Falls Church News & Notes

Lots and lots of new food and drink options breaking loose in downtown Falls Church City.

We start, of course, with the grand opening of Stacy's Coffee Parlor next Friday next to the CD Cellar in the 700 block of West Broad. Stacy, as many of you know already, is none other than Stacy Moot, who until this week was the highly successful executive director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and a long-time City resident with three kids in the City schools.

This is a bold entry into the business world for her, and she's got the moxey and creativity to make a success of it. So, be ready to jack up your caffeine intake with many a stop over at Stacy's, which will become the City's new hangout for local celebs and those in the know. Kendall's Bakery goods and ice cream will also be available.

But, that's not all! You may have noticed something is happening adjacent the 7-Eleven on North West Street. Long the site of the thrift shop that has now moved into much bigger digs beneath the News-Press office, the N. West street site is stirring at last. Behind those papered-over windows now is a beehive of activity that will explode in early May as the Route 7 Cafe and Bakery.

Owner Nara Adhikari will offer a range of special stuff from gyros and paninis to pastries, breads, ice cream and espresso. It will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and maybe later. Plans are eventually to have it open 24 hours.

Why call it Route 7 Cafe when it's a half-block off the corridor? That's because Adkihari has big plans to open multiple shops along the length of Route 7, and already has his eyes on one other location in the City of Falls Church.

But that's not all. We've all seen the Hunan Chinese Restaurant sign at the former site of Aladdin's Lamp in the 200 block of West Broad. The word is that its going to be an excellent restaurant. Coming soon!

And, yes, the Broad Street Grill has new ownership, again. John McManus, who bought the business from Mike Curtain, has now sold it to Poonacha Machaiah, who has big plans. We'll be watching closely to see what he does there.

All that, along with the news of the new specialty grocery store in the same neighborhood (see story, elsewhere this issue) and there's a lot starting to happen.

Congratulations to Falls Church resident Sally Cole, confirmed by the board of directors of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce to become its new executive director. Ms. Cole comes with an impressive background in association leadership, having served as executive director for the National Association of Child Advocates.

Congratulatios are in store for Emily Florence of the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, named the Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year in the Falls Church School System by the Washington Post.

Likewise, kudos for Falls Church Police Lt. Dan Ellis for being named the City's Employee of the Year, as nominated by the City Employee Review Board.

We are proud of our Falls Church restaurants, Argia's, El Zunzal and Ireland's Four Provinces for generous contributions of tasty food at the annual Northern Virginia Literacy Council gala event. David Quinn of the Falls Church Auction House also volunteered his auctioneering services.

THE ‘WOOFERS AND TWEETERS,’ as this group of Thomas Jefferson fifth graders is known, joined Bill Wellington (right) of Radio WOOF last month during a family concert at George Mason High School. Wellington is a storyteller, folk musician, songwriter, and dance caller who met with the children for a workshop during the day to prepare for their roles in the evening show. (Photo Courtesey Sylvia Malm)

IT’S NOT THE TWIST, these Thomas Jefferson Elementary kids are doing, but it’s close! A large crowd turned out Saturday, March 27 for the PTA Family Dance at TJ where children and parents competed in hula hoop and limbo contests, danced up a storm to live music and just plain had a fabulous time. (Photo Courtesey Sylvia Malm)