Mark your calendar if you want to get a free prom outfit.
Reston-area high school and middle school students can each get a free dress, shoes, jewelry and other accessories at the Reston Community Center’s 17th annual dress giveaway next Saturday (March 30).
The free shopping event will offer dresses in a range of sizes. Volunteers will help teens pick out shoes, jewelry, handbags and other items to help complete their looks.
“The beauty of this event is revealed in the countless special evenings enjoyed by the teens who acquire their dance attire here at no cost and thus are able to thoroughly enjoy this rite of passage,” RCC’s Executive Director Leila Gordon said in a press release.
Back in February, RCC held an accessories drive — the community center already had enough dresses stockpiled away — that collected hundreds of items, according to RCC.
The event takes place from 11 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at RCC Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza).
Photo courtesy Reston Community Center
Introduction to Facebook — Learn the basics for how to use Facebook during a one-hour session from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Reston Community Center. [AARP]
Nose to toes yoga — Young kids can try out yoga poses while enjoying books and songs with a children’s yoga instructor from 10:30-11:15 a.m. at the Reston Regional Library. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Reston Regional Library. [Reston Regional Library]
Crash closed Elden Street — A crash on the 1000 block of Elden Street closed the road for about two hours on St. Patrick’s Day while police conducted an investigation. The road is now open. [Herndon Police/Twitter]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play — “Come to the Cabaret!” at Lake Anne Plaza.
The performance will be held at the Washington Plaza Baptist Church (1615 N. Washington Plaza). The suggested $10 door donations will go toward the church’s upcoming 2019 annual Christmas concert.
Attendees can also snack on some light refreshments and food.
The show starts at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (March 16)
- Family Art Day (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) — Join GRACE for a free celebration of Youth Art Month on St. Francis Street. Families can look at student artwork in the exhibit and participate in art-making activities.
- Herndon Library Board Games (1-3 p.m.) — Adults can play classic board games at the Herndon Fortnightly Library.
- Youth Arts Showcase Explosion (6 p.m.) — The Reston Chapter of The Links, Incorporated is set to perform for free at the Kennedy Center.
- Common Ground: Candice Bostwick & Friends (7-9 p.m.) — You can enjoy jazz and pop music at ArtSpace Herndon for $20.
- “Time Stands Still” (8 p.m.) — Saturday is the last evening to watch the Reston Community Players’ production of a play about a couple making a living out of documenting the horrors of war.
Sunday (March 17)
- History of World War II (2-4 p.m.) — Dr. Harry Butowsky from George Mason University will present the first part of his six-part lecture series on “World War II: On Our Way, USA 1939-1942” at the Reston Regional Library.
- Once Upon a Time–Princesses & Lollipops (4 p.m.) — The RCC Hunters Woods’ free annual concert will feature music from Disney movies and theater favorites played by the Reston Community Orchestra. Girls can go dressed up in gowns, crowns and tiaras. The afternoon will include singing, dancing, a parade of princesses, a raffle of two baskets and the presentation of the RCO Community Service award.
Sunday is also St. Patrick’s Day — Reston Now has a separate list of local events in Reston, Great Falls and Herndon.
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Singer Beverly Cosham is set to take CenterStage exactly one week from today for a free show.
Known for her cabaret and theater performances, Cosham will perform songs from the Great American Songbook.
The performance starts at 2:15 p.m. next Thursday (March 21) at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road).
The show is a part of a joint venture between the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University and Reston Community Center.
Photo via Reston Community Center
Contra-Tiempo, a Los Angeles-based dance company, will bring a performance to CenterStage followed by a dance party with the cast on Thursday (March 14).
The urban Latin dance theatre combines salsa, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop and contemporary dance with theater, text and original music, according to the group’s website.
Professional dancers, artists, immigrants, educators and activists comprise Contra-Tiempo.
