We don’t need the Washington Post’s Peeps diorama contest. Reston has its own!
Chesapeake Chocolates at Lake Anne Plaza is once again sponsoring a Reston Peeps Contest. Celebrate Reston by creating your favorite Reston scene using the marshmallow Easter candy and other decoration.
Submit your shoebox-sized diorama to Chesapeake Chocolates (11426 Washington Plaza W), and they will display it until March 28.
One diorama, chosen by a panel of judges, will win a delicious Chesapeake Chocolates prize.
Check out some of last year’s fun entries on Modern Reston.
Photo of 2015 contest by Charlotte Geary/Modern Reston
Lake Anne Plaza is the place to be Saturday.
The 9th Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip begins at noon on the dock.
Hundreds of people will jump into Lake Anne to raise money for Camp Sunshine, a camp in Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Read more about the Polar Dip, as well as register and donate, on the Virginia Polar Dip website. This year’s goal is to raise $125,000, which will help more than 50 families.
Many Lake Anne merchants will have special events on Saturday as well:
Chesapeake Chocolates will be hosting a wine tasting, selling hot chocolate, and featuring chocolate polar bears, along with their regular menu of fine chocolates. The shop will also be celebrating the grand opening of the Bob Simon Lake Anne Post Office, located inside Chesapeake Chocolates.
Small Change Consignment will be giving away hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves to everyone who jumps (while supplies last). Also they are holding their annual one-day-only, half-price toy sale.
Kalypso’s Sports Tavern will be donating 10 percent of sales from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday to the Virginia Polar Dip. Kalypso’s will also be holding a raffle for a big screen HDTV on Super Bowl Sunday. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Virginia Polar Dip.
PetMAC Pet Nutrition Center will be donating 40 percent of all sales (excluding food) on Saturday. to the Virginia Polar Dip.
Samantha Hu of Lake Anne Wellness will be donating 10 percent of sales on Saturday to the Virginia Polar Dip. Hu practices intuitive energy healing, healing meditation coaching, and Feng Shui for home and office.
Lake Anne Brew House — slated to open for business soon — will have merchandise for sale. Proceeds will benefit the Virginia Polar Dip.
Just Cats Clinic will be hosting an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Stop by for a tour, drink some hot chocolate, meet some kittens and for “ask a vet with Dr. Elizabeth.”
More than a year after Lake Anne Plaza lost its mini post office with the closure of Lakeside Pharmacy, it is getting a new one — this time inside a chocolate shop.
The Robert E. Simon Contract Postal Unit (CPU) will have its grand opening on Saturday at 11 a.m. The CPU — named for Reston’s founder, who died in September — will be located in Chesapeake Chocolates at 11426 Washington Plaza West.
A CPU is a merchant-owned site operated by the supplier under contract to the U.S. Postal Service, a USPS spokesman said.
A CPU offers mailing and shipping services, stamps, Priority Mail services and other postal basics.
“We are happy to provide the Lake Anne community with more convenience and access to postal services,” Phan Coty, USPS Northern Virginia Retail Manager, said in a statement.
The effort to bring the mini post office back to Lake Anne was spearheaded by Chesapeake Chocolates’ owner Doris Tyler, who also took over the Lake Anne Florist space next door when that store closed in early 2015.
The community helped out though, donating more than $4,000 on a Go Fund Me campaign to help pay for expenses for getting the CPU up and operating, including remodeling, additional employee salaries and furnishings.
Photo: Top, Robert E. Simon statue; Bottom; Chesapeake Chocolates at Lake Anne Plaza.
Only one week left to decide if you are going to jump into a possibly very icy Lake Anne. The 9th Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip takes place Saturday, Feb. 6 at Lake Anne Plaza.
The event raises money to send children to Camp Sunshine, an overnight camp in Maine for kids suffering from the effects of life-threatening illnesses.
Closer to home, the Virginia Polar Dip is a popular community event, drawing hundreds of spectators to Lake Anne Plaza to witness the “dippers” — some of them in whacky costumes — plunge into the lake in the middle of winter.
The event kicks off at 12:30 p.m. with music by Danny DJ, family friendly activities, and other warmup fun hosted by WASH-FM radio personality Chili Amar. The dip begins at 2 p.m.
Sign up to dip — or support a dipper — on the Virginia Polar Dip website.
Last year’s event raised more than $100,000. This year’s goal is to raise $125,000, which will enable about 50 Mid-Atlantic families to attend Camp Sunshine. Read More
Get your costume and a really, really warm towel ready as the 9th Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip is set for Lake Anne Plaza on Feb. 6.
The event raises money to send children to Camp Sunshine, an overnight camp in Maine for kids suffering from the effects of life-threatening illnesses.
Closer to home, the Virginia Polar Dip is a popular community event, drawing hundreds of spectators to Lake Anne Plaza to witness the “dippers” — some of them in whacky costumes — plunge into the lake in the middle of winter.
The event kicks off at 12:30 p.m. with music by Danny DJ, family friendly activities, and other warmup fun hosted by WASH-FM radio personality Chili Amar. The dip begins at 2 p.m.
