F.C. Bulletin: Sept. 23, 2026

1) Urban Atlantic Selected to Redevelop Virginia Village

2) Del. Simon Supports Three Proposed Va. Constitutional Amendments

3) Va. Chamber Responds to Gov. Spanberger’s Data Center Accountability Framework

4) Preservation Biscuit Co. to Close Sept. 27

5) FFX Now: Tysons' Population Nearly Doubles Since 2010, Increasing Diversity

6) Falls Church Arts: 'Geometrix' People's Choice Award Goes to Simons' 'Withhold'; Plein Air Festival Sept. 26

7) Notices & Announcements

Urban Atlantic Selected to Redevelop Virginia Village

'Community Minded' Area Firm to Construct 200 Affordable Units to Replace 80 Built in 1941

At its Sept. 14 meeting, the F.C. City Council accepted by unanimous vote the Virginia Village Proposals Evaluation Committee's (VVPEC) recommendation to select Maryland-based Urban Atlantic as the "top-ranked development team" for redeveloping the Virginia Village site for purposes of adding to the City's housing stock and boosting the number of affordable units in The Little City.

"Virginia Village is an approximately 4.5-acre site along South Maple Avenue, between Bowl America [now Lucky Strike bowling alley] and the Tax Analysts building," the City's website says. It features some of the only market affordable housing in the City, with 20 four-unit apartment buildings. The City has strategically purchased several of the Virginia Village properties over time, with the goal of preserving and expanding the neighborhood’s affordability through redevelopment." The 80 current units in Virginia Village were constructed in 1941 and are in need of refurbishment.

Affordable Housing Stock a Major Priority for Mayor

City of Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi has long advocated the construction of more local housing stock to improve affordability in the Little City. In a June speech to the City Council she said, "Today, families struggle to find housing they can afford. Seniors who want to downsize and stay in Falls Church often have few options. Teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and restaurant employees increasingly find themselves priced out of the community. Students and young professionals find it impossible to return to the hometown they grew up in, maybe to only return to their parents’ basements or hopefully backyards. Many of those people are not in this room tonight."

“Meanwhile, communities across Northern Virginia and the U.S. are having these same debates," the mayor continued. "Years of meetings. Years of hearings. Years of worrying about every possible downside. Years before anything gets built. And then we wonder why housing costs keep rising."

The City's Eight Objectives for Virginia Village Redevelopment

In June, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for redevelopment of the Virginia Village area with a Thursday, Aug. 6 deadline. The RFP solicited projects "preserving and expanding access to affordable housing in alignment with the vision for this neighborhood set forth in the Comprehensive Plan."

The City's RFP emphasized the following eight objectives: 1) Deliver the greatest number of affordable units possible; 2) Prioritize financial feasibility and speed to market; 3) De-risk the project by utilizing reliable, non-competitive funding sources; 4) Minimize further financial commitment from the City; 5) Provide broad affordability (30-80% Area Median Income, AMI, units) and family-sized units; 6) Deliver a project that respects and is compatible with its neighbors; 7) Design a sustainable building; and 8) Ensure a robust tenant relocation plan that prioritizes existing residents. 

Urban Atlantic's Vision

On its website, Urban Atlantic outlines its vision of providing communities with "value" and "vibrancy."

"At the forefront of developing large, inclusive, urban-infill, mixed-use and mixed-income communities, Urban Atlantic delivers value for our partners and neighbors," the firm says. "We are a community-minded real estate development and investment company that has catalyzed vibrant neighborhood development in emerging urban and inner-ring suburban markets for more than 20 years. Topping $5 billion in completed development and investment, we are real estate innovators who apply skill and vision to serve partners and communities with complex development, acquisition and financing solutions."

According to Urban Atlantic's Executive Summary of its proposal, the project "represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage City-controlled assets to materially increase affordable housing stock within the City of Falls Church for the longterm. Our proposal delivers nearly 200 units of affordable housing, including a substantial mix of family-sized units within 6 years with a focus on the City’s two primary goals – maximizing affordable housing production and ensuring economic feasibility." 

