🎭 National Harbor could soon become home to one of the DMV’s most eye-catching entertainment venues!

🌳 Fairfax County voters approved $255 million to upgrade parks, recreation centers, and public health facilities, including major improvements in Annandale, McLean, and Chantilly.

🎓 George Mason University has received a $30 million donation to establish two institutes focused on national security and economic policy, expanding research and educational opportunities in Northern Virginia.

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Chris Colgan

Alexandria Film Festival
Alexandria’s film festival turns 20 with a record 80 screenings and more than 50 in-person Q&As with the filmmakers. Catch a single film or get a pass and stay all weekend.
📍 Location: Five venues across Alexandria: Beatley Library, The Lyceum (Old Town), Patagonia Old Town, Virginia Tech (Potomac Yard) and The Riviera Alexandria (Potomac Yard)
📅 Date: Nov 13–15 | times vary by screening
🎟️ Tickets: $15
MORE INFO→

Virginia Gourd Show & Sale
The Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society fills the museum with gourd art, a competition and raw gourds for your own crafting projects. The show is free; the museum’s galleries and gardens charge separate admission.
📍 Location: Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester
📅 Date: Nov 14–15 | 10 AM–5 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→

Bright Nights Opens at Cameron Run
NOVA Parks’ winter village at Cameron Run opens for the season with new light displays, festive photo spots, and hot drinks and snacks. New this year are lighted mini golf, a scavenger hunt and a giant maze. It runs rain or shine.
📍 Location: Cameron Run Regional Park, Alexandria
📅 Date: Nov 14 & 15 | 5–10 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $9 online, $12 on-site (plus tax and fees)
MORE INFO →

NOT ENOUGH? SEE 20+ GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND→

Driving the news
National Harbor could soon become home to one of the DMV’s most eye-catching entertainment venues! New renderings reveal plans for a massive, glowing Sphere near MGM National Harbor, complete with a giant exterior LED screen and an immersive theater unlike anything else in the region.

The proposed $1.4 billion venue would seat 6,000 people and feature a 16K interior display, immersive sound, vibrating seats, and special environmental effects. Standing 302 feet tall, the Sphere would also include pedestrian walkways, shuttle drop-off areas, and new connections designed to help visitors get around.

The Prince George’s County Planning Board approved the project’s detailed site plan on Nov 5. Developers are targeting a late 2027 groundbreaking and completion by 2030, although those dates are not guaranteed.

Why it matters
For Northern Virginia residents, especially those in Alexandria and along the Beltway, the Sphere could bring a major new entertainment destination just across the Potomac. It could also mean more visitors and traffic around National Harbor as the area continues to grow.

SEE THE NEW SPHERE RENDERINGS →

Driving the news
Big improvements are coming to Fairfax County! Voters approved $255 million in bond funding on November 3, paving the way for major renovations to local parks, recreation centers, and public health facilities.

Of that total, $180 million will support parks and recreation, including roughly $60 million for the Audrey Moore REC Center in Annandale. Planned upgrades include an Olympic-size pool, expanded fitness areas, childcare facilities, and more space for seniors. Clemyjontri Park in McLean is also set to receive up to $5 million for a redesigned, more accessible playground.

The remaining $75 million will fund improvements to the county's public health laboratory in Fairfax and treatment facilities at the Tim Harmon Campus in Chantilly.

Why it matters
These investments aim to improve everyday life for Fairfax County residents, with better recreational spaces, more accessible amenities, and stronger community health services. Construction on the Audrey Moore renovations is expected to begin in spring 2028.

EXPLORE THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS →

Driving the news
Big news for George Mason University! NVR founder Dwight Schar has donated $30 million to establish two new research institutes at the university’s Schar School of Policy and Government, strengthening its role in national security and economic policy research.

The new Institute for Security, Intelligence and Defense will focus on global security threats, emerging technologies, and intelligence policy. Meanwhile, the Institute for Economic Statecraft will explore how governments use tools like tariffs and financial sanctions to shape international relations.

The donation will also help recruit experienced faculty, expand research opportunities, and support new programs for students. The economic statecraft institute is expected to launch in fall 2027, and the university plans to honor Schar by naming a plaza at its Arlington campus after him.

Why it matters
This investment could bring more research, educational opportunities, and national security expertise to Northern Virginia, further strengthening the region’s connections to government, technology, and higher education.

EXPLORE THE NEW INSTITUTES →

NoVA’s housing market is giving buyers more breathing room. Across all seven markets, homes for sale are up from last October, while new contracts are down.

Loudoun saw the biggest jump in inventory (+46.9%), while Alexandria experienced the sharpest drop in new contracts (-31.8%). Meanwhile, median prices are holding relatively steady, with Fairfax seeing just a slight decline of 0.7%.

Homes are still moving quickly in some areas, with Alexandria at just 12 days on market, Fairfax at 13, and Loudoun at 14.

The takeaway: Buyers have more options and potentially more room to negotiate. For sellers, competitive pricing is becoming increasingly important.

Thinking about buying or selling in the next 6 months? Get a Game Plan →

Reply and let me know what you liked the most and what you’d like to see in next week’s newsletter. See ya!