There’s plenty to do around Reston this weekend in addition to the many events for Reston’s 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration.
If you’re looking to avoid the cold weather, plenty of indoor activities are scheduled for this weekend.
Tomorrow (Jan. 19)
Stuff the Bus (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) — Head Herndon’s Fox Mill Giant (2551 John Milton Drive) to support Helping Hungry Kids as a part of “Stuff the Bus,” which takes place at various locations around the county to benefit local nonprofit food pantries. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova will join the event at 11 a.m. to assist with the food collection and also discuss the county’s resources for people impacted by the federal government shutdown.
Fantastic Films at Reston: A Wrinkle in Time (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) — The Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive) plans to show the 2018 movie, which is based on the classic book by Madeleine L’Engle, with warm cocoa.
“Time Stands Still” auditions (1-4 p.m.) — The Reston Community Players is looking for people to come audition for a show that examines the lives of one couple making a living out of documenting the horrors of war. The auditions, which will be held at 266 Sunset Park Drive in Herndon, will consist of cold readings provided that day. Auditions will also be held at the same time and place on Sunday.
Chess club (1-2:30 p.m.) — Locals can learn chess from experienced instructors at the Herndon Fortnightly Library (768 Center Street).
Sunday (Jan. 20)
Crys Matthews performance (2 p.m.) — Matthews, a singer-songwriter from Herndon, is scheduled to perform her songs at CenterStage at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). Tickets cost $15 for Reston residents.
Winter Restaurant Week ends (all day) — Sunday is the last day for locals to enjoy prix fixe menus at the four Reston restaurants that are participating in Winter Restaurant Week.
Photo via Reston Community Players/Facebook
Plans for Jinya Ramen Bar to open at a vacant spot in Reston Town Center are still undetermined.
Reston Now previously reported in December that the Japanese ramen restaurant chain said on its website that it was “coming soon” to 11964 Market Street, the former spot of a Thai restaurant.
A reader pointed out yesterday (Jan. 17) that the Reston location is no longer listed.
An employee for La Brea Dining Group, the parent company of the Jinya brand, told Reston Now that nothing has been finalized yet on the Reston Town Center location. The employee said she wasn’t sure why the Reston address was posted on the website, since the plans are still in the process.
When contacted by Reston Now, Jinya Ramen Bar said, “We are looking for better opportunities in that area!”
The chain has nearby locations in D.C. and Fairfax, Va.
Photo via Google Maps
Who’s hungry for more dining options?
As Winter Restaurant Week winds down this weekend, foodies in Reston and Herndon may have noticed some changes to their dining options in an area. Over the last few years, the food scene has seen newcomers pop up and long-established restaurants close.
(For comparison, Winter Restaurant Week in 2016 featured eight Reston-area participants. That’s double the number of participants for this year and 2018.)
Last year alone, several restaurants and two dessert shops shut their doors in Reston Town Center at almost the same rate as new options — Honeygrow, Balducci’s, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls and &pizza — popped up.
It’s a new year with new food. Openings already nearing for some of the seven restaurants coming to Reston and Herndon in the first three months of 2019.
Foodies, let us know your thoughts about which dining option the food scenes in Reston and Herndon really need.
Updated at 2:35 p.m. — Includes updated numbers for the food pantry.
The holidays may be over, but one business at Lake Anne Plaza is continuing the season of giving and holiday spirit into 2019.
The Lake Anne Brew House (11424 Washington Plaza W.) hosted an ugly sweater fundraising party yesterday (Jan. 6) to benefit the food pantry at South Lakes High School.
Several realtors, including Rob Cox, Mary Miceli, Carol Welsh and Ben and Kristi Guidry from Long & Foster Real Estate, helped host the party, according to a Lake Anne Plaza Facebook post.
The Lake Anne Brew House credited Long & Foster in Reston with the idea for the party and sponsorship of the pizza.
The event collected non-perishable food items and personal products — along with a nearly $500 donation — for the school’s food pantry, where nearly 730 students can “shop” for food and toiletries.
The food pantry is designed to help close the hunger and nutrition gap for the 30 percent of South Lakes High School students who are on the free and reduced lunch program, according to the school. The food pantry distributes more than 175 bags of groceries and toiletries to more than 95 families each week.
Roberta Gosling, one of the founders of the pantry, told Reston Now that students from Langston Hughes Middle School, Terraset Elementary School and other South Lakes High school pyramid schools are coming to the pantry.