From the Reston Community Center:
This urban Latin dance theatre experience takes on joy as the ultimate expression of resistance. Whenever humans have survived immense hardship and injustice, prevailing with their humanity intact, the presence of joy has always been at the root. An invigorating blend of physically intense and socially astute performances that push the boundaries of Latin dance as an expressive cultural and contemporary form, Contra-Tiempo brings salsa back to its roots as a mode of expression for the struggles of the working class.
The performance starts at 8 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). After the show, attendees can learn from the performers how to salsa in the community room.
Tickets cost $20 for Restonians.
Photo by Eric Wolfe, courtesy Reston Community Center
A weekend of events will take on Lake Anne Plaza in honor of International Women’s Day (March 8).
The events aim to raise awareness and celebrate the achievement of the women who helped shape Lake Anne Plaza, according to Rachel Piering, who shared details about the celebration to Reston Now. Women own and operate three-fourths of the businesses on the plaza, Piering said.
A free reception on Friday (March 8) at Reston Community Center’s Jo Ann Rose Gallery (1609 Washington Plaza) kicks off the first Annual International Women’s Day Celebration with a gallery reception and panel discussion starting at 7:30 p.m.
Small Change Consignment Owner Susann Gerstein, Reston Used Book Store Owner Susan Burwell and former Lake Anne Nursery and Kindergarten Director Ann Potts will join Linda Fuller, who used to own the Lake Anne Florist, for the panel.
Before the panel begins at 8:14 p.m., attendees can view the gallery’s photography exhibit by local photographer Charlotte Geary and vintage photos from the Reston Historic Trust and Museum.
Sales of limited edition commemorative posters will benefit Shelter House, a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention, safe housing and supportive services to homeless families and victims of domestic violence.
Throughout the weekend, locals will be able to enjoy several musical performances, art exhibitions, book signings and special promotions for shops and eateries, Piering said. The International Women’s Day Celebration is provided by the Lake Anne Merchants and Professionals Committee.
Businesses participating in International Women’s Day include:
- Chesapeake Chocolates
- Kalypso’s Sports Tavern
- Lake Anne Coffee House and Wine Bar
- Lake Anne Brew House
- Reston Historic Trust and Museum
- Reston’s Used Book Shop
- Reston Art Gallery and Studios
- Small Change Consignment
On Saturday (March 9) the New Trail Cycling Studio will hold a women-only ride on from 9:30-10:20 a.m. to help raise money for the Reston Runners’ “Seize the Day Women’s 5K” training program and race. Tickets are $20.
“Proceeds are going toward creating scholarships for local underprivileged women to train for and run their first 5k,” Liz Kamp, the owner of New Trail Cycling Studio, told Reston Now, adding that Reston Runner’s Women’s Training Program will help the women prepare for the race.
Image via Rachel Piering
Two months down and about seven more to go for the renovation of the Reston Community Center’s Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center.
RCC recently shared its monthly construction update on the project, which will update the 40-year-old aquatics center with two pools.
Two progress meetings took place before March 1, and the project “remains on schedule and on budget,” according to the post.
Demolition started in late January and continued through February. The demolition is expected to finish in early to mid-March, the post says.
The newly renovated facility, which will include a 25-yard lap pool with zero-depth entry, a warm-water therapeutic pool and a new roof, is slated to reopen in October.
Photos via Reston Community Center
RA election starts — Voting begins today for the Reston Association’s Board of Directors. [Reston Association]
Community conversation — Want to help Fairfax County on its strategic planning process? Join a meeting tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Reston Community Center. [Eventbrite]
Youth Art Month — Exhibits open today at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery and the 3D Gallery at RCC Lake Anne featuring artwork by kids from eight Reston elementary schools. “National Youth Art Month has been observed annually since 1961. It emphasizes the value of art education and encourages support for quality school art programs.” [Reston Community Center]
Diva Central Accessories Drive ends — A donation drive to collect shoes, jewelry, handbags and other accessories for the Reston Community Center’s annual prom and middle school formal dress giveaway ends today. [Reston Community Center]
General Assembly wrap-up — An infographic gives an easy breakdown on which bills failed and passed. [Virginia Public Access Project]
Pet hedgehog photo — Who doesn’t love pictures of pets? An article rounded up some pictures of Restonians’ pets. [Connection Newspapers]
Reston Hospital Center wins award — “Reston Hospital Center announced it is the first facility in Virginia to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval(R) for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement… Reston Hospital Center performs more than 1,000 total joint replacements every year.” [Reston Hospital Center]
The Reston Community Players are set to begin performances for “Times Stands Still” on Friday (March 1).