Urban Atlantic's proposal "anticipates no additional financial commitments from the City of Falls Church beyond contributing its existing land to a 99-year ground lease and granting a real estate tax abatement to facilitate the Project's development and long-term affordability for many decades to come," the executive summary says. "Our financing strategy is designed to minimize funding availability risks, leveraging 4% tax credits and available funding sources from Virginia Housing and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development." 

A 'Deep History' of Affordable Housing Development

"Our Team, led by Urban Atlantic Development, in partnership with Gibson Spyre, a Virginia based and Veteran-owned small business led by Thomas Gibson, former board chair of Virginia Housing, has a deep history of successfully developing affordable housing at the national, regional and local levels, having developed over 10,000 units of housing, including over 1,500 units of affordable and mixed-income housing completed or under construction over the last 5 years," the executive summary continues. 

Urban Atlantic has been "Tapping unrealized value in emerging urban and inner-ring suburban markets since 1998," the firm claims. "Our holistic approach to commercial real estate development, acquisitions and investment has allowed us to partner successfully with private entities, public agencies, and local communities to promote inclusive engagement, unlock value, and create vibrant places for people to live, work and play."

"Our portfolio of successful projects includes large-scale mixed-use projects such as The Parks at Walter Reed and New Carrollton Metro, affordable and mixed-income housing projects, and market rate multifamily rental and for-sale developments exceeding 10,000 residential units and nearly 3 million commercial square feet."

Next Steps

The Virginia Village redevelopment project "will now shift towards negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with Urban Atlantic which the City Council is scheduled to consider at their Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, and Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, meetings," the City says.

Learn more about the Virginia Village project from the City's website.

Del. Simon Supports Three Proposed Va. Constitutional Amendments

"President Trump is trying to make it harder for Americans to vote this fall. We can’t let him get away with it," Del. Marcus Simon (Va.-13) wrote in his Sept. 28 constituent newsletter. "So far the Courts have prevented the worst of what’s been proposed, but the efforts and the news around them are designed to make you wonder if it is even worth it to try to vote this year."

"The answer is undoubtedly yes! And, the good news is we have lots of ways to vote in Virginia," Simon continued.

After providing voting and elections info (See below in Notices & Announcements for early voting and mail-in voting information), Simon turned to three proposed Va. Constitutional amendments on the ballot in this year's Nov. 3 statewide elections.

What's on the Ballot

"We have members of Congress on the ballot and I encourage voters to reelect Mark Warner to the Senate and Don Beyer and James Walkinshaw in the 8th and 11th Congressional Districts, respectively," Simon wrote. "Virginians will also decide the fate of three proposed amendments to our state Constitution.

"As I made my way through a series of events the past couple of weeks, I was surprised by how many people had no idea these questions would be on the ballot this fall. That is a problem, because amending our Constitution is a big deal and these three questions deserve more attention than they have received.

"The first amendment would add a right to reproductive freedom to Virginia’s Constitution. Put simply, it would mean that Virginians, not politicians in Richmond, get to make their own decisions about contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy and abortion. These decisions are personal, complicated and sometimes heartbreaking. They belong to patients, their families and their doctors, not the government.

"Amendment 2 would remove the outdated language in Virginia’s Constitution banning same-sex marriage and make clear that every lawful marriage between two adults is entitled to equal treatment. Marriage equality is already the law of the land, but the right recognized in Obergefell v. Hodges is now threatened by a runaway U.S. Supreme Court. Those discriminatory words remain in our Constitution, and it is long past time to take them out.

"Finally, Amendment 3 is about voting rights. Today, someone convicted of a felony must personally ask the Governor to restore their right to vote. The amendment would restore that right automatically once a person has completed their incarceration and returned to the community. At that point, we should be helping people become full participants in civic life, not making them petition the Governor for permission to vote.

"These amendments deal with very different questions, but there is a common thread running through all three. They are about the freedom to make decisions about your own life and the freedom to participate fully in our democracy.

"Putting those protections in our Constitution is critical to what we want Virginia to look like and where we want to go in the future. A constitutional amendment is not something the General Assembly can simply change with a vote in a future session. It is a decision that Virginians make for themselves.