Last year’s event raised more than $100,000. This year’s goal is to raise $125,000, which will enable about 50 Mid-Atlantic families to attend Camp Sunshine. Read More
For four decades, there was a small post office — really, a counter — located inside Lakeside Pharmacy at Lake Anne Plaza.
Lakeside Pharmacy, the last of the plaza’s original stores, closed in 2014, and so did the postal operation. But even with the post office gone, is that an absolute neighborhood necessity in an Amazon.com and email world in 2016?
A current Lake Anne merchant thinks so and has started a fundraising campaign to bring it back.
Doris Tyler, the owner of Chesapeake Chocolates who also took over Lake Anne Florist in 2015, has started an effort to bring a post office across the plaza to her store space at 11426 Washington Plaza West.
The U.S. Post Office recently awarded Tyler the license for a Contract Postal Unit (CPU), a retail postal facility located inside a retail establishment. CPUs are operated by the retailer’s employees and offer the same basic services available at a regular Post Office, according to a Go Fund Me page started for the project.
She would like to name the space the Bob Simon Lake Anne Post Office after Reston’s late founder, who died in September. Read More
With the developer backing out of the Lake Anne redevelopment deal, the one acre of Reston Association land that was swapped as part of the plan will return to RA’s possession, says an attorney representing the association.
Actually, it never officially left RA’s grasp, says RA land use attorney John McBride.
In 2014, RA and the county agreed to a land swap with Fairfax County in order for Lake Anne Development Partners to complete its large mixed-use plans.
RA gave the county one acre of land adjacent to Lake Anne Plaza on which the developers planned to build a 120-space parking garage. In return, RA would get 1.2 acres of land off of Baron Cameron Avenue. At the time, the swap was controversial because the Lake Anne land contained mature trees, among other reasons.
As part of the deal, RA would also get $100,000 for environmental improvements (tree care and stream restoration, for example). LADP also pledged to pay for 25 percent of the cost of dredging Lake Anne, a project that was recently completed.
RA Treasurer Dannielle LaRosa said on Thursday none of that pledged money was included in the association’s 2016 budget.
McBride said at RA’s regular monthly meeting on Thursday that the swap was “expressly contingent upon final agreement between LADP and the County being implemented and continuing through to performance.”
So, no deal means no land swap. When the LADP contract is officially terminated, which it should be soon, then the land swap issue is also terminated, said McBride. The RA board does not have to take any action.
“RA owns the property and always has,” McBride said.
LADP’s plans would have brought 1,000 residences and over 100,000 square feet of office and retail space to the Lake Anne area. LADP reps said last Friday the plan was not economically feasible and it was backing out of its contract.
Late last week, Lake Anne Development Partners (LADP) announced it was backing out of a massive redevelopment project at Crescent Apartments and the area surrounding Lake Anne Plaza.
LADP’s plans called for more than 1,000 homes, as well as retail stores, office space and a parking garage. The redevelopment, which would have taken more than a decade, was going to move Village Road; widen the entrance to the historic part of Lake Anne Plaza with an enhanced retail boulevard; and add an outdoor amphitheater and parking garage, and boost needed density to improve the retail outlook.
The developer also promised to add more affordable housing in addition to the 181 replacement units at Crescent.
None of that is happening now, though there is a reasonable chance the county, which owns Crescent and selected LADP in a Request for Proposals in 2013, will put the call out to other developers interested in the project. That will take time, which leaves the future of the plan wide open.
What do you think will happen?
Crescent Apartments/file photo
Reston Association representatives said they must meet with Fairfax County before it will know whether RA gets back its acre of land at Lake Anne Plaza.
As part of the deal to redevelop Crescent Apartments and the area surrounding Lake Anne Plaza, RA’s board approved a land swap in late 2013.
On Friday, Lake Anne Development Partners said it was withdrawing from the large-scale redevelopment plan that would have brought more than 1,000 residences; a high-rise tower to complement Heron House; and more than 100,000 square feet of office and retail space. LADP reps said the plan was not economically feasible.
Lake Anne Development Partners was picked by the county to redevelop Crescent’s 16 acres and the surrounding area in 2013. The developer said it needed the one-acre plot to build a 120-space parking garage. The land is located near the current parking lot and “The J” retail part of Lake Anne Plaza.
In return, RA would get a similar sized piece of land off of Baron Cameron Avenue.
At the time, the swap was controversial. Opponents were concerned about the loss of mature trees and that the Baron Cameron land was less valuable and full of litter.
Lake Anne Development Partners offered RA about $500,000 in general facility improvements as part of developer contributions. It also offered $100,000 in tree care as part of the land swap agreement, which RA passed 6-2 (with one director abstaining).
RA said in a statement Monday it must now pursue discussions with county representatives to determine the status of the Final Development and Disposition Agreement between the county and LADP and whether the county will soon seek a replacement redevelopment partner.
“The status of the Real Property Exchange Agreement between RA and LADP cannot be determined until these discussions are held with the county,” said RA.
In general, though, Ra supports Lake Anne redevelopment.