Since opening in March 2017, the food pantry has given out more than 8,000 bags of food, she said.
Photo via Lake Anne Plaza/Facebook
(Updated at 3:46 p.m.) Foodies who are hungry for more options can start craving these upcoming restaurant openings.
Italian, Thai and Afghan cuisine and more are heading to Reston and Herndon early next year.
Reston
Finn Thai Restaurant and Bar, a Thai restaurant, aims to open at 1466 North Point Village Center “around the beginning of 2019,” according to its website.
Bombay Velvet, a fine-dining, Indian restaurant, will open later in January at 12120 Sunset Hills Road, the restaurant confirmed on Facebook. Reston Now previously reported that the owner said the restaurant was planning to open sometime near Christmas.
Famous Toastery, a breakfast and brunch restaurant, will open next in February or March at JBG Smith’s RTC West development at 12120 Sunset Hills Road, Reston Now previously reported.
Fox Restaurant Concepts plans to open its North Italia concept at 11898 Freedom Drive in Reston Town Center by early 2019, Reston Now previously reported.
Herndon
Ramen and Rice will open at 482 Elden Street in Herndon Centre sometime in January or February, Owner Sirinda Liw previously told Reston Now.
Kabobi by the Helmand, a restaurant serving Afghan cuisine, plans to open in February at 2321 Dulles Station Blvd, Suite A near the Innovation Center Metro station, Owner Khaleeq Ahmad told Reston Now.
Wooboi Chicken is coming to 139 Spring Street, Suite 1 in January, according to its Facebook page.
Photos via Helmand Kabobi/Facebook, North Italia, Finn Thai and Wooboi Chicken
This story has been updated
Updated at 9:35 on Jan. 10 — Includes McCormick & Schmick’s.
Four restaurants in Reston are among the 250 places in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. on the roster for Winter Restaurant Week in January.
Winter Restaurant Week will run from Monday, Jan. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 20, with prix fixe menus — $35 dinner and $22 lunch.
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced yesterday (Dec. 20) that Founding Farmers, The Melting Pot and PassionFish will offer both lunch and dinner during the event. McCormick & Schmick’s is also on the roster as of Jan. 10, 2019.
Two of the restaurants have certain restrictions.
Located at 1904 Reston Metro Plaza, Founding Farmers will have its regularly priced buffet brunch instead of the prix fixe lunch available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekend of Jan. 19.
The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant located at 11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 100, will not allow diners to share or split entrees or ask for substitutions.
Seafood-focused eatery PassionFish at 11960 Democracy Drive and McCormick & Schmick’s at 11920 Democracy Drive do not have any dining restrictions posted on Winter Restaurant Week’s website.
Photos via Passionfood Hospitality, PassionFish, Founding Farmers Reston and Google Maps
This story has been updated
Shoppers at Herndon Centre might have noticed a few recent changes to its food offerings.
Several locations in the shopping center have welcomed new grocery stores and restaurants this year — some of which relocated there — along with closures.
Mayuri Indian Restaurant moved to Herndon Centre in July to 390 Elden Street after it closed its Hunters Woods Village Center location in 2016. The restaurant closed its original spot of 10 years after the lease ended, according to the restaurant’s website.
Mayuri’s Herndon Centre spot used to belong to Baker’s Inn Indian Bistro & Cafe, which opened in 2016, according to its Facebook page. While its closing date is unknown, the restaurant was still open in late June, according to Yelp reviews.
Tipicos Gloria relocated about 150 feet from its spot at 482 Elden Street to 470 Elden Street about five months ago, an employee told Reston Now. The Central American eatery’s vacated spot is slated to open early next year as Ramen and Rice, Reston Now previously reported.
As for grocery options, ethnic grocer Lotte Plaza Market opened Dec. 7 at 490 Elden Street.
Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store is expected to take over part of the former Kmart space at 494 Elden Street. Demolition is still underway for that site.
Florida-based real estate investment firm Sterling Organization is dividing the former Kmart spot, Reston Now previously reported. Renderings of the project submitted to the Town of Herndon show the site will be the future home of LA Fitness, MOD Pizza and IHOP.
Curry Leaf Fresh Market closed at 378 Elden Street earlier this year. A sign on the door, as of Dec. 17, indicates that the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority “is considering establishing a retail store at this location.”
