Community Corner
🌱 Fairfax Seafood Restaurant Recognized For 'Great Food, Good Service': Best Of 2025
And on the Fairfax Patch calendar - McLean Winter Estate: Jewels, Holiday Decor, Furniture, Arts & Rugs Online Auction

Good morning to you Fairfax! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Fairfax local hails Kelly’s Oyster House as a true neighborhood standout
- How one Fairfax business family is reshaping George Mason athletics
- Which Fairfax rec center might get renovated first—and which must wait?
Also on today's calendar: McLean Winter Estate: Jewels, Holiday Decor, Furniture, Arts & Rugs Online Auction and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Fairfaxfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Fairfaxfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: A little rain this afternoon, with a high of 51 and low of 44 degrees.
- Friday: Partly sunny and windy, temps: high: 59, low: 24.
- Saturday: Cooler with periods of sun, with a high of 46 and low of 36 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Fairfax Seafood Restaurant Recognized For 'Great Food, Good Service': Best Of 2025 (patch.com) — Fairfax diners are celebrating Kelly's Oyster House and Bar, nominated in a Best of 2025 series for its consistently great food and attentive service. Longtime resident Stephen Fisch praises owner Bill Hamrock as a Fairfax City star, highlighting both Kelly’s and Hamrock’s Restaurant as standout neighborhood spots that make the community feel like home.
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2. Driving community spirit: Kathy McKay's impact on George Mason (gmu.edu) — A longtime Fairfax resident and business leader, Kathy McKay has become a major supporter of George Mason University athletics and the Fairfax Campus facilities that serve the wider community. From sponsoring student sports through Jim McKay Chevrolet to funding the K. McKay Court and the Jim McKay Natatorium, her family’s philanthropy continues to tie Fairfax’s business community closely to Mason’s student-athletes and fans.
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3. Fairfax County Park Authority rec centers may have to wait in line for upgrades (ffxnow.com) — Fairfax County leaders are weighing how to fund major renovations for the aging Audrey Moore, Franconia, and Providence rec centers, likely through a 2026 park bond that could total $85 million for these facilities. With construction costs rising, officials say at least one project will be delayed, and they may need to fully close centers during work, similar to Mount Vernon Rec Center’s recent overhaul. Public input on the bond package is expected next spring.
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4. Fox rescued in Fairfax County after being stuck in fence (wtop.com) — A fox recently got stuck in a fence in Fairfax County and was rescued by county animal shelter officers, but it suffered injuries and was taken to a wildlife center for treatment. Shelter staff say fox encounters are becoming more common as development expands and urge residents to watch from a distance, especially at dawn and dusk. They recommend calling 703-691-2131 if a fox seems sick or is acting strangely.
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5. Arlington Man Indicted For Re-Entering U.S. Following 2012 Removal (patch.com) — A man previously deported from the U.S. has been indicted in Alexandria federal court after Fairfax County police arrested him in August on assault and strangulation charges. His local case continues in Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, while federal prosecutors pursue an illegal reentry charge tied to his 2012 removal.
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📸 Around Fairfax
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Fairfax
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- McLean Winter Estate: Jewels, Holiday Decor, Furniture, Arts & Rugs Online Auction
McLean
6:30 pm - Brunch with Santa: A Christmas Celebration
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr, McLean, VA, 22102,
10:30 am
Thursday December 18
Thursday December 25
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- EXIN Blockchain Essentials 1 Day Training in Fairfax, VA
HQ Fair Oaks , 11350 Random Hills Rd Suite 800 , Fairfax
9:00 am - ASL Social at K Market International
K Market International , 4239 John Marr Dr , Annandale
1:00 pm - Let's go see Avatar Fire and Ash
Angelika Film Center & Cafe at Mosaic , 2911 District Ave , Fairfax
2:00 pm - Fairfax Ballet - The Nutcracker
George Mason University , 4400 University Dr , Fairfax
4:00 pm - Country Dance in Alexandria. Lessons: Line dances Ah Si! & Mamma Maria and Couples Two Step moves
Lincolnia Senior Center , 4710 North Chambliss St , Alexandria
6:00 pm - Fairfax Saxophone Quartet, “A Jazzy Christmas”, @FairfaxHS
Fairfax High School Auditorium , 3501 Lion Run , Fairfax
6:15 pm - Christmas In Fairfax
Fairfax High School Theatre , 3501 Lion Run , Fairfax
7:00 pm - City of Fairfax Band, “Christmas in Fairfax”, @FairfaxHS
Fairfax High School Auditorium , 3501 Lion Run , Fairfax
7:00 pm - Indoor Flag Football Camp (Grades 1-8)
8900 Little River Turnpike , Fairfax
9:00 am
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Saturday December 27
📣 Fairfax Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Marshall Pond Lights & Bunnyman Brewery (Rating: D FUN)
Burke Centre , 10399 Premier Ct , Burke
5:00 pm - Classic Movie Matinee: The Thin Man (1934)
Burke Centre Library , 5935 Freds Oak Rd , Burke Centre
11:00 am - Live Music: Lindsay Austin
Honor Brewing Kitchen - Fairfax , 11250 James Swart Cir , Fairfax
6:00 pm - Botanical Soap Making Workshop at Fairfax Corner with White Lily Shoppe!
Arhaus , 4229 Fairfax Cor Ave E Suite N105 , Fairfax
6:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
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 Fairfax PatchAM possible:
- Grapevine Vows — (703) 810-7511
Discover a new way to find your wedding venue in NoVa! - Neutral Ground Counseling Group — (703) 988-4236
Low Cost Mental Healthcare Available - beem Light Sauna — (703) 665-1375
Join us as a Founding Member with 25% off for a Lifetime - The Chocolate Chick — (703) 627-2294
Make Your Holiday Party Unforgettable w/a Chocolate Fountain - The Grout Genie — (571) 374-3643
Licensed Tile & Grout Experts Serving Northern Virginia - Bruno's Bounce House — (703) 594-1587
🌞 **Beat the Heat with Bruno's Bounce House Rentals!** 🌊 - Kathy Sparks - Team Sparks Realty Group, Inc. — (703) 407-2113
Complimentary Home & Staging Evaluation - Call 703-407-2113
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Please help us with sightings!
Miley ran away Monday Dec 15th at 1pm, last seen running on Father Hurley Blvd towards 270. She’s wearing a purple harness and leash was still… (Nextdoor Penderbrook) - I need to move Tesla wall charger from my previous house to new house.
Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you (Nextdoor Kings Park West)
- The Cleaning Authority posted a job opening for Housekeeper House Cleaner in Fairfax. Apply here.
- Dave & Buster's, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial Maintenance in Fairfax. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fairfax here.
Ok Fairfax! 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 don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
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