RA Board President Ellen Graves said in the statement the association is “both surprised and disappointed” about LADP working to withdraw from the contract.
“RA supports the revitalization of Lake Anne Village Center, as contemplated in the zoning and development entitlements, which were approved earlier this year by the county and the association’s Design Review Board,” said Graves.
In true Reston fashion, Santa arrives in Reston via lake barge on Saturday.
St. Nick’s ride is the highlight of Jingle on Lake Anne, Lake Anne Plaza’s annual family friendly holiday festival. The day features strolling carolers, wine tastings, merchant specials, cookie decorating and much more.
Jingle on Lake Anne is free and will take place rain or shine.
Here is the schedule of events for Saturday, Dec. 5:
- 8 a.m. to 2 p.m – Farmers & Craft Market
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Reston Art Gallery Make-Your-Own Ornament Kids Crafts
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Reston Art Gallery Holiday Sparkle Exhibit
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Gifts from the Heart: Shopping Event and Reception at Reston Community Center Lake Anne
- 11 a.m to 2 p.m. – Cookie Decorating, Crafts and Plaza Activities
- Noon – Santa arrives by barge
- 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Pictures with Santa
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Pet Photos with Santa at PetMAC
- 6:30 p.m. – Tree Lighting and Caroling
Photo: Santa on a barge/Courtesy Jingle on Lake Anne
Did you miss the candlelight vigil in honor of Reston founder Bob Simon on Sept. 25?
The event has been packaged into a 10-minute video featuring speeches from Reston dignitaries; kind words from friends, neighbors and citizens; and the moving sendoff lining Lake Anne Plaza.
The video tribute was produced byAround Reston’s Kat Toussaint and Mediavolution Visual Strategies LLC.
See the entire video on Mediavolution’s website.
Simon died on Sept. 21 at age 101.
Photo: Candlelight vigil on Sept. 25/Credit: Charlotte Geary of Modern Reston
Summer’s bounty may be gone (so long, strawberries and tomatoes), but a good number of vendors from the Reston Farmers Market and craft market will remain on site Saturdays through Dec. 19.
So put Lake Anne down as a place to get Thanksgiving goodies, holiday gifts and other stuff of the season.
Here is who will be at the fall market, which will run through Dec. 19:
- Del Sur Baked Goods
- Dimitri Olive Farms
- Valentine’s Country Bakery & Meats
- The Farm at Sunnyside
- Penn Farm
- Reid’s Orchard-
- Back to the Basiks
- Uncle Fred’s BBQ
- Glasscock Orchard
- Grace’s Pastries
- Baguette Republic
- Smith Family Farms
- Chesley Vegetable Farms
- Joie de Vivre Fine Food
- Oh Pickles
- Lake Anne Market (empanadas, tacos)
- Arnest Seafood
- Chef Eloy Kickin Salsas
- Cavanna Pasta
- Loudon’s Breezy Meadow Farm
- Kiwi Kuisine
- Monument Coffee Roasters
- 100 Bowls of Soup
Halloween 2015 fell on a Saturday, which meant there was a full slate of parties and family events around Reston.
At Lake Anne Plaza, costumed pets paraded on the waterfront at the second annual Howl-o-ween. At Reston Town Center, hundreds of children, their parents — and even more — pets roamed Market Street for daylight Trick-or-Treating at participating stores.
Hopefully, you had a safe and fun holiday too.
Photos by Sweet Memories Photography (Lake Anne) and Don Renner (Reston Town Center)
It will at least November until Reston’s first nanobrewery opens its doors.
Lake Anne Brew House owners Jason and Melissa Romano purchased the former Singh Thai space at 11424 Washington Plaza last spring. They said they hoped to be open by October.
In a post on the business’s Facebook Page earlier this week, the owners said everything is “just WAITING to be hooked up and brewed on and start brewing some beer,” however Fairfax County Health Department regulations have stalled the process. And the regulations are taking extra time because this will be Fairfax County’s first nanobrewery.
“To make a long story short, there are some legislative changes happening in the Commonwealth, and at a local county level here in Fairfax,” Lake Anne Brew House said on Facebook. ” We are working hand-in-hand with the Fairfax County Health Department currently to get our plans reviewed and approved, a very time- consuming and untimely step that we never anticipated having to take.”
“Once their review is complete, we can finish our build-out, install our equipment and start brewing some beer. Our ABC and TTB [Alcohol, Tobacco and Trade] licenses are approved, and we are ready to roll as soon as the county gives us the green light.”
A nanobrewery — a growing segment of the craft beer market — is a small microbrewery operation, typically producing fewer than three barrels at a time. A barrel is typically 31 gallons or two kegs.
When the brew house opens, the beer will be made on-site in the former kitchen space. There will be bar and inside seating, as well as seating on the deck overlooking Lake Anne.
Under Virginia law, breweries can sell pints of beer on site without the need for food service. Food service is required at bars. There won’t be a kitchen at Lake Anne Brew House, but Melissa Romano said previously they will sell simple snacks (similar to food operations at a winery) to go with the beer.
Photo courtesy Lake Anne Brew House
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
