Herndon Corporate Center could become the latest local office park to give way to a new housing development.
Reston-based developer Stanley Martin Homes is looking to replace three of the four office buildings at 1145-1175 Herndon Parkway with condominiums and townhouses, according to an application set for a Herndon Board of Architectural Review public hearing tonight (Wednesday).
Located directly behind Elden Street Marketplace, the shopping center anchored by H Mart, Herndon Corporate Center was built in 1986 and consists of one-story, brick office buildings that total 135,756 square feet of rentable space, per its website.
If its plan is approved, Stanley Martin would demolish all of the existing office buildings except for the one at 1165 Herndon Parkway, whose current tenants include the Score Foundation and a National Guaranty Purchase Center run by the Small Business Administration.
“This fourth office building will remain for an undetermined period of time,” Tamsin Himes, a lead planner for the Town of Herndon, said in a staff report, noting that the untouched building is under different ownership than the rest of the office park.
According to submitted project renderings, the developer plans to construct 56 two-over-two condo units on the eastern side of the property adjacent to Elden Street Marketplace. The rest of the site will be filled with 55 three-floor townhomes.
Proposed open space amenities include a plaza with outdoor seating by the development’s entrance on Herndon Parkway, an asphalt trail with exercise stations along the northwestern perimeter, a tot lot near the condos, and two smaller seating areas.
A site plan for the development was approved on June 23, according to Stanley Martin’s presentation.
In her report, Himes said staff “is supportive” of the project but hasn’t made a recommendation yet, because it’s seeking clarification on a few items, such as which of the several submitted color schemes and elevations will actually be pursued.
“Staff believes that a valuable conversation can be had with the applicant regarding the design items mentioned above,” Himes wrote.
Tonight’s public hearing will likely be continued to Nov. 15 “given the need for additional materials and additional time for review,” town staff said in a memo.
Dubbed “Park Place,” this would be Stanley Martin’s third development in the Herndon area. The company also built the Liberty Park neighborhood in McNair, and construction began this spring on the Overlook at Dulles Tech condos near the Innovation Center Metro station.
Rabid Animal Incidents Alarm Health Department — “After identifying a rabid raccoon and skunk within a mile of each other over the last 25 days, the Fairfax County Health Department is asking residents in the Centreville/Bull Run area to steer clear of wild animals and to report any animal attacks right away…To date, 22 animals have been diagnosed with rabies in the Fairfax Health District in 2023.” [FCHD]
Reston Man Charged With Sex Crimes Against Teen — “A 21-year-old Reston man is facing charges after a sex crimes investigation involving victims under the age of 18. The charges stem from ‘criminal incidents that occurred in 2020,’ Arlington County police said. ACPD says they’re now seeking other potential victims of the suspect.” [ARLnow]
Falls Church Lowers Neighborhood Speed Limits — “Later this fall, many residential streets in the City of Falls Church will get new speed limit signs, lowering the limit to 20 miles per hour from 25 miles per hour. The City’s education campaign, 20 is Plenty, includes yard signs, social media outreach, and more.” [Falls Church City]
Reston Resident Starts Petition Against Casino — “Suzanne Zurn, whose home backs to the Hidden Creek Golf Course, has been an active resident of Reston for 18 years. When she heard about Comstock Holdings’ plan to build a casino at or near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, she was understandably concerned…Many of Zurn’s neighbors appear to agree.” [Patch]
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday Returns This Weekend — “The state’s sales tax holiday is from Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 22. Lawmakers forgot to renew the sales tax holiday during budget negotiations back in March and the legislation expired, so it could not be offered in August as in previous years when people are usually shopping for back-to-school items.” [WTOP]
Annandale Urban Park Ready for Grand Opening — “The community is invited to the grand opening of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space on Saturday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The new park, at 7200 Columbia Pike in Annandale, is located between the ACCA Child Development Center and the Annandale Fire Station.” [Annandale Today]
County’s Sexual Violence Services Director to Advise State — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Division Director Toni Zollicoffer to the Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence. This committee…promotes appropriate and effective responses, services, and prevention for sexual assault and domestic violence across the Commonwealth.” [Department of Family Services]
Grant Funds New Mural for Hybla Valley Garden — “The community garden at the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) — located at the Hybla Valley Community Center — will be getting some artwork in coming months thanks to funding from a local nonprofit and the talents of a local artist.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Wednesday — The forecast includes mostly sunny conditions and a high temperature near 65 degrees, accompanied by a gentle northwest wind at 3 to 5 mph. At night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low around 49 degrees, along with a south wind of 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]
A local taqueria will expand its services next month with the introduction of a new empanadas shop.
