National recording artist JD McPherson will perform on Saturday, July 27 at Reston Town Center.

McPherson and his band, which is known for its 50s-style rock and rock and R&B tunes, are coming as part of RTC’s weekly Saturday night summer concert series. Concerts, which are free and open to the public, take place at the pavilion from 7:30-10 p.m.

RTC wrote the following about McPherson’s work:

His first album, 2012’s Signs & Signifiers, which included the breakout hit North Side Gal, was hailed as “an utterly irresistible, slicked-back triumph” by Mojo and “a rockin’, bluesy, forward- thinking gold mine that subtly breaks the conventions of most vintage rock projects” by All Music Guide. The Washington Post wrote that, “he and his bandmates are great musicians taking ownership of a sound, not just mimicking one.”

The best rock music has a story to tell. McPherson’s most recent album, the 2017 release Undivided Heart & Soul, chronicles a series of upheavals, frustrations, roadblocks, and kismet–a cross-country move, failed creative relationships, a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity, and learning to love making music again by letting go. That move, from his hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to East Nashville, has greatly influenced his new crop of songs.

The summer concert series, which is in its 29th season, ends on August 24. A complete schedule is available online.

Photo via JD McPherson/Reston Town Center

It’s not to early to get into fall mode. Registration is now open for the annual Flavors of Fall, a free annual festival that includes live entertainment, dancing, and family activities.

This year’s festival, which is organized by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, is set for Sunday, October 13.

The Reston Pumpkin 5K begins at 8:15 a.m. at Reston Town Center and the kids’ pumpkin dash starts at 9:15 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults and $20 for children age 14 and under. Prices rise after September 9.

Restaurants will also serve samples from their favorite fall menus. Two dozen tickets cost $20. Each sample typically requires between three and five tickets. Beer and wine requires six to seven tickets.

At the end of the race, awards will be given.

Registration is open online.

Registration is now open for the first-ever Lake Anne Stand-up Triathlon.

The event, which replaces the traditional triathlon event, aims to introduce different sports to the community by replacing swimming with a stand-up paddle board experience. It will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The triathlon will consist of a seven-mile ride on a New Trail Cycling stationary bike, a 5k run around Lake Anne on Reston pathways, and a one-mile paddle board. Paddle boards will be provided.

A celebration party at the plaza will follow the event. All proceeds will benefit CORE Foundation. Fundraising for the event is optional, but highly encouraged.

Athletes can take part in a solo or a three-person relay. The cost is $110 for solo athletes and includes a T-shirt, use of a New Trail Cycling bike for the event, use of a paddle board, craft beer after the race, and other prizes.

Partnering organizations include Surf Reston, New Trail  and Lake Anne Brew House.

Registration will be closed once 150 people register for the event.

Photo via CORE Foundation

Reston Regional Library and Scrawl Books are partnering to host an author talk and book signing with Julie Langsdorf and Angie Kim tomorrow (Saturday).

Langsdorf will discuss her first novel “White Elephant” while Kim will discuss her first novel “Miracle Creek.”

The event runs from 2-3:30 p.m. at Reston Regional Library.

Both authors have earned national praise for their work. Langsdorf lives in the District and teaches yoga. She has also won four individual artist awards from the Maryland State Arts Council.

Kim, a former editor of the Northern Virginia with her husband and three sons.

Tomorrow (June 22)

• Habitat Heroes (10 a.m. to noon) — Help Reston Association track down invasive plants like English ivy. Participants should park along North Shore Drive between Northgate Square and Wiehle Avenue. But be warned: there is poison ivy on this site.
• Family Fun Entertainment Series (10-10:45 a.m.) — Enjoy a one-woman circus by “Wheelie itty Wacky Silly Suitcase.” Parking is free on weekends at Reston Town Center.
• Robotics Workshop (1-4 p.m.) – Participants between ages 6 and 18 will learn how to build and program robots from legos and metal at Reston Regional Library. The event is presented by the Teen Advisory Board.
• Reston Concerts on the Town — Hard Day’s Night brings Beatles’ tunes to Reston Town Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to grab a spot at the pavilion.

Sunday, June 23

• Sunday Art in the Park (7-8 p.m.) — Byron Jones, an associate professor of voice, performs a selection of classic songs from American musical theatre at Reston Town Square Park. The event is free and open to all.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Enjoy a performance by Zig Zag the Magic Man at this weekly summer series at Reston Station Plaza. Parking is free on weekends in the Metro parking garage.

