🛫 Dulles Airport could soon look—and feel—very different. New plans call for replacing two concourses, adding more than 30,000 parking spaces and ending some of the airport’s most frustrating travel routines.

🏗️ After 15 years of debate and revisions, Reston Town Center North is finally moving forward.

📍 Commercial flights from Manassas just moved one step closer to reality. A new FAA decision clears a major hurdle, but several key approvals still stand between the airport and a possible 2027 launch.

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Chris Colgan

Get ready for a night of hard-hitting, high-flying live sports entertainment as WWE brings its Summer Tour to Fairfax. Catch your favorite superstars in a mix of in-ring competition and the ongoing storylines that have made WWE a global phenomenon.
📍 Location: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax
📅 Date: Aug 6 | 7:30 PM (doors 6 PM)
🎟️ Tickets: On sale now via Ticketmaster (prices vary)
MORE INFO→

Celebrate World Elephant Day at Smithsonian's National Zoo with a three-day festival honoring the herd — including the Zoo's newest Asian elephant calf, Linh Mai. Expect live cultural performances, keeper talks, and hands-on activity stations, plus special ticketed extras like an adults-only Elephant Happy Hour and morning Yoga with Elephants.
📍 Location: Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC
📅 Date: Aug 7–9 | Zoo hours 8 AM–6 PM (last entry 5 PM)
🎟️ Tickets: Free entry pass required; select programs ticketed (Happy Hour $25 advance / $30 day-of; Yoga with Elephants $75)
MORE INFO→

Reston's quirkiest summer tradition returns to Lake Anne Plaza, where teams race life-size, homemade cardboard boats across the water in timed heats. Thousands of spectators pack the plaza to cheer on the creative vessels — and delight in the ones that don't quite stay afloat.
📍 Location: Lake Anne Plaza / Reston Museum, Reston
📅 Date: Aug 8 | 1–3 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free to watch (team registration from $50; VIP seating from $50)
MORE INFO→

NOT ENOUGH? SEE 10+ GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND→

Driving the news
Dulles International Airport could soon lose two of its most familiar headaches: the mobile lounges known as “people movers” and the long trek from the terminal to parked cars.

President Donald Trump unveiled new renderings Wednesday for a major renovation of Dulles, including rebuilt concourses and a large glass parking facility.

Details
The airport’s original terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen, would remain in place.

Why it matters
Northern Virginia residents could get a faster, easier trip through one of the region’s busiest travel hubs.

Better parking and updated concourses could also make Dulles more appealing to travelers, airlines and businesses across the Washington area.

The big picture
The proposal builds on a capital improvement program already underway through the MWAA Master Plan and an earlier agreement with airlines.

Nearly 30 proposals were considered before Trump selected the design presented Wednesday.

Between the lines
The plan is focused on function as much as appearance.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the current airport dark and dated, while one connecting passenger said clearer movement through the airport mattered more than how the building looked.

What’s next
MWAA and participating airlines will move the selected design into the broader airport improvement process.

The bottom line
Dulles would keep its famous terminal while replacing aging concourses, adding tens of thousands of parking spaces and making the airport easier to use.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

Driving the news
Reston Town Center North is one step closer to becoming a mixed-use neighborhood with new public facilities, housing, parks and community services.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously on July 22 to support zoning and land-use changes for the long-planned redevelopment of Reston Town Center North.

The proposal now heads to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Sept. 15.

Details

Why it matters
Reston residents could gain newer public facilities, more housing choices and additional outdoor space without losing access to the current library and shelter during construction.

The plan also turns a collection of public and institutional properties into a more connected district near Reston Town Center and two Metro stations.

That could make it easier for residents to reach services, parks, shops and transportation within the same area.

The big picture
The redevelopment has been discussed for about 15 years and has changed several times in response to community feedback.

Planning commissioners said the long process helped build broader support for the current proposal.

The plan creates a framework for development, but each block will still require its own review and approval.

Between the lines
The Planning Commission’s vote does not approve every future building.

Instead, it establishes limits on uses, building heights and density while allowing details to change as individual projects move forward. That flexibility matters for a development expected to take decades.

Reston Association supports the proposal but wants clearer commitments on affordable housing, energy efficiency, natural turf, assisted living and the timing of the central green. Nearby residents have also asked the county to focus on pedestrian safety.

What’s next
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider the rezoning at its Sept. 15 public hearing.

Approval would allow Fairfax County and Inova to move ahead with land swaps and begin planning the first projects.

The new library is expected to open in 2030, with the replacement shelter following several months later.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

Driving the news
Washington Manassas Airport has cleared a key federal review, moving the city closer to commercial passenger flights as early as late 2027.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for Avports’ commercial expansion proposal.

Details

Why it matters
Commercial flights could give Manassas and Northern Virginia residents a closer, more affordable travel option.

The project could also bring more visitors and business activity to the city while supporting growth across the region.

The big picture
Washington-area travelers currently rely on Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International airports.

Adding Manassas could ease travel pressure and give airlines another place to serve the region.

Between the lines
FAA approval does not mean flights are confirmed.

Avports has spoken with several airlines, but route and schedule talks cannot move forward until the airport completes its certification process.

What’s next
Avports and the City of Manassas will pursue state and local approvals, prepare the airport for commercial operations and work through the remaining certification requirements.

The bottom line
The project still has several steps ahead, but the FAA decision removes one of its largest hurdles and puts commercial flights from Manassas within reach.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

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