Señor Ramon Taqueria hopes to launch Ramona Empanadas by Nov. 15, founder Damian Dajcz says. The carry-out shop will start at Señor Ramon’s flagship Leesburg restaurant before rolling out to its other locations in Sterling, Reston, Great Falls and Chantilly.
The shop will also be available at the company’s main kitchen in Sterling (506 Shaw Road, Suite 324), which is expanding with a butcher shop and “a small Latin grocery store” as well, Dajcz told FFXnow.
“Customers can order empanadas in advance online or come to one of the five locations where they will find a large Ramona Empanadas digital ordering kiosk,” the restaurant said in an announcement of the launch.
According to Señor Ramon’s website, the empanadas are freshly made and then flash-frozen for pickups, deliveries and wholesale orders. Online orders are already being accepted through the website.
The stuffed pastries will come in a variety of flavors, including regular or spicy beef and chicken, beer-braised brisket, caprese, ham and cheese, spinach, sweet corn, onion and cheese, pulled pork carnitas, pepperoni and cheese, and bacon, egg and cheese.
Dajcz and his team opened the first Señor Ramon Taqueria in Leesburg in 2016 with the goal of bringing authentic Mexican street food to Northern Virginia, according to the website.
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dajcz considered studying medicine and hotel management in college before taking cooking classes and getting the opportunity learn from renowned chef Gato Dumas, who founded Latin America’s largest culinary school, according to a 2019 profile by Loudouner magazine.
After working in one of Dumas’s restaurants, Dajcz moved to the U.S. to finish his culinary studies at Ohio University and Le Cordon Bleu’s Scottsdale, Arizona, campus.
Señor Ramon expanded into Fairfax County for the first time in 2018 with its Chantilly location (4500 Daly Drive). Reston followed suit a year later with an opening in the Home Depot shopping center at 11790 Baron Cameron Avenue, Unit A, and the Great Falls restaurant (9900 Georgetown Pike) got a grand opening in June 2021.
In addition to Señor Ramon and now Ramona Empanadas, Dajcz’s company is behind Bites Grilled Cheese & Cheesesteaks and Daybreak Kitchen and Biscuit Company, which can both be found at 22455 Davis Drive in Sterling.
According to the announcement, the Ramona Empanadas team is already “in talks to expand” to other locations in the D.C. area.
What has two toes and moves real slow?
NOVA Wild in Reston recently announced the arrival of two adorable two-toed sloths who are now ready to meet zoo-goers.
Two-toed sloths are native to Central and South America, including Brazil and Peru, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo’s website. And of course, they’re known for moving slowly.
“Sloths have leafy, low-calorie diets and very slow metabolisms to match. Their metabolic rate is only about 40-45% of what would be typical for their body weight,” the zoo writes. “Because of this specialized metabolism, sloths need to be frugal with their energy use. So, they move slowly and tend not to wander far from their small home ranges.”
“We’re just thrilled to welcome these captivating two-toed sloths,” NOVA Wild owner Tara Campbell Lussier said in a news release. “Sloths teach us valuable lessons – the importance of caring for the natural world, and to remember to slow down and enjoy life. They’re truly fascinating creatures and we’re grateful to share them with our guests and community.”
The sloths’ newly built, interactive habitat is designed to provide an immersive and educational experience, allowing guests to be up close and personal while learning about sloths’ natural habitat, behaviors and conservation status.
The sloths’ arrival is just in time for International Sloth Day, on Oct. 21.
For an extra $100 beyond admission, you can meet and interact with the new sloths one-on-one at Nova Wild through a zookeeper guided tour.
Located at 1228 Hunter Mill Road, Nova Wild opened in February as the newest iteration of Reston’s zoo, replacing the previous branding of Roer’s Zoofari after a change in ownership.
