Caroling Returns to Town Green [Photos+Video]

Second annual event attracts about 350 people.

Last year, the inaugural Caroling on the Green event — the brainchild of resident Laura Goyer — attracted about 150 people. So for this year's event Thursday night, Whole Foods Marketing Team Leader  Katie Wolffe prepared hot cocoa and cider for about 200 people. It was gone in the first 25 minutes. Despite dropping temperatures that made a few children resemble a certain red-nosed reindeer, at least 350 people came to continue what is becoming a holiday tradition in Vienna: an enormous singalong of the season's favorite carols on the Town Green. The songs were led by Vienna Elementary School music teacher Dave Reynolds and local musician Robbie Schaefer, who sang from microphones set up under large decorative snowflakes while lyrics were …

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Tonight: Carol on the Town Green

Second annual event aims to bring community together for holiday fun.

Last December, Laura Goyer gathered up friends and neighbors on short notice to go caroling on the Vienna Town Green -- a tradition she remembered fondly from her childhood in Massachusetts. More than 150 people showed up to that event to sing Christmas Carols by the light of an iPod. And this year it looks like the tradition will stick. Goyer and Vienna Elementary School music teacher David Lee Reynolds Jr will be back on the Green at 7 p.m. Thursday to lead Vienna residents young and old in some of the season's favorite tunes. And this year, they have some more surprises, too. Local musician Robbie Schaefer will be on hand for the fun, helping Reynolds lead the crowd in song and accepting donations for the Vienna Jammers, the school's …

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Vienna Pedaler

Vienna Pedaler: Gifts For Cyclists

Tim Fricker from Bikes at Vienna gives some holiday hints for the biking enthusiasts on your list.

It’s that time of year, when friends, families, and loved ones of cyclists face the inevitable question: What the heck do I get this person? For the non-cyclist, and even some cyclists, the options can be bewildering, so I’m going to try to help you sort through them and pick out a good gift or gifts for that cyclist on your list. Let’s start with accessories, which can make the bike more fun or more practical, or even safer for your cycling friend. One good place to start is with the huge array of bags, baskets, and racks that allow a rider to carry things on their bike. Is your cyclist a pure pragmatist, or do they have a sense of style? Observe how they dress, and the things they do with their bikes, and things they talk about doing …

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Tim Fricker

3:13 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Thanks for the additional suggestion Sean! I'd like to invite all of my readers to chime in with additional suggestions, as I know my list isn't exhaustive.   more ›

Santa Will Reply to Letters from Children in Vienna

Thanks to a very special U.S. Postal Service program, "Santa" will reply to children who mail him their Christmas wish lists this holiday season.

Every year, millions of children sit down to make a wish list for Santa, hoping he will make all of their Christmas dreams come true. But what if Santa actually wrote back? The United States Postal Service is now accepting "Letters From Santa," a program that allows any person to play Santa by sending a letter signed by Saint Nick to any child. According to a postal service news release, "The 'Letters From Santa' program helps parents fulfill the dreams of their own children." Instructions to send a letter from Santa: In Vienna, letters to Santa can be dropped off at the post office at 200 Lawyers Rd NW, or any other post office location. TELL US: Do your children or children in your family plan on writing a letter to Santa this year?

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Marshall Boosters Continue Christmas Tree Sale

Proceeds from trees, wreaths, garlands, ornaments benefit school's athletics, organizations.

Teen Gives Back to Sandy Victims for the Holidays

Tyler McCormack is collecting toys in Vienna and Oakton for children impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

 Vienna’s Tyler McCormack, 17, is like most other high school seniors: busy preparing for college. He is also busy working to give back during the holiday season. This year he is working to collect toys for children who were victims of Hurricane Sandy. As a freshman at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC, McCormack started the nonprofit Reach Out for Kids. His first project was a book drive for Fairfax’s FACETS. He’s also worked with a number of orphanages in Nassau to help bring them school supplies, backpacks, Christmas presents and more. This year, as a senior, McCormack said after seeing what the victims of Sandy were going through, he wanted to help make sure they could do something for the children who might be struggling …

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Do You Plan to Spend More Money this Holiday Season?

Virginia's economy is relatively strong, but retailers only expect a modest increase in spending this year nationwide.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, holiday parties — it's an expensive time of year.  According to the National Retail Federation's national holiday consumer spending survey (conducted by BIGinsight), the average holiday shopper will spend $749.51 on gifts, décor, holiday cards, entertaining and other things this season. That's a minor increase from $740.57 — the amount shoppers spent last year. Two-thirds of respondents to a recent poll by the NPD Group said they “plan to spend about the same” as last year, while 10 percent planned to “spend more.” Will you be more creative with your gifting, or are you planning to rely on more social shopping sites like Groupon and Living Social for cheaper gifts? Or, are you less financially …

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