Reston Concerts on the Town will kick off this Saturday (May 18) in conjunction with the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art’s annual arts festival.
The Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) and property owner Boston Properties unveiled a performance lineup last week for the free summer concert series, which is now entering its 31st season.
Old Skool, a Cleveland-based group that covers ’80s and ’90s hip hop, R&B and pop hits, will open the season on Saturday at 8 p.m., taking the stage at the Reston Town Center Pavilion (1825 Discovery Street) to close out the first day of the 33rd annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival.
Subsequent concerts will all take place at the pavilion from 7:30-10 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 24. Free garage parking will be available at the town center for all shows, and patrons will have a designated “Sip and Stroll” area where they can imbibe alcohol from five participating restaurants: Ted’s Bulletin, North Italia, Sixty Vines, Capital Burger and True Food Kitchen.
Assembled by a new entertainment director, Party DC, this year’s concert lineup features a variety of acts and genres, from choral music, courtesy of the local Reston Chorale, and a Beatles tribute band to salsa, funk and ’80s hair metal.
“This is the most ambitious lineup we have ever offered, and that’s saying a lot,” RTCA Executive Director Robert Goudie said in a press release. “Given the quality of what we are delivering, all free, there is no greater value in the region, and there is something for everyone of all ages and interests.”
The full Reston Concerts on the Town schedule is below.
- May 18: Old Skool (R&B/hip hop/pop)
- May 25: Reston Chorale for a “Star Spangled Salute”
- June 1: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
- June 8: Hard Day’s Night (Beatles tribute)
- June 15: Herr Metal (’80s hair metal)
- June 22: Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats (rockabilly)
- June 29: Lao Tizer Band, featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal and “American Idol” season five contestant Elliot Yamin (soul/jazz/R&B)
- July 6: La Mafia Del Guaguanco (D.C. area salsa band)
- July 13: Big Sam’s Funky Nation (New Orleans funk)
- July 20: Deanna Bogart Band (boogie-woogie/jazzy blues)
- July 27: The Reflex (’80s tribute band)
- Aug. 3: Sam Grow Band with current “American Idol” contestant Sela Campbell opening (country)
- Aug. 10: Three Sheets to the Wind (yacht rock)
- Aug. 17: Right On Band (disco)
- Aug. 24: Magic! (reggae fusion)
i9 Sports is the nation’s largest provider of high-quality, community-based youth sports leagues and camps for kids in Flag Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and Volleyball.
This summer, we hope you’ll join us for one of our weekend sports leagues or weekday multi-sport summer camps!
For Kids: We provide a fun experience in which kids develop athletic skills, learn good sportsmanship, and increase their self-confidence.
For Parents: We provide a convenient, well-organized program that doesn’t consume their family’s life.
Summer Leagues
In our league, no child will ever be excluded by a try-out, ride the bench for an entire game, or be cut from a team. Yes, we keep score, but we have created a fun way to help kids develop athletic ability, a love of team sports, and an understanding that overall experience is as important as the score.
- Early Summer Leagues start June 15
- Late Summer Leagues start July 20
- All summer leagues will finish by 1 p.m. to avoid the heat!
- One day per week — practice is conveniently scheduled prior to the game.
Summer Camps
Conveniently located at the Vienna Adventist Academy!
- See our Summer Camp Flyer
- Fun, friendships and staying active!
- Soccer, Basketball, Flag football, Wacky Olympics and more!
- Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Ages 6-11 years
- Boys and Girls
- 8 weeks to choose from starting June 17th
- Multi-Child and Multi-Week Discounts
- No Rainouts! Outdoors but can move indoors if needed due to weather!
- Limited spots available so register today
- Counselors are experienced i9 Sports Instructors
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The Town of Herndon will look into lowering how much restaurants and other businesses pay for using public space to host temporary outdoor seating.
Zoning Administrator David Stromberg gave an update on current zoning regulations, which have been on the books for two years, during a Herndon Town Council work session last Tuesday (May 7).
Outdoor dining gained popularity during the pandemic, when restaurants faced indoor capacity restrictions. After phasing out temporary licenses in 2021, the town council amended the town code in April 2022 to permanently let private businesses provide outdoor dining on public property, such as sidewalks and on-street or shared parking spaces.
A town ordinance charged businesses $10 per square foot — a rate chosen based on how much other localities charge.
