Step into elegance and Mediterranean romance at Carmello’s, a beloved fine dining destination nestled in the heart of Manassas.

Family-owned since 1987 and helmed by Portuguese immigrant Alice Pires, Carmello’s offers a contemporary blend of Portuguese and Italian cuisine, seasonally crafted and bursting with garden-fresh flavor. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a night out, this award-winning restaurant delivers a dining experience that’s as warm and refined as its heritage.

Three-Course Date Night Menu
Starter: Charcuterie Board
A sophisticated arrangement of imported meats, cheeses, olives, and house-made accompaniments — perfect for sharing and savoring over a glass of wine.

Main Course: Mariscada Carmello’s
A seafood lover’s dream — scallops, mussels, clams, calamari, and shrimp simmered in a saffron tomato broth. Aromatic, hearty, and deeply satisfying.

Dessert: Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
Rich layers of chocolate and hazelnut, delicately sweet and indulgent — the perfect ending to an elegant evening.

Ambiance & Experience
Carmello’s glows with upscale charm — think white linens, soft lighting, and a rustic elegance that makes you feel both pampered and at home. The dining room is cozy and intimate, ideal for quiet conversation, while the attentive service elevates the entire experience. For added romance, request a seat near the window overlooking charming Battle Street, especially when the town is aglow with seasonal lights.

Reservation & Visitor Info
Address: 9108 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703-368-5522
Dinner Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m.
Dress Code: Business casual (think date-night chic)
Pro Tip: Ask about their seasonal specials — many incorporate herbs from Carmello’s on-site garden for a fresh, unexpected twist.

Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends. Visit carmellos.com to reserve your table.

Share the Love
Have you enjoyed a magical meal at Carmello’s? Tag your favorite date night photos with #DateNightSpotlightand drop your favorite dish in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!

MANASSAS, Va. – U.S. Senator Mark Warner will visit the City of Manassas today, Thursday, June 12, 2025, to tour and discuss developments at RapidFlight, a local unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) manufacturer that’s gaining national attention for its innovative drone production capabilities.

The visit, scheduled from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at RapidFlight’s headquarters, 9635 Center Street, will include a live interview with the senator and a Q&A session open to guests. The event is free and hosted in coordination with the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, city leaders, and RapidFlight executives.

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At the Monday night meeting, Manassas City Council unanimously approved its fiscal year 2026 budget, totaling more than $512 million and following months of meetings.

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June will be a fun and warm month around Prince William County and Manassas with several meetings and activities scheduled. Take a look at some highlighted events and meetings.

Monday (June 2)

• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday (June 3)

• Lifelong Learning with Yorkshire Volunteer Fire & Rescue, 1 p.m. (Central Library)
• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Chesapeake Sons), 7 p.m.

Wednesday (June 4)

• Friends Book Sorting, 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• The (Plant) Stakes are High, 5 p.m. (Central Library)
• Prince William School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

Friday (June 6)

• Manassas City First Friday, 6 p.m.

Saturday (June 7)

• Fishing Derby, 7:30 a.m. (Triangle)
• 31st Annual Manassas Railway Festival, 9 a.m.
• Circuit Court Clerks Seals on Wheels, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Occoquan)
• Puzzling with a Purpose, 12:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• The Road to College, 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Zine Club, 1:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

June 9

• Meet and Make: Summer Tote Bags, 1 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

June 10

• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Manassas School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Natalie Brooke), 7 p.m.

June 11

• Bugman, 3 p.m. (Manassas City Library)

June 12

• Chinn Chats, 1 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Summertime Mocktails, 6:30 p.m. (Virtual)

June 13

• Make a Book Flower Bouquet, 2 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• “Lend Me a Soprano,” various times until June 22 (Manassas City)
• Fireflies and the Full Moon, 7:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Family Movie in the Park: “Captain America,” 8:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)

June 14

• Menopause Cafe, 10 a.m. (Dale City Library)
• Creating Butterfly Origami, 10 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Wonder Wanders: Story Time Hike and Craft, 10 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
• Third Annual Puerto Rican Festival, 11 a.m. (Manassas City)
• Crafting with Pride, 11 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
• Beautiful Binding Basics, 11 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
• Drawing 101, 1 p.m. (Central Library)

June 16

• Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
• Friendship Pins, 2 p.m. (Potomac Library)
• Once Upon a Crime, 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Manassas City Council Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
• Gardening Book Club, 5:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• FROGbots Robotics Demonstration, 5:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)

June 17

• Rock Painting, 1 p.m. (Dale City Library)
• Mythology in Modern Day with REscape Rooms, 4 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Tween Summertime Art Workshop, 5:30 p.m. (Central Library)
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Shane Gamble), 7 p.m.

