Members of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and the Southgate Community Center officially welcomed 19 new Capital Bikeshare stations to Reston yesterday (Tuesday).

“The expansion gives many more people in Reston easy access to bike share stations, like the one…at the South Gate Community Center,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “They especially provide more access south of the Dulles toll road where it is needed.”

The newest installation more than doubles the number of stations in Reston, which had 16 existing locations.

The Capital Bikeshare program originally launched in Reston in 2016. By 2019, the area saw 7,800 bike-share trips, though the COVID-19 pandemic led to a dip in rides in 2020, when there were only 4,400 trips.

“2021 Bikeshare trips are rebounding, and the people are already riding bikes from the newly installed locations,” according to Alcorn.

Among the new locations, the bicycles on Seahawk Drive and Ridge Heights Road have been getting the most use.  The Southgate Community Center is getting lots of use as well, landing in the top four most-used of the new sites.

Alcorn did note that the program is still working on choosing ideal locations.

“This is a work in progress,” he said. “This is something we’re learning as we go, and frankly, as people in the community make their choices on where to use these things and when to use them we will adapt and support accordingly.”

Capital Bikeshare locations are chosen with specific criteria in mind. In order to host a new Bikeshare station, a site should be:

• A trip generator — a place that people will be traveling to and from
• A community center or shopping center
• In or near development density
• In proximity to transit for those who want to bike from home to their transit to work
• An equitable location to serve those who want to bike but may not have a bicycle of their own
• In a sunny spot for the solar panels

Alcorn also mentioned that most stations are put on the street in existing public parking spots to save time and money in creating the location.

Fairfax County is already working on another expansion in the Vienna and Merrifield area.

“The future is bright for Capital Bikeshare in Fairfax County,” Alcorn said. “The system throughout the National Capital region has more than 600 locations so far. We are going to continue to expand Bikeshare in the county with planned, grant-funded locations in the Providence District and building on what we have in the Merrifield area in Tysons. This program is one way that Fairfax County is innovating to find new ways for people to get around.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has made wedding planning an especially turbulent affair in recent months, couples in Herndon at least have a new option for getting outfitted for their walk down the aisle.

The bridal and event planning shop Lulu’s Bridal and Global Events is holding its grand opening today (Friday) with an official ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. The store is located in Suite 202 at 731 Elden Street, right across from Herndon’s Old Town Hall.

Founder and owner Luzette “Lulu” Njweipi has dreamed about dresses she’s wanted to design her whole life.

“Since about the age of 16 I have always wanted my outfits to be unique and standout,” Njweipi says on her website.

She started designing and making wedding dresses officially in 2019, but she was designing dresses before then.

“I have a love for love, and weddings and everything dresses,” Njeweipi. “So I’ve always wanted to have my own bridal shop.”

Lulu’s Bridal and Global Events doesn’t just make dresses, though. They also help plan events, put together accessories and decor, and do make-up.

While there are some dresses that can be bought off the rack, Njeweipi specializes in making unique gowns that fit the vision of each individual customer.

“If you have a unique style that you want, we are able to kind of work with you to bring it to life,” she said.

Information on booking consultations and images of some of the looks Lulu’s Bridal has can be found on their website. Custom pieces and designs need to be ordered with plenty of advanced notice so the designers have time to make the items.

Lulu’s will be doing a bridal show in September to showcase some of its designs. More information will posted to the store’s Instagram and Facebook pages when it becomes available.

“We’re excited about the grand opening and we hope we will be able to serve the community as a whole,” Njeweipi said.

Reston Dermatology & Cosmetic Center has officially moved into a new office. The cosmetic center is now located at 1800 Town Center Drive, Suite 212. 

The office held a virtual grand opening today via Facebook Live with celebrations such as a virtual tour of the new office, provider discussions, raffles and special pricing for the opening. 

A full list of special discounts is posted on the center’s website. 

According to an employee, Dr. Syed Amiry bought the new office to have his own space, as opposed to renting the previous office in the same building. The office was remodeled. 

While the grand opening was this morning, the new office has been open for appointments for about a month, according to the employee. 

The office has implemented several COVID-19 precautions to keep their office safe such as waiving fees for last-minute cancellations due to illness, cleaning all treatment rooms before and after each service, cleaning the lobby areas several times each day, and more. 

Image via Reston Dermatology/Twitter

European Wax Center – a hair-removal salon – will be accepting its first clients tomorrow (Sept. 29) at 9 a.m. for its first day of operation in North Point Village Center.

The salon offers a range of waxing services including facial and body waxing such as eyebrow waxing, bikini, legs, arms, and more.

The hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Manager Tippy Gibson said the spa will close an hour earlier after Day Light Savings (Nov. 1).

Gibson said her wax specialists are “excited and ready to go.”

Photos courtesy Tippy Gibson