Nearly half of all adults the United States say they’re trying to trim widening waistlines, but it’s unclear if that happens during annual Thanksgiving feasts.
On Thanksgiving, roughly 45 million turkeys will be consumed this year, according to the National Turkey Foundation.
Do you plan to embrace gluttony during your Thanksgiving meal or will you try to cut back this year? Let us know in the poll below.
Photo via Unplash
The annual “Turkey Trail” event in Reston invites community members to take a nature hike and learn about wild turkeys.
People can take a guided tour from a naturalist on Saturday (Nov. 30) from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Walker Nature Center (1140 Glade Drive). Participants will learn about turkey facts and the climate, according to the Facebook page.Â
All ages are welcome and programming is designed to interest a variety of participants, the event page said.
Tickets are $5 for Reston Association members and $7 for non-RA members. Anyone wishing to participate needs to register by Wednesday (Nov. 27).
Photo via Walker Nature Center/Facebook
A new hair salon arrived in Lake Anne Plaza last week.
Top Style by Kate Noda Hair Studio offers haircuts for women, men and kids; coloring; styling; makeup; and other services. The salon opened in Reston on Thanksgiving (Nov. 22), an employee told Reston Now.
The salon updated the address on its website from a location in Tysons Corner to the one at Lake Anne Plaza — 1641 N. Washington Plaza, Unit A.
A Facebook post in June said the salon would in Tysons until September and shows a video of the Lake Anne Plaza spot under construction.
Photos via Top Style by Kate Noda/Facebook
A construction worker from Herndon died the day before Thanksgiving after succumbing to injuries from a fall in the Ashburn area, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
At 10:20 a.m. last Wednesday (Nov. 21), deputies discovered Jose Escalante, 49, had fallen between 10 to 29 feet to the ground from a ladder. He had been doing construction work at a residence on the 22000 block of Dolomite Hills Drive, police said.
“All indications are this was an accident,” a spokesman for the sheriff’s office told Reston Now.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also responded to the scene, according to police.
Escalante succumbed to his injuries after being taken to a local hospital, police said.
Map via Google Maps
Start planning for summer — Registration for YMCA summer camp started over the weekend. [YMCA]
What’s the update on the Silver Line? — With openings pushed back, construction on the Silver Line extension could wrap up as soon as fall of next year. [WTOP]
Turkeys found a home at Reston farm — Thanksgiving may be over, but here is some fun trivia — some turkeys pardoned by presidents wound up on a farm in Reston. [The Washington Post]
Be careful with those space heaters — As the weather gets colder, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue wants to make sure residents stay safe and warm. This video from the Federal Emergency Management Agency teaches portable heater safety. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]Â
Photo via Ray Copson
In case you were hoping to spend your Thanksgiving hanging out at government facilities around Fairfax, you may be out of luck. But on the bright side, all parking will be free at Metro facilities tomorrow.
The Metro will be running a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving day, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day and parking will be free at Metro facilities. Metrobus will also be operating on a Sunday schedule.
The Fairfax Connector will be running on a Sunday schedule for Thanksgiving Day. A full list of routes being run in the Reston area is available online. The day after Thanksgiving, the bus will run a holiday weekend schedule.
The Fairfax County Government offices will be closed tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday for Thanksgiving. Schools are closed today (Wednesday) through Friday.
The Reston Community Center will be open tomorrow from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and open on Friday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center will be open from 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. tomorrow and 6 a.m.-9p.m. on Friday. The Reston Community Center Lake Anne will be closed both days.
Fairfax Libraries and Courts will also be closed tomorrow and Friday. The Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center and Colvin Run Mill Historic Site will also be closed.
The Recycling and Disposal Centers will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but both locations will be open on Friday if you have a substantial amount of post-holiday disposal to go through.
Photo via Flickr/Olin Gilbert
This is an opinion column by Del. Ken Plum (D), who represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.