This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
Deadline Extended for Input on Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects — Initially set to close yesterday (Monday), the deadline for community members to take Fairfax County’s Active Transportation Project Funding Survey has now been moved to midnight on Thursday (Oct. 19). The survey will narrow down a list of proposed pedestrian and bicycle projects up for $100 million allocated by the county board. [FCDOT]
Groveton Neighborhood Named a Historic Site — “Randall Estates looks like so many Fairfax County subdivisions built in the early 1960s…But its development — undertaken by a Black public-school teacher to provide homes for African American professionals who had few opportunities for home ownership during Jim Crow in Virginia — was recently recognized by the Fairfax County Registry of Historic Sites.” [On the MoVe]
Fairfax Man Arrested for DWI in Sterling — “A deputy on patrol initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding. The driver did not pull over and continued to accelerate. The vehicle eventually stopped on Reston Parkway in Fairfax County, and the driver was arrested.” The 27-year-old man has been charged with driving while intoxicated, drinking while driving, fleeing and speeding. [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]
Herndon Man Arrested for Vehicle Break-Ins — “Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department are crediting a tip from the public for helping them identify a suspect wanted in connection with a series of recent break-ins and package thefts. During the late-night hours of Oct. 3-4, someone broke into and stole from vehicles parked in the Fair Oaks and Reston police districts.” [Patch]
Braddock Road Paving Expected to Improve Safety — “A portion of Braddock Road (Route 620) between Pleasant Valley Road (Route 609) and Old Lee Road (Route 661) will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic via flagging, weather permitting, Wednesday, Oct. 18 and Thursday, Oct. 19 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day.” [VDOT]
South County HS Pilots AP African American Studies — “At South County High School in Lorton, Virginia, students inside one classroom were hard at work Monday recreating sculptures like the ones you would see in ancient West Africa…Students are also learning about Black Joy and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It’s all part of the curriculum for the new AP African American Studies pilot class.” [NBC4]
Halloween Shirts Offered at McLean Blood Drive — “The McLean Volunteer Fire Department is partnering with Inova Blood Donor Services to host a blood drive on Friday, Oct. 20 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the fire station, located at 1455 Laughlin Ave…In gratitude for their donations, all blood donors will receive a Halloween T-shirt.” [Gazette Leader]
Centreville Schools Host Weekly Farmers Markets — “Settlemyre said the markets prove to be a mutually beneficial partnership as they support local farmers and educate children on the pleasures of clean eating. FCPS officals added that it also provides an exceptional avenue for students and their families to access affordable and healthy food.” [WJLA]
It’s Tuesday — The weather forecast indicates partly sunny conditions and a high temperature of around 63°F. Night will be partly cloudy with a low temperature of approximately 47°F, along with a lighter northwest wind blowing at 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]
The continuation of higher mortgage rates put a damper on Northern Virginia home sales in September, which were down 18.2% compared to a year earlier, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.
That decline was worse that August’s year-over-year decline of just 12.4% and reversed a trend of an improving market that had been seen since the spring.
Mortgage rates are ranging from 7% to 7.5%, according to the Realtors’ group. Sales were down 23.1% from August and the total of 1,180 was significantly below the five-year average of 1,685 units for September.
“It’s a challenging market for borrowers and buyers, especially first-time home buyers,” said NVAR Board Member Jamie DeSimone of Keller Williams Capital Properties. “The increase in interest rates is a primary deterrent for buyers and would-be sellers. Current homeowners have no incentive to forgo their lower interest rate unless they are forced to move. That’s why homebuying options are scarce.”
Inventory in September averaged 1.22 months, down 1% from September 2022 and down from the five-year average of 1.3 months. In good news, September’s inventory figures were a bit higher than August, when inventory stood at 1.08 month’s supply. On average, homes stayed on the market for 17 days in September, down 32% from the previous September, when the average was 25 days on the market.
The tight supply continued to push prices up. The median sold price for a home in September was $650,000, up 5% from September 2022. The five-year average for median sold price in September is $594,028.
“We’ve been experiencing the ‘ouch factor’ as high mortgage rates have chilled the market. With the resulting limited inventory, sellers choosing to list their homes are receiving multiple offers and have leverage over buyers. The market remains competitive, as there are more people who want to buy than there are homes to sell,” said NVAR CEO Ryan McLaughlin.
The NVAR report covers Fairfax and Arlington counties, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton.
Other highlights from the September report:
- Total sold volume: $868.9 million, down 14.4% compared to September 2022.
- Average sold price: $738,772, up 6% from September 2022.
- Number of active listings: 1,661, down 29.8% from September 2022.
- New pending sales: 1,220, down 12% from September 2022.
