Not Your Average Joe’s, the new restaurant headed for the former Romano’s Macaroni Grill at 1845 Fountain Drive in Reston, plans to open in December, according to the NYAJ website.
The Massachusetts-based chain signed a lease in August. Construction crews are busy remodeling the space.
The building has been vacant since Macaroni Grill abruptly closed its doors in December of 2014.
The new tenant came somewhat as a surprise as Spectrum, owned by Lerner Enterprises, plans a massive, mixed-use development at what is now a strip shoping center.
Nearly three years ago, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved 774,879 square feet of non-residential use; 1,422 multifamily residential units (with 12 percent set aside for affordable housing) in seven new residential buildings; and underground parking for Spectrum.
No final plans or permits have been filed with Fairfax County, and some development sources think the redevelopment could take about 10 years.
NYAJ has more than a dozen locations nationwide, including Virginia locations in Woodbridge and Leesburg.
NYAJ’s menu includes $1 oyster Happy Hour on Mondays; stone hearth pizza; custom burgers; a wide selection of beer, wine and speciality cocktails; and a large kids menu.
Rendering of NYAJ Reston/Credit: NYAJ
You know you want to dress your dog up in a Halloween costume.
If you are, you can take Fido over to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday — Halloween afternoon — for the second annual Howl-o-Ween at Lake Anne.
The Lake Anne merchants are sponsoring the free party, which is open to everyone (even without pets).
The party runs from 1 to 3 p.m. on the plaza, rain or shine.
Activities Include a pet costume contest (at 1:30 p.m.); a pet parade; a live DJ; games for pets and people; “Yappy” Hour at restaurants; and tricks, treats and prizes from Lake Anne Merchants.
Photo: Dog costume from Halloweencostumes.com
Fairfax County Department of Transportation officials were at South Lakes High School on Monday to give a progress report on the planned extension of Soapstone Drive.
The Soapstone Connector will provide an additional overpass of the Dulles Toll Road with the goal of easing traffic on south Reston roads, particularly in the area of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
Just don’t look for it to be built any time soon. While a feasibility study was conducted in 2013 and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a hybrid design from among several options in April of 2014, no funding has been designated.
FCDOT’s Audra Bandy also said the project needs to go through the environmental review process, which will take about a year. That will include looking at land use, community impact, traffic, safety, noise, water quality and other environmental factors over the next 12 months.
“This is a very important connection for [FCDOT],” Bandy said Monday. “We really need to find ways to relieve traffic.”
Some of the most critical needs: alleviating bottlenecks along Wiehle Avenue at Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise Valley Drive; providing direct access for buses across the Dulles Corridor and to Wiehle-Reston East without requiring travel on Wiehle Avenue; and offering improved connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists to the Metro station from points north and south of the Toll Road.
In 2014, the supervisors included $2.5 million for the preliminary design of this project as part of its Six Year Transportation Project Priorities. At that time, they also put the project — estimated to cost $91.75 million — on the county’s list of high-priority projects for 2015-20.
An exact price tag won’t be known until the connector is farther along.
According to the preliminary plans, the road, which will have three lanes approaching the bridge and four lanes on the bridge, will require demolition of several office buildings on Association Drive. Bandy said that cost will not be assessed until after Fall 2016.
Several area residents attending Monday’s meeting had concerns about the project. Among the questions — why was the environmental study not done prior to the feasibility study.
“The feasibility study just looked at if it is feasible,” said Bandy. “The [environmental impact] is what we are looking at now.”
Presently, the impact is only being studied in the immediate area of where the connector will be built. But the study will expand depending on which factor is being studied, officials said.
Residents also pointed out concerns with traffic flow, particularly on Soapstone, and lack of connectivity with the W&OD Trail.
Robberies in Fairfax County Police’s Reston District up 100 percent over this time last year, says Capt. Ron Manzo, commander of the Reston District Station.
Manzo, along with crime prevention specialist Katy DeFoe, were at Reston Association’s regular Board of Directors meeting last week to give an annual report on the state of crime — and crime prevention — in this part of the county.
The Reston District covers 40 square miles and includes Reston, as well as unincorporated Herndon and Great Falls.
Manzo said there have been 32 robberies in the Reston District so far in 2015. Twelve have been in south Reston, he said. At this point in 2014, there had been 16 robberies overall, he said.
