The pedestrian bridge that links Reston Town Center’s Bluemont Way and the Discovery Square office buildings off Sunset Hills Road is finally reopen.
The bridge had been closed for months, prompting several Reston Now readers to ask if there was not some bigger development project at work.
The bridge’s troubles actually began last winter, when the bridge that crosses over the W&OD Trail suffered damage from ice melter over multiple winters, said a spokesman for Boston Properties, which owns the bridge.
Supplies to fix the bridge were ordered, but then sat in place for several months.
Pedestrian connectivity will continue to be an important issue as the Silver Line’s Reston Parkway station, and accompanying development, prepare to open in 2020.
The Reston Parkway station will be in the center of the Dulles Toll Road, about a half-mile from Reston Town Center. However, major mixed-use development is expected to take place on the 33 acres owned by Boston Properties linking pedestrians from public transit to the existing town center.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s plan for the Reston Town Center Metro station.
What to know now: The station, which will be located in the Dulles Toll Road median just west of Reston Parkway and about a half-mile from the current Reston Town Center, will look exactly like other Silver Line stations.
That is disappointing news to the Reston Town Center Association and its Design Review Board, which requested adding some flair in order to give the station area, particularly on the north side closest to town center, a sense of place.
“The station proposal reflects ‘standard’ station design and does not distinguish this stop as a place of special distinction appropriate to Town Center’s status in, and contributions to, the county and the region,” Robert Goudie, RTC Association Exeuctive Director wrote in a letter to Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova. Read More
Joe Grooming, the McLean-based maker of men’s hair and grooming products, has left its retail space at Reston Town Center — sort of.
The shop will now be known as PR Barbers and will be operated by Reg Laws, one of the owners of PR at Partners Salons.
Joe Grooming opened at 11944 Market St. in October in a storefront vacated by PR at Partners Salon, which moved to another space at RTC.
“We appreciate having the opportunity for a pop-up shop during the holiday season,” Dan Kliska, president of Joe Grooming, said in a statement.
Kliska said Joe Grooming will continue to concentrate on its online business. The pop-up shop provided the company with the opportunity to explore expanding the brand to include men’s grooming services, he added.
PR Barbers will soon have some competition. A second men’s salon, Roosters, is slated to open at 11990 Market St.
PR Barbers says Joe Grooming gift cards will be honored.
The plans for the future Reston Town Center Metro station will have a public hearing before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
The plans for the station, expected open as part of the Silver Line’s Phase 2 in early 2020, were recommended for approval by the county planning commission earlier this month.
The Reston Town Center stop will be more similar to the urban-style stations at Tysons than it will be to Wiehle-Reston East, the existing stop that is adjacent to a 3,000-space underground parking garage. The Reston Town Center stop, like the stations at Tysons, will have virtually no parking.
And it will still be about a half-mile walk to the Reston Town Center as it stands today. However, development is expected that will bring mixed-use amenities closer to where the station will be built in the middle of the Dulles Toll Road near Reston Parkway and Sunset Hills Road.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) said in the county staff report for the project that there are a number of challenges with the plans — and that some might change moving forward. Read More
We told you on Sunday about a giant snowman that a resident of The Avant rolled into place shortly after the blizzard stopped.
We asked for reader opinions on what to name him. Most people answered on Reston Now’s Facebook page. Here are some of the top suggestions:
- The Avantinable Snowman
- WOB-bles (because the snowman was built for World of Beer — this is the favorite of “Big Mike,” the resident who built the guy)
- Jabba the Snowhutt
- Snotorius B.I.G.
- Jonas
- Robert E. Snowman
- Snowmanzilla
- Snowmangeddon
- WoBlizzard
- Flubber
- Wide Load
- Frosty
- Stay Pufft (from Ghostbusters)
- Cookie Monster
- Oprah
- Leonarsnow DiCaprio
- Blobby
- Buster Blizzard
Photo: World of Beer Snowman/Credit: Paul Ruiz via Facebook
There is a big, big snowman out in front of Reston Town Center’s World of Beer.