"We all have different experiences and priorities, but our democracy works best when people bring those differences to the ballot box rather than staying home. We’ve set up our elections so you have options, so don’t sit this one out.

See you at the polls!"

Va. Chamber Responds to Gov. Spanberger’s Data Center Accountability Framework

Group Ironically Concerned that Limits on Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) Might Lead to 'Distrust'

Chamber argues: "Prohibiting confidential discussions regarding data centers from taking place signals to every business in every industry that Virginia can no longer be trusted...."

On Sept. 18, Va. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) issued Virginia's Data Center Accountability Framework (VDCAF) in part due to the severe backlash against the proliferation of data centers across Virginia and nationwide. The introduction to the VDCAF describes the governor as "leading the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort in the country. Virginia’s Data Center Accountability Framework is a detailed, wide-ranging plan that sets a high bar for development in the Commonwealth moving forward."

In the introduction, Spanberger describes a strong pivot from "welcoming data center development" to a "clear and coordinated plan to address [data center] impacts on Virginia. "We are at an inflection point with this technology, and Virginia has an obligation to lead the way in data center accountability," the introduction continues.

"As this industry rapidly expands across the country, Governor Spanberger is focused on one thing: delivering a better deal for every Virginian. In the years before Governor Spanberger took office, Virginia welcomed data center development without a clear or coordinated plan to address their impacts on Virginians — on their electric bills, their water, their land, their air, or their quality of life. Those days are over."

The governor's VDCAF outlines the following priorities: 1) Increasing Transparency and Ending the Secrecy; 2) Strengthening Environmental Protections; 3) Lowering Energy Costs; 4) Bolstering our Clean Energy Economy & Grid Reliability; and 5: Delivering a Better Deal for Virginia Workers.

To "increase transparency and end the secrecy," Spanberger included a clause to: "Ban non-disclosure agreements that keep communities in the dark regarding potential or planned commercial data center development."

On the same day Gov. Spanberger released her VDCAF, the Va. Chamber of Commerce issued the following Sept. 18 press release supporting several of the new framework's measures, but pouncing on the governor's call to "ban non-disclosure agreements."

Sept. 18 Va. Chamber of Commerce Press Release

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA — The Virginia Chamber of Commerce recognizes
Governor Abigail Spanberger’s focus on protecting Virginia families and businesses from rising energy costs and ensuring that economic development benefits communities across the Commonwealth. However, we are concerned that portions of the data center accountability framework announced today could weaken Virginia’s competitiveness, deter future investment, and hinder the Commonwealth’s ability to compete with other states for the jobs and technologies of the future. 

The economic impact of Virginia’s data centers must be at the forefront of policy discussions: 74,000 jobs, $9.1 billion in economic output, and $5.34 billion of state and local tax revenue.  Maintaining the sales and use tax exemption for data center equipment remains an essential pillar of Virginia’s economic competitiveness. Any effort to weaken it, particularly in addition to the new restrictions under consideration, would further compound the risk to Virginia’s reputation as a top state for business. 

Virginia has worked tirelessly to build its reputation as a top state for business. Maintaining that position requires honoring commitments to a predictable regulatory environment, timely and efficient permitting, access to reliable and affordable energy, and policies that encourage rather than deter private investment. 

Blueprint Virginia 2035 calls for Virginia to simplify permitting, expand expedited permitting programs, invest in digital and energy infrastructure, and pursue an affordable, reliable, resilient, and balanced energy strategy capable of meeting the Commonwealth’s growing needs. 

“Virginia should address legitimate concerns surrounding affordability, infrastructure, and the impacts of growth on our communities. But we must do so without putting Virginia at a competitive disadvantage,” said Brad N. Hall, President and CEO of the Virginia.

Chamber of Commerce: “At a time when states are competing aggressively for investment in advanced technologies and the infrastructure that supports them, adding significant new barriers to investment risks, sending those opportunities elsewhere. Confidentiality is an essential component of how economic development works across the country. Prohibiting confidential discussions regarding data centers from taking place signals to every business in every industry that Virginia can no longer be trusted to keep sensitive location and expansion decisions private, and many of these businesses will respond by taking those decisions to a state that can.” 

