It’s January — time to put away the holiday decorations and jump-start your fitness routine for the year. Whether you are introducing exercise into your life for the first time or simply want to lose winter weight, consider working with a trainer. Not only will he or she provide continued motivation, but they can customize the most effective routine…

UPDATE 6/20/17: Prelly Cookies is no longer located in Northern Virginia. One of Modern Reston’s main goals is to discover local people doing extraordinary things. It turns out that the more we explore Northern VA, the more talented people we unearth. Luckily for us, this area is a treasure trove of entrepreneurs and creatives. One such…

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…

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…

Holiday shopping time has arrived, and we are here to help! If you know someone who would appreciate a gift that celebrates Reston, especially during this 50th anniversary year, we have lots of ideas for you. Here is our Reston gift guide, with suggestions for toys, art, books, coffee, and tons more. The purchase of most of these items…

This week we’ve covered turkey, wine, side dishes and vegetarian options for your Thanksgiving meal. Hopefully, you’ve saved room for dessert because today it’s pie time! We’ve explored Reston and surrounding areas for the next best thing to homemade. Pumpkin, apple or pecan — these pies are sure to loosen some belts and make you the hero…

I am blessed to have two very different kids with two very different talents. One is extremely imaginative and has been drawing recognizable people since age 2 and the other is a linguist and a realist. In an effort to push child #2 out of his comfort zone, I went in search of an arts program…

Ice skating is back at Reston Town Center! The ice rink opens each year on November 1st and operates until March. It’s the centerpiece of the winter season at Reston Town Center. But how much do you really know about the ice rink? A reader suggested that we explain how the rink can operate when the temperatures…

Halloween is over and the big slide into the holidays has begun. Chances are you will be a guest in someone’s home or need some original gift ideas for under the tree. Right here in Reston, residents are toiling away making products the old-fashioned way—small batch items infused with their passion for the process. The Soap…