Reston Town Center’s Starbucks closed more than a week ago, but officials say it is just temporary as the store does some remodeling.
Town Center reps said in a tweet Monday that the store — one of a half-dozen in Reston — will remain closed through Sept. 26.
Sorry folks… @Starbucks is still closed for renovations in RTC. New opening date is 9/26, but check back for updates!
— Reston Town Center (@RestonTwnCenter) September 19, 2016
There is no shortage of places to get coffee at RTC. Among other nearby spots: Panera, Community Canteen, Pitango Gelato and Cosi, as well as the many full service restaurants.
Meanwhile, Reston’s newest Starbucks store is slated to open at Reston Station by the end of September.
This week (Sept. 19-23) is Try Transit Week in Virginia, and Fairfax County is hoping citizens get involved and get commuting by methods other than four wheels.
The county is even offering prizes for the most enthusiastic public transportation users. The county is holding a social media contest. If you take transit and post about it this week, you could win a $50 SmarTrip card or other prizes.
Here is what to do:
If you live or work in Fairfax County, celebrate Try Transit Week with us by liking Fairfax County Transportation on Facebook ( @fairfaxconnector) or by following them on Twitter @ffxconnector.
When you do that and mention them in a post, you will be automatically entered into the contest. Prizes include daily winners of a $50 SmarTrip card and a Grand Prize winner who will receive two (2) $50 SmarTrip cards.
Visit this Fairfax County page for more details on what to post and how to tag.
Try Transit Week includes Car Free Day on Thursday.
Car Free Day is a free international event celebrated every September 22 in which people are encouraged to get around without driving alone in cars and instead ride a train, bus, bicycle, carpool, vanpool, subway, or walk. For those that have the ability to work from home, telework also counts. Car Free Day is open to all people in the Washington metropolitan area.
If you are going Car Free, fill out the pledge form, then go car free or go car-lite on Thursday. Once you pledge, you’re automatically entered for a chance to win prizes, such one-year membershiop to Crunch Fitness, an annual Capital Bikeshare membership, and more.
Additionally, there is a Live More block party at Reston Town Center Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reps will be on hand for you to “discover how to live more by making a better commuting choice.” There will also be refreshments, exhibits and family friendly activities.
Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park is about to get a new outdoor amenity: a pump bike track near the Lake Fairfax soccer fields.
A pump track is a continuous loop of dirt berms and “rollers” (smooth dirt mounds) that you ride without pedaling. The name comes from the pumping motion used by the rider’s upper and lower body as he or she rides around the track, say Fairfax County Park Authority officials.
Pump tracks are suitable for cyclists of all ages and skill levels, and almost any bicycle will work, including BMX bikes, mountain bikes, and kids bikes.
The pump track is being built by MORE (Mid-Atlantic Mountain Biking Enthusiasts). Funding for the project was provided through a grant from PeopleForBikes.org and donations raised from The Bike Lane, The Bike Lane Race Team, and the Capital ‘Cross Classic.
Lake Fairfax will hold a ribbon cutting for the track on Oct. 8.
There are some other improvements heading to the park:
Stream Restoration — A new pedestrian bridge is scheduled for construction as part of the Colvin Run restoration project now underway.
This project will restore 1,700 feet of Colvin Run below the Lake Fairfax dam, and almost 500 feet of tributaries. It will also provide better access to the stream for recreation and environmental education but protect banks from excessive foot traffic that can kill vegetation and cause erosion.
Project construction is scheduled to run from Sept. 16, 2016 to May 26, 2017. During this time the stream below the lake dam will be fenced off. Road and bridge construction will require Lake Fairfax Drive across Colvin Run below the dam to be closed from Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, 2017.
Campground Improvements: Lake Fairfax’s campground is getting a new bathhouse that meets modern-day standards for efficiency and accessibility. The restroom near the picnic area is also being replaced.
The current bathhouse closed Aug. 15 and will reopen on May 26, 2017. The picnic area restroom is also now closed and will reopen in May 2017.