Our weekend pick is Taste of Reston — Northern Virginia’s largest outdoor festival — which kicks off today and runs until tomorrow (Saturday).

Here’s a recap off the festival, which will bring food vendors, local restaurants, and others together for two days of food-related fun.

Parking will be free during the event.

Tomorrow (June 15)

• Family Fun Entertainment Series (10-10:45 a.m.) — Enjoy the Uncle Devin Show, an interactive musical experience, that takes kids on a magical journey through the land of percussion. Parking is free on weekends at Reston Town Center.
• Stop-motion animation workshop (1-3 p.m.) — Exhibiting artist Stephanie Williams will lead workshop participants on stop-motion animation at the Greater Reston Arts Center. Registration is $30 and all materials are included.
• Trip to Nationals vs. AZ Diamondbacks Baseball Game (2:15-8:15 p.m.) — Reston Association is organizing a trip to Nationals Park. Registration is $54 for RA members and $62 for all others.
• Bookworms Club (11 a.m.) — Young readers will dive into “PAR-TAY!: Dance of the Veggies” at this weekly bookclub. Younger readers are welcome to join at any time.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Enjoy flow circus at the Reston Station Plaza in this free event for all ages. Parking is free on weekends in the Metro Parking garage.

Sunday (June 16)

• Bird Walk (7:30-10:30 a.m.) — Beginner and expert birders are invited to scout for birds in this walk, which is cosponsored by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and The Bird Feeder store. Registration is not required and the walk is for adults only.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Meddle in mad science during this free event at Reston Station Plaza. Parking is free on weekends in the Metro Parking garage.
• Chess Club for Kids (2-3 p.m.) — Learn tactics and end game strategies at Reston Regional Library. Players of all strengths are welcome to join.
• How to Stand Out in the College Admissions Process (2-3 p.m.) — InGenius Prep will give a presentation on how to standout in the admissions process, and Susan Shifflet, a former assistant director of admissions at Yale, will also offer her insights.

Photo by Don Renner

Northern Virginia’s largest outdoor food festival, Taste of Reston, returns to Reston Town Center this weekend.

The family-friendly event, which is organized by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, will include nearly 30 restaurants, a craft beer lounge, cooking demonstrations, beer on tap, live entertainment and a family fun zone tomorrow (June 14) and Saturday, June 15.

Festivities kick off tomorrow from 4-11 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Entrance to the festival is free, but food tickets are $1 per ticket or $20 for 24 tickets. Tickets can be purchased online.

Restaurants participating for a taste include Cooper’s Hawk, Not Your Average Jow’s and the Wine ‘n Dine Market Place. Live entertainment will be provided by Cherry Crush Band, New Blue Soul, Delta Spur and Vinyl Rhino.

The local YMCA will offer games and prizes in a family fun zone.

Parking is free for the duration of the event.

More information about the festival, which is expected to draw thousands to the town center, is available online.

Photo via Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce

Registration is now open for kids interested in participating in the CORE Foundation’s second annual Reston Youth Superhero Splash and Dash.

The event, which is set for Sunday, Aug. 18, gives kids a chance to show off their swimming and running skills. Registration is open for children between age 6 and 15.

The pool swim takes place at the Lake Audubon pool and the run course takes place on a nearby section of Reston pathways.

Organizers say the event focuses on “participation rather than competition and making every athlete feel like a superhero.” All participants will receive a medal, goodie bag and other swag. Athletes can also enjoy snow cones and finish line snacks.

Volunteers will be dressed like superheroes. The event is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and made possible through a partnership with the Reston Association.

Registration is $30 and a $10 USAT membership fee. Online registration opened late last week.

Photo via CORE Foundation

Summerbration, a live entertainment series at Reston Station’s plaza, kicks off on Friday, May 31.

The series features live entertainment under the stars at the open-air plaza atop of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. Concerts are on Fridays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Parking is free at ParkX with validation during the event. The first concert kicks off with entertainment by Battery Lane, a classic rock band. The last concert is on Aug. 23.

The complete schedule is below:

• June 7: Alfredo Mojica Friends
• June 15: Jason Masi Band
• June 21: Scott Kurt & Memphis 59
• June 28: Scott Kurt & Memphis 59
• July 5: Oasis Island Sounds
• July 12: Cedar Creek 
• July 19: Far Away
• July 26: New Line Brass Band 
• August 2: Swingin’ Swamis
• August 9: By & By 
• August 16: Four Star Combo
• August 23: Battery Lane

The series is presented by Reston Community Center in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc.

