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An Annandale resident decided to play the Mega Millions on a whim and that decision paid off - literally.

ANNANDALE, Va. — What would you do with a million dollars? One Virginia man is getting to answer that exact question after he found himself with a winning lottery ticket.

Man Nguyen, an Annandale resident, decided to play the Mega Millions on a whim and that decision paid off - literally. He said that he just happened to notice the Virginia Lottery app on his device and decided to buy a few tickets online.

That turned out to be a million-dollar decision.

One of the tickets he bought ended up matching the first five numbers in the Feb. 28 drawing and missed only the Mega Ball number to win the whopping prize of $1 million.

The winning numbers in that drawing were 14-16-40-52-59, and the Mega Ball number was 13. According to the Virginia lottery, if he had matched that final number, he would have won a jackpot estimated at $145 million.

Nguyen also let his luck guide him to the win as he used Easy Pick and allowed the computer to select his numbers at random.

When asked the question of what he would do with his winnings, he responded by saying: “My wife’s birthday is coming up, and I’m thinking of buying her a new car!”

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If you never got to experience the thrill of a fraternity rush at the University of Northern Virginia, the electricity of a basketball game featuring the UNVA Fighting Commuters, or the silent satisfaction of having your F-1 visa application validated, your opportunities are gone. (If they were ever there.) The University of NoVa, operating out of the ground floor of an office building on Little River Turnpike in Annandale, has been ordered to cease and desist after 15 years of operation, due mostly to the fact that it has been unaccredited by any recognized group for five years now, and also because it failed four audits by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia which indicated failure to hire “qualified faculty” or use “appropriate curriculum content.” Which are key elements in any good university.

The school, not widely known to many who thought they knew Northern Virginia, has had problems with its ownership, its record-keeping, indications that its chancellor was “a suburban sex-dungeon master” and with allegations that it was simply a way for foreign nationals to obtain a U.S. visa. It was one of the subjects of an investigation by the Chronicle of Higher Education in March 2011 about small for-profit colleges exploiting visa loopholes to recruit foreign students for big dollars.

In that article, UNVA founder Daniel Ho told a reporter that the school “is very profitable. Very profitable.” He acknowledged that, “I can sell degrees. I can sell diplomas. But I won’t,” he said. “Who’s going to supervise me, control me? Myself.”

Well, the folks at the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia, or SCHEV, had something to say about that. Beginning in 2007, it audited UNVA periodically, always finding “items of non-compliance” such as not documenting or reviewing its faculty or maintaining student records that show the requirements for admission. UNVA’s accreditation was revoked by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools in 2008, and the school never obtained approval from any other Department of Education-approved body again, as required by Virginia law.

David North, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, pointed out that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials raided UNVA in 2011, but then took no further action. North visited the Fighting Commuters campus last week, posing as a student’s “uncle,” reprising my own 2011 visit as a “reporter,” and counted four classrooms on site. “Somehow this tiny outfit managed to produce 189 alleged grads,” North said, “who got short term work permits (29 months) because of high-tech degrees from this place. They were the 18th largest university in the nation in this category.”

I called the university several times on Monday, but failed to get a human on the line. I also e-mailed the home of the Fighting Commuters (the mascot chosen in 2011 by the State of NoVa staff), in hopes of hearing from Ali Dastmalchi, the current chancellor and CEO, but have not heard back.

The cease and desist order issued by the state higher education council was first reported by Bre Payton at Watchdog.org, who also noted the university will have to refund any fall tuition money it has already collected. This leaves an unknown number of students in limbo, some of whom may have legitimately been trying to obtain a degree, even if from an unaccredited four-room school in the basement of an Annandale office building.

The state council’s chronology of the shutdown of UNVA states that the school was established in 1998 and attained accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools in April 2003. But four years later, that same group denied UNVA reaccreditation, finding that there was “insufficient evidence that the distance education faulty is reviewed by the administration” and “insufficient documentation that the institution follows its Satisfactory Academic Progress policy,” among other problems.