However, many of the cases are not random, said Manzo.
“Most of the robberies are drug ripoffs,” Manzo said. “We have made arrests in six of them. The others are inactive due to lack of follow up.”
Manzo pointed out some other crime stats for 2015:
There have been three shootings in the Reston District this year. One was a homicide in unincorporated Herndon. One was a domestic situation in which a man shot his wife. The man was charged.
The third shooting was in Shadowood in May. Three men are facing gun possession and attempted robbery charges, but were not charged with homicide in the shooting that killed Rashad Kejuan Daye, 24, of Herndon.
Police said previously the apartment resident was protecting himself against the suspects, who were known to him.
Car thefts are slightly up — 62 so far this year compared to 60 through October of 2014.
However, DeFoe said the majority of stolen cars have been taken when the keys were in the car and/or the cars were left unlocked.
“We’re not locking our doors, we are not taking keys out,” said DeFoe. “We average about for or five [incidents of thefts from auto where doors were unlocked] per night. If they if not finding keys in the car, they will [search] through a car with unlocked doors.”
Manzo took over as the head of the Reston District Station early this year. He said one of his top priorities has been getting officers out of their cars and back on the streets and bike paths.
“Right off bat, that was one issue I saw with the NPU [Neighborhood Policing Unit] ,” he said. “I immediately put them back on bikes.”
He said the Hunters Woods area, especially the tunnels and paths, were a concern.
“There have been a couple of unfortunate cases on the trails,” said Manzo. “I need them out on bikes. “
Capt. Ron Manzo/Reston Now file photo
Halloween Challenge For Startups — LifeFuels and Savvy Apps are inviting other area startups to the first Reston Halloween Bash, hosted at the LifeFuels rooftop penthouse suite next to Plaza America. Festivities will start at 4 p.m. on Thursday and will continue “until the zombies chase us out.” Fun includes corn hole,monster pull up contest, hula hoop contest, witch trick shot, a pumpkin pie eating contest and pumpkin toss. [Event Brite]
It’s A Snap (Shot) — Modern Reston has tips on how to best capture Reston’s spectacular fall foliage. [Modern Reston]
Helping Neighbors — Friends of a Reston woman undergoing brain cancer treatment have started a fundraising page to help her with expenses. [You Caring]
Kudos To Appian — Reston-based Appian was the winner of the “Best Tech Company, Over 50 million in revenue” at the Northern Virginia Technology Council’s annual awards last week. [NVTC]
Photo: Fall color at Lake Anne/Credit: John Melnick
Reston’s Chick-Fil-A, located at 12160 Sunset Hills Rd. completed its remodeling and reopened on Saturday.
The restaurant had been closed since late August to receive a complete overhaul.
Improvements include new equipment inside; an expansion to dual drive-thru lanes; and new landscaping.
The Reston location had also removed the children’s play area in favor of more seating, store management said on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Cow topiary part of landscape improvements at Reston Chick-fil-A/Credit: Chick-fil-A via Facebook
Is Reston getting closer to having its own Capital Bikeshare?
That is the subject of a community meeting at 7 p.m. at Dogwood Elementary School.
Fairfax County Department of Transportation staffers will be on hand to discuss what had been done since a bikeshare feasibility study was completed in 2014, where the county is in the bikeshare feasibility process and the timeline and next steps.
Last week, the Fairfax County Supervisors voted to endorse an application for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s FY 2017 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant .
The county will seek $400,000, which will be seed money for 13 stations and 130 bicycles, which will cost about $766,000, the county said.
According to the feasibility study, Phase 1 of the bikshare would have locations at Wiehle-Reston East; Sunset Hills/Plaza America; Reston Town Center/Freedom Drive; Bluemont/Transit Center; Restom-Wiehle East Southside; Town Center Parkway and Market Street; Reston Town Center/Fountain Drive; Market/Explorer Streets; Town Center Parkway/Reston Hospital; Bowman Towne Drive/Library; and two at the Spectrum.
It would possibly expand later to the Lake Anne and South Lakes areas.
See the feasibility study below.
Reston Bike Share Feasibility Study: Public Open House from Fairfax County
Arlnow.com file photo
Fairfax County Police are initiating a public awareness campaign to get pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to follow safety rules.