380 Elden Street, which used to be a Sprint store, has signs indicating the space is available for retailers.
An organization combatting food insecurity with an app is looking to serve more people in and around Reston
Food Rescue US uses an app to target local sites around the country, including Victorville, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and New Haven, Conn.
Here’s how the app works — restaurants, grocers and food providers can list surplus food for donation. Then, volunteers follow directions in the app for picking up and dropping off the food to receiving agencies like food pantries and community kitchens, which indicate in the app what they need.
Kate Urbank, the D.C. site director for Food Rescue, told Reston Now that the D.C.-area community started in October 2016. Since then, the efforts have helped redistribute nearly one million pounds of food. “We get hundreds of pounds a day,” Urbank said, adding that donors include Capital One and Boeing.
Last year, Food Rescue started bringing food to the Embry Rucker Community Shelter from mortgage giant Freddie Mac, which has food prepared by FLIK Hospitality.
The Reston nonprofit Cornerstones (11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210), which provides support for people in need of food, shelter, affordable housing and other services, helps to operate the shelter at 11975 Bowman Towne Drive.
Volunteers pick up food five days a week from Freddie Mac and then drop off at the shelter twice a week. As the site director, Urbank operates the app, determining the type of food, amount and proximity for volunteers to take to receiving locations.
The app has had the “hottest growth” in Northern Virginia, which currently has 50 active volunteers with five from Reston and two from Herndon, Urbank said.
“I’m very open to branching off the Northern Virginia piece,” Urbank said. “It’s so ripe.”
Urbank said that she met with Food for Others, an organization in Fairfax that helps distribute food., as she looks to expand the efforts in Northern Virginia. Last week, she hired a woman in Tysons who will help with community outreach in the area.
Ultimately, Food Rescue US aims to reach all 50 states, Urbank said.
Photo via iTunes store
(Editor’s note: This story was updated Monday at 2 p.m. to clarify where the collected food items went.)
Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, and one Reston-based company got a head start.
The Goal, a technology-based consulting firm, collected more than 500 food items in its annual food drive, the company posted today (Nov. 26) on social media.
The food will go to the Reston Community Center’s Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit Cornerstones, a local nonprofit organization. The items gathered by the employees, known as “Goalies,” include cans of yams, potatoes and Campbell soup.
Founded in 2002, The Goal is headquartered in Reston at 11921 Freedom Drive, Suite 920. The company’s services include software development, cybersecurity and data solutions.
The donation is meant to help people living in poverty, the company tweeted said.
Our Goalies collected over 500 food items in our annual food drive benefiting the Reston Community Center! Our donation is helping those living in poverty in Northern VA! #proudtobetg #tg https://t.co/AMKelOf0kR
— The Goal (@the_goal_) November 26, 2018
Photo via The Goal/Instagram
This story has been updated.
Updated 10:45 a.m. – Ramen and Rice will be opening in Herndon (482 Elden St) early next year.
Sirinda Liw, owner of Ramen and Rice, said despite the company name being Oki Bowl of Herndon the restaurant shares no connection to the chain located in Washington, D.C.
“It’s going to be fusion ramen,” said Liw, “much tastier than regular ramen.”
Ramen and Rice will be located in Herndon Centre between The Deli and the Nail Villa. Additionally, the ABC permit in the window indicates the location will be serving wine and beer.
Liw said the construction process is still in discussion with a planned opening in January or beginning February. The interior is still vacant and decorated as Tipicos Gloria, a closed Central American eatery.
Cafe Rio, a Mexican grill, will take up space in the former location of McDonald’s in Herndon. The fast food restaurant closed earlier this year.
According to Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel, the restaurant will occupy space near the Virginia Kitchen at 330 Elden Street.
The opening date of the new restaurant is not yet known, Merkel said.
The restaurant offers burritos, salads, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos and other Mexican staples. Cafe Rio has multiple locations in Virginia, including Falls Church, Burke and Fairfax.
Photo via Yelp/Cindy K.
The food pantry at South Lakes High School is moving beyond the typical scope of community pantries that give students in need a chance to discreetely shop for food and toiletries. In the coming weeks, the pantry, which currently caters to students in the SLHS pyramid and is run by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association, will begin offering cooking skills classes.
The after-school cooking workshops will give students a chance to learn more about healthy eating. Through eight sessions during the school year on Wednesday afternoons, students will learn how to make one recipe using healthy ingredients and meal kits that do not rely on processed ingredients, according to Roberta Gosling, one of the founders of the pantry. The initiative is made possible by a $7,000 grant from the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation.