The state council conducted audits in both 2007 and 2008 which found problems, their chronology notes. Meanwhile, a dispute erupted in court over who owned the school. A new chancellor, David Lee, asked the state council to allow more time to obtain accreditation. But nothing happened, and Lee resigned in August 2011 when his online search for an “attractive submissive” to live in his basement “dungeon complete with bondage racks” became public. I am not making this up. This occurred at the same time as the ICE raid, so that was a really tough time for UNVA.

The audits and the lack of accreditation continued, and in March 2012 the state council notified the university it was about to revoke its certification to operate in Virginia. UNVA entered an agreement by which it would at least be a candidate for accreditation by June 2013, and agreed to “extinguish Dr. Ho’s financial interest in the institution” and “ensure Dr. Ho relinquishes ownership and involvement in the administration.”

But still, according to the state council, the Fighting Commuters couldn’t get it done. The state council conducted another audit in October 2012 and found items missing from files. Dastmalchi reported that UNVA was seeking accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which is a problem since F-1 foreign students must take classes at a brick and mortar location. However, according to the audit, “University of Northern Virginia has failed consistently to remain in compliance with such items as the hiring of qualified faculty, appropriate curriculum content and student disclosures regarding transferability of credits to other institutions.”

The state council’s audit concluded that UNVA “deliberately and continuously demonstrates its disregard for the requirements of Virginia law and regulation. The violations identified above are not merely technical in nature. They touch on the most fundamental provisions in [state law] related to minimal standards of academic quality and fair treatment of students.”

The cease and desist letter sent July 17 orders UNVA to turn over a list of all students, their visa status (many are from India), their financial records and the location of their transcripts. The state council said it would notify students that the school is no longer legally authorized to operate in Virginia, confer with the Department of Homeland Security to determine viable options for foreign students and estimate claims for unearned tuition.

And so the University of Northern Virginia is gone. There were never any basketball games, or fraternities, or any of that trivial college stuff. But the name could be a good one, a prestigious one, representing a wealthy and well-educated part of the country, for someone who wants to launch a legitimate replacement. And the rights to the Fighting Commuter brand and intellectual property are, at last check, still available.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews responded to a building fire that broke out in the 7200 block of Columbia Pike in Annandale Sunday morning.

When firefighters arrived around 7 a.m., heavy smoke was showing from the roof line.

Investigators do not have a cause yet, but believe it was accidental and not intentionally set. Nobody was hurt. Total damages have reached over $2 million as of Monday afternoon.

FCFRD said the operation was in defensive mode due to instability of building and all firefighters stayed outside of the building to extinguish the fire.

Fairfax County Fire Marshal's Office Capt. Charles Cunningham said a bystander actually alerted the fire station located just a few blocks away after seeing smoke.

“A gentleman was going past this location, and Fire Station 8 Annandale was literally about 300-400 yards away. He went over there, knocked on the door, and reported the fire there,” Cunningham said.

Columbia Pike was shut down in both directions between Backlick Road and John Marr Drive, but has since reopened.

James Shinn is the president of the U.S. Korean Association of Washington President, and said he is saddened to see popular businesses in Annandale's vibrant Korean community destroyed.

“A lot of people in and out. It’s so busy. You’re normally waiting in line for an hour,” Shinn said. “It’s just a disaster just to come back. I don’t know what to say.”

The four businesses that were destroyed were Hanmi Post, JJ Salon & Barber, To Sok Jip, and Bonchon. Shinn was referring to To Sok Jip.

FCFRD's helicopter, Fairfax 1, monitored the fire from above.

According to Cunningham, the building did not have fire suppression systems.

“At this point, we were not able to determine if there was any alarms that were activated. There were no smoke alarms that were activated," Cunningham said. "These buildings didn’t have any sprinklers. It was a non-sprinklered building. If the building was built today, there would be different building codes that would apply, as opposed to when this building was built.”

Fairfax County Fire/Rescue crews responded to a building fire that broke out in Annandale Sunday morning. (WJLA)

As the investigation continues, Shinn said he is hoping for answers because of how much these four businesses mean to the community.

“Especially this place that has been here a long time and run a lot of business in this area, made a lot of sales," Shinn said. "It’s overwhelming. It’s jaw dropping now.”