“At the time this ordinance was adopted, only a few other localities had established an outdoor seating program, and the three that were reviewed (Arlington, Alexandria, and the District of Columbia), charged rates higher than $10.00 per square foot for use of public property,” town staff said in a memo for last week’s work session.
According to staff, the town has gotten two applications from establishments seeking to create seasonal outdoor dining spaces since the ordinance was adopted, but no permits have received final approval.
During a work session in April, the council requested that staff look into lowering the fee to $7.50 per square foot per term. However, when they met last week, council members agreed to conduct a pilot program allowing up to four parking spaces for outdoor dining at $1 per square foot for the first two spaces and $5 per square foot for the next two spaces.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila supported dropping the fee to $1 per square foot, highlighting potential economic impacts.
“People like outdoor dining. We want to give people a reason to come to Herndon,” he said. “We need the revenue.”
Del Aguila also cited the permanent loss of the Herndon Festival, announced in December, as another reason to make the change.
“We need to start branding ourselves for other cool things to experience in Herndon. This is just one of them,” Del Aguila said.
Councilmember Donielle Scherff recommended creating an ad hoc committee of businesses to discuss the best ways to implement outdoor dining.
“I think that there should be everyone together or several opportunities for several folks to be together because collaboration is key,” she said.
The town council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed $7.50-per-square-foot rate for outdoor dining in public spaces during its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). But no vote is expected, since the council opted to move forward with the pilot program instead.
The pilot will be conducted through Sept. 30. Scherff said the goal is to have a recommendation by next year.
Pre-Dawn Northern Lights Glimpsed in D.C. Area — “Because of pesky clouds, the D.C. area initially missed out on a rare and magical opportunity to the see the northern lights Friday night. But during the pre-dawn hours Saturday, between about 4 and 6 a.m., the skies opened up just enough for an exceptionally rare view.” [Washington Post]
Local Judge to Decide If Embryos Can Be Property — “A trial is underway in Virginia that will determine whether state law allows frozen embryos to be considered property that can be divided up and assigned a monetary value. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Dontae Bugg heard arguments Thursday from a divorced couple who disagree over the ex-wife’s desire to use two embryos that they created when they were married.” [NBC4]
Man Convicted of Fairfax City Murder — “A man was convicted of second-degree murder on Thursday in the killing of a Fairfax City man who authorities said was left in a trash receptacle hours after he had asked the defendant to have sex.” Aaron James Anthony Robertson, 31, could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after being found “guilty in the June 10, 2023, killing of 50-year-old Luis Barahona Reyes.” [Washington Post]
School Board Approves Cell Phone Storage Pilot — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a proposal to launch a pilot program for storing student cellphones during the school day.” The pilot allows high school students to get their phones back at the end of each class, but middle school students have to wait until the end of the school day. [NBC4]
Father of Crash Victim Proposes Renaming Lee Chapel Road — “A year-and-a-half after his daughter died in a crash on a treacherous stretch of Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax County, Virginia, a grieving father is petitioning to change the road’s name to reflect his daughter’s role in upcoming safety changes.” [WTOP]
Biden Campaign Opens Office in Annandale — “Pumped to welcome @DouglasEmhoff to Annandale for the opening of the first Biden-Harris campaign office in Virginia! Virginia is ready to keep our Commonwealth blue this November and send @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris back to the White House!” [Tim Kaine/Twitter]
Three Arrested in Tysons With Allegedly Stolen Underwear — “Three men were arrested in connection with several thefts in multiple jurisdictions, which included over $24,000 worth of product from Victoria’s Secret that was mostly underwear, the Fairfax County Police Department said.” [WJLA]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 76, as a light south wind blows 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tonight, there will be a slight chance of showers after 2am, under partly cloudy conditions and a low around 59. The south wind will continue at around 8 mph, and the probability of precipitation is 20%. [NWS]
Photo by Ed Schudel/Twitter
Reston Association is ready to dive into a new swimming season — one that will open all 15 pools to members for the first time in half a decade.
The 2024 pool season will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) with the heated pools at North Shore and Ridge Heights opening at 11 a.m. Eight other facilities, including the newly renovated Lake Thoreau Pool, will follow suit on May 25 for Memorial Day weekend.
All 15 pools will then be open from June 15 to Aug. 11 before the season starts tapering off as Labor Day approaches.
RA will hold a grand opening ceremony on May 24 for the Lake Thoreau Pool, which last opened to patrons for the 2019 pool season. The facility at 2040 Upper Lake Drive was demolished in 2022, and construction on a new pool finished in December.
