Reston Town Center’s ice skating pavilion will reopen for the season on November 9 (Friday).

The season will end on March 10. The hours for the rink are as follows: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Admission is $10 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under, senior citizens 55 and older, and military personnel. Skate rentals are $6. On Thursdays, college students can earn a $2 discount from 6 to 9 p.m., with a valid college ID.

Skating events scheduled for the year include “Rock the Rink” on Fridays from 8-10 p.m. and “Cartoon Skate” on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Skating lessons are offered on Saturdays from 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:15-10:45 a.m. Three sessions, each at a cost of $125, are available and more information is available online.

File photo

The ninth annual Washington West Film Festival kicks off today in Reston and other locations with a movie screening at Bowie Tie Cinemas.

The festival, which showcases new films from around the world and the filmmakers and actors behind them, will begin opening night with a screening of My Indiana Muse, a story about an artist who starts an inspirational project that will take more than a decade to complete. Tickets can be purchased online for $35.

A reception will follow the 7 p.m. screening and light appetizers and drinks will be available. The movie’s director Jennifer Serena and cast members Robert Townshend and Cheryl Berea will take part in a question and answer session following the screening.

The complete schedule of movie screenings and events is available online.

Prior to today’s screening at 4:30 p.m., the Kendra Scott store in Reston Town Center will offer drinks and refreshments.

All net box office proceeds help address issues like hunger, illness and limited organization, according to the festival’s website.

Photo via Washington West Film Festival

Finishing touches are underway at Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, an Annapolis-based restaurant, ahead of its opening next week.

The restaurant’s sign was installed over the weekend at the new location at 11939 Democracy Drive, the former location of Red Velvet Cupcakery.

Malcolm Gilbreath, who runs the Reston location and is a Reston resident of 16 years, said he’s excited to bring a new enterprise to Reston Town Center.

“We’re in town center all the time and we’re excited to be a part of the whole community,” Gilbreath said.

There will be indoor seating at the restaurant, which is around 800 square feet. Gilbreath also plans to incorporate gluten-free lobster rolls and is working with local bakeries to have their items on the menu. More details on the grand opening are expected in several days.

The restaurant would be the first Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls branch in Virginia. The company has four locations in Maryland, one in Delaware and another in South Carolina. The Reston location’s menu is modeled after the Delaware location.

Photo via Art Display Co.

Reston Community Players’ first show of their 52nd season kicks off tonight with a performance of Hairspray. The musical is presented in partnership with Music Theatre International.

Tonight’s show begins at 8 p.m. and performances are scheduled for Saturday and next weekend as well. Details about upcoming shows are available online. Tickets are $28 for adults and $24 for seniors and students.

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• If you’d rather see a show about South Africa’s fragile democracy, you can take part in a viewing and discussion on the topic at Reston Regional Library today from 2-4:15 p.m.
• Halloween is just around the corner and kids between the age of six months and 12 years can enjoy the first-ever “Boo at the Pool” at the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center from 1:45-2:30 p.m. Registration is $4 for Reston residents and $8 for all others. Treat will float for little ones and others will sink into the pool for a little more adventure.
• If you’d rather keep water out of Halloween fun, infant and kids up to 8 years old can take part in Halloween Family Fun Day at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. The event includes carnival games, a musical performance and a puppet show. The event is free.
• Keep Reston beautiful by taking part in a fall stream clean up on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will meet up at Hunters Woods Village Center to help restore Reston’s streams. All ages are welcome but kids under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Reston Association also needs help monitoring local streams on Saturday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Volunteers will work with a small team to collect data and identify insects, with the ultimate goal of assessing the health of the stream.
• A book club about books and their movie adaptations is set for Sunday at 4 p.m. at Scrawl Books. This month’s book is Crazy Rich Asians.
• Reston Town Center will become the site of a 4K walk and run organized by Shatterproof, a national organization that aims to end the stigma against addiction. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon.
• RA is also organizing a chartered bus trip to Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Reston’s sister city of Columbia, Md. Participants will enjoy a buffet lunch and see “Ain’t Misbehavin'”. The event will run from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tickets are $75 for RA members and $85 for all others.
• On Sunday, bestselling author and LGBTQ activist Armistead Maupin will speak at the RCC Hunters Woods at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for Reston residents and $30 for all others.
• Kids can test their opening tactics and ending strategies at Reston Regional Library’s chess club for kids on Sunday from 2-3 p.m.
• The 20th anniversary of Acoustic Jam is on for Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The event, which takes place at Frying Pan Farm Park, is free.
• And Professor Harry Butowsky’s six-part lecture series on the history of World War II continues on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library.