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When Jonathan Lee opened Korean Bakery in Annandale in 1989, he even made his bean paste from scratch. He didn’t have a choice. “There was no supplier,” he says. “When I opened this business, it was the only Korean bakery in the Washington area.”

Twenty-nine years later, nearby shopping centers are home to countless Korean restaurants, and Annandale has become a must-visit dining destination not only for Fairfax County, and its dense Korean population, but also for patrons across the area. In fact, there are so many compelling places to try that you could literally spend an entire day bouncing among them.

Follow along with this chef-approved Korean dining itinerary stretching from morning until late night, which allots a few hours per stop, and you’ll understand what David Chang, the celebrity chef behind the Momofuku empire — and a Northern Virginia native — means when he names the biggest misconception about Korean food: “that it’s just barbecue and kimchi.”

One of Washington’s buzziest dining destinations isn’t in the city — but it’s worth the trek

Breeze Bakery Cafe, 7 a.m.

Your Korean dining extravaganza begins with pastries, coffee and tea at this inviting two-level cafe (complete with outdoor dining upstairs). Wire baskets are provided for shoppers to load up on all sorts of baked goods — think sweet pumpkin cake rolls ($5.50), chestnut bread loaves ($4.50) and mocha buns ($1.99). Adorable animal cupcakes peer out from the glass pastry case. The cafe menu is wide-ranging: You can get a nitro coffee — and a bulgogi quesadilla with marinated beef and mozzarella. 4125 Hummer Rd. breezebakery.com.

Siroo, 10 a.m.

Don’t miss the juk, a comforting Korean rice porridge, at Siroo. Chef Danny Lee — who owns Mandu, in Northwest Washington, along with his mother, Yesoon, and co-founded the buzzy Barracks Row destination ChiKo — is amazed by the varieties of juk offered, including ginseng chicken ($10.99), spicy kimchi — a side dish and staple of Korean cuisine, made with fermented cabbage and other vegetables ($8.99) — and abalone ($12.99). “They have 20 different versions of this juk that are all cooked in different broths, and all have different proteins and different produce in them,” Lee says. “It’s really a cool thing to see, and it’s delicious.” 4231 Markham St. siroousa.com.

Cheogajip Chicken, 1 p.m.

Bonchon is arguably the biggest name Washingtonians might know when it comes to Korean fried chicken but there’s another huge franchise from Korea making inroads in the Washington region. Cheogajip, which translates as “mother-in-law’s home,” slathers on spicy, soy garlic or sweet sauce on its fried chicken, all while keeping the drumsticks extra crispy (family size order, $16.85). Not in the mood for chicken? The small carryout also offers an intriguing pizza topped with yellow sweet potatoes. 4300 Evergreen Lane.

Gom Ba Woo, 3 p.m.

Bone-broth devotees need to try the soups and stews at Gom Ba Woo, says chef Rob Rubba. Rubba — whose wife, Deb Rubba, is Korean — often cooks Korean food at home and showcases the cuisine’s flavors at his globally inspired restaurant, Hazel, in Shaw. But when Rubba’s looking for a warming soup such as sulrung tang (a beef-bone broth with rice and noodles), he heads to this cozy spot. “The way they do [the bone broth] so slow with the marrow bone, it just looks like you’re eating a bowl of warm milk,” he says. “It’s just the best beef broth you’ve ever had.” Stir scallions and hot chile paste into your bowl ($7.95 at lunch) until you get the spice level just right. 7133 Columbia Pike. gombawoo.net.

Hazel review: Global flavors at a neighborhood hot spot

Tous Les Jours, 5 p.m.

You might not guess it from Tous Les Jours’ nondescript exterior, but the spacious Annandale outpost of this popular French Asian bakery chain is all soaring ceilings, polished concrete floors and exposed brick walls. Wooden display cases are stocked with such Parisian desserts as croissants stuffed with strawberries ($3.25), along with other specialties: kimchi croquettes ($2.75), soft milk bread buns ($2.50) and chewy, orblike doughnuts stuffed with a spoonful of sweet pumpkin filling ($1.75). Grab a lavender milk tea latte ($3.25) with a pastry, or cool down with a bingsoo, a Korean dessert stacked with toppings — ice cream, red beans and fresh fruit — on a mound of fluffy shaved ice. 7219 Columbia Pike. tljus.com.