Festivals of Thanksgiving have been celebrated throughout history with most centered around a time of harvest of food. Communities came together to support each other in the work of harvesting crops and to celebrate together the bounty of the fields. Early forms of religion gave significance to the harvesting process and to the gifts of their gods in providing sustenance to the people.
The official holiday of Thanksgiving as celebrated in America today has little resemblance to the early feasts. There are certainly foods that are associated with the holiday, but the attention to Thanksgiving today is divided among consumer sales specials, football games, and a prelude to the bigger holidays that follow later in the year.
President George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation to bring attention to the blessings the new country enjoyed. President Thomas Jefferson did not follow through probably believing it was too much like a religious act with which the government should not be involved. It was not until President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation to bring attention to the blessings the country had even during the Civil War that the tradition was revived and continues with some small tweaks to today.
The tradition of celebrating the harvest as a custom continued in many cultures and communities apart from the government naming it a holiday. The Commonwealth of Virginia celebrating its red-letter year of 1619 when the first representative assembly met in the new world and women and Africans were brought to the Virginia colony also points out that in 1619 an act of Thanksgiving took place at Berkeley Plantation on the James River when a new group of colonizers arrived. For many, what happened at Berkeley was the first English Thanksgiving in America and should be recognized as such. After all, the English on the James River in Virginia were celebrating a Thanksgiving before the Puritans left England for Massachusetts.
To learn more about Virginia’s plans to celebrate the “first” Thanksgiving and the other very significant events in a quadricentennial celebration of 1619, visit americanevolution2019.com.
Recognizing the long and multi-faceted celebrations of Thanksgiving, how can we cut through the commercialism of the holiday and give it meaning in today’s complex world? There is much that causes me and others a great deal of distress from our government’s loss of a moral compass to the rise in acts of hate to the hunger and poverty around the world. Within that, however, there are many wonderful people doing great deeds and communities of diverse people living together and looking out for each other in harmony and mutual respect.
Sharing foods as part of the tradition of Thanksgiving is good but should not be the end result. Thanksgiving offers a time for reflection. It can be less a time of acquiring or wishing for what we don’t have and more a time of appreciating what we do have. Find time to be grateful today. I am thankful for you!
File photo
The 28th annual Reston Holiday
Parade returns to Reston Town Center on Nov. 23 (Friday) at 11 a.m., bringing a flurry of festive activities for participants.
Sissy Sheridan, a 14-year-old stage and screen actress born and raised in Reston, will act as the event’s grand marshal, leading the parade in a chauffeur-driven convertible.
She is known nationally for her popular children’s series, “Chicken Girls” and she also hosts the Nickelodeon show “DIY with Me,” as well as Netflix’s “Maniac,” which also stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.
Until January, Sheridan will appear in “Billy Elliot” at Signature Theatre in Arlington. After the event at around noon, Sheridan will be available for a meet and greet with fans in Fountain Square.
USA Today Travel named it one of the best parades in 2016 and 2017. It includes Macy’s-style balloons, marching bands, dancers, antique cars, characters, as well as Santa and Mrs. Clause in a horse-drawn carriage. More than 1,400 performers are scheduled to participate in the one-hour, half-mile parade along Market Street. This year, the guest emcees are Angie Goff and Doug Kammerer of NBC News4.
The complete schedule for the parade and events planned for that day is available online.
Photo via Sissy Sheridan
Reston Community Center will present its annual Children’s Fall Flea Market this Saturday from 9 a.m. through noon at RCC Hunters Woods.
Attendees can browse several tables for gently-used toys, books, games, video, and other child-friendly items. Junior merchants between the age of six and 13 will sell the items.
The event is open to all. Admission is one non-perishable item for Cornerstones’ Thanksgiving Food Drive, which kicks off today.
Vendor spots are still available. Single-size, 3’x6′ tables cost $10 for Reston residents $15 for all others. Shared tables that measure 3’x9′ with two or more merchants are $15 for Reston residents and $23 for all others. Registration is open online.
For more information, contact RCC’s youth program director Debbie Heron at [email protected].