Donald Margulies’ play first hit the stage in 2009. Ten years later, Adam Konowe, the director of RCP’s production, says that the drama is still relevant. “This is truly a play that could have been ripped from today’s headlines, covering the full range of emotions from love to betrayal, pride to envy and commitment to dissolution.”
What’s the show about? Reston Community Players gave this plot description:
“Time Stands Still” examines the lives of one couple making a living out of documenting the horrors of war. When Sarah, a photojournalist returns from covering the Iraq War after being injured by a roadside bomb, her reporter boyfriend James is swamped by guilt after having left Sarah alone in Iraq. Physically bruised and emotionally beaten, Sarah and James explore whether it is possible for two people who are used to living in dangerous conditions to carve out a normal life.
“It demonstrates that what fulfills us in one sense can be destructive elsewhere,” Konowe said in a press release. “Most importantly, it reinforces that truth — portrayed here through journalism — is worth fighting for and serves society well, even when the news it conveys is difficult to comprehend or appreciate.”
The drama replaced RCP’s previously announced production of “Spring Awakening,” which was canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances,” according to RCP.
The full cast is the following:
- Jane Steffen as Sarah Goodwin
- Greg Lang as James Dodd
- Todd Huse as Richard Ehrlich
- Alex Sands as Mandy Bloom
Performances will be held at the Reston Community Center’s CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) at 8 p.m. on March 1-2, March 8-9 and March 15-16. A matinee will be held at 2 p.m. on March 10.
A champagne reception will follow the show on its opening night.
After the March 9 performance, two war correspondents — Susan Katz Keating, a national security correspondent for the American Media Institute, and former Fox News Channel Iraq Correspondent Malini Wilkes — will share their experiences covering overseas conflicts as part of an audience talkback panel.
Photos courtesy of Reston Community Players
Ever wonder how residents chose Reston for their home?
The Reston Historic Trust and Museum and the Reston Community Center are hosting a free panel discussion on just that, following Bob Simon’s goal of having the individual be the focal point of planning.
“The journeys our panelists have made to Reston confirm that the lived experience of that vision is alive in Reston today,” the Reston Historic Trust and Museum said in a press release.
The Reston Historic Trust and Museum shared backgrounds about three of the four panelists who will share their stories about their journeys to Reston.
Lindsay Trout
After her parents’ divorce, Lindsay Trout moved with her mother to Reston at age nine because of the diverse housing stock available. She has stayed in Reston ever since. Trout attended Terraset Elementary, Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School. She has spent her teaching career in Fairfax County Public Schools and is currently the Principal of Terraset Elementary.
Medelyn A. Ortiz Lopez
Medelyn A. Ortiz Lopez came to the United States at age nine. She attended Dogwood Elementary, Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School. She formed part of Southgate Community Center for the past 11 years as a participant, then as a volunteer and currently as staff. She is pursuing a career in nursing.
Sara
Six years ago, Sara and her parents immigrated from Ethiopia after receiving U.S. visas in the diversity lottery. Sara was 15 years old and preparing to begin 9th grade. Her father is blind and partially paralyzed. The family has no outside support; Sara and her mother are his primary caregivers. Trying to juggle work, school, and caring for her father’s needs, the family has struggled with homelessness.
Sara attended six different high schools in four years. Being the only English speaker in the family, Sara had to take on many adult roles in her family early on, helping her parents as much as she could. Today, she and her family are preparing to move from a shelter into their own home. She is working on becoming a U.S. citizen. She hopes to earn her GED so she can attend college and become an engineer. She is brave, resilient and determined to succeed.