Have you seen “Sir George?”
This 8-week-old Pit Bull/Yorkie puppy was stolen from the Reston Petsmart on Saturday, according to Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.
The rescue group was holding an adoption event at the store at the Spectrum Saturday afternoon as part of National Adoption Weekend.
Sir George has black fur with a white chest.
The rescue group says they have reported the puppy heist to Fairfax County Police and the suspects could face felony charges if the dog is not returned in the next 24 hours.
If you have seen Sir George, text or call 703-638-2567 or email [email protected].
Car Taxes Due Oct. 5 — It’s that time of year again. Here is what you need to know to pay personal property tax. [Fairfax County]
SLHS Football Wins Again — South Lakes football is 3-0 after a 35-13 win over Yorktown on Friday. Herndon High fell to 1-2 after a 48-12 loss at Falls Church.
Kudos For Local Theater — For the second consecutive year, Herndon’s NextStop Theatre has been honored with the 50/50 Applause Award by the International Centre for Women Playwrights. This award recognizes theaters that produced 50 percent or more women playwrights in their 2015-16 season of shows.
Big Book Sale This Week — The Friends of Reston Regional Library is holding its semi-annual book sale Thursday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Reston Regional, 11925 Bowman Towne Dr. There will be thousands of books in great condition — from the latest popular titles and classic favorites to the rare and unexpected fiction and non-fiction. Proceeds benefit the Reston Friends, which supports library programs and other needs for the branch.
Support IPAR At Not Your Average Joe’s — From Sept. 19 to Sept. 26 Not Your Average Joe’s will donate a portion of your total bill to the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR).
Capital Bikeshare’s first Fairfax County locations are still on track to open in the next few months in Reston and Tysons, says Fairfax County Bicycle Program Coordinator Adam Lind.
Lind said this week the county is in the process of “finalizing the contract with the Capital Bikeshare operator, Motivate.”
“Once the contract is signed installations will begin soon after,” he said. “We don’t have a specific launch date yet, but the target is still Fall 2016.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the $1.7 million program for Reston and Tyson in January. In late 2015, the supervisors OKed the county’s application for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s FY 2017 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant Application, which gives $400,000 as seed money for bike share program. That money will go to pay for needed equipment such as bicycles and station hardware.
There are plans for 132 bicycles in Reston at 15 stations located between the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station and Reston Town Center; and 80 bicycles available in Tysons at 11 stations located east of Route 7, north of Route 123, and south of the Dulles Toll Road.
Lind said Fairfax County Department of Transportation staff will be at Friday’s New Belgium Clips Beer & Film Tour at Reston Town Center. That event is also a fundraiser for Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling. Capital Bikeshare will have bikeshare bikes available for test rides.
See the map below to see where the Reston bikeshare stations will be located.
Reston Bike Share Station Locations by Karen Goldberg Goff on Scribd
Another plan to revamp a portion of Sunrise Valley Drive will go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission Sept. 28. This one asks for a giant-sized (1.5 million square feet) mixed-use development south of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro.
Vornado Realty Trust is seeking to rezone 12 acres at Wiehle Avenue, Sunrise Valley Drive and the Dulles Toll Road.
Vornado seeks to keep office buildings at the current Commerce Executive Park but replace open space and surface parking with a seven-story, 200-unit residential building; a 24-story, 300-unit residential building; a 22-story, 385,000-square-foot office building; and a 175-room hotel. There would also be retail in the first three floors of several buildings.
The 22- and 24-story towers will be about the same height as One Reston Town Center, the approved plan for redeveloping a five-story office building into Reston’s tallest building at 1760 Reston Parkway.
The staff report says the project would be developed in four phases, with the 200-unit largely brick residential building going up first along Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue. Next would be the residential tower at Wiehle and the Toll Road, followed by the office building adjacent to the Metro, and the hotel.
The plans also call for pedestrian paths to the Metro, bike lanes, pocket parks and a plaza. The staff report recommends approval.