The snowman was built by a resident of The Avant apartments who is known around RTC as “Big Mike.”
We nominate this snowman to be the official mascot of the Blizzard of 2016. Let’s give snowguy a name.
Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Credit: Reston’s Big Snowman/Credit: Ed Schudel
Reston woke up to 18 inches of snow Saturday morning, which made for an eerie, snow-covered Reston Town Center.
Reston resident Don Renner took some of these shots as RTC came back to life about 10 a.m. Grounds crews have been busy clearing streets and sidewalks.
Many stores and restaurants are closed, but a few — including Barcelona, bartaco and Tavern 64 — say they will be open today. Call ahead if you are thinking of skiing over.
Meanwhile, another foot of snow is expected to fall by Sunday morning.
Photos by Don Renner
Ben & Jerry’s, which closed at Reston Town Center in September, is making plans to reopen a few doors closer to Fountain Square.
The store has filed Fairfax County permits to start renovations at 11916 Market St., next to Chico’s. The ice cream shop had formerly been located at 11928 Market St.
When it closed in September, the store management said it was just temporary.
The move is part of a retail shakeup on that part of Market Street since Gap and Gapkids closed in early 2015.
That stretch was reconfigured, and Kendra Scott jewelry and cosmetics store/spa bluemercury have recently opened in the subdivided space. A Madewell store will take over the former Ben & Jerry’s spot.
Photo: Former Ben & Jerry’s space at Reston Town Center
Bloody Mary alert: Reston Town Center’s PassionFish has added brunch to its weekly menu offerings.
The restaurant began serving last weekend. Brunch is available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
On the menu:
Pick any two dishes for $19, and also get $2 Bloody Marys and Mimosas or $5 speciality cocktails
Brunch dishes such as Smoked Great Lakes Whitefish Hash; Skinny Omelet; Huevos Ranchero; Eggs Bar Harbor (Eggs Benedict with lobster); New Orleans Style French Toast; and Smoked Salmon.
A kids’ brunch menu with pancakes, French toast, grilled fish, scrambled eggs and other favorites.
Raw bar selections
Seafood selections
See PassionFish menus on PassionFish’s website.
PassionFish dining room/file photo
The plans for the Reston Town Center Metro station will have a Fairfax County Planning Commission hearing on Jan. 13, and the planners are expected to recommend for approval the plans that will bring another Silver Line stop to Reston.
While the basic entrance pavilions will look similar to those at the existing Wiehle-Reston East station, the Town Center stop, part of the Silver Line Phase 2 that is expected to open in early 2020, will have a very different character than Wiehle-Reston East.
The Wiehle-Reston East station was built adjacent to a large parking garage, a joint project by Fairfax County and Comstock. Comstock is also building apartments, a hotel, offices, retail and restaurants as part of its Reston Station project that is under construction at was previously a suburban vacant lot.
The Reston Town Center stop — which, like most other Silver Line stations will have virtually no parking — will be built close to Reston’s urban core. It still won’t be “at” Reston Town Center, though. Read More
This week, Reston Now will highlight some of the most read-stories of 2015. Monday looks at the No.5 story: a stabbing at Reston Town Center.
In the early hours of Nov. 1 — after a night of Halloween festivities — a man was stabbed after a fight at Clyde’s at Reston Town Center, according to a Fairfax County Police report.
Police said an altercation began when the suspect began to flirt with the 24-year-old victim’s girlfriend. The victim was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
Read the original story on Reston Now.
Meanwhile, Fairfax County Crime Solvers announced last week a private reward of $25,000 is being offered for help in identifying a suspect.
The reward is in addition to the $100 to $1,000 also being offered by Fairfax County Crime Solvers.
Reston Town Center is about to get its second men’s salon.
Roosters Men’s Grooming Center has signed a lease and construction permits for space at 11990 Market St., in the ground level of the Midtown condos.
