Just what is RTC West and where at the Reston Town Center will it be located?
That’s a question Reston Now got a lot on Tuesday, when it posted that Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant will be the first tenant at the 40,000-square-foot retail-and-restaurant destination.
A few basics:
RTC West is being developed by JBG Companies.
RTC West is NOT at the town center. RTC West will be built where three office buildings and a parking garage currently stand at Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway. It is also bordered by the W & OD Trail and the Sunset Hills area that contains Chick-fil-A, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Chipotle and more.
JBG’s plan, which was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week, will mostly add the retail space to the first two floors of the office buildings.
JBG says it plans to convert 15,100 square feet of office space to retail/restaurant space and add 25,000 square feet of new retail/restaurant space (on the southwest corner of the site), including outdoor seating.
The addition of RTC West brings amenities closer to where the Reston Town Center Metro stop will eventually open in 2018 or early 2019. While the Silver Line stop is called Reston Town Center, it actually will be located in the center of the Dulles Access Road just west of Reston Parkway.
That means pedestrians will have to walk about a quarter-mile from the station to the town center. Now they can walk through RTC West — or have a destination such as Cooper’s Hawk or other restaurants and shopping — closer to public transportation.
JBG had to agree to make transportation and pedestrian improvements, so look for walkways and crosswalks to be added to the the W & OD Trail and Town Center Parkway entrances of the development.
See the entire Fairfax County Planning Commission staff report on project on the Fairfax County Planning website.
The Mercury Fountain at Reston Town Center was full of inflatable balls on Wednesday as part of the town center’s annual April Fool’s Day prank.
Meanwhile, over on Modern Reston, the site posted a very convincing news story — but alas, a photoshopped prank as well — about a state-of-the-art monorail approved for the revamped Lake Anne Plaza. While the area surrounding Lake Anne is slated for a massive overhaul, residents and visitors will not be shuttled via an elevated train “that will provide shade” since all the trees will be removed.
Also, Reston Now is on the short list of nominees for the new Pulitzer Prize category “Hyperlocal Websites.” Just kidding — April Fools! (and thanks for reading regardless)
Ryan McCarthy, the manager of PassionFish at Reston Town Center, has been nominated as Manager of the Year in the 2015 RAMMYs — the awards given by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
The nominees were announced in an event at the Hamilton in D.C. on Monday.
The best restaurant manager nominees are a non-owner manager or general manager in the food service industry who displays the highest level of professionalism and leadership. “This person must be an inspiration and mentor to all his/her co-workers displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image,” the RAMMYs website says.
McCarthy has been PassionFish’s General Manager since 2011. He previously worked at D.C. Coast and Acadiana in DC. All three of the restaurants are owned by D.C. Chef Jeff Tunks’ Passion Food Hospitality.
Other manager nominees include Neill Blackwood (Mintwood Place, DC); Rachel Bronson (Red Apron Butcher, Union Market); Joseph Cerione (Blue Duck Tavern, DC) and Atul Narain (Rasika, DC).
PassionFish opened at Reston Town Center in 2008 and consistently makes Washingtonian Magazine’s list of 100 Very Best Restaurants. There are plans to open a second PassionFish in Bethesda this year.
See the entire list of RAMMY nominees on this Washingtonian post.
PassionFish file photo
The Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) is preparing to welcome artist Patrick Dougherty, who will begin a public art installation built from tree saplings at Reston Town Square Park.
IPAR says the project needs help — both from people and from saplings needed to construct the sculpture.
Volunteers are needed during the “harvesting” from April 7 to 9.
Ten volunteers are needed for each morning (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) and 10 volunteers are needed for each afternoon (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm), says IPAR. Volunteers will be cutting, bundling, tying, and carrying saplings to the truck and stripping leaves. Note: This is physical labor.
The project also needs construction and installation volunteers at the following times:
Friday, April 10 to Friday, April 17, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Four or five volunteers are needed for each morning (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) and 4-5 volunteers are needed for each afternoon (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm).
Volunteers need to be comfortable working on scaffold and be at least 16 years old.
To register, visit Sign Up Genius.
The project also needs tree saplings. If you have the right kind of saplings (see below), contact IPAR Executive Anne Delaney at [email protected].
