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Color, Caffeine, and Community Spirit
Sneak a look inside Simply Social Coffee and see why it’s our new go-to for cozy vibes and solid bites. Then watch Market Street come alive at ChalkFest with color, music, and neighbor energy. Round it out with Quick Hits and a weekend roster of jazz, pups, pumpkins, and Rocky Horror.
Graham Tracey
October 16, 2025
CHALK THE STREETS, SIP THE SEASONFall in Reston is humming: we’re featuring a peek inside Simply Social Coffee, then heading to Reston Town Center as ChalkFest turns the streets into a canvas. Quick Hits covers new openings and big moves around town, and the weekend lineup spans Jazz Happy Hour, Howl-O-Ween at Brown’s Chapel, pumpkin-packed festivals, and a spirited Rocky Horror. What’s inside
|  What are you most looking forward to from the new phase of RTC Next? |
Feature Story
SIMPLY SOCIAL, SIMPLY GOOD
We stopped into Simply Social Coffee, tucked upstairs in the brick plaza on Sunrise Valley just off Wiehle Avenue. It’s bright and cozy with natural light, seasonal touches, and a made-to-order menu; the Marco Polo sandwich with a latte had just the right kick. Watch the video to see inside and decide if it checks your boxes.
Around Town
RTC BECOMES A CANVAS
You’ll want to stop by Reston Town Center as the streets turned into a giant canvas for ChalkFest, hosted by Public Art Reston. Kids, families, and pros filled the blocks with color, plus live music, face painting, and easy coffee or lunch breaks that made it feel delightfully small-town. Watch the video to see the creativity up close and pick your masterpiece idea.
Quick Hits
IN OTHER NEWS
Masti opens at Reston Town Center on Thu, Oct. 16. Indochen’s team brings Indian street food and Nepali comfort dishes, momos included.
ChalkFest colors Market Street on Sun, Oct. 19, 10 am–5 pm. Free, family friendly, and hosted by Public Art Reston.
Dogfish Head Alehouse signs a 7,550-sq-ft lease at RTC Next. Target opening is summer 2026.
Workday takes 51,204 sq. ft. at 1818 Library Street, expanding its NoVA footprint.
RTC Next wins Planning Commission support in an 11–0 vote.
Reston Hospital Center readies an advanced cardiac surgery program, targeting launch by year’s end.
Reston Town Center North plan advances, with rezoning under review for housing, a new library, and the Embry Rucker Shelter.
Curated Events
EVENTS IN RESTON, HERNDON, AND BEYOND
Film lovers get red carpets and filmmaker Q&As at Washington West, while night owls can “Time Warp” with Reston Community Players’ Rocky Horror Show at CenterStage. Saturday stacks the calendar: Herndon’s Homecoming Parade rolls down Elden Street before a free tune-up at the Fall Wellness Fair in Hunters Woods. Cap the weekend with an early-morning October Bird Walk from Walker Nature Center into Stratton Woods to spot fall migrants. A tidy blend of arts, small-town pageantry, and fresh-air therapy in one crisp fall stretch.
A Final Note
YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM RESTON WHEN…
“…you schedule Saturdays around the Lake Anne Farmers Market.”
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