January 31 – February 6, 2008
A number of local businesses will participate in FIRSTFriday of Falls Church sponsored by the Falls Church Economic Development Authority on Friday, February 1. For a listing of participating business events and available discounts and of restaurants offering lunch time and other specials, visit www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com.
Falls Church-based Organic Doggy Kitchen and Alexandria’s Nature’s Nibles are hosting a “Doggy Primary” from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 2. Organic Doggy Kitchen will provide free samples of their Capitol Dog Bakery Political Dog Biscuits which include Republican elephants and Democratic donkeys. The organic biscuits are all peanut butter and honey flavored. Participating dogs will have the opportunity to pick which party animal or political ideology they prefer and a scoreboard will keep track to determine the final canine vote. The event will take place at Nature’s Nibles, located at 2601 Mt. Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray area of Alexandria. For more information contact Tomoko Kawasumi at 703-532-7387.
The Falls Church Business & Professional Women cordially invite local business women to attend their Monday, February 4, 2008 dinner meeting at LaPromessa (7630 Lee Highway). A presentation on "Women & Heart Health" will be provided. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Interested parties are welcome to show up at the event or call for more information, call 703-560-0527.
The Falls Church Economic Development Authority’s February Developer’s Forum will include a presentation on “Hotel Development: How are Lodging Industry Decisions Made and What are the Prospects for Falls Church City in the Marketplace?” The forum will take place at 6:30 on Tuesday, February 5 in the Falls Church Community Center (Teen Center Room on the upper level). Economics Research Associates, a national consulting firm, will provide a detailed examination of the local hotel market with a focus on the feasibility of a full-service hotel product in Falls Church. It will include an overview of lodging industry practices and guidelines for site selection, market demand findings for Falls Church, and recommended market niches for the City. The public is invited to attend. For more information contact Lovey Testa at 703-248-5491 or ltesta@fallschurchva.gov.
FedEx Kinko’s will be opening a new office and print center at 8190 Strawberry Lane in Falls Church on February 11. The new center is part of their global expansion effort which has resulted in the opening of more than 400 new centers since June 2006. The new location, designed with the smaller store format, will focus on the provision of greater access to office, printing and shipping services to small businesses and mobile professionals. FedEx Kinkos currently has more than 1,800 locations. The new center will be open 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information call 703-280-0125.
2941 Restaurant has secured Bertrand Chemel as its new Executive Chef, replacing founding chef Jonathan Krinn who left the restaurant in October. Chemel, a native of the Auvergne region of France, has studied and worked in some of the finest kitchens throughout France, London, and New York. Most recently, he served as the Chef de Cuisine of Café Boulud on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City where he received a three-star review from Frank Bruni at the New York Times. Chemel will be creating new, innovative menus and managing the day-to-day operations of the kitchen. 2941 Restaurant, which will be closed on Sunday, February 3, is located at 2941 Fairview Park Drive in Falls Church. Reservations are recommended. Call (703) 270-1500.
Exemplar Strategic Communications, a consulting company founded by Patrick R. Riccards that partners with companies and organizations to develop strategic planning, public affairs, and advocacy communications solutions, has opened up shop in Falls Church. Riccards more than 15 years of experience including SVP and VP positions with DC-based public affairs companies, VP of marketing for a Texas-based education company, and senior communications positions for U.S. Senators Robert Byrd and Bill Bradley and U.S. Congressman John Olver. He has also served as executive director of the DC-based Coalition to Protect Community Not-for-Profit Hospitals, and led several successful advocacy campaigns for the Coalition in Northern Virginia. PRWeek and PR News magazines have named Riccards one of the top professionals in the field, and the International Association of Business Communicators, Public Relations Society of America, and Philips Business Information have honored several of his communications campaigns. For more information about Exemplar Strategic Communications call 703-298-8283, email patrick@exemplarpr.com, or visit www.exemplarpr.com.
Merrifield’s FineLines Furnishings, owned and operated by former Nextel executive Lauren M. Simmons, recently celebrated its first year anniversary. FineLines features furnishings and gifts ranging from traditional items to unique designer furniture and also includes smaller gifts for the home. The store also does special orders from a large group of high-end and designer vendors. FineLines is located at 2711 Dorr Avenue, Suite C in Fairfax.
PRS, Inc. has named Mr. Ray Glover from the Safeway Food Store at 5821 Crossroads Center Way in Falls Church, the 2007 PRS Mount Vernon Employer of the Year. PRS Employment Services Specialists have worked with Mr. Glover at this Safeway location and at the Olde Towne and Belleview location for eight years and he has assisted us in finding employment for several clients at both locations as Courtesy Clerks, Deli Clerks and Stock People. Mr. Glover has been instrumental in allowing PRS clients to be successful on the job, encouraging them in all ways and assisting PRS staff in supporting clients at their work site. PRS is a community-based nonprofit organization that provides training and support to men and women with psychiatric disabilities so that they may live independently in the community. Additional information about PRS can be found at www.prsinc.org.
