Mark your calendars — the Taste of Leesburg is right around the corner. On Saturday, Aug. 9 from 5-10 p.m., you’ll be able to walk around Downtown Leesburg and eat, drink, and shop local. There will also be live music for you to enjoy as you meander around this free event. I’m eyeing King Street Oyster Bar’s charbroiled oysters and the jollof rice from Mama Spice in particular.
Events
Events
Tuesday, July 22
Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace | Tuesday, July 22, Thursday, July 24 | 6-7 p.m. | Carlyle House Historic Park, Alexandria | $10 | Get into the flow by building heat with sun salutations before working on balance, deep stretching + relaxation — bring your own water, mat, or towel.
Origami Flowers to Make & Donate | 4-6 p.m. | Kings Park Library, Burke | Free | Make origami flowers that are then given to local hospitals + nursing homes.
Wednesday, July 23
Oakton Market | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Oakmont Rec Center, Oakton | Free | Start your day by sourcing local produce for the recipe you’ve been eyeing on Instagram — it’s the perfect time for tomato season.
Thursday, July 24
Red Cross Blood Drive | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Annandale | Free | RSVP to donate blood to help the American Red Cross.
Friday, July 25
Wiz Khalifa & Sean Paul | 6:30 p.m. | Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow | $37+ | Hear these famous rappers on their “Good Vibes Only” tour, as they are joined by special guest DaBaby.
Balo Kitchen will close, along with all other businesses, at The Block in Annandale this summer. However, the Balo team recently teased a new project in Crystal City this fall. The owners are also said to be designing the menu for Scapegoat Garden, a new restaurant at 556 22nd Street S. (ARLnow)
Coming Soon
The Domino’s in Falls Church is set to relocate in mid-November to 438 S. Washington St., moving into a former bike shop. Meanwhile, a new Neapolitan-style pizza spot, Costiera Pizzeria Napoletana, has applied for a permit to take over Domino’s current location at 1106 W. Broad St. (ARLnow)
Biz
Old Town Alexandria could see a new coffee shop + wine bar soon. Ksenia Varakina has proposed Cherry On Top at 1021 Queen St., and wants to open by the end of the year. If opened, Varakina says she wants to host various events like movie nights and book clubs. (ALXnow)
Sports
Don’t grab your paddles just yet. Alexandria’s Four Mile Run Kayak Launch, originally set to open on Saturday, July 19, has been delayed until September due to recent weather conditions. (ALXnow)
Mansion Monday
We feel like we say this every week, but this is our favorite mansion yet. This 6-bedroom house, located in McLean, gives the feel of an elevated log cabin. We’re drooling over the kitchen and all of the beautiful wood throughout.
Number
3. That’s how many more days homes in the DC metro area (including Arlington + Alexandria) spent on the market in June 2025 than June 2024. Explore our real estate coverage to stay in-the-know on localtrends and trendy homes. (Newsweek)
Pets
Listen up, cat lovers. CatVideoFest is coming to the Speed beginning Friday, Aug. 1 with a top-notch compilation of feline shenanigans. But if you think your cat is a star, you can snag them some screen time by submitting a video. Get the details on how to submit.
Biz
In 1998, the most common job in our state was a retail salesperson, according to a recent study. Nowadays, the most common job is a fast food worker. That’s what we call taking care of business. (Visual Capitalist)
Drink
According to a sommelier, these are the best wines to get from Trader Joe’s this summer — all of which come at or under $20. Or you could go to one of the many wineries + vineyards in NOVA to sip on some wine in style. (Business Insider)
Soak up the season on this patio with panoramic views and all the summer feels. | Photo via Rooftop Recess
Is it just us, or does eating outside make food taste better?
Catch some rays or laze in the shade at one of these 17 Northern Virginia patios. Pro tip: Don’t miss the shade level we’ve included for each of these locations.
Restaurants
Barca Pier + Wine Bar | Alexandria | Partially shaded
Savor Spanish-Mediterranean dishes crafted with regional ingredients, all in a waterfront setting. Stop by for weekend brunch, unwind during happy hour, or pull up by boat after a day on the water.
The Secret Garden Cafe | Occoquan Historic District | Partially shaded In my opinion, this is one of the sweetest patios in NOVA. With twinkle lights and a variety of plants, it creates that cozy backyard vibe that I love. I’ll eat anything with goat cheese, so I was immediately drawn to the warm goat cheese + spiced pecan salad.
Psst. Wondering what everyone bought during this year’s Prime Day? Here are the top most shopped items that The Buy team recommended — and some of them are still on sale:
👀 Slip into a soft pair of high-waisted leggings with NexiEpoch’s light-compression pair.
👀 It’s hard to say no to a two-in-one vacuum and mop roomba from iRobot, especially with features like “Clean While I’m Away.”
👀 Your under-sink storage space gets a lot more functional when you use these pull-out cabinet organizers that can fit around plumbing.
👀 Anker’s magnetic charging station charges devices two times as fast, all while replacing messy cords.
👀 The perfect lipstick doesn’t exi — ope, we nearly forgot about Clinique’s sheer, flattering Almost Lipstick.
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.
It’s official, the heat is killing me. Growing up in Wisconsin, I am not built for these humid conditions. If you’re like me and looking for ways to cool off, check out our guide on how to beat the heat in NOVA.
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