The Virginia Chamber looks forward to working with Governor Spanberger, her Administration, members of the General Assembly, and the business community as legislative proposals are considered. We believe Virginia can address affordability, reliability, environmental stewardship, and community concerns while preserving a competitive business climate. 

The Virginia Chamber will continue to advocate for policies that allow Virginia to grow responsibly without sacrificing our ability to compete, attract investment, or remain a top state for business. 

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 33,000 alliance members. The Virginia Chamber is a non-partisan organization that champions the interests of the business community in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to serve as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. Learn more at www.vachamber.com.

Preservation Biscuit Co. to Close Sept. 27

From a Sept. 21 Preservation Biscuit Company Facebook page post by owner Tricia Barba:

"Well, this is a hard one to write. I can’t really think of anything profound to say, so here goes. After 5 1/2 years, Preservation Biscuit Company will be closing its doors at the end of September.

When we opened, we had no idea what the next five and a half years would look like. We just wanted to make really good biscuits and build something special in Falls Church. Somehow, we got to do exactly that.

There are so many people who have been part of Preservation along the way — our staff, our regulars, our neighbors, the people who brought their families in on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and everyone who told someone, “You have to try this biscuit place.”

Thank you. Really. We’ll be here through Sunday, September 27, making biscuits and probably getting a little emotional about all of it. Come see us before we go.

Falls Church, thank you for giving our little biscuit shop 5 1/2 really good years.

Barba has been instrumental in organizing and providing PR for the last several Falls Church Foodie Treks and the Falls Church Summer Restaurant Week. In 2021, The Washington Post listed Preservation Biscuit's 'The Prime Time" among "The 25 best sandwiches in the D.C. area:"

The Prime Time

– from Preservation Biscuit Co. –

Don’t be surprised if the buttermilk biscuit at this Falls Church shop doesn’t pull apart in golden, flaky layers. Chef Jonathan Coombs didn’t design his biscuit that way. He wanted one that could hold up to sandwich fillings. “A lot of buttermilk biscuits, if you make them into a sandwich, when you bite into them, they automatically fall apart,” says Coombs, a U.S. Army veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart for his service. He has developed a recipe that results in biscuits whose interiors are more cake-y than flaky. They’re an ideal vehicle for his Prime Time, a sandwich that features shaved prime rib, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, a roasted red pepper coulis and demi-glace mayo, all packed into a compact biscuit. The beauty of this bite is that no one element dominates. “I want all the ingredients to speak for themselves,” Coombs says.

If you'd like to wish Tricia Barba and her team good-bye, visit Preservation Biscuit Company at 102 E. Fairfax St through this Sunday, Sept. 27.

FFX Now: Tysons' Population Nearly Doubles Since 2010, Increasing Diversity

From a Sept. 23 FFX Now article by Angela Woolsey:

"Tysons still has a steep hill to climb to reach its goal of 100,000 residents by 2050, but it continues to make progress in its evolution from a commuter hub to a home. Since the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive plan in 2010 setting that target, Tysons has come close to doubling its population from approximately 17,000 residents to 32,000 residents, the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) reported earlier this month.

"That influx of roughly 15,000 people has resulted in a more diverse community, the nonprofit community improvement organization said in its market report for the second quarter of 2026:"

"Demographic information available during the planning period described Tysons as a community that was approximately 70% white. Today, that number has shifted to 45%. Tysons has also become a notably more international community, closely reflecting the diversity of the broader Washington region. About 42% of current residents are foreign-born, and nearly half speak a language other than English at home.

In addition to becoming more international, the resident base has broadened across life stages. While young professionals aged 18–34 remain a central part of Tysons’ identity, children 18 and under now represent 17% of the population, and nearly one-quarter of residents are 55 or older."

See the full article from FFX Now here.

Falls Church Arts: 'Geometrix' People's Choice Award Goes to Simons' 'Withhold'

Contemporary artist Jasper Simons won the People's Choice Award for his striking original artwork, "Withhold." Gallery visitors and art enthusiasts voted to give highest honors to Simons' captivating, elegantly composed abstract piece which uses graphite and acrylic on wood to explore structure and form.