The $3.5 million renovation project added six lap lanes, a redesigned deck, a bigger parking lot with 25 spaces, an overlook with a pollinator garden and expanded bathhouses, which were shifted away from the spa. It also brought the facility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a promotional video released earlier this week by RA.
“We have a ramp, a beach entry, a family restroom, and the bathrooms are all ADA-compliant,” Reston Aquatics Facility Manager Nate Wheeler said.
This season will also reintroduce Shadowood Pool (2201 Springwood Drive), which could have a new name by the time it opens on June 15. Closed since 2020, when pool access was generally limited due to the pandemic, the Shadowood facility underwent a renovation that added lap lanes, heaters, interior bathhouse enhancements and a splash pad in place of the wading pool.
The splash pad will be accessible even when the main pool isn’t open, according to Wheeler.
In addition to unveiling the completed renovations, the upcoming pool season will feature longer operating hours, with some sites opening as early as 9 a.m. and closing as late as 9 p.m., depending on the day. RA extended the hours after conducting a community survey last year that identified “limited hours” as one of the top barriers to pool usage.
“This year, we really took the feedback we got from last year’s community survey to heart,” RA communications director Cara O’Donnell said by email. “Our members told us they wanted all 15 pools open — and they wanted pools open extended hours and things like dedicated fitness hours, which we’ve tried to accommodate at a number of facilities.”
The survey also identified the cost of pool passes as a barrier. In response, the RA board adopted a budget last fall that eliminated the fee for recreation passes, which are now available to all members as part of their annual assessment.
Though there’s no longer an extra charge, members still need to register or renew their pass for this season, which can be done online or in person at RA’s headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive), Wheeler noted.
With all 15 pools opening, RA faced a challenge this year when it came to hiring the workers needed to support those facilities. According to O’Donnell, the organization has about 200 people on the aquatics staff, but there are still positions available.
“Hiring enough lifeguards and other staff to handle the volume at all 15 pools is always challenging,” O’Donnell said. “We are fortunate to have a wonderful team of returning seasonal staff and have already hired dozens of new seasonal workers for this year, but we are definitely still hiring! Anyone interested in a summer job can visit our careers page at reston.org.”
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by JaneEllen Saums of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach JaneEllen at 703-861-3523.
Did you know that living near a park or greenspace increases the value of your home?
According to the University of Washington, residents who live near a large park or “greenbelt” with biking and hiking trails will have up to a 32% increase in home values compared to a home that isn’t located near a park. That’s only one reason why the many parks in Fairfax County are such gems, including Riverbend Park which is located in the northern part of the County on the Potomac River.
Riverbend Park offers something for everyone: it has 10 miles of hiking trails as well as trails for horses and mountain bikes. In addition, the hiking trails connect with the Potomac Heritage Trail, so it’s possible to hike to Great Falls National Park as well as to Algonkian Regional Park for longer hikes.
There’s also a boat launch, boat rentals, a nature center, and visitor’s center in addition to many programs that the Park hosts. These include the iconic Bluebell Festival in the spring which heralds in the beautiful spring ephemeral Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) which carpet the low land near the Potomac River. There’s also a birdwatching group, fishing (it’s possible to rent a pole for free), adult adventure and art camps, multiple summer camps for kids, kayak classes, and scout programs, to name a few.
Riverbend’s name is well-suited since it’s located at a large bend in the Potomac River. Because the River’s watershed includes the highlands in western Maryland, West Virginia and parts of Pennsylvania, by the time the water reaches the bend where the Park is located, it slows down and deposits silt along with seeds which normally wouldn’t be found in the rest of the area. This makes Riverbend one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems along the East Coast. In fact, Riverbend Park is home to more than 10% of dragonfly species in North America according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
I encourage you to explore this wonderful gem and remember to treat it with care so all may also enjoy it
JaneEllen Saums is a Realtor® with McEnearney Associates and is also a Master Naturalist with Fairfax County. 703-861-3523 | JaneEllenSells.com | 1320 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
New research shows that thousands of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church deeds from the early-to-mid 20th century had language barring people of certain races, nationalities, or religions from buying property.
Researchers contend that these practices, known as restrictive covenants, play a major role in the segregation of neighborhoods throughout the county and across Northern Virginia, the effects of which are still evident today.
“The demographic makeup of our region is very different today in comparison to the period that we are analyzing, in part because of major inroads made by civil rights and immigration policies after World War II,” said Krystyn Moon, a University of Mary Washington historian and one of the lead researchers. “That being said, the residue of the practice of using racially restrictive covenants remains with us today, and inequities persist.”