Roosters is a franchise operation that has local locations in Bethesda, Franklin Farm in Herndon, Ashburn and Merrifield, as well as more than 70 others nationwide.
Roosters offers hair cuts and color, beard grooming, signature facial shaving and other men’s services.
Roosters’ upcoming opening comes just a few months after Joe Grooming opened up at 11944 Market St. Joe Grooming’s Reston store is the first salon location for the McLean-based company that makes its own hair gel, shave balm and other products.
The Reston Town Center beauty boomlet of 2015 also includes the recent opening of bluemercury at 11924 Market St. Bluemercury is a locally founded chain that sells cosmetics and other beauty supplies, as well as offers some spa services.
Other beauty and grooming options at Reston Town Center include a Sephora store, an Origins store, an expanded PR at Partners Salon at a new location, L’Occitane, Salon Nordine, and an Aveda store and salon.
Bottom photo: Roosters location in Florida/Credit: Yelp
A private reward of $25,000 is being offered for help in identifying a suspect who stabbed a man at Reston Town Center’s Clyde’s early on Nov. 1.
The reward is in addition to the $100 to $1,000 also being offered by Fairfax County Crime Solvers.
In the Nov. 1 incident, a 24-year-old man was stabbed by an unknown assailant, who fled the scene.
The man and his girlfriend had been celebrating Halloween at the bar at Clyde’s when the suspect began to flirt with the woman about 1:20 a.m., police said.
A verbal argument between the two men erupted and escalated into a physical fight. The unknown man produced a knife and reportedly stabbed the victim.
The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Detectives investigating this malicious wounding case said are hopeful someone else in the crowded bar may have witnessed the incident may be able to help identify the suspect. He was described as Hispanic, wearing a black jacket, a white shirt and blue jeans.
Anyone with information about this malicious wounding or the suspect responsible is asked to contact Fairfax County Crime Solvers. Tipsters may submit a tip electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).
The private cash reward offer expires on May 1, 2016, Crime Solvers said.
Sketch of stabbing suspect/Credit: FCPD
A blown transformer caused a power outage Reston Town Center overnight Wednesday.
The block of Market Street that contains Midtown Condos, Subway, Il Fornaio, Iceberry and other shops is dark. Il Forniao says it will be closed for lunch.
A Midtown employee said the entire high rise was without power or water as of 11:30 a.m.. Dominion Virginia Power was on site but did not have an estimate was to when the problem could be fixed.
Midtown Condos/file photo
Christmas is getting closer, Chanukah is nearly over and pretty lights and carriage rides are for everyone.
There are a bunch of things to do iat Reston Town Center this weekend, however you celebrate.
Mini train rides down Market Street will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Pickup is in front of Talbots. A suggested donation of $5 is appreciated.
Horse-drawn carriage rides beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday (But it will be 60 degrees, so no dashing through the snow). Pick up is in front of Talbots. A $5 donation per person benefits local charity (children 5 and under ride free).
The Reston Chorale will be performing in the Promenade (by Mon Ami Gabi) at noon and 1 pm. Saturday. Sunday performances include the Northern Virginia Ukulele Society (2 p.m.) and teen band Catchin’ Toads at 3 p.m.
Special screening of A Christmas Story at Bowtie Cinema Reston Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. Fee: $5.50.
The traditional Gingerbread Village will be on display at the Hyatt Regency Reston.
On Sunday, Chabad of Reston-Herndon will mark the end of Chanukah with Chanukah on Ice from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Reston Town Center ice skating pavilion.
There will be ice skating to Chanukah music; a grand menorah lighting to commemorate the end of the holiday; latkes, donuts and gelt; and a grand raffle.
Kosher boxed dinners (hot dog, snack, juice box) available for purchase at $3.50.
The event is free. Skate rentals are $12.
Visit Reston Town Center’s events calendar for a full schedule for December.
