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Photo Gallery: The Blizzard of 2016 Buries Reston
What a crazy weekend it was! I’m still buzzing from all the excitement of the historic snowstorm that pummeled the DC area for 36 hours, leaving behind almost two and a half feet of snow. Here are some of the photographs I took during and after the blizzard. Because the roads were impassable, I was only able to photograph places…
January 25, 2016The Artistic Genius of Star Wars: Get a Close Look at Reston’s ArtInsights
When I met with Leslie Combemale on Wednesday morning, she was cheerful and energetic even though she had been working all through the night. But if your job was to see an early release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the middle of the night, and then write a film review before coming to the art gallery that you…
December 17, 2015Photo Gallery: Reston’s Dazzling Fall Colors
Trees are part of Reston’s unique identity — unlike many suburbs, this area has preserved several of its mature trees. When you live in a city nestled within a forest, every season is beautiful. Autumn, however, is almost magical here in Reston. As we rake the last of this year’s foliage, let’s look back on…
November 12, 2015Weightlifting & Mythbusting: An Out-of-Shape, Middle-Aged Mom Walks into CrossFit Reston
These days, there are a slew of specialized gyms and fitness studios to choose from. Some are familiar, like yoga and boxing, but some are shrouded in a veil of mystery and myths, like CrossFit. Last month we challenged ourselves at Pure Barre Reston. This month, I (Michelle) stepped out of my comfort zone and walked into…
November 3, 2015Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Cox Farms Fall Festival
If you have young children, you can’t miss the Cox Farms Fall Festival. It’s 90 acres of sheer silliness. This fall festival is one of the largest and most well known in Virginia, and has been listed by USA Today as one of the coolest pumpkin patches in the country. Cox Farms is a family farm in Centreville that…
October 8, 2015We Tried It: Key Learnings From a 10 Class Challenge at Pure Barre Reston
There has been a lot of buzz lately about barre workouts — ballet/yoga/pilates-inspired classes that focus on isometric strength training with high reps of small movements. These exercises are typically done at a ballet barre or on a mat with props like resistance bands and light weights. Studios have been popping up like mushrooms, touting benefits…
September 28, 2015Photo Gallery: Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Bob Simon
The Reston community is saddened by the loss of Reston founder Robert E. Simon, who passed away this week at the age of 101. Hundreds of community members gathered at Lake Anne Plaza on Friday, September 25, 2015 to celebrate his memory. They lit candles along the waterfront, and sang “This Little Light of Mine”…
September 26, 2015Happy Birthday, Modern Reston! Here Are Highlights From Our Fantastic First Year.
Today is our first anniversary! Let’s all celebrate with a virtual cupcake (or preferably, some real champagne.) Modern Reston online magazine launched on September 8, 2014, with eight articles about dining, recreation, art, and events. And now a year later, we have published a total of 190 articles! With 10,000 regular readers, Modern Reston has become the leading resource for culture…
September 8, 2015A Sneak Peek at the Beautiful and Long-Awaited Red’s Table
Almost two years after Reston’s Lakeside Inn closed, a new restaurant is finally ready to open in its location on Lake Thoreau. Red’s Table is a family-owned, local restaurant that is scheduled to open this Monday, September 7, 2015, for Labor Day. It will be open for dinner only over the next few weeks, but expects to…
September 1, 2015Experience Inventive Food and Beer Pairings at Barrel & Bushel in Tyson’s Corner
Virginians seem to have had their fill of fancy, high-priced wine these days. If the newly established Loudon County (LoCo) Ale Trail is any indication, beer is having a major moment. Nowhere is this love of hops more apparent than at the brand new Barrel & Bushel restaurant in the Hyatt Regency in Tysons Corner. Chef Dan Dienemann (Founding Farmers, Tupelo…
August 4, 2015The BEACH Exhibit at the National Building Museum: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
It’s one of the zaniest ideas to come to town. By now, you may have heard of the BEACH exhibit in Washington, D.C. It’s a sea of white plastic balls where you can swim in the climate-controlled, shark-free, and architecturally magnificent National Building Museum. This temporary installation has received rave reviews from the press. After comparing my experience…
July 22, 2015Home Tour: A Cramped Split-Level Transforms with Spacious, Mid-Century Style
If you love a good before-and-after home tour, then you don’t want to miss this one. Reston resident Carolyn Reams sent me photos of her family’s renovations, and I was stunned by the transformation. She invited me to come in and see her beautiful house for one of Modern Reston’s home tours. Carolyn lives with her husband,…
July 8, 2015