From IPAR:
The artist requires quite a lot of saplings and has a preference for red maple, gray dogwood, and sweet gum, and possibly ash and certain types of willow (excluding black willow). Other species might be possible depending on flexibility, but most invasive species are not usable.
Ideally, we are seeking a site that was cleared in the last few years, so that the growth of the saplings would be approximately 3 to 5 years. At this point, we are seeking only small saplings, finger-sized in width but long: approximately ½ to 1 inch in diameter at the base, and between 4-6 feet in length.
The saplings will need to be harvested during the period from April 7-9, 2015, so that the materials are fresh and flexible during the construction of the work.
Photo: Patrick Dougherty/Courtesy of IPAR
Crews are putting the finishing touches on Barcelona Wine Bar and Bartaco, two new restaurants that will take up part of the ground floor on The Avant apartments at 12025 Town Square St. at Reston Town Center.
The Connecticut-based company have been working on the space for more than year, and lighting, flooring and furniture are all in place.
A company spokesman said last week no opening date has been set, however.
The restaurants likely still have to complete staff training and pass final Fairfax County inspections.
Barcelona Wine Bar, which has a location on 14th Street in the District, is known for its selection of more than 400 wines, as well as Spanish-style tapas. Bartaco is its beach-shack cousin, with six locations nationwide.
Bartaco is a beach-inspired taco shack, with inexpensive tacos ($2.50 each) featuring traditional as well as unusual fillings such as sesame ribeye, duck or curry shrimp.
The Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) and Reston Urban Core Association (RUCA), and their management company, SFMC, Inc., will now have an Executive Director. Robert Goudie, the vice president of the RTCA Board, has been hired as the chief management officer for both associations.
Goudie will report directly to the associations’ respective boards of directors.
“As a member of the RTCA Board since 2005, the last six as its vice president, Robert keenly understands and has been a vital contributor to our operations,” RTCA and RUCA Board President, Denise Hogan, said in a statement. “Moving his talents and energy into a full-time operational role will unquestionably add value to the Town Center experience.”
Goudie says his main goals are to effectively incorporate new development into the associations as Town Center grows in connection with Metrorail’s arrival; maintaining Town Center as not only Reston’s enviable downtown but as a growing and dynamic destination location; and cultivating the business-residential partnership that is central to what makes Town Center such a unique place.
“Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about all things Town Center,” said Goudie. “So the opportunity to be even more directly involved in helping maintain Town Center as a world-class experience was absolutely compelling for me.”
Goudie, an attorney, is also the chairman of Greater Reston Arts Center’s (GRACE) Board of Directors.
Goudie has been a Reston Town Center resident since 1998. He was the Town Center Representative to the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force and served as Co-Chair of the Task Force’s Town Center Committee.
RTCA is the master association for the Town Center District. It is responsible for managing the common property, ensuring design integrity, supporting various cultural and other programming at Town Center and monitoring compliance with the Town Center covenants.
All residential and commercial property owners in the district belong to the association. RUCA is a sub-association within RTCA that manages common assets and has certain responsibilities unique to Town Center’s urban core.
Paolo’s Ristorante, a mainstay of Reston Town Center for two decades, will morph into a Mediterranean-themed spot that will be familiar to some Washingtonians.
Thomas Gregg, the new CEO of Capital Restaurant Group — which operates Paolo’s in DC and Reston, J Paul’s (DC), Georgia Brown’s (DC) and Old Glory (DC) told the Washington Business Journal that all the restaurants in the company will be given menu and location overhaul.
The most drastic change will come in Reston, though, where Paolo’s will become Neyla, which was formerly located at 3206 N St. in Georgetown. Neyla, part of CRG, closed in August after 15 years at that location. The owners said at that time they were “actively looking for a new location for Neyla.”
Neyla was praised in Yelp reviews for its Lebanese food — as well as the belly dancing show.
No word yet on when the transformation will occur.
Photo of Neyla Georgetown/Credit: Neyla via Facebook
A new public art installation planned for Reston Town Center has signed a Loudoun housing community as a major sponsor.