On his website jaspersimons.com, Simons tells his own story:

"Born in 1974 (Apeldoorn, The Netherlands), Jasper Simons is a contemporary artist working at the intersection of painting and sculpture. Through cuts, scars, apertures, and layered surfaces, his work explores friction, and the enduring tension between the desire for autonomy and the need for connection.

"Working primarily in wood, graphite, acrylic, and charcoal, he employs both additive and subtractive processes, carving, cutting, and excavating surfaces as a form of mark-making. These physical interventions transform the picture plane into a site of encounter, resistance, and exchange.

"His process-driven abstractions investigate attachment, constraint, and the forces that shape human relationships and identity. Informed by minimalism and postwar abstraction, his work uses restrained geometric forms and material contrasts to create spaces for contemplation, inviting viewers to engage with the dynamic tensions between vulnerability and strength, intimacy and autonomy, connection and distance.
 
"Jasper Simons resides and works in Reston, Va., United States."

"Withhold" is currently on display at the Falls Church Arts Gallery as part of its feature exhibition, Geometrix. The exhibition celebrates geometry across all dimensions, inviting artists to explore the interplay of shape, line, and structure through diverse media. Geometrix runs through Oct. 4, at the Falls Church Arts Gallery. Visitors can view "Withhold" and other featured works during normal gallery hours.  

Falls Church Arts Gallery at 700-B West Broad St. is open Tuesdays-Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Falls Church Arts Gears Up for 2026 'Scenes in the City' Plein Air Festival

Falls Church Arts is hosting the "Scenes in the City" Plein Air Festival this year and the festival wraps up on Saturday, Sept. 26 with a half-day of events. 

Artists have had three weeks to paint outdoors in various locations in historic Falls Church. The event culminates Sept. 26 with the Festival and Competition, when the participating artists will compete for cash prizes and sell their work.

It's an exciting day and a demanding one for the team of volunteers who organize the event. 

The Quick Draw contest runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and artists generally find a picturesque perch somewhere on the City Hall grounds or near Cherry Hill Barn to paint.

Visitors will vote for their favorite painting, and the award presentation will start at noon. The competition is juried and this year, noted artist and instructor Glen Kessler will jury the event. Glen is the founder and director of The Compass Atelier in Kensington, Md. 

Notices & Announcements

City Hosts 'Demystifying Democracy' Panel Discussion at MRSPL, Sept. 26

Democracy Panel

Saturday, Sept 26; Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Join us for this practical “how-to” guide to civic engagement featuring elected officials representing Falls Church sharing their own stories, lessons learned, and advice for getting involved!

Featured panelists:

• Vikram Iyer, Outreach Representative at the Office of U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner;
• Saddam Salim, Virginia State Senator (D-37);
• Letty Hardi, City of Falls Church Mayor;
• Bethany Henderson, FCCPS School Board Member.

Come with questions, leave with ideas, and find your own way to make an impact in Falls Church.

Presented in partnership with Citizens for a Better City and Falls Church Forward.

No registration required. Attendance is first-come, first-served until seating capacity is reached. Info Here.

Early Voting Has Begun: City Posts Electoral Timeline, Sample Ballots with Proposed Constitutional Amendments

General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026

Sample Ballot - Page 1

Sample ballot for the Commonwealth of Virginia, City of Falls Church General & Special Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 (First Ward - 001), showing candidate races for U.S. Senate and House 8th District, plus Constitutional Amendment Questions 1 and 2.

Sample Ballot - Page 2

Page 2 of the Commonwealth of Virginia, City of Falls Church official sample ballot for Nov. 3, 2026 (First Ward - 001), containing Proposed Constitutional Amendment Question 3 regarding voting rights.

Elections Timeline:

• Friday, Sept. 18: Early voting for the General Election begins, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 1: Voters who have applied for a permanent by-mail ballot or a ballot for just this election should receive that ballot no later than this date. Please contact our office if you have not received your ballot by then.
• Monday, Oct. 12: Closed for the Holiday
• Sunday, Oct. 18: First Sunday of Early Voting 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 23: Last day to register to vote in person by 5:00 p.m., online by 11:59 p.m., by-mail (PDF) must be postmarked October 24.
• Friday, Oct. 23: 5:00 p.m. is the deadline to apply for an absentee by-mail (PDF) ballot.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: First Saturday, Early voting 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 25: Sunday Early voting 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 29: Early Voting stays open late until 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: Last Day of Early Voting, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: Closed
• Monday, Nov. 2: Emergency Voting Only (PDF), 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day, Polls are open at your assigned polling place 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

For more info go here.