Earlier this week, the planning commission approved rezoning an office building for 54 townhouses and began demolition of the 42-year-old former American Press Institute building. Both of those projects are on Sunrise Valley south of the Dulles Toll Road.
The second phase of JBG’s Reston Heights is also under construction, with a 385-unit apartment community and as well as 89,000 square feet of retail.
Renderings of Commerce Executive Park courtesy of Fairfax County.
The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) welcomes a new exhibition to the gallery at Reston Town Center Friday.
Synthetic Transformations is an installation by Taiwanese multimedia artist and TED Talk fellow Shih Chieh Huang.
The installation features interactive elements created from a variety of materials including LED lights, motion sensors, computer parts, screens, and mundane objects such as plastic bags and Tupperware.
Says GRACE: “With these humble components, the artist creates magical, immersive environments, featuring sculptures that respond to the viewer’s presence with movement, sound, and illumination.
Inspired in part by phosphorescent deep-sea creatures, Mr. Huang’s work exists at the intersection of art, science, and technology.”
GRACE will hold and opening reception Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit will be at GRACE until Nov. 19.
There is still time to register for Saturday’s Susco 8K: Running with Tim.
The race is an annual event that honors Tim Susco, a 1999 South Lakes High School graduate who died of a bran aneurysm in 2007.
The race benefits both brain aneurysm and organ donor awareness. Susco was an organ donor, and his parents have, over the years, met several recipients of Tim’s otherwise-healthy organs.
The race begins at South Lakes High School at 8:30 a.m. There is also a 2K fun run/walk that starts at 8:35 a.m.
Online registration is closed, but you can register at packet pickup at SLHS ($35) Friday night or at the race ($40) Saturday morning starting at 7 a.m.
The course will go through streets near SLHS. Roads will not be completely blocked, but certain lanes will be for runners only. So plan ahead and use caution.
Affected streets include Ridge Heights Road, South Lakes Drive, Twin Branches Road, Glade Drive and Soapstone Drive.
See the full course on the race website.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has recommended for approval a plan to tear down a 1980s office building at 11720 Sunrise Valley Drive and replace the building with 54 townhomes.
Rooney Properties’ plan now moves on for final approval by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, most likely in October.
The decision came at the planning commission’s Wednesday meeting, about two months after a public hearing on the project. The commission said then had some concerns with driveway size, garage size and delivery accessibility for Rooney Properties’ plans.
Since the 11720 project’s July hearing, the applicant went back and updated the development plan to show designated delivery area in the southwestern corner of property.
The planning commission and the county planning staff also had an issue in July with Rooney’s lack of proffers to provide transportation demand management (TDM) such as traffic lights.
The proposed project sits just across Roland Clarke Place where another Rooney property, the Marcel Breuer-designed former headquarters of the American Press Institute. That building, also owned by Rooney, is in the process of being torn down to make way for way for 34 townhouses and 10 condos.
Photos: Location of project, top; Existing office building, bottom.
Leidos On The List — Reston-based Leidos was mentioned in a report by The Nation’ that said just five companies employ about 80 percent of the intelligence community’s private contractors. All of the companies are based in Greater Washington. [Washington Business Journal]
Football Tonight — It’s high school football time. South Lakes (2-0) hosts Yorktown. Herndon (1-1) is at Falls Church. Both games are at 7 p.m.
General Dynamics Plan Moves On — The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended for approval General Dynamics’ plan to build a five-story building with a security fence on Sunset Hills Road. The contractor will pay for traffic improvements, such as widening Sunset Hills. [Reston Now]
Stride Forward Saturday — Pediatric Specialists of Virginia’s Stride Forward 5K and Family Health Fair is Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Reston Town Center. Join family and friends in PSV’s single fundraiser to benefit all children under their care. The 5K race is at 8:30 a.m.; Tot Trot at 10:00 a.m. Strollers and pets welcome. [PSV Care]
Looking for a place to throw a party? An offsite work meeting? Reston Association wants you to consider the newly refurbished Lake House, formerly the Tetra Building.