The idea began to take root when Alana Pudner, a Girl Scout, approached pantry organizers with a three-meal pack she prepared to earn her Silver Award. Students began ordering the meal kit, which includes ingredients for veggie chili, lentil stew, and a tuna pasta casserole, as part of their weekly orders.
“To take that further, we also looked at some of the broader trends and felt that if we could help students learn to cook healthy, budget-friendly recipes that it would equip a broad group of people with life skills and take students a step closer to nutritious choices,” Gosling said.
Recipes will contain ingredients available in the pantry and through SNAP and WIC benefits. At the end of each session, students will get bags with recipes and ingredients, including a kitchen starter kit with basic tools like a cutting board, measuring cup, a pan, and spices used in multiple cuisines. Although the classes are open to all students at the school, organizers plan to market the class through the pantry to reach students most in need. Each session will accommodate about 20 students.
Organizers are also making an effort to focus on foods from around the world. Shopping lists are available in English, Spanish and Arabic and participants will get a chance to try different cuisines in the classes.
Roughly 30 percent of all SLHS students experience food insecurity, according to pantry organizers and volunteers. Every Thursday, students in need turn in their shopping list for the week. Volunteers pack shopping bags and distribute them to students as they head out on Fridays. Students can also shop at the pantry on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. and on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. The pantry is also open in the summer on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m.
Since April 2017, the pantry has filled more than 2,500 orders and weekly order averages are also increasing.
Now, pantry organizers and volunteers are looking for new ways to make the initiative more sustainable and comprehensive. On September 30, the school’s PTSA will partner with Lake Anne Brew House to present the “Do It Your Way 0.5K.” All proceeds from the event, which is set for 4-6 p.m. at Lake Anne Brew House, will go to the food pantry.
The pantry is led by Gosling, Abbe Pascal, Andy Sigle, Amy Shaw, and Sherri Pudner. Items in high demand include rice, beans, jelly, canned fruit, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Monetary donations are also accepted online.
Photos via Roberta Gosling
The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and Delta Airlines presented South Lakes High School’s food pantry with a “2018 Delta Dream Grant.”
The $7,000 award was given during an on-field ceremony at Nationals Park on August 21. Grants support nonprofits that provide services for children and teens in the Washington, D.C. area. Ten other recipients received awards in the program, including Martha’s Table, Capitol City Little League and Kid Power, Inc.
SLHS Food Pantry receives Delta Dream Grant for $7k at tonight’s Nats game. Love the work of our PTSA and support of our community! @fcpsnews @FCPSRegion1 @foodpantryslhs pic.twitter.com/mbr057TRcc
— South Lakes High School (@southlakeshs) August 21, 2018
“This year’s grants are dedicated to improving local programming focused on healthful nutrition, as well as the refurbishment of youth baseball fields and/or the purchase of substantial baseball equipment. We are confident that the 2018 Delta Dream Grants will go a long way to improve the lives of children and teens in the Washington, D.C. region,” said Tal Alter, Vice President, Nationals Dream Foundation & Youth Baseball Academy.
The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation is a nonprofit organization created in 2005 to improve the lives of children and teens in the region.
The pantry at SLHS accepts toiletries, canned goods, boxed and dry goods, cooking oil, laundry detergent, and dish soap. Donations can be dropped off at the school’s main office during school hours.
Since March 2017, the pantry has distributed more than 4,500 bags of groceries to about 50 families per week. Students in the South Lakes High School Pyramid can shop for food and toiletries at the pantry.
Join Exo Apartments on Wednesday, August 22nd from 4-7 p.m. and dive into summer.
Enjoy summer sips from local brewery Lake Ann Brew House. Snack on fresh baked pretzels and local food truck bites. Explore all that Exo has to offer, and snag summer essential giveaways along the way.
DJ Alkimist will be supplying the sounds of summer while you relax poolside. Swimsuits not required, but highly recommended. Grab your free ticket to the first annual pool party here!
Several Reston restaurants will participate in this year’s Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Summer Week, which begins on Monday (August 13).
Restaurants throughout the greater Washington region will offer three-course lunch and brunch menus for $22 and a three-course dinner for $35 at fixed prices. The annual event is sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, a regional trade association that represents restaurants and the foodservice industry in the DC-area.
Restaurants in Reston that are participated are:
- Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza Drive)
- McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive)
- The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
- Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
- PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)
Special menus for the week, which runs from Monday through Aug. 19, are available online.
File photo