Moon and researchers from Arlington’s Marymount University created a website with interactive maps to showcase properties with discriminatory deed language that referenced specific racial, ethnic and religious groups.
The website notes that the most commonly used exclusionary phrase was “any person not of the Caucasian race,” which applied to both residential and business properties.
Unlike redlining, a practice where banks and insurance companies systematically deny services to residents in certain areas based on their racial or ethnic composition, restrictive covenants are explicit legal agreements prohibiting the ownership, lease, or use of property based on race.
To help people visually trace the impact of these policies, the researchers used public land records from 1900 to 1968 to construct the maps. Areas shaded in orange mark locations where racial covenants have been confirmed, starkly illustrating the geographical extent of segregation.
The project’s goal, as stated on the website, is to highlight that segregated neighborhoods in Northern Virginia were not simply a result of individual choices but were predominantly influenced by systemic, racially discriminatory practices that restricted where African Americans and others could live.
Racial and other discriminatory covenants are no longer enforceable because of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. But researchers say the language is still part of localities’ public land records, unbeknownst to many home and business owners.
“Quite a few homeowners have emailed us to share their experiences upon discovering racial covenants on their property,” said lead researcher Janine DeWitt, a sociology professor at Marymount University. “They are often surprised to learn how common these restrictive racial covenants were in our region.”
Although nearly all homes with restrictive covenants in Falls Church and Fairfax City have been identified, Moon told FFXnow her team is gathering additional data for Fairfax County, which they plan to upload to the site in the coming weeks.
“We’re working mostly chronologically,” she said. “We actually have 5,000 parcels that we’re going to hopefully drop in the next week onto the map for Fairfax County.”
Currently, the map displays parcels in Fairfax with restrictive covenants dating from 1920 to 1939. The upcoming updates will include data from 1940 to 1946, followed by parcels from 1946 into the 1950s.
After identifying all local land agreements with racial covenants, researchers plan to “shift their attention to creating maps that integrate the African American, or ‘non-Caucasian’ resident experience.”
Moon explained that African Americans made significant progress in securing land post-Civil War until the introduction of restrictive covenants in 1915. Using a combination of data and anecdotal evidence, she and her colleagues intend to highlight how they continued to persevere despite these setbacks.
“It’s a story that really needs to be told [but] hasn’t been told,” Moon said. “…We should have told this story eons ago.”
Deal Reached on State Budget — “Budget negotiators in the Virginia General Assembly have reached a bipartisan deal, ending a lengthy standoff over the spending plan and avoiding a highly unusual state government shutdown. Lawmakers will be back in Richmond on Monday to vote on the deal during a special legislative session.” [WTOP]
Pedestrian Safety Measure Approved — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on May 7…updated the county code to match the state code requiring drivers to stop — not just yield — for pedestrians at unsignalized intersections. It also prohibits drivers from overtaking vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Violators can be charged up to $500.” [Annandale Today]
Metro Retires Oldest Trains — “If you ride the Metro, you may be familiar with the carpeted trains. These are the Metro’s oldest cars, which were introduced in 1983. On Friday, the 2000-series trains will retire. The trains were built to last approximately 40 years, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.” [NBC4]
Tysons Contractor Creating AI Supercomputer — “A key supplier to the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies is building a $20 million supercomputer with buzzy chipmaker Nvidia to speed deployment of artificial intelligence capabilities across the U.S. federal government, the MITRE think tank said Tuesday.” [Washington Post]
New Apartment Building Coming to West Falls — Falls Church City’s West Falls neighborhood will include an eight-story, 400-unit apartment building called The Alder, developer Hoffman & Associates announced yesterday. The building will have 26,000 square feet of amenity space, including a fitness center, pet spa and courtyards with a swimming pool and TV lounge. [Falls Church News-Press]
County to Seek Grant for Preserving Mobile Homes — “Fairfax County’s Department of Housing and Community Development is seeking public feedback on a draft application it’s submitting for a brand-new competitive grant program for the preservation and revitalization of manufactured housing units and manufactured housing communities.” [On the MoVe]
Athletic Courts Refresh Begins at Fairfax Station Park — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is expecting to begin revitalization work at the Popes Head Park basketball and tennis courts on Friday, May 10. The project will include the replacement of old asphalt surfacing, fencing, goals, net posts and footers. New sealcoat, color coat and playing lines will also be applied to the courts.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Expect showers and thunderstorms with a high near 61. Precipitation chance is 70%, with rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch, potentially higher in thunderstorms. For Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low around 49 and a 60% chance of rain. [NWS]
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) Police are investigating a fatal crash on the Dulles Toll Road along the Reston and Herndon border.