June 18

• Crochet and Coffee, 11 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
• Peaceful Painting, 2 p.m. (Manassas City Library)
• DIY Pride Keychains, 5 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Perler Bead Cup Covers, 5 p.m. (Potomac Library)

June 19

• Juneteenth & Me Festival, 4 to 9:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)

June 20

• Play All Day VA, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Manassas)
• Native American Mythology with Star Lab, 10 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. (Manassas City Library)
• Bull Run Ukulele Players, 1 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Family Movie Night, 7:30 p.m. (Nokesville Library)

June 21

• Manassas Bee Festival, 10 a.m.
• Teen Quilt Morning Series, 10:30 a.m. (Central Library)
• Make Your Own Stamps, 11 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Gardening in Colonial Times, 11 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Murder Mystery, 2 p.m. (Central Library)

June 23

• Twin Pattern Stamp Take and Make, All day (Dumfries Library)
• Creepy Crawly Critters, 10:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
• Pigeon Appreciation Day, 10:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Deputies in Flight, 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

June 24

• Bookmaking, 10:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
• Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
• Beginner Sourdough, 5:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
• Manassas School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
• Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Jason Masi), 7 p.m.

June 26

• Tech in Color, 10:30 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
• Reptile World, 10:30 a.m. (Triangle)
• Water Bead Splatter Art, 11 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
• Kindergarten Camp, 1 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)

June 27

• Creepy Crawly Critters, 10:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• Wine Glass Etching, 11 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
• “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 7 p.m. (Manassas City)

June 28

• Ident-a-Child, 10 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Swift Escape with REscape Rooms, 11 a.m. (Lake Ridge Library)
• Rodney’s Raptors, 11 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 2 and 7 p.m. (Manassas City)

June 30

• Marines Through History, 10:30 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
• Deputies in Flight, 2 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
• Peace and Self-Exploration, 6 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
• Books Alive, 6 p.m. (Virtual)

Luis Riveron-Wong, a custodial shift supervisor in Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS), won the RISE Award, for his work at Weems Elementary School.

"I felt happy, excited, grateful, valued and above all blessed," Riveron-Wong said of winning the award. "Being recognized with this award has a very big and important meaning because it shows that I’m on the right path, that I’m doing things well and that my work is valued and appreciated by others."

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Starting July 1, 2025, your monthly bills in Manassas will look a little different—mostly upward. The city is planning to raise utility rates and emergency service fees to support its budget for the next fiscal year.

Let’s break it down so you don’t have to squint at a spreadsheet 🧾:

🔌 Electric Bills Are Getting a Jolt

• Residential customers will see:
  • Monthly base charge: up from $15.18 to $16.17
  • Energy charge per kWh: $0.0924 to $0.0984

It’s a 6.5% increase across the board, whether you’re running a household or a business.

🚰 Water Costs Are Flowing Higher

Your residential water bill is going up by 8.5%:

• Monthly charge: $10.94 → $11.87
• First 5,000 gallons: $3.50 → $3.80 per 1,000 gallons
• Over 12,000 gallons in summer: $3.87 → $4.20

Even if you aren’t watering the lawn, expect to feel this.

🚽 Sewer Rates Are Creeping Up, Too

Only by 3%, but still noticeable:

• Monthly sewer charge: $9.87 → $10.17
• Most flow charges up about 10–15 cents per 1,000 gallons

For families, this adds up over time.

🚑 Calling an Ambulance? Expect a Bigger Bill

Manassas is raising EMS transport fees significantly:

• Basic Life Support: $500 → $800
• Advanced Life Support Level 2: $800 → $1,200
• Mileage: $13 → $15 per mile

Even in emergencies, it pays to know the cost.

🏠 What About Property Taxes?

Your property tax rate isn’t going up—but the city expects to collect nearly $6.6 million more. Translation? Assessments likely went up. So your bill might, too.

✨ What Else Is Going Up?

The city is also raising fees for:

• Fire permits
• Recreation programs
• Airport hangars and rentals

🏗️ Why All the Increases?

It’s all part of a $513 million budget that includes:

• More funding for public schools (+$32M)
• Boosts to water and sewer infrastructure
• Investment in city vehicles, tech, and maintenance

The city also plans to rely less on savings to pay its bills next year.

📆 Want to weigh in? The public hearing is Monday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

💬 Let me know in the comments: How do you feel about the new rates? Is this investment worth the cost?

 

Step into a slice of the Mediterranean right here in Historic Downtown Manassas. Katerina’s Greek Cuisine offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere where authentic Greek flavors and family traditions come together to create a dining experience that feels both elevated and homey. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, every bite promises to transport you to a coastal taverna in Greece.

A Taste of Greece: Three-Course Date Night Menu
Starter
Dolmades – Grape leaves delicately stuffed with a savory mix of rice, herbs, and lemon, served warm with a side of creamy avgolemono sauce. A perfect balance of tangy and comforting.

Main Course
Lamb Souvlaki – Tender, marinated lamb skewers grilled to perfection, served with fluffy pita, tzatziki, and a side of lemon potatoes. Smoky, juicy, and full of robust Mediterranean spices.

Dessert
Baklava – Flaky layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and drenched in a honey-cinnamon syrup. A sweet, sticky finish you’ll be dreaming about on the ride home.