The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and Initiative for Public Art-Reston (IPAR) announced in December that IPAR had been recommended for a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks Grant to support the creation of a temporary, site-specific, large-scale public art work in Reston by artist Patrick Dougherty.
Willowsford — a planned community in Loudoun County with an emphasis on sustainability and nature conservancy — has signed on to become the lead sponsor for the temporary project, committing $30,000.
“We are so excited to have Willowsford joining this project,” said GRACE Executive Director and Curator Holly Koons McCullough. “With their focus on the natural environment and architectural quality, Willowsford is an ideal partner.”
Willowsford spokesman Laura Cole said the sculpture — which will use natural materials such as sticks — “is a wonderful metaphor for what we are building in Loudoun.”
Willowsford will provide saplings from the property to be used in the sculpture, Cole said in a statement.
“This was important to us, to be a real partner and participant in this exciting endeavor, not just a passive investor,” said Cole. “It fits well with who we are, with 2,000 of our 4,000 acres cared for by the Willowsford Conservancy, and set aside for environmental preservation, recreation, and agricultural use. The goal is to provide a complete living experience, and world-class art is certainly a part of the essential life.”
Dougherty is an internationally-renowned sculptor who has created more than 230 sculptural installations worldwide. Dougherty will be creating project in Town Square Park, directly across from the GRACE gallery.
The sculpture, which will take several weeks to build, will be open to the public on April 25. It is anticipated to remain on site for up to two years. Because Dougherty works with natural materials, his sculptures have a limited life span.
Photo: Patrick Dougherty outdoor work “Call of the Wild, Tacoma WA/Credit: Duncan Price
On Valentine’s Day, take your sweetheart on a romantic carriage ride through Reston Town Center.
There will be horse-drawn carriage rides from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Rides meet in front of Talbot’s on Market Street. Rides will take place rain or shine.
The cost is $5 per person. Children under 5 ride free with an adult. Proceeds will benefit Volunteer Fairfax.
Other special Valentine’s Day events at Reston Town Center Saturday:
Sweet and Savory Valentine’s Special at The Tasting Room Wine Bar — Enjoy a Valentine’s Day special of four cakepops plus two glasses of select wine for $20 per couple.
Gift wrapping at Appalachian Spring from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donations benefit Kids R First.
Jour de L’Amour with The Tasting Room — A day of decadence begins at The Tasting Room with sparkling wines, chocolate, a chauffeured mini-coach tour to Boxwood Estate Winery for a group tasting experience and lunch, plus a cider tasting and distillery tour. $125 per couple – advance only. Get tickets and details at www.boxwoodwinery.com
And, of, course dinner at any number of Reston Town Center restaurants. Call your favorite for a reservation as it is sure to be a busy evening.
Photo: Horse-drawn carriage at RTC/file photo
An Arlington man was charged with unlawful entry and felony destruction of property at Reston Town Center early on Thursday, Fairfax County Police said.
Officers said Darren J. White, 42, of Arlington M & S Grill, 11901 Democracy Drive. at 2:19 a.m. — after closing time — and caused damage to the place.
Police spokesman Lucy Caldwell said the suspect broke a glass window.
Reston’s Gap and GapKids will close on Jan. 26, a store employee confirmed on Tuesday.
The Gap has been a longtime tenant of 11924 Market St. at Reston Town Center. The store’s lease was not renewed by owner Boston Properties, said the employee, whose name is not being used as she is not authorized to speak on the subject.
Meanwhile, deep discounts are available for the next two weeks. All full priced merchandise has been moved to other nearby stores. What is remaining is 60 percent off for women’s items and 40 percent off for men’s and kid’s merchandise.
This is the second Reston Town Center store in a week to announce its closing. Last week, The Dandelion Patch at Reston Town Center also announced it would close at the end of the month. Le Shoppe salon also left RTC last month.
Photo via Gap RTC Facebook page.
The Dandelion Patch, the speciality stationary and gift store at 1810 Library St. in Reston Town Center, will close at the end of this month.
Heidi Kallett, company CEO, said in an email to customers that in order to streamline operations, the company is consolidating to its locations in Vienna and Georgetown.
The company formerly also briefly had locations in Leesburg and National Harbor, which closed in recent years.
