old Annie Vu, an Annandale High School sophomore and track team member killed in a Dec. 25 crash that also took her grandmother’s life and critically injured her brother. Local schools are offering mental health support, and services will be held Jan. 9–10 as the community rallies around the Vu family’s recovery and justice efforts.
   

📸 Around Annandale

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Annandale

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday January 24

• Merritt Academy Winter Open Campus/Open House
  9211 Arlington Blvd, Fairfax
  9:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday January 6

• George Mason Knitting and Crochet Group
  George Mason Regional Library , 7001 Little River Turnpike , Annandale
  7:00 pm

Wednesday January 7

• Ex Dir of ACLU of VA Mary Bauer to Speak at Jan 7, 2026 virtual LLI Forum
  Virtual
  10:00 am
• English Conversation Practice - Intermediate (Wednesdays)
  George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 22003
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Heirloom Silver and Brass Restoration Services: THURSDAYS 10-4
  6830 Elm St. Suite 9, McLean, VA, 22101
  10:00 am
• English Conversation Practice (Thursdays)
  George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 22003
  2:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Drop-In Citizenship Test Prep Fridays
  George Mason Regional Library
  11:00 am

Saturday January 10

• Falls Church Farmers Market
  City Hall Parking Lot , 300 Park Ave. , Falls Church
  8:00 am
• Suicide Loss Support Group In Person Drop In
  Haven of Northern Virginia Inc , 4606 Ravensworth Rd , Annandale
  11:00 am
• Chair Yoga
  George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 22003
  11:00 am

Sunday January 11

• Winter Sowing Workshop Annandale hosted by Wild Ones
  Mason District Government Center , 6507 Columbia Pike , Annandale
  2:00 pm

Friday January 16

• Festival de Salsa Y Timba En Virginia
  Diamond Lounge , 7203 Little River Turnpike , Annandale
  9:00 pm

📣 Annandale Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Annandale PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
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• ORS Interactive — (703) 570-1514
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• The Grout Genie — (571) 374-3643
  Licensed Tile & Grout Experts Serving Northern Virginia

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Styles And Smiles —Jerilyn Woelfel Read on Patch

• Looking for a bonded and insured house cleaning service that does deep cleaning.
  Prefer a recommendation from someone who has actually used the service and was happy with it. (Nextdoor Oak Hill)

• Petco posted a job opening for Stocker / Cashier in Annandale. Apply here.
• Brightview Senior Living, LLC posted a job opening for Cook in Annandale. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Annandale here.

Ok Annandale! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I nailed it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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