Posts Tagged ‘Reston’
How to Celebrate Cinco Without the Drinko
Posted by Tim Regan / Friday, May 3rd, 2013
ronstik / Shutterstock.com
Is it even possible to celebrate Cinco de Mayo without a frosty margarita or imported Mexican beer in hand? It’s tricky, but doable. Here are some events that don’t revolve around drinks:
1.) See some tiny boats
Tiny ships abound at the Northern Virginia Model Yacht Club’s Cinco De Mayo Regatta at Lake Anne in Reston. Which miniature boat will win? You won’t know unless you attend. Bring your foam fingers and your captain hats. The boat races kick off on Saturday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m..
2.) Witness a herd of stampeding chihuahuas
Because last year’s race didn’t elicit a visit from the pound, On Tap Magazine will host their second annual Running of the Chihuahuas at the Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, just across the border in D.C.. The pet-friendly event starts at 11 a.m., and will feature tunes from DJ Stacks, a long list of food trucks, and contests.
3.) Attend a lively block party
Like pinatas? Mariachi bands? Jugglers? Then attend Clarendon’s own Cinco de Mayo block party on Sunday, May 5. In addition to the food and festivities, the event planners will be raffling Nationals and Capitals tickets along with gift bags. Tickets are $10 ahead of time, $15 at the gates.
4.) Learn the history
You mean Cinco de Mayo isn’t the celebration of Mexican independence or the Most Interesting Man in the World’s birthday? Actually, it’s much deeper than that, and we have the scoop right here.
5.) Just eat instead
Just in time for the Cinco season, our Gut Check blog has compiled a list of food-themed festivals and Tex Mex eateries all across NoVA. Hope you’re hungry, because there are a lot of tacos to eat.
Hungry for Linkage: US Beer in Germany + Del Ray Cafe Anniversary Giveaway + Chicken Diapers
Posted by Zachary Westlake / Friday, May 3rd, 2013
shutterstock.com/BPlanet
Geoff Tracy, owner of the many Chef Geoff’s, and his wife find comforts of home in two cities. [WaPo]
Del Ray Cafe celebrates one year anniversary with daily raffles in May. [Patch]
American craft brewers gaining respect among German beer aficionados. [WaPo]
Tired of your pet chicken always leaving a mess in your house? Finally, a solution. [NPR]
National Park Service sponsored hunt brings 600 pounds of venison to the D.C. Central Kitchen. On the menu: ground venison ragu. [HuffPo]
Your Time to Shine! Reston Multicultural Festival Auditions Next Week
Posted by Jasmine Lee / Thursday, May 2nd, 2013
Jeremy Richards/shutterstock.cm
Of NoVA’s many well-known characteristics, the region’s diverse make up is probably its most evident and most celebrated. The Reston Multicultural Festival is a prime example of the different cultures found in NoVA. Now in its 13th year, the event unites the community for a free day of music, dance, entertainment and cuisine from around the world.
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Posted by Zachary Westlake / Friday, April 26th, 2013
photo courtesy of Sasquatch Agency
Widmer Brother Brewing new rum barrel-aged—YES, RUM BARRELS—Kill Devil brown ale will be available at Total Wine in Alexandria. [NVMwire]
Ted’s Bulletin expanding into Reston Town Center. [Roll Call]
BlackFinn Ameripub opens its doors in Merrifield. [Patch]
USDA inspectors experience health risks associated with chemicals used in poultry plants, and its going to get worse. [WashPo]
Ashby Inn doubling kitchen in size. [Eater]
Jerry Seinfeld shares his thoughts on coffee. [NPR]
Hungry for Linkage: If a Chef Doesn’t Have a Restaurant, Is That Person Really a Chef?
Posted by Stefanie Gans, Dining Editor / Thursday, April 11th, 2013
“The word ‘chef’ is a little bit abused these days if you know what I mean. All these Food Network stars are chefs, but they have no restaurants. So, are they chefs? Are they TV chefs? It’s just so difficult to put a label on it,” says Top Chef‘s and Good Stuff Eatery‘s Spike Mendelsohn. [The New Potato]
New menu at Samuel Beckkett‘s in Shirlington. [SVB]
Rough review of Chef Geoff’s in Tysons Corner. [FCT]
New Indian restaurant in Reston: Thali Express. [Patch]
Don Rockwell is not excited about his meal at Raouche in Merrifield. [DCining]
An anniversary dinner at L’Auberge Chez Francois. Plus, the patio is now open, says Jacques Haeringer. [DMV Dining]
Good morning to you too. [Mostly Cabbages]
Seven Scenic Spots to Take Easter Photos of the Kids
Posted by Tim Regan / Friday, March 29th, 2013
578foot / Shutterstock.com
Easter: a time for food, family and gratuitous pictures. If you’re still in need of a setting for this weekend’s photos, check out these seven scenic spots.
Meadlowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna
Deep inside Vienna lies Meadlowlark Botanical Gardens, a 95-acre park chock full of cherry trees, flowers, gazebos and several lakes. Check out the park map here.
Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria
Originally part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the grounds changed hands several times before landing in the hands of the National Trust. Today, the estate is a bastion composed of beautifully-kept foliage and two historic homes—one build by Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Weekend Plan: Movies & Mimosas
Posted by Jasmine Lee / Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
Fer Gregory / shutterstock.com
If going to the movies instead of running errands is wrong, then you probably shouldn’t be right. Leave the spring-cleaning at home and forget the dry cleaning. Treat yourself to classic cinema and classy drinks (OJ and champagne is classy, right?) at the “Movie & Mimosas” series in Reston.
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If you are selling your home, it’s time to put on your buyer hat.
By Terry Belt
Goodluz /shutterstock.com
If you’re selling a home in Northern Virginia right now, things are looking good for you. Homes that are priced right and prepared properly are selling quickly and prices are starting to rise. So far this year, 898 homes in Fairfax County have gone under contract. The average days on market for those homes was under two months, but the range of days on market varied immensely. Some homes sold the same day they went on the market, others were on the market for five years. Here’s a sampling of statistics so far in 2013:
Falls Church: 95 sales, 42 percent sold in 2 weeks or less, some took 417 days
Great Falls: 9 sales, 11 percent sold in 2 weeks or less, some took 305 days
McLean: 52 sales, 44 percent sold in 2 weeks or less, some took 657 days
Oakton: 18 sales, 17 percent sold in 2 weeks or less, some took 147 days
Reston: 64 sales, 47 percent sold in 2 weeks or less, some took 203 days
Vienna: 57 sales, 49 percent sold in 2 weeks or less, some took 394 days
No one wants to stay on the market that long. They certainly don’t want to keep their house in showing condition day after day, month after month. And, more importantly, statistics show that the longer you are on the market, the less your home will sell for. So why such a large variation? We think it’s because some sellers just can’t put on their “buyer hat.”
When we meet with our sellers, we recommend a focus on the way buyers think. It’s hard to do if you’re leaving a home you have enjoyed living in. But, if you want to maximize your return and sell quickly, it’s time to put on your “buyer hat”. See here for more specific tips on transforming your home into the house buyers are interested in.
Terry Belt is the CEO of The Belt Team, Keller Williams Realty, with over 20 years of real estate experience. 703-242-3975; Info@TheBeltTeam.com; thebeltteam.com.
(March 2013)
The Perfect Snowy Spring Break Workout Guide
Posted by David Schuller / Monday, March 25th, 2013
Everyone knows NoVA is a haven for runners, rowers and lacrosse enthusiasts. But what’s a fit, athletic individual like yourself going to do when snow comes to squash your outdoor workout plans? Lord knows those skinny street tires on your bike are going to turn your Trek into a rolling coffin. And those new running shoes you bought to work off that winter weight? Better trade them in for a nice pair of galoshes unless you want to give yourself trench foot from running in the wet snow.
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Welcome Back, Spring: What We’re Excited About
Posted by Tim Regan / Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
Spring Cherry Blossoms/Photo courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Believe it or not, today marks the beginning of spring. And although the weather is a bit chilly (for now), here’s what we have to look forward to as the temperatures rise:
Bloomin’ Blossoms
Every year, the newly-bloomed cherry blossoms signal the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which lasts from today until April 14. The celebration stretches across NoVA and beyond, with blossom bashes occurring at the Workhouse Arts Center, on the streets of Old Town Alexandria and up and down the Potomac River.
Zoo Alors!
The Reston Zoo and the Leesburg Animal Park are open for business! As the weather warms, the zoos will throw open their gates earlier and stay open later. Upcoming events include an Easter egg hunt at both zoos and daily visits with animals, both exotic and cuddly.
Happy Trails
Saddle up, it’s almost bike season. Cycling hot spots include the cross country trail at Wakefield Park, the NoVA-spanning W&OD trail and the rocky roads of Great Falls. And if you lack a set of wheels, don’t fret. NoVA has plenty of bike shops, like Bicycle Outfitters in Leesburg and The Bike Lane in Reston.
En Garden
As the flowers poke their pedals through the soil, you can bet that NoVA gardens will be in full swing. April will be jam-packed with floral festivities like the Festival of Tulips at Burnside Farms (April 13), the Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival (April 20, 21) and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester (April 27—May 5).