Specific information for each jurisdiction in September is below:
Photo via Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash. This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
Taco Zocalo has officially moved well past its days as a food truck under the name Chef on Wheels.
The Mexican restaurant is opening another location in Fairfax County. A company representative tells FFXnow that the new location is expected to open in the Lincolnia area within two to three months.
It will open in Barcroft Plaza at 6343D Columbia Pike, according to county permits.
Taco Zocalo currently has locations in Ashburn, Reston and Chantilly.
It was started in 2011 by Afghan immigrant and chef Basir Ahadi, whose love of Mexican food inspired him to start his own food truck. His first brick-and-mortar location opened in Reston in 2017.
Items on the menu include tacos, burrito bowls, chimichangas and elote or Mexican street corn.
Located at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Lincolnia Road, Barcroft Plaza is anchored by Harris Teeter and also home to tenants like Starbucks, Glory Days Grill and Jake’s Ice Cream. Taco Zocalo will occupy 1,532 square feet between Navy Federal Credit Union and New York’s Chopped Cheese, per property owner Federal Realty’s site plan.
The site plan shows only one vacancy: a 2,758-square-foot suite next to Super Pollo and Bubble Nails on the western end of the shopping center.
Photo via Google Maps
D.C.-area chef Peter Chang is set to open a Chinese restaurant in Herndon in the second half of next year, a company spokesperson tells FFXnow.
The 3,500-square-foot Peter Chang restaurant will be located at Arrowbrook Centre, which is located at 2322 Silver Arrow Way.
Chang’s business has seven locations under its main brand in the area, including one that just opened in McLean. The menus typically offer Peking duck, dim sum and various Szechuan-style Chinese dishes.
The restaurant will be a Peter Chang restaurant, the spokesperson confirmed, not a second Mama Chang concept, as initially reported by The Burn.
Fairfax County’s permit database shows that a commercial alterations permit for the business is waiting for correction.
Located south of the Dulles Toll Road near the Innovation Center Metro station, Arrowbrook Centre has been developed with the 274-unit Ovation at Arrowbrook apartments and the MetroPark at Arrowbrook condominiums.
Other tenants coming to the neighborhood’s 36,000 square feet of retail space include the grocer Hello2India, Ornery Beer Company Public House and Paris Baguette, which is on track to open at 2324 Silver Arrow Way in November.
Driver Injured in Chantilly Crash — “Officers are investigating a single-vehicle crash at Walney Rd and Poplar Tree Rd in Chantilly.” The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries initially considered life-threatening. Their condition was later upgraded, but they remain hospitalized. [FCPD/Twitter]
Antisemitic Flyers Reported in Wolf Trap — “Fairfax County police are trying to find out who left anti-Semitic flyers in a neighborhood near Wolf Trap. Police said at least four or five of the flyers were left in and around driveways, and there may be more they are not aware of yet.” The area was previously targeted by dozens of flyers last year. [WJLA]
Fairfax Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking — “A man pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal cyberstalking charge in relation to sexually explicit and threatening messages and emails he sent to two victims. The incidents started in June 2020, when Michael Ghali…sent the first victim a series of sexually explicit and threatening text messages.” [DC News Now]
UPS to Fill Space Vacated by Huntington Bakery — “Huntington Station is fully leased once again with the recent signing of the UPS Store to the space formerly occupied by Voila Pastry & Cafe. According to Kayla Carter of A.J. Dwoskin & Associates, the property management firm signed a lease with the UPS Store in September, and the shop’s projected opening date is spring 2024.” [On the MoVe]
Route 123 Intersection in Fairfax Begins Operating — “A new intersection on Route 123/Chain Bridge Road north of Eaton Place has been activated — and is expected to be operational on or after Oct. 17. This new intersection will provide vehicular access to and from Willow Crescent Drive at Chain Bridge Road, and a crosswalk that spans Chain Bridge Road” [City of Fairfax]
Virginia Launches Permanent Fund for Mass Shooting Victims — “Legislators in the General Assembly approved a $10 million, one-time appropriation to create the Virginia Mass Violence Care Fund, which experts said is the first of its kind in the nation, designed to provide prompt assistance to victims, survivors and their families when other sources of financial help dry up.” [Washington Post]
Northrop Grumman No Longer Developing Space Station — “Falls Church-area based Northrop Grumman will drop plans to develop its own commercial space station and instead assist a competing effort led by Denver, Colorado-based Voyager Space…Under the new partnership, the companies will cooperate on the development of fully autonomous docking systems for Northrop’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft.” [Fairfax County EDA]
Vienna Kids Help Sell Pumpkins for Charity — “You’re never too young to start giving back, and two Vienna, Virginia, brothers are proof of that. Isaac Kubista, 9, and his brother Anton Kubista, 8, have spent hours on the weekends and after school keeping their church’s pumpkin patch running.” [WTOP]
It’s Monday — The forecast indicates sunny skies in the morning, which will transition to mostly cloudy conditions during the afternoon. The high temperature is expected to be near 60°F. Monday night will remain mostly cloudy, with a low temperature hovering around 47°F. [Weather.gov]
The Halley Rise neighborhood in Reston will host its second annual fall festival tomorrow (Saturday).
