Welcome to Just Outside DC — the newsletter with more hidden gems than the bargain bin at Macy’s.

THE BIG IDEA

GMU basketball team allegedly scammed out of $100,000 Bahamas trip

Imagine packing your bags for a sunny Bahamas getaway + basketball tournament, only to find out your flight doesn't exist. That's reportedly what happened to George Mason's men's basketball team earlier this month.

So, what exactly went down?

• The VII Group (a sports event marketing company who has run events before) was tasked with organizing the trip

• Flights? Never booked. Hotels and games? All set (but ultimately cancelled)

So is this giving you major Fyre Festival vibes yet? You're not alone. The internet is having a field day with memes about the situation.

But before we all get carried away here, let's break down what we actually know for sure:

• The team didn't actually make it to the airport before finding out (phew!)

• Chris Williams, who was responsible for organizing the trip and outsourced it to another party, is taking full responsibility

• The VII Group released an apology faster than you can say "damage control"

Now, the big question on everyone's mind: How much did this cost? Well, there’s rumors of about $100k in losses, so someone's wallet is probably feeling a lot lighter right now.

GMU was quieter than a library during finals week during all this, removing any mention of the tournament from their website. But, after some time, the athletics department came out with this official statement made to FOX 5.

In the end, the real winners here are the meme creators. If laughter is the best medicine, the internet is prescribing a heavy dose for George Mason fans right now.

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Bulletin Board 📌 

Reader Restaurant Recommendation: Two of our readers, Seth and José, recommend that you guys check out The Black Sheep in Manassas 🐏

This historic two-story dairy barn (known as the Thomasson Barn) was built in 1929, with a rustic noshery on the inside!

QUICK HITS

• Meet Wolfe Glick — the 2016 Pokémon World Champ from Washington D.C. 🎮️ 

• This Fairfax County teen was named “Kid of the Year” by TIME Magazine for his skin cancer fighting soap 🧼 

• Want to see what $1.5M gets you in Vienna VA these days? Local realtor Bola Samir takes you on a virtual tour of a listing so you can find out 🏡 

• Check out this New Zealand style ice cream shop that just opened up in the Dulles Town Center food court 🍨 

• The Fairfax County real estate market saw over $1 billion dollars in market volume last month 😳 

LIVE MUSIC

• Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge are returning to Wolf Trap this weekend.

• Rock the Block | Firekite is performing tonight at Old Town Square in Fairfax. There will be food vendors, a beer garden, and more.

• Brunch & Beats | dig in at your favorite Wharf restaurant, then catch free live music throughout Wharf Street while you enjoy waterfront views on Sunday.

• Summer on the Green | Vienna is hosting Sweet Yonder tonight (performing country and bluegrass)

• Friday Night Live | the DC area’s best outdoor concert series concludes tonight with a performance by JunkFood on the Herndon Town Green.

• Blues Brews & BBQ | an evening of Blues by the Nighthawks, farm fresh beer, and BBQ by The Kitchen Workshop in Dirt Farm Brewing tomorrow in Bluemont.

• Live at the Lyceum | a chamber music concert series on Sunday afternoons at the Alexandria History museum.

LIVE EVENT LOWDOWN

• Around the World Cultural Fest | a global feast and celebration this weekend at Oronoco Bay Park 🌎️ 

• Belle Grove Wine Festival | a Saturday of wine tasting, local food vendors, live music and more in Middletown 🍇

• National Book Festival | the festival is at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center tomorrow 📚️ 

• Artisan Craft Fair | craft beer, treats, and goods available tomorrow at Mustang Sally Brewery in Chantilly 🍻

• Twilight Hikes | a guided tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains at sunset tonight in Delaplane 🌄 

• New Works Festival | the first ever weekend of local mini-theatre performances at the Workhouse in Lorton 🎭️ 

• Cagezilla 79 | live MMA fights in a cage at The Salisbury Center in Manassas 🥊 

• Honey Harvest Festival | local artisan crafts, local honey, an apiary tour, and Rocklands BBQ, all while listening to live outdoor music in Great Falls on Sunday 🍯 

• Civil War History in the Garden | Sit in the shade of the beautiful Lee-Fendall garden tomorrow morning and learn about how the Civil War impacted soldiers and civilians living in Alexandria 🇺🇸 

• Grape to Glass Tour | a one-hour tasting + walking tour tonight at the Winery at Bull Run 🍷 

Thanks so much for reading today’s issue of Just Outside D.C.

Are you new here? We write about the latest stories and events happening in Northern VA every week.

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