The Dandelion Patch — which sells preppy favorites such as Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Bradley gifts as well as high-end custom stationary and invitations — has had a shop at Reston Town Center for seven years. The store was formerly located on Market Street, moving to the Library Street location in 2012.
“Although we are sad to close our doors at Reston Town Center after seven years, we have loved being a part of the vibrant community of Boston Properties and are grateful for their support,” Kallett said in the email. “We have enjoyed being a part of so many life events for our clients. … We have great plans for The Dandelion Patch and are preparing for a prosperous 2015.”
Photo Courtesy The Dandelion Patch
Who is ready to run?
Get 2015 off to a healthy start with the New Year’s Day 5k at Reston Town Center.
Online registration for the 10 a.m. race is still open. Entry fee is $35 through Dec. 30. All ages are welcome.
The flat course starts and finishes at the Reston Town Center. The race goes through several streets of RTC as well as the W & OD Trail.
See a course map on PR Racing’s website.
The bright-yellow aluminum curves have been in place in front of the Hyatt Regency Reston for about six months, however on Monday Reston Rondo was formally dedicated as a part of Reston.
Reston Rondo is the public art work by Baltimore sculptor Mary Ann Mears. Mears was chosen by the Initiative for Public Art Reston to create a sculpture that would, among other things, enhance the visibility of the park, create a sense of whimsey and surprise, and ease the transition from busy Reston Parkway to the serenity of the green space at Hyatt Park and ultimately into the Reston Town Center.
“Successful public art is the convergence of the artist, who has the ideas and a thoughtful and committed client,” Mears said at the dedication. “You also need talented and dedicated craftsman to help realize the vision, as well as public leadership.”
Mears designed the project but some of the metalwork came from Kelco Industrial Contractors of Baltimore.
“What I wanted to do was make Reston Rondo a very welcoming piece,” said Mears. “I love the way it looks in daylight and also at night. I hope it works as a welcome to Reston. … In designing the piece, I was thinking about the scale and modernity of architecture in Reston, but also the respect and love of nature.”
Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins — who joined Del. Ken Plum and Virginia Sen. Janet Howell, as well as other local dignitaries at the dedication — said public art has always been a part of Reston and will continue to be.
“I am delighted that IPAR has been an example for the rest of the community,” said Hudgins. “I look forward to enjoying [the sculpture] as I sit at that traffic light [on Reston Parkway].”
Added Howell: “This is a happy day for Reston. It is a happy sculpture in a happy color. I am going to bring my grandkids here. I think kids are going to want to move in this space.”
Last week’s bank robbery at Reston Town Center was part of a December crime trend, says the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bank robberies in the area rise sharply in December, but there is no one reason why, the FBI said.
Last December, there were 17 bank robberies in Northern Virginia, the FBI said. The FBI said 13 of those robberies have been solved.
The FBI said last month it “is proactively working to counteract bank robberies this holiday season.”
From the FBI:
For the past two years, a quarter of all bank robberies in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia have taken place in the month of December. Additional analysis shows that the number of bank robberies committed in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia tripled during this one month of the holiday season.
Law enforcement is actively sharing information with banks and the public to create heightened awareness of this issue and warn individuals who may be inclined to rob or attempt to rob banks of law enforcement’s increased focus.
Still, there have been four bank robberies in Northern Virginia this month, including Wednesday’s at the Wells Fargo Branch on Freedom Drive. There also was a Nov. 26 robbery at the Presidential Bank on Reston Parkway at Baron Cameron.
In the Wells Fargo incident, police said a man entered the bank at 1:52 p.m. and told a teller he had a weapon. He took cash and fled.
Witnesses told police the suspect was a black man, about 6-foot-1 and in his late 20s or early 30s.
Fairfax County Police said they were trying to determine whether the most recent Reston robbery was related to two incidents in the McLean District earlier in December. In a Dec. 5 robbery of a Wells Fargo Branch in the 1100 block of Chain Bridge Road, the suspect wore a rubber Halloween mask, police do not have good description.
Photo: Security camera photo of suspect in Dec. 10 robbery of Wells Fargo Bank on Freedom Drive in Reston/Courtesy of FBI.