Little City Concerts Launches Season 4 with a Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Little City Concerts opens its 4th Season on Saturday, Oct. 3, with a musical cross-cultural collaboration between hip hop artist Christylez Bacon and Chinese guzheng player Qi Yu. The Oak Street Elementary School Choir will open the concert with a short musical selection.

50% of ticket sales will be donated to the Falls Church Education Foundation's Family Assistance Fund.

When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m.

Where: The Falls Church Episcopal, modern sanctuary (166 E. Broad Street for accessible parking.)

Tickets: $25 general admission, free for students/youth.

Ticket link: https://littlecityconcerts.org/tickets-1

For more info go to: littlecityconcerts.org.

Meridian Clubs and Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and Vicinity Offer 'Training Active Bystanders (TAB)' Workshop

Meridian H.S., Room 205, 121 Mustang Alley, Saturday, Oct. 3, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. Lunch provided. Free with free parking. Ages 13+. Registration required (see below).

Join us in person for Training Active Bystanders (TAB) and learn how to step up and make a difference!

BECOME A BYSTANDER WHO ACTS

Learn when to step in — and how to help.

“When you see something that is not right, not fair, or not just, you have a moral obligation to do something or say something about it.”
~ John Lewis

Join us for a free, interactive Training Active Bystanders workshop for teens and adults to learn how to respond safely and effectively when you see someone being demeaned, bullied, harassed, excluded, or treated unfairly.

This workshop is designed to give participants practical tools and confidence to analyze situations and evaluate consequences to take action. The four-hour community training will provide the tools to step in when something is not right, and remind participants that the more they practice their active bystander tools, the easier it becomes to stand up in the moment.

Through skill-building, role-play, discussion, and hands-on practice, participants will learn how to:

• Gain competency in creating action plans in the moment of need;
• Respond safely, thoughtfully, and effectively;
• Overcome the hesitation that can keep us from acting;
• Recruit others to help and create a stronger culture of support.

This is a FREE TRAINING and Lunch will be provided.

Space is limited to 50 participants, and pre-registration is required (see below)

This workshop is open to teens and adults to learn practical ways to stand up for others and help create safer, more inclusive communities.

Workshop Facilitators

The training will be led by professional trainers from Gathering Currents (Quabbin Mediation).

Presented by the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church & Vicinity, an initiative of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Black Student Union and Social Justice Club of Meridian High School.

Register today — because knowing when and how to act can make a difference.

To register go here.

Paragon Theaters Founders Row to Host MANHATTAN SHORT 2026

Sunday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. | Paragon Theaters Founders Row, 112 Founders Avenue.

Falls Church Audiences Will Help Select 'Best Film' and 'Best Actor' from 10 International, Oscar-qualified Short Films

FALLS CHURCH, VA - September 21, 2026 - Film lovers in Northern Virginia will join audiences around the world when the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival comes to Paragon Theaters Founders Row for two special screenings on Sunday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

MANHATTAN SHORT 2026 brings together 10 short films from 10 countries for a global audience experience in which moviegoers do more than watch: they vote. Ballots cast by audiences at participating venues around the world will determine the festival's Best Film and Best Actor awards.

For the first time in MANHATTAN SHORT history, the 10 finalists represent 10 different countries: the United States, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Moldova, Russia, Cuba, Georgia and Mexico. Each of the 10 finalist films is Oscar-qualified.

“Since 9/11, my vision for this Festival has been to create a filmic Olympiad, an event consisting of 10 quality shorts from 10 separate countries that joins the world. And finally in 2026 we’ve managed to do that. I’m very excited for the reaction it receives from our worldwide audiences,” said Nicholas Mason, founding
director of MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival.