The event will feature a spooky scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting, live music, bouquet-making and games.
The event is free and open to all. Tours of the neighborhood’s farm, which is located at 2025 Fulton Place, will be offered from noon to 2 p.m.
Introduced at last year’s inaugural Halley Rise Fall Festival, the urban farm by Up Top Acres grows food and donates products to organizations that work to reduce food insecurity.
Food from the Roaming Rooster’s food truck and A.M. Kettle will be available for purchase on site. Live music by The Dirty Grass players is also planned. Game options include corn hole, jumbo Jenga and a giant Connect 4.
This year, the Farm has collected over 1,000 pounds of produce since July to donate to local nonprofit organization Cornerstones, exceeding its goal of at least 500 pounds.
Online registration is encouraged.
Brookfield Properties broke ground on the Halley Rise project in 2019 and has since focused on constructing The Edmund, a 353-unit apartment building that includes a pool, terrace, and fitness center. The apartment building houses Wegmans on the ground floor.
The Town of Herndon is offering financial support for Pakistan Heritage Day, a celebratory event organized by town council member Naila Alam and the nonprofit Global Beat Foundation.
At a Tuesday (Oct. 10) meeting, the Herndon Town Council voted to approve $2,015 for the event that will take place at the Herndon Community Center on Oct. 21 — a contribution that includes waiving $1,005 in facility rental fees.
The move is part of a renewed effort by the town council to support and expand more cultural events throughout the Town of Herndon.
While council members expressed support of the overall strategic mission, some called for clearer guidelines and protocols to approve funding for future events.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila characterized the town’s financial support as an effort to promote the town’s equity goals. Since the town lacks the bandwidth to lead cultural programming, del Aguila said it should step up and boost events organized by local residents.
“We all benefit when we can diversify ourselves and celebrate the diversity of our town,” del Aguila said. “This is a start.”
But Vice Mayor Clark Hedrick said the decision should not merely be characterized as a vote for or against equity.
“I think we are in sticky territory,” Hedrick said.
Councilmember Keven LeBlanc said he was concerned that a portion of the funds would cover floral decorations, adding that it was unclear how the nonprofit organization was supporting the event.
“Every organization should have some skin in the game,” LeBlanc said.
Councilmember Donielle Scherff was dismayed that a more defined mechanism to approve similar funding requests was not established. However, she said she felt comfortable supporting the event since it is less than two weeks away and the town was unable to establish criteria prior to the vote.
The town council removed an age restriction for event entry. The event flyer previously said only attendees age 18 and above were permitted at the event.
The approval came after vigorous debate at an Oct. 3 work session.
Council members stressed the need to verify that events supported by the town are focused on cross-cultural exchange and do not veer into religious celebrations.
The event is the second this year supported by the Town of Herndon. A Juneteenth celebration organized by Arts Herndon also received financial support from the town.