The crash involved two vehicles that collided around 11:20 a.m. near Fairfax County Parkway, according to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) spokesperson.
One driver died at the scene, while the other was taken to a hospital. MWAA didn’t have any information about the hospitalized driver’s condition, but spokesperson Crystal Nosal confirmed that there were no passengers in either vehicle.
The highway’s eastbound lanes closed to traffic near Van Buren Street, the Virginia Department of Transportation said shortly after noon. Drivers were advised to expect delays and follow police directions.
Eastbound traffic was detoured off the highway via Exit 10 at Centreville Road, according to the Dulles Toll Road’s official Twitter account. The toll road reopened to traffic at 3:20 p.m. as MWAA Police wrapped up its investigation.
The DTR is still closed at 2 p.m. as police continue investigating a two-vehicle crash. The collision was a fatality.
— Dulles Toll Road (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) May 9, 2024
#Herndon: Rt 267 (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) EB lanes closed near Van Buren St due to crash. Expect delays and please follow @mwaapd direction. #VaTraffic pic.twitter.com/TZ8Z03JJ4t
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) May 9, 2024
Map via Google Maps
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will soon unveil its proposals for transforming Wiehle Avenue in Reston into a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly street.
The department will host a community meeting at Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) on Thursday, May 23, from 7-9 p.m. to share three concepts for possible future improvements to the roadway.
“Concepts include lane reductions, wider sidewalks and landscaped buffers, dedicated bicycle facilities and roundabouts,” FCDOT said in a news release.
The county launched its Wiehle Avenue study in November with a community workshop, where attendees brainstormed ideas for improving the road between Sunrise Valley Drive and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
Plans to explore ways to turn Wiehle Avenue from a suburban road primarily designed to move cars into a “multimodal urban designed street” had been on the table since the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a redevelopment of the Campus Commons office buildings (1900 & 1902 Campus Commons Drive) in 2019.
However, the board didn’t officially initiate the study until September 2021 after a group of residents and other community representatives rejected the Campus Commons developer’s proposals for a new pedestrian crossing on Wiehle at the Dulles Toll Road’s eastbound access ramps.
The Wiehle Avenue study will help determine a concept for the crossing, which will be funded in part by a $1.65 million contribution by Campus Commons developer TF Cornerstones.
FCDOT staff will use feedback from the upcoming community meeting to finalize a “preferred alternative” for the future Wiehle Avenue.
“FCDOT hopes to announce the Preferred Alternative by the end of this summer,” the department said.
Use Promo Code FFXNOW for 15% Off Your First Order (Valid at All Locations Until July 1, 2024)
MOLTN Cookies, celebrated for its ultra-fresh, bake-to-order approach, announces the opening of our newest location in Chantilly, nestled within Eggholic at 13951 Metrotech Dr. Each cookie is baked fresh upon your order, ensuring ultimate warmth and freshness.
Baked to Order: Freshness You Can Taste
Our unique process ensures that every cookie is baked only after you place your order, guaranteeing the freshest, warmest cookies directly from the oven, ready in just 15-20 minutes.
Explore Our Unique Cookie and Cream Offerings
Our menu features a variety of flavors including classic Chocolate Chip, decadent Peanut Butter, and the new Cookies and Cream. Seasonal favorites like Lemon Blueberry are also available. Complement your cookies with exclusive ice cream pairings in flavors like rich Vanilla Bean and indulgent Honey Graham from Baltimore Based Taharka Brothers.
Extended Hours for Your Convenience
MOLTN Cookies will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.on weekdays and until 12 a.m. on weekends.
View this post on Instagram
(@foodooboos)Simplify with Online Ordering
For the quickest service, order online in advance. Your cookies will be freshly baked and ready as soon as you arrive.
Expanding to Serve You Better
Join us in Chantilly or visit our other locations in Arlington, Washington, D.C., and Ashburn. Discover why MOLTN Cookies is a favorite among cookie aficionados. Order online at MOLTN Cookies for pickup or delivery.
Celebrate our Chantilly opening with us. It’s not just a treat; it’s a fresh, warm MOLTN Cookies experience — where every cookie is a personal journey of taste and indulgence!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
