Princessland vacates its building, but the business will continue, owner vows

The former site of Princessland on the corner of Columbia Pike and Maple Place.

Princessland, the spa for girls at 7224 Columbia Pike in Annandale, has closed just four months after it opened.

The business didn’t fail; it had to close because of a dispute with the landlord, says owner Melissa Ochoa. “The business was successful and all moms and girls loved it,” she says.

Fairfax County rescue team working in Puerto Rico and St. Croix following Hurricane Maria

Members of VA-TF1 at the San Juan command post [FCFRD].

It’s been a busy month for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (VA-TF1).

After weathering Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 19 team members were airlifted to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to perform search and rescue operations, reports Assistant Chief Chuck Ryan. Several team members are doing reconnaissance and damage assessment along the eastern coast of Puerto Rico.

Commentary: Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam is the best choice for governor of Virginia

Northam

By Sen. Dave Marsden

Some people love to play fantasy football. Almost all of us love to play fantasy politics. Fantasy politics occurs when we become enamored of a candidate because somehow their background fits our ideal and we imbue them with characteristics that we have determined would make for a great chief executive. Be that a president or, in our upcoming election, or a governor.

However, our judgments are often unrelated to an individual’s knowledge and ability to succeed in office. It is often a harmless exercise, and it does stimulate conversation around how we address the problems that confront us – but we need to be careful.

Review: 'Rapture, Blister, Burn'

Gianna Rap and Aly B. Ettman in :Rapture, Blister, Burn." [Peter’s Alley Theater Company].

By David Siegel

In these days of constant bombast and weaponized words, when sounding reasonable and wanting to be open to another person’s point of view sounds almost quaint, Peter’s Alley Theatre has taken a quiet approach for its production of Gina Gionfriddo’s “Rapture, Blister, Burn,” a play that deals with feminist theories and human needs.

The play, the 2013 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for drama, is at the Theatre on the Run in Shirlington through Oct. 22.

Superintendent will present five options to school board on renaming JEB Stuart High School

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand announced Sept. 22 that his recommendation for a new name for JEB Stuart High School will be the top five names selected during the community vote on Sept. 16.

Those names are Stuart, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Barbara Rose Johns, Peace Valley, and Louis G. Mendez Jr.. Similar names were combined.

Streamlining of Columbia Pike bus routes proposed

The 16 on on Columbia Pike by Braddock Road.

The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) is proposing to streamline Metrobus service along Columbia Pike between Annandale and Pentagon City and between Skyline Center and Crystal City/Pentagon.

The restructuring plan would simplify and consolidate the confusing array of bus lines and complicated timetables, which could discourage people from taking buses.

How about a run around the park this Saturday?

Participants in the 2016 Mason District Running Festival. 

The Mason District Running Festival, Saturday, Sept. 23, offers a great opportunity to get some outdoor exercise, whether you’re new at running or havemany races under your belt.

This free event offers several runs throughout the day, including a six-hour run at 8 a.m., a 5K at 9:30 a.m., a 0.5K fun run for kids at 10 a.m., a two-mile race director’s special at 11 a.m., and an 8K combo race at noon.

Taste of Annandale: new details emerge

Check out the ad on a Fairfax Connector bus.

With the Taste of Annandale just a few weeks away, we’ve got some updates to report, including new sponsors, food vendors, and entertainers.

The Taste of Annandale is a free, family-friendly community festival on Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., on Tom Davis Drive. That’s in the center of Annandale, between Columbia Pike and John Marr Drive. See the website for a tentative schedule of events.