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…

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…

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…

Reston really shines in the summertime. This season of fun always slips by too quickly — don’t miss it! Here’s a list of some of the best things to do during summertime in Reston and nearby parts of Northern Virginia. How many of these things can you check off this year? You’ll want to bookmark this page and refer to it…

This area is filled with great opportunities for outdoor recreation! One of our most popular articles of all time is our Ultimate Guide to Kids’ Indoor Fun in the Reston Area. The next logical step is a guide to outdoor fun, but this time we didn’t limit the excitement to kids’ activities. Here are our favorite ways for…

To continue our We Tried it! series, guest contributor Charlie Schoening subjected himself to a month of classes at First Defense Krav Maga in Herndon. Maybe he can tell us what the heck Krav Maga actually is! (See our previous articles on CrossFit Reston and Pure Barre Reston.) Krav Maga is an Israeli martial art primarily used…

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…

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…

Summer is wrapping up — don’t miss your chance to enjoy all the music, festivals, and more. August’s event highlights include the Fairfax 4H Fair and Carnival, two triathlons, and a new happy hour concert series on Thursday nights at Reston Town Center. Here is the event calendar for August in Reston, Herndon, and the surrounding areas of Northern…