Jake's Gourmet, HS Student 'Quadgod', Mad Hatter Party: NoVA Good News

VIRGINIA — This week's good news stories in Virginia include Jake's Ice Cream Shop employing people with disabilities at its second business called Jake's Gourmet Popcorn, top graphic novelists coming to Arlington, and Ilia "Quadgod" Malinin getting honored by Fairfax County for his figure skating championship titles.

Plus, celebrate Women's History Month by visiting Craving for Chocolate in the Vienna area, read about Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii opening this week in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood, and check out the schedules for Bunny photo shoots and St. Patrick's Day events.

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

Jake's Ice Cream Offers Valuable Work For People With Disabilities

At Jake's Ice Cream in the Barcroft Plaza shopping center, Adam works as a greeter, welcoming guests and informing them about the ice cream offerings. He also runs social media for the business and will take on additional social media tasks for Jake's Gourmet Popcorn in Seven Corners. Adam, like most employees of Jake's Ice Cream Shop, is a person with a disability.

Arlington's Kitchen of Purpose Celebrates Relaunch Of Community Cafe

Kitchen of Purpose has remodeled its cafe in Arlington and expanded its menu in time for spring as it seeks to bring in new customers and raise awareness of its culinary programs. The Cafe by Kitchen of Purpose, at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Lincoln Street, serves breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Art Spiegelman, Alison Bechdel Headline New 'Arlington Reads' Series

Art Spiegelman and Alison Bechdel are headlining Arlington Public Library’s new Arlington Reads program that focuses on authors of graphic novels. Graphic novels will be available for purchase during each event, courtesy of One More Page Books. The conversations will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signings. The free events will be livestreamed.

Figure Skater Ilia Malinin Recognized By Fairfax County Board

Chairman Jeff McKay's daughter isn't always interested in all of her father's work on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. But when she heard "Quadg0d" Ilia Malinin would be at Tuesday's board meeting, McKay said "she was very jealous and asked if she could take the morning off." Malinin, a figure skating champion and Marshall High School senior from Vienna, was recognized by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

• FCPS Adult And Community Education Students Awarded $1K Scholarships
• 5 Seniors Receive Hunters Woods At Trails Edge Civic Leadership Awards
• Irish Dance Champion Shows Strength Of Character: Burke Star Student
• 2 FCPS Middle School Teachers Head Abroad On Fulbright Awards

Woman-Owned Craving For Chocolate Is Sweet Addition To Vienna Area

For Women's Historic Month in March, it's worth celebrating the women-owned businesses among the small businesses in Northern Virginia. One of the small businesses finding recent success is Craving for Chocolate, a business specializing in chocolate gifts and other sweets owned by Suzanne Nader and Dalia Hidayat. Craving for Chocolate started as a pop-up in 2015 and grew to offer a permanent space in 2022.

Other Small Businesses In The News

• Bruster's Real Ice Cream Offers Window Service In Vienna
• Hawaiian Bad Ass Coffee Comes To Alexandria, Plans More NoVA Openings
• The Commentary Joins Aslin Brewing In Craft Brew Dinner Series

Spring Has Almost A Sprung

• 2023 Patch Spring Gallery: Reston Daffodils Hearken Season's Arrival
• Bunny Photos, Mad Hatter Tea Party Coming To Springfield Town Center
• St. Patrick's Day 2023: Pub Crawls, Events Around Alexandria

Groundbreakings And Ribbon-Cuttings

• Ground Broken On W&OD Trail Bridge Over Wiehle Avenue In Reston
• Leaders Break Ground For New Government Center, Library In Kingstowne
• Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Held For New Annandale Community Center
• Reston Hospital Center Opens Expanded Inpatient Rehab Facility

A Few More Good News Stories:

• DC Native Finds Niche In Getting NoVA Multifamily Units Move-In Ready
• Earthquake Relief For Turkey Announced By Northern Virginia Leaders
• GMU: New Mayor Has Ideas To Bring Mason, Fairfax City Together
• Bus Rapid Transit Station Artwork For Richmond Highway To Be Shared
• 2nd Annual Fire Drill 5K Coming To Burke Lake Park In May
• Home For Life Expo Coming To Fairfax City In March