After more than a year of being closed for repairs, the splash fountain in Town Square Park at Reston Town Center is back up and running.
The fountain, located in front of The Avant apartments and Barcelona restaurant is available for youngsters to walk through to cool off on a hot summer day.
New bonus: bartaco across the street sells gelato cones to go that you can take back to the park.
The 2015 World Police & Fire Games get underway with opening ceremonies at RFK Stadium in DC Friday night.
But lots of the action is already in Reston. The Hyatt Regency Reston is the credentialing headquarters, and hundreds of the athletes from 68 countries filled long lines in the Hyatt Ballroom to pick up official IDs and other gear on Friday.
Reston Town Center is also the site of the Athletes Village, where many of the 10,000 athletes and thousands of family and friends will gather each afternoon and evening from Saturday until the Games end July 5.
If you are going to (or near) Reston Town Center, please bring your patience and a sense of humor.
Even as of Friday afternoon — before the Games or the Athletes Village were officially open — parking was not easy to find and Reston Parkway was slow going.
The surface parking lot has been turned over to become Champions Square, a gathering place for the athletes and the general public for the duration of the games. There are games, a climbing wall, refreshments for sale, and entertainment. But note the reduction in parking spots.
Overflow parking is available at the Kiss and Ride lot at 12050 Sunset Hills Rd. (Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway).
Also, a portion of Cameron Glen Drive will be temporarily closed for the duration of the Games. The section from Towne Center Parkway to the drive accessing the Glen will be closed. Access to this area will be from the Bowman Town Drive entrance.
This weekend at the Games:
The full slate of competition gets underway Saturday. Admission is free.
Events in Reston include:
- Ice Hockey, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Reston SkateQuest
- Honor Guard, Sunday, 8 a..m. to 4 p.m. at Hyatt Regency Reston
- Police Service Dogs, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lake Fairfax Park (Note: Closed to the public)
- Open Water Swim, Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon, Lake Audubon
To see the full schedule of events all over the region, visit the World Police & Fire website.
The Counter is offering a special Father’s Day treat all weekend.
The Counter’s national office says it is “reprising its annual BFD Father’s Day offer to celebrate the Big F—ing Deals out there.”
Visit the Reston Town Center location of The Counter (11922 Democracy Dr.) with Dad and tell your server “My Dad is a BFD.” Dad will receive one standard 1/3-pound burger.
Rules: Valid Saturday and Sunday. One burger per Dad.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Reston returns to Reston Town Center Friday and Saturday.
The 25th annual event will feature food from Reston-area restaurants, as well as beer and wine; live entertainment, a Family Fun Zone ; a Wine & Dine area with cooking demonstrations; and carnival rides.
Festival hours: Friday, 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday (Carnival rides only), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission is free, but you need tickets for food, beer and rides.
Here is what’s on the menu:
- American Tap Room – BBQ Pork sliders with pickle
- Big Bowl – Pot stickers, vegetable summer roll, spicy peanut noodles, combination plates
- Buffalo Wing Factory – Buffalo wings and buffalo bites
- Clyde’s Bruschetta – Chicken, Gazpacho, Berry shortcake
- Flippin’ Pizza – Cheese and pepperoni pizza
- Gregorio’s Trattoria – Meatball slider
- M&S Grill – Chicken + waffles, lettuce wraps and crab tots
- McCormick and Schmick’s – Crab cake sandwiches, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, and French fries
- Melting Pot – Chocolate-covered Strawberries
- Mon Ami Gabi – Bahn Mi sliders, homemade dog bones
- Mum Mum Nova – Custard balls, stir fried noodles, butcher prime pork with satay sauce, and chicken skewers
- Naked Pizza – Cheese and meat pizza
- Neyla Mediterranean Bistro – Neyla signature hummus & pita
- Nitro’s Creamery – Ice cream
- Obi Sushi – Sushi rolls, fried sweet potatoes, and vegetarian pot stickers
- Paradise Catering – Shrimp kabob, Fried Oreo’s, Funnel cake
- Pitango Gelato – Gelato coolers
- Robek’s Fruit Smoothies – Fresh fruit smoothies
- Tavern 64 – Virginia Cheesesteak
- Ted’s Bulletin – All-American burger and Root Beer floats
- Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro – Crab dog
Photo: Taste of Reston/Courtesy Reston Town Center
Free yoga will happen at Reston Town Center all day Sunday as the Love Your Body Yoga Festival returns for its seventh year.
The festival, organized by Reston’s Beloved Yoga, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with yoga classes, wellness information, food samples and more.
The event is free, but donations for some classes will benefit Cornerstones and the Brad Kaminsky Foundation.
The pavilion will be the site of the main stage, where teachers from local studios Beloved Yoga, Health Advantage, Sun and Moon, Lifetime Athletic and others will lead a variety of classes.