MANHATTAN SHORT has a history of showcasing films that go on to receive Academy Award recognition. In 2024, five MANHATTAN SHORT selections were shortlisted for Oscars, three were nominated, and I’m Not a Robot ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

The 2026 finalists are: Small Talk (USA), Mary is Missing (Ireland), Candy Bar (Australia), Vultures (South Africa), Life Goes On (United Kingdom), Hai Davai (Moldova), Pickup (Russia), Norheimsund (Cuba), When the Sea Was Calm (Georgia) and Never Give Up (Mexico).

At each screening, guests will receive a ballot and vote for their favorite film and actor. Votes from participating venues will be sent to MANHATTAN SHORT headquarters, with the winners scheduled to be announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday, Oct. 5 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

The MANHATTAN SHORT 2026 screenings at Paragon Theaters Founders Row will take place Sunday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets and additional information are available at the Paragon Theaters website.
Tickets: https://paragontheaters.com/founders-row/movie/manhattan-short-2026.

Paragon Theaters, founded in 2009 by Michael Whalen and Michael Wilson, is a leading luxury cinema company focused on delivering an elevated guest experience through innovative amenities and exceptional service. Signature offerings include the proprietary Axis15 Extreme auditoriums featuring a 15-degree tilted screen, 4K laser projection, and immersive Dolby Atmos sound and Lux Box VIP Dine-In Seating, a private enclave of heated reclining seats with in-theater dining from a full kitchen and bar.

Paragon Theaters currently operates six locations across Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia, and is headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

For more information, visit www.paragontheaters.com.

F.C. Chamber Hosts Family Fun Night, Oct. 7

Family Fun Night - Sponsorships & Tickets Available Now

Market your business at this annual community event, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Jefferson District Park at 7900 US-29 where you may sponsor dinner, golf holes, and entertainment.

This is the perfect occasion to treat staff to a fun night out. The rain date is Thursday, Oct. 8. Contact Elise for all sponsorship opportunities. Thank you to Del. Marcus Simon, Crescendo Studios, KiPS Family Gymnastics, and Skin Lab Med Spa for early sponsorships! Tickets available here.

Cherry Hill Park: Sunset Cinema to Feature 'Hoppers' Sept. 25

A 19-year-old animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world beyond her imagination.

Date: Sept. 25

Time: 7:15 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

Details: Movie starts at dusk (approx. 7:15 p.m.)

Location: Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave.

Free, no registration required.

🍔 Dinner made easy, grab a bite from onsite food trucks starting at 6:15 p.m.
🧺 Pack a picnic blanket and lawn chairs
🍿 Popcorn, candy, and sodas available for purchase onsite from Recreation & Parks
🌟 Free glowsticks

Sunset Cinemas info: www.fallschurchva.gov/Sunset-Cinema.

Sign up for Halloween Window Painting!

We're excited to announce the 18th annual Falls Church City Halloween Window Painting Festival, a free community celebration sponsored by Falls Church Arts.

This fall, window painting will take place on Oct. 3, 4, 10, and 11.

We're inviting painters of all ages – and painting groups of all sizes – to join in the fun again this year. Sign up now and invite your friends to join!

The Festival website has the registration link plus tons of info for painters (what to expect, what to bring, what to paint, inspiration photos from past years, etc.):  www.halloweenfc.com.

Fairfax Tree Rescue Extravaganza II: Help Save a Tree!

Help save a tree! 

When: Weekends, Oct. 3 – Nov. 1 

Join Fairfax and Falls Church residents in a community-wide effort to rescue trees threatened by invasive vines.

Learn how to identify and clip harmful vines while protecting native ones. It’s fun, gratifying, makes an immediate difference, and no experience is needed. 

With an estimated one million trees at risk, we need hundreds of neighbors to lend a hand. 

Pick an event. Bring a friend. Save a tree. 

For event locations, dates, details, and registration, visit FairfaxPRISM.org and click on the Oct. 3 – Nov. 1 Tree Rescue Extravaganza II box.

CONTACT: treerescuers@fairfaxprism.org. SPONSOR: Fairfax Tree Rescuers PRISM.

Only YOU can save our trees!

By Christopher Jones