GoReston.com » Reston Living

2012 Reston Bland Music Concert

Guest Posts — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:33:57 +0000

The Reston Bland Contest will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 7:30 pm in the Reston Community Center Theater at the Hunter Woods Shopping Center sponsored by the Reston Lions Club. Don’t let the Name fool you. This is a high-talent, prestigious competition that will expose you to some of Reston’s most musical youth.

Every contestant will receive a participation certificate and a written critique of his or her performance from two highly qualified judges.

The Bland Contest It is a progressive contest, where vocal and instrumental music students compete against each other at a local club level, with the winners moving up to the Region, District, and then to the State Finals. Series EE Bonds of $100, $75, and $50 will be awarded to the first, second, and third place finishers in the vocal and instrumental categories in the Reston Lions club level contest. Winners at the state level receive an enhanced $2500 scholarship. There is no cost to enter.

Click here for full Announcement

Click here for application and Registration Rules

By: Jonathan Ingman

Donation Drive for Haitian Orphans – This Sunday January 22nd

Guest Posts — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:53:06 +0000

Restonians,

We need your help! Two years ago the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti, was hit by a massive 7.0 earthquake that decimated much of Port-au-Prince and outlying areas. The rebuilding has been slow and Haitians continue to suffer. How can you help?. Each one of us can do our part to make a difference to one small Haitian community. Please help us collect and deliver children’s goods to Abricots, Haiti to mark the 2^nd anniversary of Haiti’s devastating earthquake. We are counting on our Reston donation drive to be the biggest yet and need your help in spreading the word and donating:

Sunday, January 22nd: US Tennis Association / Mid-Atlantic Office - 11410 Isaac Newton Square North, Suite 270, Reston, VA 20190 – 10am to 3pm.

Did you know that as a result of the earthquake two years ago, the orphan population of Haiti is estimated to have more than doubled from a previous 360,000? Please join us in making a difference in one small community in Haiti, Abricots, by donating goods to the children of this village.

Here’s what we are collecting for ages 0 to 18 years:

Basic needs: shoes, underwear, rain gear, school bags, lunchboxes, dress and everyday clothes (no winter), toiletries, and toys

Educational needs: musical instruments, board games, school and craft supplies, early reader and comic books, teacher’s edition books, and translation dictionaries in English to French / Spanish to French.

Sporting equipment: soccer and basketballs, goal nets and basketball hoop rings, sporting gear for these games like jerseys, shoes and socks. Camping gear including backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and equipment.

Uniforms: 11-15 matching used khaki and navy and light blue uniforms for newly established girl and boy scout troops in Abricots.

We are looking for 11 – 15 matching boys’ basketball and soccer jerseys in sizes medium and large and 11 -15 matching girls’ soccer and basketball uniforms in sizes small and medium.

Abricots is a small fishing village located in the Grand d’Anse region of Haiti. Access to this part of the country is difficult, especially during the rainy season. Roads to the surrounding villages are in some cases non-existent. Many thousands of Abricots’ residents are part of the post-earthquake mass exodus out of Port-au-Prince. Included in this number are several hundred orphans that have been transplanted to this region. The four local orphanages are filled beyond capacity, and local families have reached out to host the remaining children in their homes. Grant money from the city council and aid organizations has run out, and many of these children do not have the most basic of supplies.

Visit us at http://www.destinationabricots.com/ for more information.

By: Lisa McCabe Hobbs

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Big Bowl

Guest Posts — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:43:16 +0000

Big Bowl’s Chinese New Year festivities to ring in 4709 pays homage to the most revered sign of the zodiac – the dragon – known for its great enthusiasm, intensity and passion.

The five-day celebration begins January 19 with a special menu of symbolic foods and culminates on the 23rd with a complimentary lunch or dinner for those born under the Year of the Dragon. Here’s the lineup of festivities at Big Bowl located at Reston Town Center,11915 Democracy Drive:

Symbolic Specials

January 19 through January 23

Executive Chef Marc Bernard presents a menu of specials inspired by the Year of the Dragon and the symbolic foods that the Chinese eat for a bountiful new year. Shrimp and chive dumplings with a fiery sauce in honor of the dragon, Cantonese style lobster for bounty and blood orange sorbet representing the color that sounds like wealth in Chinese will be among the choices. Expect lucky cocktails, too, such as the Red Dragon (a kid version will also be available).

