A few weeks ago, Dorothy and Duke West invited me into their home to see their lovely and skillful fall decorations. While I was there, they told me that their decorating specialty would actually come a few weeks later, when they would put together an outrageous party display for Halloween. I was excited when they invited me to…

Now that the days are getting chillier, it’s the perfect time to discuss some of the softest and coziest winter accessories I’ve encountered. Meet Jerilyn Paladino, a regular vendor at the Reston Market on Saturdays at Lake Anne Plaza. She operates a company called The Alpaca Girl, which specializes in stylish, handmade garments made of alpaca wool…

Modern Reston has been featuring some of the talented artists at the Reston Market. Next in our series is painter Mina Karimi. Mina is a DC-based painter with a bold, colorful style of painting mixed with silkscreened photographs. She creates artwork that highlights several local landmarks, such as DC  street scenes, logos, and maps. Her style is…

I knew I’d like these guys as soon as I heard that they call themselves the ROMEOS: “Retired Old Men Enjoying Outdoor Soccer – Women Welcome.” They are a group of Reston-area soccer lovers who get together once a week for an informal pickup game. People of any age or gender are invited to participate each week, but their most…

Ever since I first saw this photograph, I’ve wanted to know the story behind it. What a spectacular view of Lake Anne in the fall! I stumbled upon this picture online last year, and it has stayed with me all this time. When I finally learned more about the photographer, I was excited to discover that his aerial…

Their front steps overflow with eye-catching autumn color, and the inside of their home is just as lavishly decorated. I’m excited to present our first holiday home tour: the townhouse of Dorothy and Duke West of Whisperwood Cluster in Reston. We look forward to seeing how Restonians decorate for Halloween, Christmas, and other seasonal celebrations. First up is…

It’s September but I refuse to believe that summer is over. The produce at the Reston Farmers Market is still in full force. There is a bounty of ripe tomatoes, peaches, peppers and eggplant at the height of their season. These gorgeous fruits and vegetables are begging to be eaten NOW before they disappear to make room for squash…

Every Saturday from May until November, the Reston Market exhibits arts and crafts vendors on Lake Anne Plaza. Modern Reston will introduce you to some of this diverse artwork and the fascinating people behind these creations. First in this series is photographer Kelvin Ikhide of Visuals-KI. He lives here in Reston, and specializes in black and white photography…

Paddleboarders are everywhere this year! You’ve probably seen them drifting across Reston’s lakes, almost walking on water. Adventurous locals are trying stand up paddleboarding (SUP) more than ever. SUP is the nation’s fastest growing water sport, and its popularity is certainly visible here in Reston. Fans of the sport describe it as so peaceful and fun…