The fourth panelist is Rizwan Jaka from the All Dulles Area Muslim Society.
In conjunction with the event, the Reston Historic Trust and Museum is also encouraging Restonians to share their own short stories and photographs about how they came to Reston via an online forum.
The panel starts at 7 p.m. at RCC Lake Anne Jo Ann Rose Gallery (1609-A Washington Plaza) on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
Photo via Reston Historic Trust
Presidents’ Day is coming up on Monday (Feb. 18). Whether or not you plan to spend the day remembering past U.S. presidents, check this list if you’re planning to visit government facilities around Fairfax County.
Fairfax County
Fairfax County’s libraries and courts will be closed.
The county’s public schools will be closed.
The Fairfax Connector will be running on a holiday weekday schedule and some routes won’t operate.
Colvin Run Mill Historic Site will be closed, while Frying Pan Farm Park will remain open.
County trash and recycling collection will not have any changes to the collection schedule next week.
Reston
The Reston Association offices, including the Central Services Facility and Nature House, will be closed.
Reston Community Center will be open.
Herndon
Town of Herndon government offices will be closed.
Refuse will not be collected and will resume service on Tuesday (Feb. 19).
The Herndon Community Center will be open from 6 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Classes will be held as scheduled.
The Herndon Centennial Golf Course will be open from 8 a.m. to until dark.
DMV and more
All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) customer service centers will be closed.
Metrorail will be running on a weekend schedule, while Metrobus service will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule, with some late-night trips canceled on select routes.
Speaking of closed offices, Reston Now will be on a break as well on Monday.
File photo
Basic knitting — Want to learn how to knit? The Reston Regional Library will show you “the only two stitches you need to knit anything you want” from 7-8 p.m. tonight. [Fairfax County]
Two musical worlds collide — Koto player Yumi Kurosawa will perform with tabla player Anubrata Chatterjee, bridging the cultures of Japan and India. The performance starts at 8 p.m. at CenterStage. Tickets cost $15 for Restonians. [Reston Community Center]
Movie theatre chain may come to Reston — “Upscale movie theater chain Cinépolis is close to a deal to open an eight-screen theater at Halley Rise, making the mixed-use project in Reston its first location in Northern Virginia.” [Washington Business Journal]
Students helping students — Leadership students from South Lakes High School recently organized a workshop to teach leadership skills to student ambassadors from Terraset Elementary School. [Fairfax County]
The musical traditions of Japan and India will combine in a performance by Yumi Kurosawa and Anubrata Chatterjee at the Reston Community Center later this week.
Kurosawa is set to play the koto, a Japanese stringed musical instrument, while Chatterjee will play the tabla — a pair of small drums common in North Indian classical music.
“This collaboration highlights their affinity and respect for one another as virtuosic performers while furthering their own timeless musical tradition,” the event description says, adding that the performance by Kurosawa and Chatterjee will focus on creating “musical tales.”
They are set to perform on CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Tickets cost $15 for Restonians and $20 for everyone else.
Work is underway on Reston Community Center’s Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center, which closed roughly one month ago for major renovations.
RCC recently shared a construction update on the project, which will update the 40-year-old aquatics center with two pools, along with photos of the progress.
RCC staff vacated the area after the pool was drained in early January, according to the update.
Recently, the crew from Branch & Associates has been removing wiring and ductwork in the ceilings and walls. The contractors have installed a safety railing around the pool and covered the overlook windows, the update says, adding that the crew was slated to put in a construction camera last week.
Locals might have noticed that a construction fence and work trailer are now outside in RCC’s parking lot.
RCC says that it will post monthly construction updates with photos, allowing people can follow along with the progress on the pools.
The renovated facility, designed by RRMM-Lukmire Architects, will include a 25-yard lap pool with zero-depth entry, a warm-water therapeutic pool, updated infrastructure systems and a new roof. It is slated to reopen in October.
Photos via Reston Community Center