Good Luck Gamble

January 20

Gambling is symbolic of fortune for the New Year. In the evening, each table can take a chance by rolling the dice. Whatever number comes up will be deducted in dollars from the check (dine-in only).

Make Way for Dumplings

January 21, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

A complimentary cooking class on making dumplings because they represent wealth and prosperity. All participants receive a complimentary bag of dumplings. Spots fill up fast so make a reservation by calling the restaurant directly at (707) 787-8852.

Happy Birthday to Me – Chinese New Year’s Eve

January 22

Part of Chinese New Year calls for acknowledging “everybody’s birthday,” a time when birth and renewal are celebrated. All guests receive a hóng bāo (lucky red envelope). Tucked inside will be a gift certificate for $10 or $25 to Big Bowl, or a card for a complimentary appetizer, dessert, housemade ginger ale or bottled Big Bowl sauce.

As customary in Chinese families, all children will receive a hóng bāo with a crisp $1 bill.

Lucky Dragon, Lucky You

January 23 – Chinese New Year’s Day

All guests born in the Year of the Dragon will receive a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée (dine-in only) on the first day of the New Year. Dragon years include 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and of course, 2012.

By: Laura Yee

Basset Hound Adoption

Guest Posts — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:22:36 +0000

Please help BROOD (Basset Rescue Of Old Dominion) find our rescued hounds a home for the holiday!

See all our available hounds at: http://www.brood-va.org/availabledogs.htm

Or join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BROOD-Basset-Rescue-of-Old-Dominion/120465412858

By: Twilla Miller

Tomorrow is Give to the Max Day

Guest Posts — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:05:05 +0000

There are more than 6,500 homeless individuals living on the streets of Washington, DC on any given night. Of those, more than 2,000 are considered chronically homeless–meaning they are living with a physical or mental disability and have been homeless for at least one year, or multiple times over the past few years. These individuals often live with severe mental illness, chronic substance abuse and/or severe health problems. Their quality of life is diminished and their life expectancy is cut short. They are struggling to survive. These are the men and women Miriam’s Kitchen serves.

Give to the Max Day is a one-day fundraising event on November 9, 2011 that will unite local Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC communities to support nonprofits serving the area. The goal of Give to the Max Day is to have 35,000 people give to their favorite regional charity, raising more than $3 million in donations and grants in just 24 hours! You can also find more info at give2max.razoo.com

Please Give to the Max to Miriam’s Kitchen today! For every dollar you donate, Miriam’s Kitchen can provide another healthy meal to someone in need.

By: Chris Abraham

Lost Canon PowerShot in Reston VA 10/30/11

Guest Posts — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:14:21 +0000

Missing after party the day before Halloween at local party. Silver Canon Powershot. Has imperfection in the display on back, shows a red mark but not in actual picture. If found please contact me. REWARD

By: Karla

RESTON COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE STARTS NOVEMBER 1

Go Reston — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:12:33 +0000

Reston Community Center, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, and Reston Interfaith Partner on Annual Food Drive to Benefit Community Members in Need

RESTON, VA — Reston Community Center (RCC) announces this year’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, in partnership with Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith. Donations will be accepted Nov. 1 through Nov. 21, and volunteers will sort and deliver donations on Thanksgiving Day.

This annual event brings community members together to support those in need. Local businesses participate as donation drop-off locations, and individuals throughout the community contribute donations at their convenience, leading up to a community-wide volunteer event on Thanksgiving Day, when volunteers will sort all of the donations at RCC and then deliver them to Reston Interfaith’s food storage facility.

“The Thanksgiving Food Drive is one of our favorite events each year at RCC, because it brings together individuals throughout our community to celebrate a day about giving thanks by giving back,” said Beverly Cosham, Chair, RCC Board of Governors. “We greatly value the opportunity to share our time and resources with others.”