To Sok Jip, 7 p.m.

It can be tough to get a table at this tiny restaurant, which excels in seafood stews such as daegu maeun tang, a spicy codfish soup ($15.99) and bo ssam, a build-it-yourself, seasoned-pork-belly dish with cabbage leaves, kimchi and seasoned radish. Also of note, a favorite of Rubba’s: budae jjigae ($31.99), or “army base stew,” a hearty red hot pot inspired by the surplus food from American military bases eaten during the Korean War. The portions are generous: The dish — bubbling with hot dogs, kimchi and dried instant ramen — could easily feed four. 7211 Columbia Pike. tosokjip.com.

At To Sok Jip, a bold taste of Korean cooking

Choong Hwa Won, 9 p.m.

David Chang may be one of the most famous chefs in the United States, but his dad still calls the shots when they’re dining out in Annandale. “He calls in the orders” in advance, Chang says. “I don’t recall ever looking at a menu in my life.” Their destination is often Choong Hwa Won, where they go for the jjajangmyun. An order of the Chinese-Korean dish brings a giant helping of fresh, chewy, wheat-based noodles with pork, vegetables and black bean curd sauce ($6.99 at dinner), which servers can cut with scissors for easier slurping. The no-frills restaurant stays open until midnight — and has a karaoke room, too. 4409 John Marr Dr. choonghwawon.com.

Kogiya, 11 p.m.

Order one of the all-you-can-eat options at Kogiya, and the meat will keep coming until you admit defeat. (Dinner starts at $23 per person.) Diners sit around an open flame grill while servers cook brisket, pork belly, short ribs and more before your eyes. The stainless-steel table will also be packed with banchan (an array of gratis side dishes that traditionally arrives with each meal, including kimchi, seasoned soybean sprouts or cucumber salad), rice, a steamed egg dish and soup. Don’t worry: Kogiya has a ventilation system above each table to keep the smoky meat aroma mostly contained. (For another classic Korean barbecue experience, there’s Honey Pig. The local institution has expanded with locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland, but its Annandale home base still packs in diners for kalbi beef rib grilled to the thumping beat of K-pop.) 4220-A Annandale Rd. kogiya.com.

Jangteo 7080, 1 a.m.

At this after-hours haunt, where posters of throwback Korean musicians decorate the walls (hi, Cho Yong Pil) and bottle caps hang from the ceiling, the order is soju or makgeolli. The former, Korea’s most popular spirit, is often distilled from rice, and the latter is a sweet, traditional rice wine. Pair drinks with bar food fit for a crowd, such as the intensely fiery, cheese-covered crazy chicken ($20.95). 7118 Columbia Pike.

Yechon, 3 a.m.

The doors never close and the menu goes on for pages at Yechon, a dinerlike Korean and Japanese restaurant. Day or night, grab a table at the wood-paneled spot, and servers in traditional hanbok dresses will bring out sushi rolls (prices vary), mul naengmyeon (homemade buckwheat noodles, vegetables, beef and a boiled egg in a cold broth, $12.95) or kimchi dolsot bibimbap (the traditional Korean mixed-rice dish served in a hot stone bowl, topped with marinated beef and vegetables, $13.95). 4121 Hummer Rd.

To Soc Chon, 5 a.m.

The menu highlights at this 24-hour spot include dakdori tang (a steaming-hot, spicy stew with potatoes, carrots and chicken) and handmade, knife-cut noodles served in the broth of your choice (think clam or chicken, $12-$13). But To Soc Chon is best known for one dish, and it’s a big reason the restaurant is open at all hours. “They make sundae guk, which is like a stew or soup where the base is Korean blood sausage,” says Danny Lee, the chef. “It’s pretty much known as hangover soup.” Sounds like a necessity after a full day of kimchi, bulgogi and soju. 7031 Little River Tpk., Suite 21D.

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