Here is the main stage schedule:
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Opening Flow with Amir Tahami (Sun and Moon Yoga); Susan Van Nuys (Health Advantage); Stair Calhoun (Little River Yoga)l and Maryam Ovissi (Beloved Yoga)
- 11:35 a.m. – noon, Spark Yoga
- 12:05 p.m. – 12:30 p.m., LifeTime Fitness Life Power Yoga
- 12:35 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Dancing Mind
- 1:05 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. , Easy Day Yoga
- 1:35 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Pure OM
- 2:05 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., JourneYoga
- 2:35 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Life Wellness Centre
- 3:05 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Inner Power Yoga
- 3:35 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Kundalini Yoga (Raj Yoga Center)
- 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Community Kirtan & Closing Synergy Circle with Guruganesha and Band, Lobo Marino, Gita & the Metropolitan Bhaktis.
There will be a kids tent with short, child-friendly yoga classes, a tent with a live kirtan (music and chanting) and yoga for healing special groups such as addiction recovery, special needs children and adults, and people with other health challenges.
To see the full schedule, visit Love Your Body Festival’s website.
Kendra Scott Jewelry, a national upscale costume jewelry store, has signed a lease to open at 11900 Market St. in Reston Town Center.
Texas designer Kendra Scott launched the collection in 2002, and the jewelry is now sold at major department stores such as Nordstrom, as well at Kendra Scott stores nationwide.
Locally, a Kendra Scott store is scheduled to open this summer at Bethesda Row and in the fall at the Mosaic District in Fairfax.
Most pieces use brightly colored materials for “statement necklaces” that retail for under $120. Earrings are generally in the $50 to $100 range. The store also has a Game Day Collection, where sports fans can purchase jewelry in team colors.
Construction permits have been filed. No opening date has been announced.
Reston Town Center will turn into a food festival highlighting Reston’s restaurants as the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Reston returns June 19 and 20.
The Taste of Reston, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is the largest outdoor food festival in the area and was voted “Northern Virginia’s Best Food Festival”the last four years by readers of Virginia Living Magazine.
Here is what you need to know about the 25th annual Taste of Reston:
Festival hours are Friday, June 19, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, June 20, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. There will be carnival rides only on Sunday, June 21, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission is free, but you will need tickets to buy food and drinks and ride rides. You can purchase advance tickets online or in person at the festival.
Some of the participating restaurants: Clyde’s, American Tap Room, Pitango Gelato, Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro, Obi Sushi and many more. Visit the Taste of Reston website to see the full list.
Beer and wine will be served Friday, June 19, 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 20, noon to 10:30 p.m. in the main pavilion and at trucks on Library Street and Explorer Street. Over 21 only, and valid ID required. A mix of national brands and craft brews will be available, including beer from Flying Dog, DC Brau and Old Busthead Brewing Co.
There will be live entertainment on three stages, as well as a Family Fun Zone. See the full lineup and schedule.
Reston Now will have a booth at the festival. Stop by to visit us, ask a question, give some feedback and pick up some Reston Now gift items.
Hundreds of cyclists will ride for a good cause in Reston Sunday at the American Diabetes Association’s 2015 Tour de Cure.
The Tour de Cure is the largest cycling event for diabetes in the
country, with 91 events in 44 states with more than 63,000 participants, says the ADA.
Registration is still open for individuals and teams who will ride distances of 14, 20, 36, 63 and 108 miles. All routes start at Reston Town Center. The shorter distances stay in Reston; the longer ones take riders past Leesburg. See the routes on the Tour de Cure website.
Registration Fee is $25.00. Fundraising Minimum is $250.
Check-in and breakfast begin Sunday at 6 a.m. (shorter routes start later). There will be a finish line celebration in the Reston Town Center pavilion after the ride.
For complete information and registration, visit the Northern Virginia Tour de Cure website.
Photo courtesy American Diabetes Association.
Reston Town Center is the place to be for an entire day of yoga and other healthy activities as the Love Your Body Yoga Festival returns for its seventh year.
The festival, organized by Reston’s Beloved Yoga, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with yoga classes, wellness information, food samples and more.
The event is free, but donations for some classes will benefit Cornerstones and the Brad Kaminsky Foundation.
The pavilion will be the site of the main stage, where teachers from local studios Beloved Yoga, Health Advantage, Sun and Moon, Lifetime Athletic and others will lead a variety of classes.
There will also be a kids tent with short, child-friendly yoga classes.
To see the full schedule, visit Love Your Body Festival’s website.
The event also launches the official start of the 8th annual Virginia Yoga Week, June 14 – 21. Area studios and independent teachers will be offering free, $5 and Karma classes all week.
“This event was born from the desire to create ease and accessibility for people to try yoga, and celebrates the diverse yoga commUNITY of Northern Virginia,” says Maryam Ovissi, co-owner of Beloved Yoga. “At Love Your Body Yoga Festival, everyone can learn about the many ways to take care of their bodies from the inside out — physically, mentally, and emotionally — to feel stronger and healthier.”
Photo: Class at Love Your Body Festival 2014/Courtesy Love Your Body Festival
Reston Town Center was turned into equal parts extensive gallery, performing arts stage, and craft room as the 24th annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival came to town Saturday and Sunday.
More than 200 artists from across the nation had booths at the show, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors. The event was fun for the whole family, as kids could get crafty at the Family Art Park set up in the pavilion.
