FOOD: Honey Pig Izakaya

By RA CHAN
May 18, 2012
Special To Falls Church Times

I’m a huge fan of Honey Pig Goldagee so when I heard about their sister restaurant, Honey Pig Izakaya, opening up, I had to mark my calendar to go check them out! What makes this place different from the original Honey Pig? Well for starters, it’s not a real Korean BBQ restaurant. Instead, it’s a Japanese fusion place, specializing in yakitori (grilled skewers), ramen noodles and sushi.

The décor reminds me a lot of Honey Pig, it’s definitely a little smaller and the bar takes a prominent role on the first floor. There is also seating available in the dining room upstairs.

Looking over the extensive menu, it really was hard deciding on what to get. So I settled on some sushi to start, a bowl of their miso ramen noodles and some yakitori.

The sushi wasn’t mind blowing or anything, just average; but I really did not expect too much of that. The ramen noodles though were actually super tasty. The broth was savory with the perfect amount of thickness. The ramen noodles were accompanied by a boiled egg, bamboo... [Read more...]

Civil War HistoryMobile Coming to FC Saturday

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
May 17, 2012 

The Civil War 150 HistoryMobile, an 18-wheel “museum on wheels,” rolls into the City of Falls Church for on one-day this Saturday, May 19th.  The exhibit, an initiative of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, will be located at Park Avenue near the Civil War Day site at Historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn, 312 Park Avenue.  It will open at 10 a.m., and admission is free.

The expandable 78-foot tractor-trailer contains a high-tech immersive experience detailing Virginia’s incomparable place in history. The HistoryMobile draws together stories from all over Virginia and uses state-of-the-art technology and immersive exhibit spaces to present individual stories of the Civil War and Emancipation from the viewpoints of those who experienced it—young and old, enslaved and free, soldiers and civilians.

The HistoryMobile exhibit is divided into four sections: Battlefront, Homefront, Journey to Freedom, and Loss-Gain-Legacy. From the emotional letter written by a dying son to his father after sustaining a mortal wound at Spotsylvania in 1864, to an... [Read more...]

Crime Report for May 8-14

By FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT
May 16, 2012

NOTE:  This report is not a definitive list of all criminal activity and is subject to change upon investigation.

Public Drunkenness, 134 W. Broad St. (CVS Pharmacy).  On May 8 a 50 year old man of no fixed address, was arrested for Public Drunkenness.

Vandalism to Vehicle, 104A E. Broad St.  (Family Medicine).  On May 8 an unknown suspect(s) was reported to have keyed the side of a vehicle sometime on May 7.

Graffiti, 1014 W. Broad St. (Jiffy Lube).  On May 8 graffiti was found on the front wall and dumpster.

Narcotics Violations, 300 W. Broad St. (Stratford Motor Lodge).  On May 8 a 25 year old Annandale woman was arrested for Possession of Cocaine.  A 30 year old man of  no fixed address, was arrested for Possession of Cocaine and Marijuana.

Vandalism to Vehicle, 201 N. Washington St. (Kaiser Permanente).  On May 9 an unknown suspect(s) keyed a vehicle.

Vandalism to Vehicles, 100 block E. Broad St.  On May 9 an unknown suspect(s) smashed a window to two vehicles.  No items were stolen in either vehicles.

Graffiti, 7100 Gordon... [Read more...]

New School Board Member Gets Aircraft Education

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
May 14, 2012

Falls Church School Board Member-elect Justin Castillo was privileged to get a look inside Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner aircraft last week on the plane’s maiden flight to Reagan National Airport.  The new wide-body plane made its first landing at DCA as part of a goodwill tour around the country.

The 787 includes numerous new features including  larger windows and higher cabin pressurization to increase passenger comfort.  It also has a carbon fiber fuselage, a sophisticated new wing and high-efficiency engines to cut fuel consumption by as much as 20% over the aircraft it will replace.

Boeing’s new aircraft should be an increasingly common sight in our skies beginning later in 2012, but its size and range make it a better fit for long-haul flights out of Dulles International Airport.  While the new Boeing plane landed with ease on DCA’s relatively short main runway, the airport’s taxiways were not designed to handle the plane’s 197-foot wingspan as part of routine operations.