Reston Man Worried About Sister in Gaza — “When Emilie Rauchenberger…traveled to the Gaza Strip with her five children to visit her husband’s olive tree farm, she never imagined she’d feel so trapped. Now, she’s holed up in an apartment with 30 relatives and clinging to hope that her family can go home. In Reston, across the Atlantic Ocean, her brother Joe Rauchenberger waits for intermittent updates.” [DC News Now]
Police Investigate Carjacking in Tysons Mall — “Officers on scene of a carjacking in the 7900 block of Tysons Corner Center in McLean. 2 suspects took victim’s keys, threw an [unknown] liquid on him, and fled the scene in victim’s 2022 Blue BMW X5. Liquid does not appear to be caustic. No injuries sustained.” [FCPD/Twitter]
County Moves Forward With Mural Program — “Fairfax County’s eight economic revitalization districts and areas in coming years will be spruced up and enlivened by murals created under a newly approved pilot program. The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 10 voted 10-0 in favor of the Community Revitalization Murals Program.” [Gazette Leader]
Tysons Security Firm Helps Evacuate Israel — “For several days, McLean-based security firm Global Guardian has been transporting and evacuating hundreds of people out of Israel…Despite the danger, [CEO Dale] Buckner said his company has already helped about 600 people flee from the conflict through 16 evacuations.” [WJLA]
Lorton Man Robbed Same 7-Eleven Three Times — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau arrested a 21-year-old Lorton man for a series of commercial robberies at a 7-Eleven. At 11:07 a.m. [on Wednesday, he] entered the 7-Eleven at 9402 Richmond Highway…Detectives determined [he] was connected to two additional commercial robberies at this location that occurred on October 1 and 7.” [FCPD]
Bicyclists Take to New I-66 Parallel Trail — “The new 66 Parallel Trail is 18 miles of straight, flat path; rising, falling, curving swoops; tunnel-like passages through on- and off-ramps; wide lanes across bridges; and new on-street bike lanes…Despite its practical and utilitarian intent, solutions to knotty design challenges created sections of the trail that are often fun to pass through.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Providence District Food Drive Coming — “The Providence District Office is hosting its 4th Annual Food Drive from Monday, October 16th through Thursday, November 16th. The collected items will benefit Falls Church HS Pantry, Oakton HS Pantry, and The Lamb Center. Donations can be dropped off at the Jim Scott Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive) from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 10pm.” [Providence District Office]
Huntley Meadows Gift Shop Reopens — “The wait is over at Huntley Meadows Park as the Fairfax County Park Authority announces the reopening of the Huntley gift shop! Nature enthusiasts, wildlife lovers and gift-seekers, get ready to immerse yourselves in a world of treasures that will make your heart sing with delight.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Today, there will be sunny skies and a high temperature near 70 degrees, with a gentle north wind of 5 to 7 mph. By Friday night, expect increasing cloud coverage and a low temperature around 51 degrees accompanied by a light east wind. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 6:35 p.m.) Movie watchers in Reston will officially have a new place to experience the cinema next month.
LOOK Dine-in Cinemas will launch in Reston Town Center (11940 Market Street) on Nov. 2 with a grand opening and “ticket tearing” ceremony, the company confirmed to FFXnow.
The theater took over and renovated Bow Tie Cinemas, which closed almost two years ago. The opening was first pushed to late 2022 and then the third quarter of this year.
This is the first location in Virginia and the D.C. area for the company. The self-described “luxury” brand offers dine-in service for all screenings with a food, beverage and cocktail menu, according to its website.
“I couldn’t be more excited to bring LOOK Dine-In Cinemas to Reston Town Center,” LOOK Dine-In Cinemas CEO Brian Schultz said in a statement. “Our theater is a place for this great community to enjoy, laugh, cry, be inspired, and most importantly, come together. It’s not just about movies; it’s about creating memorable moments and a shared experience that unites us all.”
The Reston theater will have 11 screening rooms ranging in capacity from 45 to 120 seats. All auditoriums have reclining chairs and digital surround sound.
More from LOOK on the new venue:
Through its modern, elevated experience, LOOK sets itself apart from the average dine-in cinema, offering a state-of-the-art immersive presentation, large screens, surround sound and luxury seating. LOOK + Dine mobile technology allows guests to order from chef-inspired menus and craft beverage selections and all items are delivered directly to the guest’s seat.
LOOK Reston Town Center will feature a PX auditorium, the largest auditorium in the complex with a massive wall-to-wall screen, crisp, clear digital projection and engulfing digital surround sound technology. Guests and corporations will be able to host group events in the auditoriums or private rental space.
Advance tickets are already being sold to some of the first showings at the theater, including “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” the video game adaptation “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and Martin Scorsese’s historical crime drama, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Going forward, the company says the theater will have a range of films, including blockbusters, independent movies, documentaries, concert films and special event screenings.
Reston Town Center residents and tenants can expect “special promotions,” LOOK says.
Fairfax County wants to know what trash collectors are telling residents about recycling.
In anticipation of Fairfax Recycles Day, which will fall on Nov. 15, the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is surveying residents throughout October about whether their hauler is sharing educational materials on recycling.