The Street Smart initiative begins tomorrow, and police hope it will cut down on behaviors that contribute to accidents. That includes not crossing in a crosswalk or intersection; pedestrians unlawfully using the roadway for travel where sidewalks are available; distracted driving; failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk; reckless driving; driving while intoxicated; and speeding.
“Many of these crashes are preventable,” Capt. Michael Grinnan, Commander of FCPD’s Traffic Division. “By utilizing sidewalks for travel, crossing at a marked crosswalk or a controlled intersection, pedestrians could potentially help us to reduce the number of pedestrian-related crashes by as much as 40 percent. By focusing on distraction-free driving and being alert for pedestrians and bicyclists, motorists could potentially help us to reduce that number by approximately the same percentage.”
Reston had a pedestrian traffic fatality last week. Silvia Raquel Corella Erazo, 72, of Reston, was crossing Wiehle Avenue at Chestnut Grove, where there is not a crosswalk or light, before sunrise last Wednesday when she was hit by the driver of a Honda. She later died at Reston Hospital Center.
The driver of the Honda, a 30-year-old man, will not be charged, police said.
Figures published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reflect 4,735 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2013. In Fairfax County, there have been over 400 pedestrian-related crashes since 2012, police said.
FCPD says October is the leading month for pedestrian-involved incidents in Fairfax County.
“With the arrival of autumn and milder temperatures, we typically see an increase in the number of people out walking, bicycling, or jogging,” Grinnan said. “With shorter periods of daylight now, motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists need to be more cognizant of each other and share the road.”
The initiative also aims to identify engineering improvements that could potentially make pedestrian travel safer, police said. Police will be on the lookout for improvements to be made, such as whether crosswalks need to be repainted or areas where lighting needs to be improved.
No word on whether notoriously unlit Reston — which got special mention by police from Reston District Station at a May community meeting at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods — will get improved lighting as a result.
Fairfax County Police detectives are investigating an armed robbery that took place at the United Bank, 11820 Spectrum Center, on Saturday about 10:30 a.m.
Police said a man entered the bank, produced a handgun and demanded money from several tellers. An undisclosed amount of money was handed over to the suspect and he fled on foot. There were no injuries reported.
This was the second bank robbery in Reston in the last few weeks. On Oct. 10, also a Saturday about 10 a.m., a man robbed the Sona Bank at 11527 Sunrise Valley Dr.
The suspect was described as black, approximately 5-feet-5-inches tall, thin to medium build, thin eyebrows and a “lazy eye.” He had something covering his mouth and part of his head. He was wearing a green or gray hooded jacket, a dark shirt underneath and dark pants.
Anyone with information about this is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at703-691-2131.
Security camera photo from United Bank Saturday/Credit: FCPD
Jersey Mike’s Subs will open in Reston on Wednesday.
To mark the grand opening, the owners of the new location of the sub shop at 2254 Hunters Woods Village Center (former location of Dairy Queen) will hold a fundraiser to help support three neighborhood schools.
Franchise owners Greg Switaj and Brian Deeth said they are circulating 10,000 coupons in the community offering a free sub for a minimum of $2 contribution that will go to Dogwood and Terraset Elementary Schools and Langston Hughes Middle School.
Customers must have a coupon to be eligible. The promotion will run Oct. 28 through Nov. 1.
“Greg and I are excited to open in the Reston community,” Deeth said in a release. “We have been around for five years and as we continue to grow as a company we are able to open in communities that we have been looking forward to opening in. By supporting the local schools we are able to support families from different parts of the community and support kids who may one day work for us here in the store.”
Jersey Mike’s locations nationwide have have raised nearly $13 million since 2010 for worthy local charities and have distributed more than one million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes.
The Hunters Woods location will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
Homecoming Victory for South Lakes HS — Led by QB Devin Miles’ 493 passing yards and six touchdowns, South Lakes football scored 24 fourth-quarter points to defeat Langley 48-42 in the homecoming game on Friday. Herndon lost its homecoming game 39-3 to Robinson on Saturday.
RA Board Approve Deal With County For Snow Removal — The Reston Association Board of Directors voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with Fairfax County in which RA will plow/maintain 1.5 miles of county trails to improve connectivity here. [Reston Association]
More Wireless For Metro? — The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has joined in the calls for Metro to add reliable and complete wireless [Washington Post]
Soapstone Connector Meeting Tonight — The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will hold a community meeting Monday at South Lakes High School from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting will provide an update on the Soapstone Connector, a planned crossing of the Dulles Toll Road that will alleviate traffic in south Reston. [Reston Now]
Photo: South Lakes High School Homecoming Parade
Looking for a new home? Check out some of these open houses this weekend. And check out Reston Now’s Real Estate section for complete real estate information and more listings.