Photo via Reston Community Players

(Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Wednesday, Oct. 17 to indicate Governor Ralph Northam will no longer be in attendance). 

Shatterproof, a national nonprofit that aims to end the stigma associated with addiction, will host a 5k walk and run at Reston Town Center on Saturday (Oct. 20).

Participants can take part in activities like a “shatterproof community village,” which will showcase substance abuse disorder resources from local organizations; the “memorial gallery,” which will feature photos and stories of lost loved one; and a “celebrate recovery” space, which will gather people in recovery.

Governor Ralph Northam, who was scheduled to attend the event as of Tuesday (Oct. 17), will no longer be attending. Mark Herring, the Attorney General of Virginia, is expected to take part. Local families impacted by addiction will also present stories about their experiences.

Registration is free and is open online. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon.

Photo via Shatterproof

Antsy about antennas — T-Mobile is trying once again to put cell phone equipment on top of the Waterford Square condominium building. Plans were rejected earlier this year, but a second shot is planned will be proposed to Reston Association’s Design Review Board tonight. [Reston Association]

Meet MeSpoke — This company based in Reston offers a digital community for retail shopping. Users download the app and create a billboard, which curates photos of clothing ensembles from the user’s favorite brands. [WTOP]

Meeting on transit station guidelines tonight — A meeting about draft guidelines for Reston’s Transit Station Areas is set for today at 6 p.m. in Reston Association headquarters. Guidelines are intended to implement Reston’s comprehensive plan, which was amended in 2014. [Reston Association]

Woodfield to replace office building — The company wants to tear down the small office building at 1941 Roland Clarke Place in order to build a larger, 308-unit apartment building. [Washington Business Journal]

Farmers Market returns to Reston Town Center — The market will be on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the pavilion. [Reston Town Center]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

The new owners of Sheraton Reston Hotel (11810 Sunrise Valley Drive) in Reston Town Center have proposed a series of renovations to the 298-room hotel.

Wurzak Hotel Group, a Philadelphia-based company and DoveHill Capital Management acquired the property in March. Reston Association’s Design Review Board will consider the owners’ proposal to renovate the building’s exterior at the board’s meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 16).

Proposed renovations include repairs and repainting of the building’s facade. New louvers will be installed and wood-printed aluminum screens would be added to bring a “natural element” to the property, according to the owners’ proposal. Nature-inspired wood-printed metal will be repeated throughout the building and a clearer entry to the new Gastropub location will be added.

The DRB meets at 7 p.m. in Reston Association headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). The board will also hear a case that was previously rejected in April.

T-Mobile has filed another application to install antennas on the roof of the Waterford Square Condominiums — a proposal that was flatly rejected after opposition from residents. Opposition to the proposal remains.

Photos via handout/Reston Association

The Reston Historic Trust & Museum’s annual home tour is back for its 17th year tomorrow. Participants can take tours of six Reston homes that have undergone major redesigns.

Homes on the tour include a 1968 Dutch Colonial in South Reston and Reston Town Center’s Signature apartments. Tickets can be purchased online today and will need to be purchased at Reston Museum on the day of the tour. All proceeds benefit the Reston Historic Trust & Museum.