Photo via Reston Community Center
Thanksgiving food drive kicks off today — Reston Community Center, Cornerstones, and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce are seeking non-perishable food and other items for the food drive. Requested donations and drop-off options are available online. Donations will be collected through Nov. 19. [Reston Community Center]
Decisions on decisions for Fairfax County Planning Commission tonight — The commission kicks off November with decisions on the Midline project on the north side of the Dulles Toll Road, east of Wiehle Avenue, as well as Woodfield’s plan to replace offices with multi-family units on the opposite side of the toll road. [Fairfax County Government]
Meet the artist event canceled tonight — A performance by Luke Frazier scheduled for this afternoon at CenterStage has been canceled due to an artist injury, according to organizers. Plans are underway to reschedule the performance in the spring. [Reston Community Center]
If you thought it was just the young folks — In Fairfax County, one in seven Medicare beneficiaries leave hospital care with an opioid prescription. Of that number, 42 percent remain on opioids three months later, according to county data. [Fairfax County Government]
Meet the author event at Scrawl Books — Young adult author Jessica Spotswood returns for a conversation about her Cahill Witch Chronicles series and short story collection. Special guest Nura Behgoman from Herndon High School’s book club will also join Spotswood. [Scrawl Books]
Nearby:Â Information sought on Farea sisters’ disappearance — Local police are looking for information about two sisters from Fairfax County who were found dead in New York several days ago. [Fairfax County Police Department]
(Photo of Lola, a local cat caught “wondering why our azaleas are blooming in late October,” snapped and submitted by Gretchen Bock)
Three local organizations are working together once again on the annual Thanksgiving Drive, which helps families in need of food. Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food and other essential items as several drop-off points throughout the area.
This year’s drive, which is organized by Reston Community Center, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones will run from Thursday (Nov. 1) through Nov. 19.
Cornerstones, a local nonprofit organization that helps neighbors in overcome tough economic times, is in need of the following items:
- Toilet Paper
- Baby Wipes
- Hygiene Items
- Condiments
- Cooking Oil
- Dry Beans
- Canned Meats
- Flour, Sugar, etc.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Canned Fruit
- Soups, Chili, etc.
- Coffee, Tea, etc.
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Boxed Potatoes
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Heavy Duty Clear Plastic Bins (approx. size of file boxes)
- Shelf Stable Milk (evaporated, condensed, dry, soy, etc.)
Drop-off locations, as listed by RCC, are below:
- RCC Hunters Woods
2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston - RCC Lake Anne
1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston - Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce
1886 Metro Center Drive, Suite 230, Reston - Access National Bank
1800 Robert Fulton Drive, Suite 105, Reston - Hunter Mill District Office
1802 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston - JBG/Arboretum
12700 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston - JBG/RTC West
12100, 12110,12120 Sunset Hills Road, Reston - LePort Montessori Herndon
13251 Woodland Park Road, Herndon - Long & Foster Realtors
2100 Reston Pkwy, Suite 102, Reston - Reston Association – HQ
12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston - Reston Association – CSF
12250 Sunset Hills Road, Reston - Reston Association – WNC
11450 Glade Drive, Reston - State Farm Insurance
11868 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 200, Reston - Tall Oaks Assisted Living
12052 North Shore Drive, Reston - The Harrison at Reston Town Center
1800 Jonathan Way, Reston - Washington Hilton Dulles
13869 Park Center Road, Herndon - YMCA Fairfax County Reston
12196 Sunset Hills Road, Reston
Photo via RCC
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. Know of other events in the area? Comment below.
- The newly opened Nando’s PERi PERi at 12120 Sunset Hills Road is hosting a grand opening on Saturday. All sales will be donated to the bands of South Lakes High School and Herndon High School. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- The Reston Farmers Market will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lake Anne Village Center.
- Remove English ivy at South Shore Road on Saturday from 10 a.m. through noon. Volunteers will dig roots with small tools and pulls vines until the area is cleared from a section of the woods. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Follow the Habitat Heroes signs for directions. For details on how to register as a volunteer, visit RA’s website.
- Create Thanksgiving centerpieces at the Walker Nature Center (11540 Glade Drive) from 10:30 a.m. through noon on Saturday. All materials are provided. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.
- Herndon High School Theatre presents “Twelfth Night” today from 7:30 – 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the school’s auditorium. Tickets are $6 for students and $12 for adults.
- Learn techniques in metalworking, material manipulation and beading at the Greater Reston Arts Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The event is for attendees ages 18 and up. The fee is $45 for residents and $55 for all others.
- Enjoy a ride on Engine $62 of the Resources Railroad at Lake Fairfax Park on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Create your own Thanksgiving-themed craft to take home. The cost if $5 and the Fairfax County Park Authority will be collecting non-perishable food items for a local food bank.
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Church will have a one-day Christmas Bazaar on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 11140 North Shore Drive.
- Meanwhile, the 8th annual tree lighting festival kicks off this Saturday from 3 –Â 4 p.m. at the Village at Leesburg Shopping Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the Toys for Tots program.
- Harry Butwosky will present a six-part lecture series on the years between World War I and World World II from 2 to 4 p.m. at Reston Library on Sunday.
- On Sunday, Ingrid King discusses her books and a hodgepodge of topics ranging from lessons learned from pets and cat health. The event will take place at Scrawl Books (11862 Market St.) from 4 – 6 p.m.
As holiday festivities begin, the 27th annual Reston Holiday Parade is set for Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. The half-mile parade will include Macy’s-style balloons, music, dance, community groups, antique cars and more.
The parade, which takes place along 11900 Market St. will also welcome the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn garage. Jingle bells will be distributed to people along the route of the one-hour parade.
Between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos. Mini-train rides will also run during this time.
The Clauses will then participate in a tree lighting and sing along between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Horse drawn carriage rides will also be offered to the community following the lighting until 10 p.m. Proceeds from photos and rides will benefit local charities, according to Reston Town Center.
USA Today readers ranked the parade the fourth best holiday parade in the country last year. The parade has taken place since 1991, rain or shine.
To register as a volunteer, visit RTC’s website.
File photo.
Donations for Thanksgiving Food Drive Needed Through Nov. 20 — The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Reston Community Center and Cornerstones is seeking non-perishable food and items for a food drive. Drop off locations are dispersed throughout Reston. All donations will benefit Cornerstones, a non-profit organization that aims to help neighbors overtime tough economic times. For a complete list of items needed and drop off-locations visit the center’s website.  [Reston Community Center]
Reston Town Center’s Ice Skating Pavilion To Open for the Season — Lace up your skates and get ready for the opening of RTC’s ice skating pavilion on 1818 Discovery St. The pavilion will be open today at 11. Admission for adults is $10 and $9 for children under 12. Skate rentals cost $6. [Reston Town Center via Facebook]
Meals on Wheels Needs Drivers Countywide –– Drivers are needed throughout to pick up and deliver meals to individuals on specific routes. Deliveries are made midday Monday, Wednesday ad Friday. Each route is a maximum of two hours. [Fairfax County Government]
‘Death at the Place Theater’ Showing Continues This Weekend — Watch the saga of Vaudeville at Café Montmartre at Lake Anne tomorrow and next Saturday at 8:15 p.m. The show opened to a packed house earlier this month. [Fairfax County Times]
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. Have you made plans? If you don’t want to cook on Turkey Day, there are several Reston restaurants ready to serve you.
Here are some ideas:
Red’s Table, South Lakes Village Center
Clyde’s of Reston, Reston Town Center
Il Fornaio, Reston Town Center
McCormick & Schmick’s, Reston Town Center
Morton’s The Steakhouse, Reston Town Center
Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro, Reston Heights
All of the places mentioned take reservations. Either click on the restaurant name or visit Open Table.
Photo: Red’s Table at South Lakes Village Center