This dish could be yours on date night. | Photo via Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar
Want to woo your partner on a budget? These seven NOVA restaurants feature thoughtfully crafted date-night or prix fixe menus that make it easy to enjoy a romantic evening together.
Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar | Fairfax
Every Thursday, this Italian restaurant offers a $70 date night special for two. Choose three items from the Cicchetti menu and enjoy either a half bottle of wine, or a wine flight per person.
Ellie Bird | Falls Church
For $65 a person, you get a starter, entree, and dessert. My order? I’m so glad you asked. To start, I’ll have the pear cacio e pepe. For my entree, the fennel rigatoni, and for dessert, the sticky toffee pudding.
L’ Auberge Chez Francois | Great Falls
Priced between $110 and $116, the experience includes eight courses — bread, appetizers, a main course, dessert, and several other delicious dishes.
Additional holiday menus, festive cocktails, and flexible private dining options are available at several National Landing venues. | Photo provided by JBG SMITH
National Landing is packed with festive venues ready for every kind of holiday celebration.
Bar Chinois + Surreal shine with prix-fixe and curated group packages — and a special New Year’s Day menu. Bar Colline serves seasonal cocktails with private and semi-private rooms, full buyouts, and happy hour favorites.
Ruth’s Chris and Morton’s offer timeless steakhouse celebrations, while Water Bar brings bold flavors and stylish vibes for groups of all sizes.
Starting today, Arlington Drafthouse is hosting a weeklong special featuring Christmas movie classics. And on Sunday, Dec. 21, there will be a “holiday movie festival,” showing five holiday movies back to back. See the full schedule here. If this isn’t your taste, check out these other theaters in NOVA to catch a flick. (ARLnow)
Eat
Northern Virginia Magazine has named Pho Cyclo the winner of the 2025 NOVA Wars: Pho, defeating Pho4ever in the final round. The family-owned Falls Church restaurant, open since 2003, is celebrating with 20% off all pho orders through Tuesday, Dec. 23. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Transit
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed the DMV Moves initiative, proposing $460 million annually, with increases, to support Metro. The funding must be in place by mid-2027. Virginia plans to advance a funding package during the 2026 General Assembly, opening Wednesday, Jan. 14. (FFXnow)
Environment
Leeburg’s leaf collection ends this week. Zones 1-2 will be collected on Monday, Dec. 29; Zones 3-4 on Tuesday, Dec. 30; and Zone 5 on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Here’s a map of each zone. Afterward, leaves must be bagged or placed in covered cans for Patriot Disposal.
Edu
$1.2 billion. That’s how much funding the Virginia Department of Education projects K-12 schools will need over the next two years. A few factors boosting the biennial report: 6% teacher pay raises, more students needing extra support, and increased operational costs. (Virginia Mercury)
Civic
Speaking of budgets, Governor Glenn Youngkin will present the 2026-2028 Biennial Budget this morning, Dec. 17, at 9:30 a.m. You can tune in via livestream.
Closing
The Indochen at Cameron Station in Alexandria will be closing for good at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24. But don’t fret. You will still be able to dine at the Old Town location in the Hyatt Centric. (ALXnow)
Sports
A rugby rematch is on. Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins has announced an official showdown against sister city, Dundee, Scotland, for the first Mayors’ Cup rugby match. These teams first played one another in 2008. The rematch will take place in May 2026 — follow the Instagram page for updates. (ALXnow)
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You might one day be able to shop at this strip mall again. The Fillmore Gardens shopping center on Columbia Pike in Arlington is getting a makeover. The site will transform into a six-story mixed-use development by the name of “The Elliott.” The current plan expects 271 apartments and 15,000 sq ft of retail space. Stay tuned for updates on this project.
Our favorite way to stay warm in the winter? With a little added heat. We love this heated vest that provides up to 12 hours of continuous heat with a battery that doubles as a power bank. We pair it with these top-rated rechargeable hand warmers on extra chilly days.
I’d recommend a seat in the library room. | Photo via NOVAtoday
This. This is exactly my vibe: a cozy pub atmosphere, excellent cider, and festive holiday touches. Ireland’s Four Courts in Arlington is one of my favorite spots for a meal or a pint, whether you’re gathering with friends or heading out for date night. As always, I recommend packing a deck of cards.
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