12001 Market Street
1 BR, 1 BA Condo
$289,800
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
11623 Hunters Green Court
4 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$484,950
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
1547 Church Hill Place
2 BR, 2 BA Condo
$326,800
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
2409 Albot Road
3 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$375,000
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
1851 Stratford Park Place
2 BR, 2 BA Condo
$599,900
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
1523 Northgate Square
1 BR, 1 BA Condo
$158,000
Open Saturday 1 to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 3 p.m.
11533 Maple Ridge Road
2 BR, 1.5 BA TH
$399,900
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
11516 Hearthstone Court
3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH
$459,900
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has postponed indefinitely a proposal to prohibit tethering dogs outside for more than one hour.
The supervisors were slated to hold a public hearing and vote on a new county code for dog tethering at their Oct. 20 meeting.
The change to the Code of Virginia’s cruelty to animals provisions, which address the definitions and penalties for neglect, cruelty and abandonment of pets, would make it illegal to tie a dog up outside for more than an hour in a 24-hour period.
County officials previously said the dog-tethering proposal is modeled after the City of Richmond’s tethering ordinance, determined to be the best fit based on a survey of jurisdictions across Virginia.
Richmond’s rules are endorsed as model legislation by the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies and the Animal Law Unit of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Several Virginia cities and counties have enacted tethering legislation, including cities of Fairfax and Alexandria and Arlington and Fauquier counties.
The Humane Society of the United States says continuous tethering is bad for dogs.
“As pack animals, dogs have been bred for thousands of years to form a strong attachment to a human family,” the Humane Society says on its website. “An otherwise friendly and happy dog, when kept continually chained and isolated, often becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and aggressive. In fact, studies show that chained dogs are much more likely to bite than unchained dogs.
Chained dogs also may unintentionally hang themselves if they are tethered too close to a fence and attempt to jump it, the Humane Society says.
Here is what the new Fairfax County code would say:
Fines and penalties for violating the tethering provision:
- First violation — Class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to $500.
- Second violation (whether or not involving the same dog) within one year of first violation — Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to $1,000 and penalty of up to six months in jail.
- All subsequent violations within one year of first violation — Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to $2,500 and penalty of up to one year in jail.
Photo Credit: Pavel Starikov via flickr
The Washington West Film Festival, going on now in Reston and other Northern Virginia locations, is taking the show (s) on the road Friday night.
There will be free movie screenings at Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Rd., beginning at 7 p.m.
Here is what you need to know:
Two short film fest movies will be shown: the animated Taking Flight and Great Britain’s The Gift.
The feature presentation is Coach of the Year, about comedy about a Richmond swim team’s quest to win a state championship even though they have no pool in which to practice.
Coach of the Year Director David Stott will also be in attendance for a Q&A with the audience.
Admission and snacks are free. Donations are accepted, and they will be donated to the Robert Duvall Children’s Fund)
Photo: Coach of the Year/Credit: Washington West Film Festival
It’s a rare event that combines sports and art, but Reston has one this weekend.
There is still time to sign up for Saturday’s GRACE Race 5K to benefit Greater Reston Arts Center.
Race-day registration is $35. There is also a 1K option ($20).
Fees benefit programs at Greater Reston Arts Center.
Here is what else you need to know:
All runners will receive a race T-shirt, $5 off a GRACE annual membership (which provides 20 percent off at five Reston Town Center restaurants, all year long), and other goodies.
The course begins at 8 a.m. at the Pavilion in Reston Town Center, continues on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, and finishes back at the Pavilion.
The 5K will be followed by the 1K Fun Run at 9:30 a.m.
Participants are encouraged to wear art-inspired costumes.
In addition to light, post-race refreshments, there will be free family art activities sponsored by GRACE at the Pavilion.
Top finishers earn a six-month free trial to CRUNCH fitness at Reston Town Center as well as free GRACE membership. Top age group winners get a three-month CRUNCH membership. There will also be prizes and treats for the 1K finishers.
