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Best NOVA happy hours
A nice cold beer is the perfect way to kick back after the workday. | Photo via Courthaus Social
On the rocks, neat, dirty, frozen, or zero proof — we’re spilling the Long Island iced tea on the 18 best happy hours in NOVA.
Editor’s note: Hours listed are happy hours only.
Beer lovers
Bronson Bierhall | Arlington | Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. | Stop on in this German bierhall and get $2 off all draft beers. I recommend the Blue Raspberry Otter. The happy hour also includes $5 well drinks, $5 house wine, and $4 Narragansett Lager cans.
Off the vine
Screwtop Wine Bar | Arlington | Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. | This spot has a happy hour deal on four different wines for both glasses and bottles. Additionally, a couple of beers are on the happy hour menu along with four $8 appetizer options. I’m grabbing a glass of the Cricova Brut and some chicken empanadas.
Keeping spirits up
Crafthouse | Arlington | Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. | Enjoy $7 margaritas, old fashioneds, Moscow mules, and Irish mules during happy hour, plus all house spirits for just $5. Pair your drinks with delicious $6 shareables like nachos and tater tots for the perfect midweek treat.
Friday Night Live at Bear Chase Brewing Company | 6-9 p.m. | Bear Chase Brewing Company, Bluemont | Price of purchase | Sip on award-winning brews, listen to live music, and enjoy breathtaking mountain views.
Saturday, July 12
Arts in the Parks | 10-10:45 a.m. | Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station | Free | These performances are thoughtfully curated to offer children high-quality live entertainment in a vibrant outdoor setting.
Sunday, July 13
Beautiful Butterflies | 2-3:30 p.m. | Mason Neck State Park, Lorton | Free | Explore and learn about the fascinating world of butterflies.
Tuesday, July 15
Inova Blood Drive | 3-6 p.m. | Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, Alexandria | Free | Book your appointment and help donate blood to Inova.
Wednesday, July 16
The Sankofa Project | 10:30 a.m. | Theatre-in-the-Woods, Vienna | $12 | Join this vibrant, hands-on performance that brings West African culture to life through drumming, dancing, and storytelling.
DC-based Grazie Nonna and Grazie Grazie — an Italian restaurant and deli from the same owner — are expanding to Reston Town Center. Both will be part of the upcoming RTC Next development, which is expected to open in 2026. (FFXnow)
Eat
Tous les Jours, the French-inspired bakery, is set to open later this summer at 8201 Greensboro Dr. as part of the upcoming Luna Hall Tysons food hall. Enjoy a wide variety of bakery items ranging from bread to cakes. (FFXnow)
Outdoors
Sea Suite Cruises has teamed up with District Taco to launch “Cantina Cruises” — a party boat experience featuring a full-service bar and complimentary chips and salsa. Private groups can even elevate their event with full catering from the popular taco chain. (ARLnow)
Coming Soon
Reston’s new and improved Whole Foods will open on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 8 a.m. The first 300 customers will receive a custom tote and a variety of coupons, some offering up to $100 off. (FFXnow)
Biz
An Ace Hardware store will open in the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna this year. Once open, this will be the second location in the Fairfax area, along with the one in Fairfax City. (FFXnow)
Try This
Have you tried Lake Anne Brew House? This spot in Reston is expanding into the former Chesapeake Chocolates space, doubling its seating. They’ll also extend hours for serving Nordic-Knot soft pretzels — made by the same owner.
Development
Rail traffic between Arlington and DC may soon improve. A $1 billion four-track project, led by Skanska, is slated to begin construction later this month. Though no official start date was announced, the upgrade aims to ease congestion and enhance connectivity between the two transit hubs.
Plan Ahead
Paws in the Park returns to Alexandria on Sunday, Oct. 12 at Oronoco Bay Park. Enjoy a free, pet-friendly festival with shopping, adoptable animals, and more. Perfect for animal lovers of all ages. (Alexandria Living Magazine)
Wellness
Looking for a local getaway? Lilikoi Day Spa at Balian Springs in Alexandria was ranked seventh in USA Today’s top 10 day spas in the US. Signature services include the Kelapa Luxe Massage with Ayurvedic oils and the Herbal Press Massage utilizing heated herbal compresses. (USA Today)
Community
Could Fairfax City become more walkable? The city was awarded a federal grant to develop a safety action plan, a pedestrian action plan, and an Old Town transportation study. These projects all fall under the Move Fairfax City Plans.
Environment
Did someone say sheep? Dominion Energy has introduced a herd of 125 sheep at its Remington Solar facility in Fauquier County as an eco-friendly alternative to gas-powered lawnmowers — helping to preserve the environment one nibble at a time. (ABC7 News)
State
Virginia nonprofit Mercy Chefs deployed a team to Kerr County, Texas after catastrophic flooding over the holiday weekend. Based in Portsmouth, the organization has served 3,000 to 4,000 hot, chef-prepared meals every day to emergency workers and flood victims. (WRIC)
Job
Your dream employee is probably reading our newsletter right now — want them to see your job first? Add your job listing to our NOVAtoday Job Board, at no cost.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
🏓 Still riding the pickleball wave?We’ve got great news. This September, players of all ages can join in on matches, sharpen their skills at clinics, and even catch the pros in action at the National Mall of Pickleball event.
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