Practically every restaurant serves them — but who really makes the best burger in Reston?
We asked Reston Now readers their thoughts, and the six restaurants listed below came out as finalists for the title.
Cast your vote for your favorite burger in the poll below to help the restaurant earn a Best Reston Business award.
Pets are family members too. That’s why Reston has no shortage of pet supply stores, pet sitters, groomers and other services to make Fluffy, Fido and their owners happy.
We asked Reston Now readers which Reston-based pet care businesses they liked best. These are the six top vote-getters.
Vote for your favorite so everyone can know which pet business is the Best Reston Business. This poll is open through May 13.
Which is the best new business in Reston?
We asked Reston Now readers which fresh face has had the greatest success right from the start. Readers chose the below six finalists.
We define “new” as opening its doors since Jan. 1, 2013.
So show some love in this poll, which will be open through May 13.
Reston has no shortage of Realtors. But good Realtors — you know, the one that found you your dream house, negotiated a sweet deal, sold your previous home in days and held your hand through contingencies and credit checks — deserve our praise.
Below are the six finalists nominated by Reston Now readers to earn our Best Reston Business Real Estate Agent Award.
Voting for the best in real estate opens today, so vote for one of the candidates below. Voting will be open through May 12.
For a good chunk of the year, Reston is a great place to eat outdoors. We’ve got patios at Reston Town Center and lakeside views at Lake Anne Plaza, to name a couple of places where the best al fresco ambiance can be found.
So what’s your favorite? We asked for nominations last week, and the ones listed below were the most popular. Vote in the poll now and help your favorite spot earn some attention just as outdoor dining season kicks into high gear.
Restonians are an active group. That’s why you had lots of picks for your best places to work out.
Below are the finalists for Best Gym, Trainer or Fitness Facility. Finalists are those who received the top number of votes in our nomination period.
So make your pick in the poll below, and your favorite place to lift, stretch, run or down dog can win one of our inaugural Best Reston Business awards.
Voting in this category begins today and will close on May 12.
The candidate filing period for the RCA Board is now open! If you’d like to join us, click here to learn more about the election and download the candidate application.
In the middle of a rainy and dreary week like this, it’s only natural to think ahead toward the weekend. I’m very excited about this weekend. Not just because warmth and sunshine are scheduled to make a reappearance, but also because one of my favorite Reston traditions is getting started again: the Reston Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, and I can’t wait to go. There’s not a lot that can get me out of the house on Saturday morning, but this is well worth the trip.
It’s hard to believe that the Farmers Market has been around for 16 years; it doesn’t seem like that long. But the market, under the able supervision of my good friend John Lovaas, has grown into a Reston institution, a place for the community to come together and enjoy local produce, meats, and more.
Farmers markets and Reston go way back. I remember the Reston Farmers Market on Baron Cameron when I was a kid, across from the Pet-A-Pet Farm (today’s Reston Zoo). My family used to stop in there from time to time to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables; the sweet summer corn was especially delicious.
The best time of year to visit the farmers market, hands down, was Halloween. We always picked out our pumpkins there, trundling the little red wagons among the rows of beautiful gourds. We went into the back of the store to fill our gallon jug with apple cider (so sweet and delicious; we drank it in the fall and I dreamed about it the rest of the year). Read More
“Great Parks, Great Communities” is the clichéd theme of the Fairfax County Park Authority. And the theme may be true, but the Park Authority is promising — a promise it may well not fulfill — Tysons and Reston urban areas among the most poorly parked-served areas among the top cities in the country.
It raises the question, will poor parks mean poor communities?
As Reston Now suggests in its April 29 article, county park availability standards for the newly urbanizing areas of the Dulles Corridor are less than half of the county-wide “suburban” standard — and the Park Authority plans to put fewer parks in Reston’s station areas than in Tysons because we have parks and facilities elsewhere.
Here’s where we are in the arithmetic of public parks. The county standards described in Tysons’ and Reston’s plans shoot for providing about 1.7 acres of park per 1,000 residents. That’s about 154 acres of parks in Tysons and 95 acres in Reston — if fulfilled.