Photo via Reston Station/Facebook

The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, which is now in its 28th year, continues this weekend at Reston Town Center. Artists from around the country will take part in this outdoor festival, which has attracted roughly 30,000 patrons annually.

Donations collected from the festival will go to the Greater Reston Arts Center. The festival is on for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on tomorrow and Sunday.

A festival party set tomorrow, which includes the 2019 Awards of Excellence, refreshments, entertainment, and more, is for members only. Attendees must be contributing supporters to receive a complimentary invitation to the event.

Tomorrow (May 18)

• Baby Expo (9 a.m. to noon) — Learn about products, childcare resources and fund things to do with the family in this event at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. The expo is free and open to all.
• Bookworms Club (11 a.m.) — Dive into reading “Pig the Stinky” and “Book hog” at Scrawl Books. Each week, readers explore a new theme and can participate at any time.
• Relay for life of Reston-Herndon (2 p.m.) — Help race money to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer in this annual event, which takes place at South Lakes High School.
• Habitat Heroes (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) — Volunteers can help remove invasive garlic mustard from the woods and stream banks at Old Trail Drive Natural Area. Spring is the best time to tackle this invasive plant that attacks native trees, ferns and wildflowers.
• On That Note: Brand New Day (7-9 p.m.) — Sterling Playmakers will perform popular songs from musicals at this ticketed event at ArtSpace Herndon.

May 19

• Luau on the Lake (1-4 p.m.) — Lake Anne Brew House is hosting what organizers are calling a “fun-filled, luau-themed afternoon” to benefit South Lakes High School’s food pantry. Attendees should bring non-perishable donations. A percentage of proceeds will go directly to the pantry.
• Bringing Art to a New Town (7-9 p.m.) — Artist Pat Macintyre shares her story about her 1970s TV show and how Reston inspired her artwork. The event takes place at the Reston Museum. 

Photo by Don Renner

The Reston Chorale is presenting a self-guided tour of private gardens on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The third annual event, which is called Gardens of Note, will also feature pop-up performances by members and friends of The Reston Chorale and a Hidden Lane Garden Party at the end of the day.

Tickets, which are $22, can be purchased online in advance or in-person at the following locations:

• Mayflowers (11959 Market Street)
• Chesapeake Chocolates, Wine, Gifts & More (11426 Washington Plaza W)
• The Wine Cabinet (1416 North Point Village Center)
• Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Avenue)

Prices rise to $25 on tour day. All proceeds benefit The Reston Chorale.

Visitors will pick their first stop after receiving a list of the gardens on this year’s tour. Tickets will then be exchanged for a program guide with a tour map and more information.

The event concludes with a Hidden Lane Garden Party at 4 p.m., which features light refreshments, guided tours of the property, and ensemble performances by The Reston Chorale. The party is hosted by Hidden Lane Residential Landscapes on their grounds.

This year’s gardens of note were selected by tour organizers and garden specialists:

• The Agnew garden in North Point
• The Over and Vongsavat gardens at Lake Anne
• The Horr garden and West Market
• Pond in Reston Town Center
• Fannie Mae gardens and ponds
• Reston Association Garden Plots in Hunters Woods

Attendees can also purchase the perennial of the year — wood betony — at the event.

Photo via Carol Nahorniak

Reston Community Center’s weekly summer family fun entertainment series is back in Reston Town Center next month.

All shows are free and take place every Saturday from June 15 through August 3 from 10-10:45 a.m. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.

The series kicks off on Saturday, June 15 with the Uncle Devin Show, an interactive music experience that takes audiences through the land of percussion instruments.

On Saturday, June 22, attendees immerse themselves in the instruments and sounds of West African music with Kwame Ansah-Brew’s African Sounds. This show will include audience participation.

Mark Lohr takes attendees through a family vaudeville show on Saturday, June 29 when he shows off his circus skills and a sprinkle of magic.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

• July 6: Rocknoceros
• July 13: Guava Jelly
• July 20: Turley the Magician
• July 27: Groovy Nate
• August 3: Dixie Power Trio

Reston Town Square Park is located at the corner of Market and Explorer streets.

Parking is free on weekends in RTC.

Photo courtesy Reston Community Center

The American Diabetes Association will host its annual Tour de Cure in Reston Town Center next month.

The event, which is set for June 2, is the ADA’s premier cycling fundraising event and the nation’s largest diabetes cycling event.

Participants of all skill levels will use four routes ranging from 20 miles to 106 miles, as well as a 5k run and walk.