RA is holding two open houses this weekend to show off the renovations of the 33-year-old former Reston Visitors Center.
After a member referendum in the spring of 2015, RA purchased the 3,128-sqaure-foot building on the shores of Lake Newport for $2.6 million. It then spent more than $600,000, which was about $430,000 more than budgeted, for the renovations and to turn the building from an office space, which it was for the last 13 years, into a community use building.
RA has since replaced the money for the overrun in its operating fund, and is about to hire an independent consultant to audit the overrun to see how it occurred.
Meanwhile, RA is actively marketing the space and eager to start earning income from it.
Here is what is happening this weekend:
Saturday, Sept. 17, from 12-4 p.m. — On Saturday, hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments will be provided by Cafesano. The facility will be set up by Let’s Party! so that visitors can envision a baby shower or wedding reception. Flowers will be provided by Joy & Co.
Sunday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. — The Lake House open house will focus on promoting RA’s programming. The facility will showcase RA’s new Fit Kids After-School program and other wellness classes. Morning brunch will be made available by Extravagant Affairs.
Special open house offers will include waiving the regular food and beverage fee (a $125 savings) to anyone reserving an event date within one week of the open house.
Door prizes include: Complimentary “drop-in day” to RA’s Fit Kids After-School program and a complimentary session to a RA wellness class.
Contact Member Services at [email protected] or 703-435-6530 for more information about The Lake House.
Davelle Clothiers is showing off its new store at Reston Town Center with a special event on Friday.
The locally owned men’s clothing store recently moved from 11904 Market St. to 11921 Freedom Dr. That location is basically in the same building, but facing Freedom Drive rather than the Mercury Fountain.
The ribbon-cutting event is on Friday, Sept 23, from 1 to 3 p.m.
There will be a display of exotic cars and new vehicles from Acura on display, followed by an in-store wine tasting from Tarara Winery from 6 to 8 p.m.
Davelle will also be offering a special gift-with-purchase throughout the weekend.
Three Herndon residents were honored Tuesday by the Herndon Town Council for their lifesaving efforts on a rainy night last June.
Rick Reynolds, Kris Savage, and Kate Simpson received Responsible Citizen Awards in recognition of their life-saving actions, said Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel.
The three — who were not known to each other — came upon a stranger lying face down in the 200 block of Herndon Parkway in the middle of a torrential rainstorm.
The man was unconscious, and it was determined, in need of lifesaving CPR.
Reynolds, Savage and Simpson called 911 and provided the emergency call-taker with their location, and information concerning the man’s physical status. Then, following the dispatcher’s directions, they provided CPR until EMS arrived on-scene and were able to take over, Herndon Town Council reps said.
Once at the hospital the man, identified as Agostino (Tino) Tarantino, was stabilized, and eventually went on to make a full recovery.
Both EMS personnel and hospital staff told the Town of Herndon that the quick thinking and action taken by our three award recipients directly aided in the man’s survival.
Tarantino was also at the ceremony to thank the three citizens who helped save his life.
“We are grateful to the good people out there who take a risk and step in to help when others might not,” said Merkel. “Good people doing good things, neighbors helping neighbors. It was an honor to be in the presence of these everyday heroes — and we are all thankful that Mr. Tarantino is doing so well!”
Photo: Rick Reynolds, Kris Savage, and Kate Simpson surround Tino Tarantino (third from left) whose life was saved with CPR from the trio/Courtesy Herndon Police.
Reston Association’s Board of Directors has joined in support of North Reston residents in opposing a massive redevelopment of St. Johns Wood apartments.
Developer Bozzuto is proposing to nearly double the size of the garden apartments, from 250 units to 467 units and 46 townhouses. Residents have spoken out at several meetings that the plan is out of scale for Reston Parkway and Center Harbor Road, which is more than a mile from the future Reston Town Center Metro station.
Residents — more than 500 of whom have signed a petition — also have concerns about traffic impact, effect on the tree canopy and forcing lower-income residents to move. Read More
