Chef Peter Chang | 102nd Birthday | Casual 'Beerstro': NoVA Good News

VIRGINIA — This week's good news stories in Northern Virginia include a 102-year-old woman still enjoys happy hour, a local animal shelter welcomes pet photos for a 2024 calendar, and a new Peter Chang restaurant is opening this month.

Plus, a new restaurant dubbed a "beerstro" will be opening soon, local best-selling author David Baldacci celebrates the freedom to read, and October fills up with Halloween festivals and ghost houses.

Here are some of this week's good news headlines:

For 102-Year-Old Woman, Hobbies Don't Have Age Limit

Getting to experience every decade within a century is an impressive feat. But for centenarians like Helen Smith in Alexandria, her life now focuses on enjoying the moment. Smith, a resident at The Landing senior living community in Alexandria's Potomac Yard, turned 102 on Sept. 15.

Pet Calendar Competition Opens With Request For Photos, Votes

The photo of the pet with the most votes will appear on the cover of the 2024 AWLA calendar. The next 12 pets with the highest number of votes will each receive a calendar month photo.

• Alexandria Goes To The Dogs For Paws In The Park 2023

Best-Selling Author David Baldacci Celebrates Books, Ideas At Festival

Best-selling author David Baldacci, a long-time advocate of libraries, was the featured speaker at Chantilly Regional Library, where he kicked off the Fairfax County Public Library’s inaugural Local Author Book Festival.

Famed Chef Peter Chang Opening New Restaurant In NoVA

A new Peter Chang restaurant will be opening in McLean on Oct. 12, with signature dishes like Scallion Bubble Pancake, Amish Honey Ribs and a Chinese-style burger called Rogamou. This will be the eighth Peter Chang restaurant named after the famed chef.

• The Casual Pint To Blend Beers, Family Atmosphere At Dunn Loring Metro
• Cinnaholic Vegan Bakery Sets October Grand Opening Date In Stafford

NoVA City Named 3rd Best Small City In The U.S.: Condé Nast

Condé Nast Traveler named Alexandria the third-best small city as part of its 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. More than 520,000 of the travel magazine's readers rated different kinds of travel experiences, from cities to hotels, airlines, airports and trains.

Ghost Tours and Halloween Frights

• Haunted Houses 2023: Where To Find The Best Thrills Around Northern VA
• Loudoun Guide To Haunted Trails, Spooky Skate Nights
• PWC Guide To Haunted Trails, Ghost Stories, And Other Spooky Delights
• Fredericksburg Guide To Fall Festivals, Interactive Plays, Hauntings
• Ghost Tours, Parade, Bar Crawls, Other Halloween Frights In Alexandria
• Halloween Festivities Creep Up On Del Ray
• Fall Wine Festival, Trick-Or-Treat: Fall 2023 Events At Mount Vernon
• Halloween Parade, Other Spooky Festivities Creep Up On Vienna

Open Houses and Celebrations

• Coming Out Party In Arlington To Celebrate National Coming Out Day
• Open House Activities Coming To McLean Volunteer Fire Department
• Cardinal Elementary, New Stormwater Vault Celebrated At Westover Day
• River Farm's Future Gets Boost At 50th Anniversary Gala

More Good News Stories

• Langley, McLean High Among Best Public High Schools In NoVA: Ranking
• DOT Awards $100M Grant To Franconia-Springfield Bypass Rail Project
• GMU Celebrates Faculty And Staff With Mason Now Kick-Off Event
• Remembering Herndon's History: The Ghost In Brush Strokes' Salon
• Providence Community Center Renamed For Former VA Del. Jim Scott

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