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Falls Church residents can support local schools through restaurant purchases, join a community holiday concert and celebrate the return of a soccer championship to the Little City.
Foodie Trek raises money for city schools
The Falls Church Education Foundation will hold its Falls Church Foodie Trek from Nov. 18-20, with participating restaurants donating money from selected purchases to support students and educators.
During the 2024-25 school year, the foundation awarded $246,000 to Falls Church City Public Schools and another $100,000 in scholarships to local students. Its giving supports access to educational opportunities, staff readiness and preparation for life in the 21st century.
Foodie Trek offers include:
- Banh Mi Oi: $1 from every Nashville Chicken Banh Mi.
- Cafe Kindred: 15% of salad sales.
- Clare & Don’s: On Nov. 18, 50% of School Spirit cocktail sales and 10% of each check when customers mention the fundraiser.
- Fava Pot: 25%, or $1.50 per drink, from fresh juice sales, including iced hibiscus tea, iced mint limeade and Kamer el Dein.
- Lil City Creamery: $1 from each single or double scoop in a cup or cone.
- Northside Social: $1 from every breakfast sandwich.
- Preservation Biscuit Company: $1 from every Sweet Tooth biscuit.
- Sweet Rice Thai: $1 from every Pad Thai order.
- Thompson Italian: $1 from each glass and $4 from each bottle of l’anima, its house wine made in Umbria.
- Toby’s Ice Cream: A portion of Pumpkin Spice pint proceeds.
- Westover Taco: $1 from every starter.
Updates will be available through the Foodie Trek’s social media account, @fcfoodietrek.
Community band opens holiday stage to all skill levels
Concert band musicians of any experience level are invited to perform with the City of Falls Church Concert Band during its holiday program at Meridian High School on Dec. 13.
The “Come Play with the Band” event will be part of “A Winter’s Resonance: The Sounds of the Season,” beginning at 7:30 p.m. Musicians will warm up with the group at 6:45 p.m. before joining a program featuring Beethoven, Mahler and holiday favorites.
Sponsored by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, the community band welcomes musicians without auditions or tryouts. Its concerts feature selections ranging from marches and classical works to Broadway medleys, regional music and American standards.
Virginia Dream reclaims VSSL championship in overtime
Virginia Dream FC brought the Virginia Super Soccer League Cup back to Falls Church with a 2-1 overtime victory against Great Falls Los Toros in the Division 1 final on Nov. 12.
Playing at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Virginia Dream entered the championship with a 5-1-1 record. Los Toros arrived undefeated at 6-0-1 after taking the title from the Dream the previous season.
Los Toros scored first and carried a 1-0 lead into halftime despite Virginia Dream controlling much of the possession. Mike Akenkoye tied the match in the second half by converting a rebound from a free kick.
The 1-1 score held through regulation, forcing overtime. Shortly after play resumed, Cedric Tchoumkeu scored the deciding goal to secure the postseason championship.
Virginia Dream had previously won the VSSL Cup in 2023 and in each of the three preceding seasons.
The club next faces a decisive fourth-round U.S. Open Cup qualifying match at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22. A victory would send Virginia Dream into the tournament, while a loss would end its qualifying run.
In its first U.S. Open Cup appearance, the Dream defeated USL League One’s Richmond Kickers before narrowly losing to USL Championship side Loudoun United.