🌱 Patch AM: See which new restaurants and groceries are coming to Falls Church next

Greetings Falls Church! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• See which new restaurants and groceries are coming to Falls Church next
• Why Meridian High’s band room now carries a beloved teacher’s name
• How one Mason grad’s curiosity began in Falls Church, Virginia

Also on today's calendar: The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Chantilly, VA (December 2025) and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Increasingly windy, with a high of 58 and low of 26 degrees.
• Saturday: Turning cloudy, temps: high: 46, low: 37.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 53 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Re-Purposed Stratford is Opened as Beer Garden (fcnp.com) — A long-vacant corner of W. Broad Street is now the Stratford Beer Garden and Restaurant, officially opening as a 300-seat gathering spot in downtown Falls Church. Alongside it, a wave of new eateries and two incoming grocery stores are reshaping dining and shopping options from West Falls to Founders Row and S. Washington Street.
   

• Meridian High Names Music Classroom for Mary Jo West (fcnp.com) — Meridian High School has officially named its music classroom in honor of longtime Falls Church City Public Schools band director Mary Jo West, recognizing nearly three decades of service to local students. At a recent School Board reception, West reflected on the growth of the music program, the support of FCCPS families, and a new Falls Church Education Foundation scholarship tied to the band boosters.
   

• Commencement Speaker Ali Reza Manouchehri's remarks to George Mason's winter 2025 graduates (gmu.edu) — A George Mason University commencement speaker recalls how his family eventually settled in Falls Church as part of a life shaped by revolution, war, and reinvention. He urges graduates to stay relentlessly curious—about people, ideas, and their own journeys—framing curiosity as the force that fuels resilience, bold decisions, and the ability to build meaningful futures.
   

📸 Around Falls Church

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Falls Church

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Chantilly, VA (December 2025)
  Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly
  10:00 am
• Holiday Cheer!
  Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington
  7:30 pm

Thursday December 25

• Brunch with Santa: A Christmas Celebration
  Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr, McLean, VA, 22102,
  10:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• A Holiday Tribute to Elvis Presley
  State Theatre , 220 N Washington St , Falls Church
  8:30 pm
• Falls Church, VA
  State Theatre , 220 N Washington St , Falls Church
  8:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Falls Church Farmers Market
  City Hall Parking Lot , 300 Park Ave. , Falls Church
  8:00 am
• Sing Books with Emily
  Mary Riley Styles Public Library , 120 N Virginia Ave , Falls Church
  11:00 am
• Trial By Fire - A Journey Tribute
  State Theatre , 220 N Washington St , Falls Church
  8:30 pm

Sunday December 21

• DOG and CAT Event at PetSmart in Falls Church
  PetSmart , 6100 - A Arlington Blvd , Falls Church
  12:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Santa Dance Camps
  2985 District Ave , Fairfax
  10:00 am
• K Pop Dance Hunters Camp
  2985 District Avenue, Ste. 175 Fairfax, VA — 22031
  1:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Heirloom- Silver & Brass Restoration Services: THURSDAYS 10-4
  6830 Elm St, Suite 9, McLean, VA, 22101
  10:00 am

📣 Falls Church Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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 Falls Church PatchAM possible:

• kids watch pediatrics & urgent care — (703) 775-0777
  Falls Church Families: Your Pediatric & Urgent Care Solution
• R2 Advisors — (571) 766-6727
  Integrated Accounting, CFO & Tax Strategy
• The Grout Genie — (571) 374-3643
  Licensed Tile & Grout Experts Serving Northern Virginia
• Redeemer Renaissance Preschool — (703) 356-3567
  Redeemer Renaissance Preschool 2025-26 Open Enrollment
• The Brooksfield School — (703) 356-5437
  A private school in McLean, VA

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🪧 Patch Classifieds

• Neighbors Helping Neighbors ❤️ Let's Keep Our Kids Safe
  School Crossing Guards Needed in Falls Church... (More info)
• Dining Igloos at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
  Reserve your Igloo today.Dine under the stars in your own private, heated igloo Perfect for date nights and group celebrations (up to 6 guests).... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Support for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease —Guy Mayer Read on Patch

• There is a fox in our neighborhood that has a broken back right leg.
  If I call animal control will they take care of him or euthanize him? (Nextdoor Poplar Heights)

• Planet Fitness, Inc. posted a job opening for Future Opening: Assistant Manager in Falls Church. Apply here.
• Merry Maids posted a job opening for House Cleaner in Falls Church. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Falls Church here.

🗞 Nearby News

Tysons

• R2 Advisors - Tysons Corner, VA Patch (patch.com)
• This mall Santa still loves his job after 40 years (spokesman.com)
• Baseball Unveils 2026 Schedule (goexplorers.com)

McLean

• McLean Teen's Music​ Lessons Help Fund Legal Aid Work In India (patch.com)
• The Best Places To Eat In VA For 2025: The Ultimate List (patch.com)

Ok Falls Church! 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 think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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