The Portrait Gallery is one of the many museums offering new exhibits in 2026. | Photo by NOVAtoday
Another year means another round of new museum exhibits coming to Northern Virginia and DC. These are the exhibits that I, Newsletter Editor Ava, can’t wait to see.
Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
There are four upcoming exhibits at this Arlington museum. From Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, May 24, you can see Stephanie Lane: “Meta Physika”, where she experiments with material in both photographs and paintings.
It was a hard choice — the other three look fantastic, too.
Midi Health makes expert-guided longevity care accessible and affordable. | Photo provided by Midi Health
Did you know genetics account for only ~25% of how long you live? The rest is up to you.
That’s where Midi Health’s AgeWell care comes in. Made for women, by women, the longevity care service checks key health markers, like hormone and blood sugar levels, then matches you with evidence-based solutions tailored to those results.
Better yet? Visits are virtual + covered by most insurance, so you don’t even have to leave the house.
Yelp recently released its list of the Top 100 US Restaurants for 2026, and NOVA is getting the love it deserves. Chay Restaurant in Falls Church, Fountain Grill in Ashburn, and Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen Bar in Alexandria all made the list. See who else.
Development
Numerous changes have been proposed for Dulles International Airport. Some ideas under discussion include a diplomatic visitors’ building, a new shuttle system, and a museum. Dive into the details. (FFXnow)
Plan Ahead
With the impending snowstorm expected to hit NOVA this weekend, the McLean Chocolate Festival has been postponed. It will now take place on Sunday, March 15 at the McLean Community Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Be sure to check other events, as many may be affected by the weather.(FFXnow)
Kids
I guess you could call this a sweet escape. Tickets are now available for the Hershey Super Sweet Adventure, an interactive pop-up, at Tysons Corner Center. It officially opens Friday, March 6 — snag those tickets here. (FFXnow)
The Little Theatre of Alexandria received 24 nominations in the Washington Area Theatre Community Honor Awards. The award ceremony will take place at The Birchmere on Sunday, March 22. See what else earned recognition. (ALXnow)
Development
The vacant property on Eisenhower Avenue is set to become a 377-unit apartment building known as the Victory Center. On almost 10 acres of land, this property will include 235 two-and-three-bedroom units. Peek at the renderings. (ALXnow)
Shop
A new Japanese department store is now open at Old Centreville Crossing shopping center, and it’s the first Virginia location. Teso Life sells a variety of items like snacks, toys, and beauty products. (FFXnow)
Transit
DMVMoves will present to Alexandria’s City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 27, outlining its efforts to improve transit efficiency and reliability throughout the region. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at Del Pepper Community Resource Center from 5:30 to 11 p.m.
Number
16. That’s the record-breaking number of nominations “Sinners” received for this year’s Oscars. Released in April, it will be hard to find it at a local theater, but some other nominated flicks are still on the schedule, including “Marty Supreme,” “Hamnet,” and “Zootopia 2.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
Pro Tip
Attention Amazon Prime members — don’t miss the chance to earn extra cash on every purchase you make. Check out these 16 hacks to save money + earn more cash, all from the comfort of your couch.*
Correction
Yesterday, we stated that all James Beard Award semifinalists were located in Washington, DC. However, two Northern Virginia restaurants were also recognized. See which restaurants made the list. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
The Buy
Oral hygiene upgrades we love:
🦷 A water flosser that’s three times more effective than traditional flossing.
🪥 This probiotic mouthwash that balances your oral microbiome + provides long-lasting freshness and enamel care.
🦷 A top-rated electric toothbrush with five brushing modes to remove 10 times more plaque than a traditional toothbrush.
🪥 Crest’s Sensitivity Relief toothpaste that restores gum health while providing rapid sensitivity relief for up to 24 hours.
🦷 A teeth whitening pen that removes years of stains + delivers results in as little as 10 minutes.
Back for seconds. I’ve written about Bar Chinois before, and the other day I went to the National Landing location for Winter Restaurant Week. An appetizer, entree, and dessert for $40? Say less.
I ordered the crispy shrimp bao, misozuke salmon rice, and the chocolate cheesecake. Everything was deeeelish. However, my favorite dish is still the 1970s garlic noodles, which is another option on their restaurant week menu.
Have you gone out for any of the recent restaurant weeks? Send us your “phone eats first” photos.
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