Online registration, which is $25, closes on May 31. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Fundraising minimums are $250 for riders age 13 and above and $50 for riders age 12 and under. Minimums do not apply to walkers and runners.

Photo courtesy ADA

It’s Spring Farm Day at Frying Pan Farm Park tomorrow (May 11).

Attendees will have the chance to watch sheep shearing and demonstrations of antique farm equipment.

Crafts, games and activities like cow and goat milking will also be onsite, in addition to a close-up introduction of the farm’s baby animals.

Walk-ins are welcome with a $8 registration fee at 2709 West Ox Road. The event begins at 10 a.m. Online registration is $7.

Tomorrow (May 11)

• Snakehead Run (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — The band returns to play for the Reston Market in front of Reston’s Used Book Shop (1623 Washington Plaza-N).
• Bookworms Club (11 a.m.)  — Author Sue Fliess reads “The Earth Gives More” to young bookworms at Reston Regional Library. The bookclub explores a new theme each week.
• Walking Tour of Public Art (2-3 p.m.) — Susan Becker takes walkers on an hour-long tour to scout for public art at Lake Anne Village Center (1609 Washington Plaza-W). The event is free and open to all.
• Ramadan Cultural Festival (2-4 p.m.) — Representatives from the All Dulles Area Muslim Society host a family-friendly afternoon of activities and games at Reston Regional Library.

May 12

• Bird Walk (7:30-10:30 a.m.) — Beginning and expert birders will search for birds from Glade Stream Valley to Sapsucker Woods. The walk begins at the Glade Recreation Area (11550 Glade Drive).
• Reston Youth Triathlon (8 a.m.) — In this event, which is open to athletes between ages 6 and 15, participants will run, swim, and bike a combination of sets. Police and volunteers will be around in multiple areas to direct race traffic.
• Sunday Afternoon Dance (2:30-4:30 p.m.) — Dancers of all skill levels are invited to foxtrot, swing, cha-cha and waltz their way into two hours of dance practice at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Door prizes and light refreshments will also be offered.
• Mountain Stories and Songs with the Dulcimer (3-4:30 p.m.) — Local musicians Ralph Lee Smith and Madeline MacNeil play traditional songs and share stories of the dulcimer.

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority

New Trail Cycling Studio is hosting a charity ride to celebrate six months of business at Lake Anne Plaza.

On Saturday, May 18, the business will host its “Ride for a Cause” from 7:30 a.m. to noon. All proceeds from rides will go to local non-profit organizations.

“New Trail is about community and helping other people,” owner Liz Kamp said. “Whether we’re helping someone get healthy or we’re improving a local organization, I want to make sure that New Trail is improving the lives of people around us.”

The event kicks off with six 30-minute rides in the morning. New Trail’s coaches will choose a different organization to benefit from each ride. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase leading up to the event in order to raise funds for each organization.

Riders of all levels are welcome to join for all or one of the rides, but bikes must be booked in advance. Fundraising credits are available online.

As a bonus, any individual or business sponsoring a ride with a mile-to-dollar match will earn a free private ride for up to 20 people.

Giveaways and refreshments are also planned for riders. So far, the lineup is as follows:

• 7:30 a.m. – Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts
• 8:15 a.m. – Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area
• 9 a.m. – Cornerstones
• 9:45 a.m. – Shelter House
• 10:30 a.m. – CORE Foundation
• 11:15 a.m.  – Heeling House

Photo courtesy Liz Kamp

Kalypso’s Sports Tavern is kicking off a live music series this week.

The business, which is located on historic Lake Anne, released its lineup of bands, which will play on a dedicated stage from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every Friday through July 28.

The complete line up is below:

• May 10: Free Soul
• May 17: Bobby Thompson & Friends
• May 24: Full Plate
• May 31: Something’s Brewing
• June 7: The Jones
• June 14: The Vandelays
• June 28: Holly Montgomery Band
• July 5: Chris Timbers Band
• July 12: Sista Pat’s One Vibe
• July 19: Free Soul
• July 28: Run For Cover

“Spring and summer is the best time of the year on Lake Anne,” says Kalypso’s owner Vicky Hadjikyriakou. “We look forward to welcoming guests, familiar and new, to enjoy this great free music lineup and our menu of flavorful Greek and Italian food.”

The tavern already offers acoustic music on the lakefront patio on most weekend afternoons and evenings. Reston Community Center’s Take a Break Concert Series also returns on Thursdays.

File photo