If historic house hopping isn’t your cup of tea, there’s still plenty to do in the area this weekend, including a Fall Carnival and Farm Harvest Day this weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park:

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Bring light to the darkness of cancer through today’s Northern Virginia Light The Night Walk from 5-9 p.m. The annual walk seeks to raise funds for blood cancer research. All registered walkers will get an illuminated lantern.
• It’s not too late to sign up for a trip to the Ronald Reagan building today from 5:45-10:30 p.m. to see the Capitol Steps perform live. Registration is $52 for Reston Association members and $62 for all others.
• Another tour is set for Saturday from 10 to 3 p.m. RA is offering a bus tour for newcomers to Reston. The tour begins and ends at The Lake House.
• Simon’s Junction will play at Lake Anne Plaza in front of Reston’s Used Book Shop on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Greater Reston Arts Center is hosting an art panel about art school on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday. Panelists include art educators from George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College and local county schools.
• Yes, Halloween is just around the corner. Author Sue Fliess will read from and sign her new book, Haunted Halloween, on Saturday at Scrawl Books at 11 a.m.
• Award-winning author Alfredo Del Arroyo will present his book Martes de Infamia: y Otros dias fatales, and poet and novelist Fernando Gudiel will present several of his works, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m. at Reston Regional Library.
• Enjoy an afternoon of dance at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods on Sunday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. The event is open to ages 18 and up. Western country dance is up from 5:30-8 p.m.
• You can also go on a (free!) search for birds in Reston on Sunday from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Bright Pond. The walk is sponsored by the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and The Bird Feeder store.
• Later in the day on Sunday, you can take a family trip to Corn Maze in the Plains, a five-acre corn maze that includes entertaining outdoor activities. Reston Association is organizing transportation to the event on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets, which cover the event fee and transportation, are $18 for all participants.
• But if you’d rather listen to a lecture about the history of World War II on Sunday, you can do so at Reston Regional Library from 2-4 p.m. Professor Harry Butowsky will be presenting.

Photo via Reston Historic Trust & Museum

As fall weather descends on Reston today, Flavors of Fall is set for tomorrow (Oct. 6) in Reston Town Center from noon to 11 p.m. The festival features area restaurants and their favorite fall menus, entertainment, live music, fall beers, and family activities.

Tickets are required to purchase food, beer, and wine. The event is produced by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. The following day, GRCC will host the Reston Pumpkin 5K & Kids’ Pumpkin Dash, which begins at 8:15 a.m.

The following is a list of selected weekend events in the area:

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Young adults with special needs and their buddies get to take a tour of Frying Pan Farm Park, ride on a wagon, and learn to do social dancing at the farm today at 6 p.m. Registration is $12.
• Kids between the ages of 6 and 11 can make thermoformed foam masks at Reston Regional Library on Saturday from 2-3 p.m. Registration is open online.
• If you’re planning to stop by Reston Town Center for Flavors of Fall (or anything else), you can swing by Reston Hospital Center from 9-11 a.m. for a free bleeding control training class.
• Old Town Tradition will offer a free lunchtime concert outdoors at Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is sponsored by Reston Used Book Shop and Friends of Lake Anne.
• On Sunday, the 2018 Arts Herndon Children’s Literary Festival kicks off from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ArtSpace Herndon. Organizers anticipate “record crowds” at the festival, which features guest authors, publishers, and illustrators from the area, along with live entertainment and art projects. The first 300 kids get a free book.
• But if history is your cup of tea, you can listen to a lecture by Dr. Harry Butowsky of George Mason University for a talk on the history of World War II on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library.
• Join Rebecca as she leads a free community yoga session on Sunday at Lake Anne Plaza from 9-10 a.m. The event will be followed by a yoga happy hour at Lake Anne Brew House.
• The work of DC-based artist Caitlin Teal Price will be on display at Greater Reston Arts Center through Nov. 24. The exhibit is called “Green is the Secret Color to Make Gold.”