Now let’s see how that stacks up. A national non-profit, the Trust for Public Lands, tracks park availability annually for the 100 largest cities in the country. When Fairfax County’s urban park standard is included in the ranking of acreage per 1,000 residents, both Tysons and Reston rank in the bottom 5 percent of all the cities.
If Tysons and Reston achieve the county urban goal, they would bracket New York City’s Manhattan Borough near the bottom of the list. Yet Manhattan has two and one-half times the density planned for Tysons and more than three times the density planned for Reston.
Moreover, despite having some of the most expensive real estate in the country, Manhattan has been able to set aside 18.3 percent of its land for parks. That’s more than 10 times the share planned for Tysons (1.4 percent) and more than three times the goal for Reston (5.6 percent).
And the county has no intent to meet its own standard for Reston because, as the Reston Comprehensive Plan says, “Need generated in the TSAs should primarily be met through the integration of urban parks, recreation, and cultural facilities within the mixed use developments of the TSAs. To supplement these parks and facilities, elements of the larger Reston area’s robust park and recreation system (outside of the TSAs) may be able to be improved to help meet the needs of future residents and employees.”
Last Wednesday, the 2014 session of the General Assembly adjourned sine die at the end of the Reconvened Session that is called at the conclusion of each regular session to consider amendments to legislation proposed by the Governor and vetoes he made of any bills.
Much of the work during the Reconvened Session dealt with technical issues related to the drafting of bills during a fast-paced session. Although the regular session has concluded, the General Assembly is already in special session to consider the biennium budget and closing the gap in health care coverage.
As I wrote in a column a few weeks ago, I give the regular session an “I for Incomplete” grade because it has failed to date to pass the most important work of every session in an even-numbered year–passing a budget for the state for the next two years beginningJuly 1. Otherwise, as I wrote in the same column, the session would be considered a reasonably productive one.
Republicans in the House of Delegates have refused to consider closing the gap in health care coverage even though federal dollars are available to cover 100 percent of the cost. While I have tried to understand their logic for wanting to separate the expansion of Medicaid from consideration of the budget, I can only conclude that separation of the two issues is simply an attempt to defeat any effort to expand Medicaid.
How or why would a legislature consider or pass a budget that ignores $5 million dollars a day in federal revenue available to it? Why would a legislature choose to ignore the nearly two hundred million dollars in state general funds that Medicaid expansion would free up to meet critical needs in education and public safety? How can one argue that separating Medicaid expansion from the budget would make for a “clean” budget when 20 percent of the current budget is the current Medicaid program?
Why would we watch billions of dollars be paid by Virginia businesses to the federal government without adopting the program these dollars were intended to support? Why should residents of the poorest area of our state — the southwest — go without health care when their neighbors in Kentucky and Tennessee are receiving care through Medicaid? Why should we ignore the pleas of our hospitals who suffer serious financial challenges from providing uncompensated care to indigent people when Medicaid expansion would cover these costs? Why are we ignoring the fact that our free clinics have more patients than they can serve?
There are many more questions that could be asked of Republicans in the House of Delegates, but the answer to all is the same: politics. Political considerations are keeping the Republicans from being willing to consider what they term “Obamacare.”
The Koch brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity, along with Grover Norquist and the Tea Party, are actively working against Medicaid expansion, and Republican incumbents fear a primary challenge from the right if they vote for anything related to expanding Medicaid.
Proponents of closing the coverage gap must generate the same kind of fear in the incumbents for the general elections next year.
Ken Plum represents Reston in the Virginia House of Delegates. His column runs Wednesdays on Reston Now.
Would you pay more for your dinner if it means more money for county services and schools?
Last week, Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova established a task force to examine whether a county meals tax could be a reliable source of revenue. A meals tax, at about 4 percent, could provide $88 million annually, Bulova said.
A meals tax would go through without a voter referendum. The county last tried that in 1992. The question failed to advance.
The task force will be led by former Board of Supervisors chairs Tom Davis and Kate Hanley, who will report back to Bulova by June 17. It will be made up of members of two dozen county organizations, including Republican and Democratic parties, the county Chamber of Commerce, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, Visit Fairfax, the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance and the Fairfax Education Association.
The task force will be asked not only to recommend, or reject, a meals tax referendum, but also to suggest what year the question should be asked and how the resulting revenues should be used.
Photo: PassionFish at Reston Town Center/Credit: File photo
This is an important and exciting time for Reston. As we celebrate our community’s 50th anniversary and our founder’s 100th birthday, we’ve been looking back at our past and ahead to our future. And as we look ahead, it’s clear that major change is in store for our community.
The Silver Line will soon be open, and that will trigger major redevelopment that will bring great opportunities and great challenges for Reston.
Our original village center, Lake Anne, is about to begin a major revitalization. Our other village centers may have redevelopment awaiting them as well. We’re going to see thousands of new residents and new jobs in the coming decades, which will bring new vitality, but also new demands on our infrastructure. We’re going to need roads, schools, fields, parks, and open spaces for those new Restonians, and we’ll need to provide them with limited resources and without damaging the quality of life for existing Restonians.
There’s a lot going on! And it’s a great time to be involved. There’s no better evidence of that then the large field of candidates (myself included) who ran in the recent Reston Association election. If you’re interested in all the change in Reston and want to be involved, I’d encourage you to get involved in planning our community’s future by running for the RCA Board.
For many years, Jane and I have used our spring break to visit locations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This year was no exception as we went to the southwestern region of the state. Although we drove about 225 miles to Roanoke from Reston, we were not yet in what the locals call Southwest Virginia. In fact, only by driving another 134 miles down I-81 to Abingdon did we get to what many consider the doorstep to Southwest Virginia.
It would have been possible to drive another 111 miles west with a short swing into Tennessee to get to the western-most point in Virginia at Cumberland Gap. That point is further west than Detroit. Regardless of how far you travel, the natural beauty of the mountains and streams in this part of the state are unequaled, and the local people are wonderful to meet.
A visit to the Town of Abingdon is always recommended (visitabingdonvirginia.com). Its historic streets in the center of town are lined with beautiful early Nineteenth Century homes.
Its best known attraction is Barter Theatre, with two stages offering professional productions. The name came from the fact that in 1933 when it was first founded attendees often paid in produce for there was little money to be had.
Abingdon is also the beginning of the Virginia Creeper Trail, southwestern Virginia’s equivalent of the W&OD. It is a 34-mile walking and biking trail that runs by the Holston River and through beautiful mountains. Jane and I took a fabulous 8-mile circular hike from nearby Damascus with half the distance on the Appalachian Trail and the remainder on the Virginia Creeper Trail.
To better understand the history and culture of the region a stop at Heartwood, the Southwest Virginia Artisan Gallery, in Abingdon is a must. While the exhibits are very informative and the creative works of the artisans are beautiful, the structure of Heartwood itself is a work of art and fine craftsmanship.
Southwestern Virginia is filled with wonderful country and bluegrass music. Check the schedule at www.myswva.org for festivals and musical entertainment almost every weekend at some location on the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.
From Abingdon near the Tennessee border we headed almost due north with many, many twists and turns on 70 miles of winding mountains roads to Breaks Interstate Park –“the Grand Canyon of the South”– on the Kentucky border. Almost 200 million years ago the Russell Fork River gouged out a five-mile gorge that created a “break” from crossing the mountains for the settlers passing through the region and spectacular geologic formations and views for modern day visitors. As one local resident advised us, be sure to take the geologic trail to view the wonders of the formations from below.
E-mail me at [email protected] if you need help planning your trip to the great Southwest or to other regions of the state. It is a great place to visit.
Ken Plum represents Reston in the Virginia House of Delegates. He writes weekly on Reston Now.
The nomination process for the inaugural RestonNow.com Best Reston Businesses awards begins now.
The Best Reston Businesses awards are a chance for residents and community members to choose their favorite local restaurants, stores, services and more.
Now is your chance to show your favorite hair salon, doctor, new business, kids store or gym, among other categories, a little love and spread the word about their good work.
Nominations for the contest begin today, April 23, and run through April 30. Use this online form to nominate your favorite, or use the form embedded below. Voting on the nominated businesses will then begin Monday, May 5 and end Friday, May 16.
There are just two rules: one submission per person, and the nominated businesses must be located in Reston. We’re a fan of all things Herndon and Vienna too, but for Best Reston, we need to keep it in Reston.
If you don’t have a business you’d like to nominate in any given category, just leave that field blank.
From the beginning, one of the Reston Citizens Association’s key missions has been keeping the citizens informed about what’s going on in the community and serving as the voice of the citizens on key issues.
In keeping with that mission, last week we had our first “ResTown Hall Meeting.” Our goal was to inform and to listen to Restonians on a subject that is essential to Reston’s recreational future: the draft master plan for Baron Cameron Park developed by the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Based on the attendance, it was clear that the community cares about the future of Baron Cameron. We had strong turnout in spite of cold and rainy weather and the NCAA men’s basketball championship taking place that night. Not only that, the attendees came from all parts of Reston, not just the neighborhoods closest to the park.
We opened with a presentation by RCA’s Terry Maynard. Terry summarized the changes and upgrades proposed in the draft master plan. He placed the plan in the context of Reston’s planned growth, explaining Baron Cameron’s location relative to the coming Metro stations (not very close) and the Lake Anne redevelopment (quite close). He also described the other park facilities in and near Reston. Read More
Although President Barack Obama did not come to Reston’s 50th anniversary celebration as President Lyndon Johnson had done at its dedication in 1964, he did send a letter of congratulations to the community’s founder Robert E. Simon
Not that Founder’s Day April 5 was short on dignitaries: Gov. Terry McAuliffe spoke and presented a proclamation; Sen. Tim Kaine spoke at the event, as did Rep. Gerry Connolly, who presented a resolution. Not to be outdone, Sen. Janet Howell and I presented a joint resolution, as did Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova and Supervisor Cathy Hudgins.
The occasion was doubly momentous with Robert E. Simon celebrating his 100th birthday a few days later. Congratulations went to Bob Simon for his vision for the community and for his leadership and tenacity in making it happen as well as to the community members who shared the vision and helped to make it a reality over the decades.
Although it was slow in getting started by some business standards, Reston is now recognized as the most successful of planned communities and sets the standard for others. More established cities and communities have their “tower center” with mixed-use development, walkability and plaza, attempting to emulate the success that Reston has found in its recent decades.
Reston is about more than urban design although anyone who studied the subject in college knows about Reston. There are many intangibles that make the community special, and many of them were brought about by Bob Simon’s principles upon which he developed the community. As Kaine indicated in his remarks, Reston had an open housing policy before federal law required it. A recent intergenerational community award demonstrates that the Simon vision of a place to live, work and play for all ages has been achieved. An evening at the Best of Reston program like the one last week gives you a strong sense of the community that exists with an effective partnership between the business and non-profit sectors.
There is a strong sense that Reston has come of age. A significant part of the program time at Founder’s Day was spent on a presentation about the redevelopment of Lake Anne Village Center, the historic heart of Reston. The basic concept of the center will be maintained but expanded to accommodate more people and to ensure its economic viability.
The soon-to-open Wiehle-Reston East Metro station on the Silver Line will be followed in the next four years with two more stations on the Metro system to serve the community. The recently adopted Reston Master Plan takes into account the transit-oriented development that can take place around these transit hubs. In keeping with the Reston spirit, the Wiehle Station has the largest bicycle facility of any station on the Metro system.
Reston is built on a solid vision-strong in human spirit and economically successful. I am proud to call it home.
Ken Plum represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. He writes weekly on Reston Now.