Asked about lessons FCCPS students can learn from aircraft, Castillo quipped, “Kids... [Read more...]

Vice Mayor’s Statement Regarding Water System Sale

Via CITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

May 14, 2012

During this evening’s Council meeting Falls Church Vice Mayor Dave Snyder commented on the proposed sale of the City’s water system.

“The City is taking the necessary steps to sell its public water distribution system after a long and concerted effort by Fairfax County to drive the City out of providing water service in the County.  The sale is not driven by financial stress in the City.  The City of Falls Church is financially sound, maintaining high bond ratings and high quality public services.”

“The City is taking responsible steps to divest its water utility assets with appropriate protections for our customers and utility employees embedded in the Agreement for Sale. The proceeds from the sale will be deployed to meet other core public needs.  Those who are concerned about private ownership of water utility systems should encourage Fairfax Water to participate in the bidding process.”

Concerning water quality:  “The City water system is a distribution system only.  Whichever entity purchases and operates the City water system in... [Read more...]

FOOD: What to do with the bounty of Asparagus?

BY Kathleen Nixon

May 11, 2012

Falls Church Times

One of the heralds of warmer weather is the regal asparagus. This year with the warm weather early we have had a bounty of spring fruit to include lots of asparagus along with strawberries and early tomatoes.  Last weekend both my husband and I were so thrilled with the offerings of asparagus that we both loaded up on it. Thus we ended up with 6 bunches of asparagus and we had to come up with a variety of ways to prepare and serve it.

Asparagus is only available in our area for a few weeks in the spring and there is nothing better than those tender stems with slightly purple tips. Asparagus is a highly productive plant highly suited for cooler climates and provides a great source of Vitamins A and C and the leading vegetable supplier of folic acid. An established asparagus plant can produce spears for 15-25 years without replanting. The asparagus crowns are planted and are only harvested after they have been establish for 3-5 years. After a few weeks, the asparagus is allowed to grow to its full height and resembles a small Christmas tree with red berries.... [Read more...]

Crime Reports for April 24 thru May 7

By FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT
May 9, 2012

NOTE:  The reports are not a definitive list of all criminal activity and are subject to change upon investigation.

Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Blood or Breath Test, 900 block W. Broad St.  On Apr. 24 an officer responded to an accident involving a scooter.  The driver of the scooter, a 51 year old Falls Church man, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Blood or Breath Test.

Urinating In Public, 6763 Wilson Blvd. #R3 (V3 Club).  On Apr. 25 a 43 year old Manassas man was arrested and released on summons for Urinating In Public.

Assault and Battery, 100 Hillwood Ave. (Hillwood Mart).  On Apr. 27 three individuals from a family were assaulted during an altercation at the gas station.

Narcotics Violation, 100 Hillwood Ave. (Hillwood Mart).  On Apr. 27 two 22 year old Falls Church men were arrested and released on summons for Possession of Marijuana.

Destruction of Property, 100 block S. Maple Ave.  On Apr. 28 a window to the victim’s vehicle was punched.  A bag that was left in the vehicle... [Read more...]

GMHS #19 on US News High School List

By FALLS CHURCH CITY SCHOOLS COMMUNICATIONS
May 8, 2012

George Mason High School is ranked in the top 20 on a list of “America’s Best High Schools”, released today by US News and World Report (USNWR) magazine. Mason is ranked 1st among traditional Virginia public high schools and 19th of the nearly 22,000 high schools across the country included in the survey.

“The entire George Mason community is committed to excellence in mind, body, and character. We expect to achieve at high levels throughout our student body, and while the results are nice to hear, we are not surprised,” said George Mason Principal, Ty Byrd.

“We are confident that each Mason student is provided with a rigorous academic challenge and consistent support as they strive to reach individual and group goals. Thanks to our students, our teachers, counselors, administrators, assistant superintendent, superintendent and our school board. We are truly an exceptional community,” Byrd said.

The magazine also noted the school’s strong community in its review. “George Mason emphasizes parent involvement through conferences, parent nights... [Read more...]

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