Photo via Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce

One of the hottest neighborhoods for home sales — After crunching the numbers and ranking subdivisions by the increase in median sales prices, the increase in price per square foot, and other measures, the top areas were ranked. The 2018 median sales price for Reston was $515,000 and homes remained on the market for nine days, with sale price percentage increasing by 8.4 percent. [The Washington Business Journal]

Dog days of summer — The last dog paddle of the season will take place tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your dog for a dip in the pool. Registration is $6 for Reston Association members and $8 for all others. [Reston Association]

Adapted teen tour, ride and dance today — Young adults with special needs and their buddies can take a tour of Frying Pan Farm Park, ride on a wagon and learn how to do “social dancing” at the farm.  Registration is $12. [Fairfax County Government]

Photo by Wade Gilley, Sr. 

Flavors of Fall set for Oct. 6 — The fall festival at Reston Town Center will take place from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Although the event is free, tickets are available online for samplings from restaurants. [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]

New farmers market continues — Enjoy a temporary farmers market in Reston Town Center today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The last farmers market in RTC is set for Oct. 23. [Reston Town Center]

A declining golf course or a new park — In this opinion piece, the writer argues that a new park with new housing is a viable and product use of Hidden Creek Country Club. [Greater Greater Washington]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Thousands of used books will be available for purchase at Reston Regional Library this weekend. The semi-annual book sale is open to all from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday and between noon and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Prices are 50 cents and above.

Although there will be plenty of books available for purchase, no children’s books will be offered at the sale. All proceeds go to the library for materials and programming.

Other featured events include the following:

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Enjoy family splash at the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods today. The pool will be open for a night of family fun from 7-9 p.m. The entry fee is $13 for Reston residents and $26 for all others.
• Bring the family for a campfire program on Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. S’mores and other campfire treats will be provided. Registration is $7 for Reston Association members and $9 for all others.
• Beginning this weekend, the work of Virginia-based artist Rahshia Sawyer will be on display at the Greater Reston Art Center’s satellite gallery at Signature. The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• For teachers and poetry lovers, Scrawl Books will host a workshop on how to shake up the traditional classroom approaching to writing poetry. The workshop, which takes place on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., is led by Ann Marie Stephens, contributing author to The Write Thing. If you swing by on the weekend, you can also write a postcard to your favorite banned author — an activity by the bookstore as part of Banned Books Week.
• If you’re in Reston Town Center that day, you can also swing by the second annual Runway to the Cure from 6-11 p.m at the pavilion. Breast cancer survivors will take part in a fashion show and proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
• A new exhibit called “Green is the Secret Color to Make Gold” will be on display beginning Saturday and through Nov. 24. The art features DC-based artist Caitlin Teal Price. An opening reception is set for Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at GRACE.
• South Lakes High School’s food pantry is also organizing a “Do It Your Way 0.5k” to raise money for the pantry on Sunday. The event includes sweets, entertainment and raffle prizes and will take place at Lake Anne Plaza at 4 p.m.
• On Sunday, The Bad Plus, a musical trio, performs at Reston Community Center from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $20 Reston residents and $30 for all others. The event is part of RCC’s Professional Touring Artist Series.
• South Lakes High School will become the site for the seventh annual Perfect 10, a race in which participants can choose to run a 10k or a 10-miler. The event, presented by Fidelity Investments, is set for Sunday from 8-10 a.m.
• But if you’d rather begin your Sunday morning with free yoga at Lake Anne Plaza, you can do so from 9-10 a.m. as well.

File photo

Volunteers are needed to help put on Flavors of Fall, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s annual festival, which is set for Oct. 6.

Although most of the 200 volunteer positions are filled, organizers say there are some opportunities open.

Individual volunteers will receive a volunteer T-shirt and twelve Flavors of Fall tickets. The festival includes a full day of food, entertainment and fun in Reston Town Center. Corporate teams will also receive a featured slot on the festival’s website, selected event signage, and the event guide.

Interested individuals can sign up online. Volunteers serving alcohol or checking identification must attend a mandatory alcohol service training.

Anyone with questions should email Alicia Liddle at [email protected].

Photo via Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce