Get to Know Reston’s Living Threads Co. and How They Support Traditional Artisans

If you love strolling through Reston Town Center but wish there were more independent businesses among the large chains, then you don’t want to miss one of the area’s newest stores. Living Threads Co. is all about supporting small businesses. It opened earlier this year, bringing handmade products from independent artisans to Market Street. Living Threads…

August 31, 2016

Home Tour: A Stunning Condo with Urban Style (for a Fraction of the Cost of Town Center Living)

You might recognize this Lake Anne condo from the 2015 Reston Home Tour — it was one of my favorite locations on the tour, thanks to its gorgeously modern interior design. Or perhaps you’ll remember it from a House Call article on Apartment Therapy, which described its extensive renovations. This condo is highly acclaimed and for good reason. It’s spectacular….

August 30, 2016

Outdoor Apps That You Should Try if You’ve Enjoyed Pokemon Go

It’s been so fun to see crowds of people gathering at local landmarks to play Pokemon Go this summer. As I learned through many conversations with players, Pokemon Go has inspired lots of people to spend time outdoors when they would ordinarily be sitting at a screen inside. If you’re one of the many people who…

August 25, 2016

How to Make Maryland Crab Soup

Today we’re excited to have our first post from Reston writer and food blogger Mark Hoover, who runs the website Peripheral Chew. He gives us step-by-step instructions to make Maryland Crab Soup, which looks like a delicious way to celebrate these final summer days. MARYLAND CRAB SOUP by Mark Hoover I make Maryland-style crab soup about…

August 24, 2016

Before and After: A Home Stager Reveals Her Secrets

It makes sense that an attractive, pleasant, and functional space is easiest to sell. But how can someone achieve that elusive state where a home appeals immediately to a buyer? A professional home stager offered to show us some of her secrets to success. Michelle Cloney is a native Restonian and UVA grad who lives in Reston…

August 23, 2016

The New Amazon Prime Now Offers One-Hour Delivery to Northern Virginia

In the time it takes to drive to the grocery store and back, now you can order that milk and have it delivered to you (without needing to change out of your pajamas). I love living in the future. Amazon Prime Now is a service that has operated in other cities over the last year, and now…

August 18, 2016

10 Ways to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service in the DC Area

It’s been called “America’s Best Idea” and it’s having a huge birthday. On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a series of events designed to honor the Service’s century of conservation and recreation. When you think of National Parks, distant destinations such as Yellowstone or Yosemite might come…

August 17, 2016

A Herndon Artist Has Been Instagramming Beautiful Illustrations of Olympians

I’ve been a fan of Herndon illustrator Lakshmi Sarkar ever since I found her exquisite fashion illustrations on Instagram. Lakshmi is a painter and illustrator who loves color and is inspired by her Indian roots. She posts regularly to her Instagram account with her gorgeous paintings and drawings. I can’t get enough. (I mean, just take a look…

August 15, 2016

Creative Date Night Ideas in Northern Virginia: Beyond Dinner and a Movie

If your date night routine is getting a little too, uh, routine, then it’s time for something new. Whether you’re looking for free date ideas or something more extravagant, we have lots of suggestions for things to do in the Reston area of Northern Virginia. BE ROMANTIC ☐ Rent a boat for two at Lake Anne or…

August 13, 2016

A Reston Photographer Spent His Summer as a National Park Artist-in-Residence

Did you know that the National Park Service offers a program to host artists so they can create art, music, or books in beautiful locations? I didn’t, either. It sounds amazing, and I’d love to be able to take part in this program. One Reston artist had that chance earlier this summer. This year marks the Centennial of…

August 12, 2016

We Tried It: Indoor Skydiving at iFLY Loudoun

Flying — you know you’ve dreamed of it. If you’ve ever envied a seagull soaring over a cliff, or imagined yourself leaping like Ironman, here’s the chance you’ve been waiting for. An indoor skydiving center called iFLY Loudoun opened earlier this year in Ashburn, and we’ve been eager to try it. This facility offers the sensation of…

August 8, 2016

Volunteers With Kids R First Are Delivering Free School Supplies to Thousands of Needy Kids

As I walked in the Kids R First distribution center at Rachel Carson Middle School, I was stunned by the seemingly endless boxes of school supplies. There were towering packages of pencils, scissors, crayons, highlighters, binders, glue sticks, and much more. “Oh, this is nothing,” said Susan Ungerer, president of the non-profit organization. “You should have…

August 3, 2016