Ambiance & Experience
Katerina’s sets the tone with warm lighting, rustic décor, and the gentle hum of Mediterranean music. The dining room is intimate yet lively — perfect for sharing stories over mezze and wine. The walls are adorned with nods to Greek culture, while the kitchen sends out waves of olive oil, garlic, and lemon that awaken the senses. Outdoor patio seating is available when weather permits, adding to the charming small-town atmosphere.

Reservation & Visitor Info
9212 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 361-4976
Dress Code: Smart casual
Pro Tip: Arrive a little early to explore the quaint shops along Center Street before dinner — or grab a post-dinner stroll for the full romantic effect.

Share Your Experience
Fell in love with the baklava? Snapped a cozy table-for-two selfie? Share your evening at Katerina’s using #DateNightSpotlight — and let us know in the comments which dish made your night unforgettable.

 

MANASSAS, Va. – City transportation planners are exploring roundabouts as a potential way to ease traffic and prevent crashes, but so far, no decisions have been made.

According to the City of Manassas Draft Mobility Master Plan (2026–2030), six four-way stop intersections have been flagged for further review as part of a high-level analysis. These include:

• Hastings Drive and Lake Jackson Avenue
• Quarry Road and Prescott Avenue
• Clover Hill Road and Hastings Drive
• South Grant Avenue and Hastings Drive
• Signal Hill Road and Richmond Avenue
• Liberia Avenue and Stonewall Road

The plan emphasizes that these intersections are only under consideration—none have been officially approved for conversion.

“The plan recommends that the city update its traffic calming policy,” said Assistant City Manager Matthew Arceri. “While the plan contains a high-level analysis of four-way stops that might be suitable for converting to a roundabout, this is only one potential traffic calming measure. None of these intersections has been fully studied, nor has there been any community input process.”

Instead, the plan offers a menu of potential options to improve safety and reduce speeding, particularly in neighborhoods and near schools. These include bike lanes, curb extensions, and mini-roundabouts, among other tools.

Why Roundabouts?

Roundabouts can lower vehicle speeds, reduce conflict points, and lessen the severity of crashes—important in Manassas, where 80% of fatal or serious injury crashes involve speeding.

• Full roundabouts work best at busy intersections, improving traffic flow and safety.
• Mini-roundabouts are a more compact, cost-effective solution for residential areas or places with space limitations.

These design tools are part of a larger effort to modernize the city’s approach to traffic safety.

Roundabout Already Open Near Georgetown South

One roundabout that’s already complete is located at Grant Avenue, Byrd Drive, and Bartow Street. Opened in mid-2024, it’s part of the Grant Avenue Streetscape project and was built to enhance both vehicle and pedestrian safety.

Route 28 and Sudley Road Roundabout Is a Go

In contrast to the draft plan’s exploratory projects, the city has fully committed to building a roundabout at Route 28 (Centreville Road), Sudley Road, and Prescott Avenue. This two-lane roundabout will replace a traffic light and improve one of Manassas’ busiest intersections.

The City received $4.02 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for the $5.495 million project, which is now in the right-of-way acquisition phase.

More information is available on the city’s project page.

MANASSAS, Va. – A colorful new mural celebrating pollinators will be unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 6 at 4 p.m. 🐝

The Bee City Pollinator Mural Dedication will take place at Kerbobble Toys, located at 9216 Center Street in Old Town Manassas. In a Facebook post, the store invited the community to join the event and praised Patricia and Cassidy of Kerbobble for their creative work bringing the mural to life.

Kerbobble Toys is a family-owned shop known for its eclectic mix of vintage and modern toys, games, comics, and collectibles. Located in Historic Old Town Manassas, the store offers a treasure-hunting experience for visitors seeking nostalgic finds and unique gifts.

Residents are also encouraged to save the date for the annual Manassas Bee Festival, happening June 21, 2025, at Liberia House. The festival is a local favorite and highlights the importance of bees and pollinators in our ecosystem.

MANASSAS, Va. – The Rotary Club of Manassas welcomed local police leadership to its weekly meeting to honor one of the department’s finest: Master Police Officer Kentalle Gaines.

During a recent luncheon at City Tavern in Old Town Manassas, Assistant Chief and Captain Trey Lawler introduced MPO Gaines and presented her with a Rotary recognition plaque. Gaines was recognized for receiving the department’s top accolades—the Sergeant Conner Memorial Award and Officer of the Year.

According to Lawler, MPO Gaines has played a key role in several high-stakes arrests in Manassas, including tracking down a murder suspect and apprehending an individual connected to a series of car thefts across the city. Her commitment to public safety goes beyond patrol duties; she completed a demanding instructor course with the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) in Arkansas and later helped the Manassas Police Department establish its first certified Police Cyclist Course. The course launched in October and is now part of the department’s training program.

The Rotary Club of Manassas, a long-standing civic group in the city, meets every Wednesday at noon at City Tavern. The club regularly supports local service efforts and recognizes those who make a difference in the community. Anyone interested in learning more about the club is encouraged to reach out and attend a meeting.