Are you the owner of an electric car? There are a growing number of places to charge your car in Reston.
Both Reston Town Center and Plaza America recently added electric vehicle charging stations to their parking facilities.
At Reston Town Center, there are four new charging stations on the P1 level of the Promenade Garage at Explorer and Democracy Streets. The stations are on the right-hand side of the Explorer Street entrance of the garage.
Users must have a SemaConnect account to use the stations. Visit the company’s website, www.Semacharge.com or download SemaConnect’s app to your phone to set up an account.
The first four hours of charging is free. It is then $5 an hour every hour.
The other new stations are at Whole Foods at Plaza America, where there are two charging stations in the parking lot.
There are several other charging stations around Reston. Visit Plugshare.com to see locations, cost and availability.
New Mediterranean spot Neyla is now open for dinner at Reston Town Center.
The former Paolo’s Ristorante at 11898 Market St. underwent a huge-but-quick interior makeover the last month and has reopened with a new name and a new menu.
The Italian specialities of Paolo’s longtime kitchen are gone. In its place are skewers and Middle Eastern-inspired salads.
The 160-seat restaurant will also have expanded outdoor seating. The kitchen is under the direction of chef Eric von Gehren.
Reston’s Concerts on the Town will start its 25th season at Reston Town Center later this month.
The concerts will take place most Saturdays from May 30 to Sept. 5, 7:30 to 1o p.m., rain or shine. This year, there will be a series break from June 20 to July 4 for other Reston events.
The concerts are free to the public thanks to support from the Reston Town Center Association and Boston Properties, the owner of Reston Town Center. This year’s line-up features a diverse array of music including blues, swing, jazz, bluegrass, zydeco, worldbeat, Latin fusion, reggae, Motown and more.
Bring a lawn chair, a picnic and your family and friends. Arriving early to get seat near the pavilion is recommended. Some of the 2015 highlights include:
- Della Mae, an all-woman bluegrass band from Nashville, on July 11
- Local jazz favorite Chuck Redd with trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling (Satchmo on national tour), on July 18.
- Matuto, a New York-based band playing Afro-Brazilian rhythms, on Aug. 8
- Two-time GRAMMY winning zydeco band Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience from New Orleans, on Aug. 22
Here is the schedule:
May 30
Big Joe & the Dynaflows
New Orleans-style swing, jump blues
June 6:
Hard Day’s Night
Beatles tribute
June 13
Radio King Orchestra
Swing, big band jazz
July 11
Della Mae
Bluegrass, folk-rock – from Nashville
July 18
Chuck Redd & Friends
featuring trumpeter / vocalist Byron Stripling
July 25
Entrain
Horn-fueled pop, blues, calypso & more
August 1
Incendio
Spanish/flamenco guitar, Latin fusion from Los Angeles
August 8
Matuto
Brazilian, roots-rock, funk – from NYC
August 15
Jambulay
w/ Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra
Reggae, calypso, soca & more
August 22
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Louisiana zydeco, high-energy blues (2-time GRAMMY winners)
August 29
Navy Band Commodores
U.S. Navy big band jazz
September 5
David Akers & the Soul Shakers
Motown, rhythm & blues
Kick off the 2015 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival at the festival launch party Friday at Reston Town Center Pavilion.
The party gets the 24th annual festival underway with music, a silent auction, and a raffle. The $75 admission also includes food and beverages. Attire is creative cocktail. Party time is from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Visit the event site to purchase tickets.
Money raised at the party will benefit year-round educational and outreach programs produced by Greater Reston Arts Center. GRACE currently has programs in 40 area schools.
The festival is open to the public Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but a $5 donation is suggested.
There will be more than 200 artists and artisans from all over the country on hand for the juried show. There will also be dance and musical performance and a Family Art Tent.
Read this previous Reston Now story for additional festival information.
Photo: Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival party 2013/Courtesy GRACE
Neyla, the new Mediterranean restaurant in the former Paolo’s space at Reston Town Center, plans to open later this week, restaurant management said.
The restaurant is having a soft opening tomorrow, general manager Souheil Moussadik said. Moussadik said Neyla should be open to the public later in the week, but the exact date is not yet known pending permits and other opening-day necessities.
Paolo’s, one of the town center’s longest restaurant tenants, closed in early April. The Capital Restaurant Group, which owns both Paolo’s and Neyla, hired top D.C. restaurant designers HapstakDemetriou+ to give the space a new look.
Neyla had been located in Georgetown prior to closing last summer. Meanwhile, the Paolo’s in Georgetown will remain.
The restaurant space was given its design makeover in just three weeks, said Moussdik.
The dark wood of Paolo’s has been replaced by shades of white and cool blue, as well as new fixtures and serving pieces.
Of course, the menu has been revamped too. Neyla will serve mezze (small plates ) as well as a regular menu. The mezze list includes baby artichokes, roasted eggplant, stuffed grape leaves, chicken shwarma sliders and middle eastern kibbeh (beef dumplings), among others.
Main dishes include flatbreads, salads, lamp chops, a mixed grill for two, felafel and more.
The restaurant is still hiring, says Moussedik. Stop by 11898 Market Street for an application.