Donations will be accepted beginning Nov. 1 at a variety of places throughout Reston. Non-perishable foods and other household and personal items will be accepted. A complete list of donation drop-off locations and acceptable items is available at www.restoncommunitycenter.com.

Community members who wish to volunteer to sort and deliver donations on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, must register in advance. Participation is free and the volunteer event will start at 10:00 a.m. and end around 1:00 p.m. or whenever sorting and delivery is complete. Visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com for more information and to register for the Thanksgiving Day activity.

Halloween Happenings in Reston for 2011

Go Reston — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:02:19 +0000

Looking for some spooktacular things to do this Halloween in or around Reston Virginia? Here are some Halloween Happenings in the Reston area this year!

Sunday, October 30th:

Zoo Boo & Trick or Treat Trail – Halloween Fun @ the Reston Zoo 10am-4pm
Pumpkinville – Leesburg - Trick-or-Treat Weekend – Kids Costume Contest @ 1:30pm (grab a coupon)
CoxFarms Fall Festival & Pumpkin Madness- Open 10am – 6pm
Terror After Dark – No Scare Matinee for Kids12 & Under – Dulles Town Center in front of Macy’s 1pm-4pm
Ghost Train 2011 – Burke Lake Park – 10am-6pm
Trunk-or-Treat – Drainsville UMC @ Kohl’s Parking Lot in Herndon – 3-5pm (what is trunk or treat?)
Trunk-or-Treat – Sterling – 4pm – 6pm (what is trunk or treat?)
Trunk-or-Treat – RBC Herndon United Methodist Church @ 701 Bennett St in Herndon – 6:30pm – 8:30pm (what is trunk or treat?)
Charity Haunted House – Seneca Shopping Center in Great Falls 4pm-8pm
Terror After Dark – Dulles Town Center in front of Macy’s 7pm – 10pm

Monday, October 31st:

Mr. Knick Knack Children’s Performance @ Reston Town Center 10:30am – 11:15am
Great Falls Annual Costume Parade & Trick or Treat Event – Great Falls Village Center -
Charity Haunted House – Seneca Shopping Center in Great Falls 4pm-8pm
Leesburg Kiwanis Annual Halloween Parade – Historic Downtown Leesburg (Ida Lee Park) – 6pm – 8pm
24th Annual Mall-O-Ween – Fair Oaks Mall – 6pm-8pm
Terror After Dark – Dulles Town Center in front of Macy’s 7pm – 10pm
Halloween Happy Hour – Il Fornaio, Reston Town Center 4:30pm – 12:00am (Happy Hour Prices for all in Costume)

Charity Haunted House to Support Jill’s House – Now through Monday Night

Go Reston — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:17:21 +0000

Ashwani Ahluwalia and his cohorts at Brix American Bistro in Great Falls, have taken over one of the empty storefronts in the Seneca Shopping Center in Great Falls to create a Charity Haunted House to support Jill’s House. The Haunted House is open from 5-10pm on Fri & Sat (28-29 Oct.) and from 4-8pm on Sun & Mon (30-31 Oct.). The Haunted House is fun for all ages, and there is no charge. Donations are being accepted for Jill’s House.

Jill’s House is a great local organization helping children with intellectual disabilities and their families and is an inspiring model for how communities can address the needs of families with children with special needs, watch this video to learn more:

My Son and I helped out last night and had a great time scaring people and wishing them a Happy Halloween! Stop by, a lot of work went into the house, it looks great! You won’t be disappointed. Here are a few pictures:

Outside the Haunted House

Come in for some Fun!

Don't be afraid!

Gross!

Pick Up Your Holiday Pie at Community Canteen!

Guest Posts — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:40:57 +0000

With the holidays just around the corner, the last thing you need to worry about is whipping up a fancy dessert – so do yourself a favor while scratching off another “to-do” and leave the baking to your favorite spot, Community Canteen (11950 Democracy Drive).

Looking to indulge in the classics? Community Canteen will be offering delicious dessert varieties including Tracy’s Orchard Apple Pie, classic Pumpkin Pie, irresistible Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie and local Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust for only $23.95 (plus tax and gratuity).

The best part? These tasty treats are available for not only carryout, but delivery too!

By: Julie