Every December, the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Reston features an intricate gingerbread village created out of hundreds of pounds of sugar and flour. Visiting the gingerbread village is an annual holiday tradition for many Reston families, and a cherished part of the holiday experience at Reston Town Center. The gingerbread village is a charity fundraiser that…

When people think of shopping for holiday decorations in Reston, they probably think of Target and Home Depot, and perhaps other chain stores like Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma. But if you would rather have decorations that don’t look just like your friends’, or you’d like to support local businesses and independent artists, look beyond the chains. There are lots…

While lazily exploring Instagram via the hashtag #RestonVA one day, I stumbled upon the most breathtaking floral arrangements I had ever seen. Literally, these pics were showstoppers. I had to find out more. Who was behind these stunning works of art? Are they local? Could I arrange to renew my vows in the next week so I…

The weather gurus at The Old Farmer’s Almanac are predicting that this winter we will receive another arctic blast with above-normal snowfall. Well, if that doesn’t get you all excited for winter, I don’t know what will! Sarcasm aside, it’s time to actually prepare for this onslaught rather than just cross our fingers and tell ourselves that everyone’s exaggerating….

This week’s installment in our holiday food series — CHEESE! The holiday decorations are up and a steady stream of friends and family is flowing through your door for hot toddys, mulled wine and yuletide cheer. Why not take this opportunity to impress them with your entertaining skills by putting out a gorgeous spread of cheeses and meats to…

I’ve often been curious about the chocolate shop at Lake Anne Plaza. It’s always great to see a locally-owned business succeeding in Reston, but this one is particularly intriguing to me, because it’s such a charming little neighborhood store. And let’s be honest: anything involving chocolate is going to catch my attention. Probably yours, too. I’ve bought several…

[This article is from 2014. For this year’s schedule, refer to our article about the 2016 Reston Christkindlmarkt.] December is finally upon us! With it come the lights, decorations and festive merriment of the holidays. At Modern Reston, one of our most favorite holiday events is the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) Christkindlmarkt here in Reston. This year it…

If you have children in Northern Virginia, you’ve probably heard of the Cox Farms Fall Festival. It’s legendary. Each fall, a farm in Centreville transforms into a massive playground with more clever and hilarious details than I could list. It’s absolutely worth the half-hour drive from Reston. Because my family loves the fall festival so much, I…

On the day after Thanksgiving each year, Reston Town Center welcomes the winter holidays with an all-day celebration, called “The Holidays are Here!” One of the highlights of the day is a parade down Market Street. This year’s 24th annual Reston Holiday Parade featured several community groups, including dancers, bands, ROTC groups, cheerleaders, and Scout troops. Macy’s-style balloons…