“The survey takes about two minutes to complete and includes inquiries such as the type of information received and how often,” DPWES said in a news release yesterday. “The goal is to receive data that will provide a clearer picture of the overall countywide recycling services of County and private collectors.”
The survey is available online and will remain open until Oct. 30. Participants will receive “a cool gift” and, if they want, a mention on the county’s website, according to DPWES.
The department developed the survey as part of a Four Touch Points (FTP) initiative, which took effect on Jan. 1 and requires trash collectors to provide information about waste reduction and recycling to their customers in order to be licensed to operate in Fairfax County.
According to DPWES, about 90% of county residents and businesses get waste collection services through private companies, which must get the certificate permitting them to operate in the county renewed every year. Participation in FTP is now being considered as part of that renewal process.
The county’s reliance on private haulers has become a challenge in recent years, as staff shortages led to service disruptions and the closure of one operator.
While county leaders have explored getting more authority from the state to manage trash pick-ups, public services have encountered staffing and operational issues as well. DPWES has proposed eliminating fall leaf collection services, starting with the 2024-2025 season.
According to the county, materials universally accepted in curbside recycling bins include plastic bottles and jugs, mixed paper and cardboard, metal food and drink cans, and paper cartons. Glass can be recycled in the purple containers that have popped up around the county and at the I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex.
Photo via Sigmund/Unsplash
Fairfax County will add its voice to the chorus of local governments touting the presence and benefits of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
The Board of Supervisors authorized staff on Tuesday (Oct. 10) to sign an agreement committing the county to developing, maintaining and promoting its segments of the trail, which spans almost 900 miles from the Allegeny Highlands in western Pennsylvania to the Potomac River’s mouth in Northern Neck.
The roughly 137-mile Northern Virginia section includes segments in Great Falls, McLean and along the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Route 1 (Richmond Highway) from the City of Alexandria to Lorton.
“This is a mostly unknown trail connection that we’ve all been working on, believe it or not, for years,” Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck said before the board’s unanimous vote.
Designated in 1983, the Potomac Heritage Trail is overseen by the National Park Service, but it has enlisted local governments to manage segments in their borders under the memorandum of understanding (p. 413), which was initially developed in 2020.
In addition to Fairfax County, participating localities include Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties, along with Alexandria and the towns of Dumfries, Leesburg and Occoquan.
Per the MOU, the county’s park authority and transportation and public works departments will maintain trail segments, place markers at key points like major trailheads, promote the trail with media and way-finding or interpretive exhibits, and report on “visitation, volunteerism, and challenges and needs for completed segments.”
“The purpose of the agreement is to recognize the Trail network in northern Virginia and to realize fully the benefits associated with such recognition, including increased opportunities for outdoor recreation and nonmotorized transportation; for education, health, and heritage tourism; and for contributions to a vibrant regional economy,” county staff wrote in a summary for the Board of Supervisors.
The MOU also directs trail managers to “consider requests to plan, acquire lands and easements for, and develop segments of the Trail within respective jurisdictions.”
Fairfax County recently filled some gaps with the Mount Vernon Highway Trail Project, which added a shared-use path from Route 1 to Southwood Drive and was completed in May.
Storck said at Tuesday’s board meeting that his office has been working over the last few months to adjust some of the new trail segments “so they’re not right on Route 1.”
Working with Fort Belvoir to move its segments off the road has proven to be a challenge due to Defense Department rules on “what you can do and where,” but Storck said there has been “great progress” made on the trail.
“We’ll need to continue [that progress],” he said. “This will be something that gets worked on long after I’m gone, to find better ways to have it be more scenic and less urban…We’re doing the right thing, and as you see, it’s taken 50 years just to get this far, so we’ll keep plugging away.”
According to a trail map maintained by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Fairfax County still has gaps in the Mason Neck Trail along Gunston Road, on Old Colchester Road to connect Route 1 to the Mason Neck Peninsula, and between Great Falls Park and Scott’s Run Nature Preserve.
The Great Falls-to-Scott’s Run segment is unfunded, though one needed easement has been obtained at the Madeira School in McLean. The Gunston Road segment will cost an estimated $9 million and has gotten $4 million funded so far.
The route connecting Route 1 and Mason Neck may be tweaked as the county updates its overall trails map as part of its ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan, which is “tentatively” expected to get adopted in 2024, according to NVRC.
