Reston’s boats are made of cardboard
There is a new reason to head toward the Great Falls side of North Reston. The Cellar on Seneca has taken over the former BRX Bistro space with an elegant dining room, a large shaded patio and a menu that balances familiar favorites with dishes such as duck spring rolls, goat cheese croquettes and lobster ravioli. It feels polished without being formal, and the patio alone makes it worth a closer look.
For this week’s events, the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta is the clear centerpiece. It is one of those community traditions that manages to be competitive, creative and slightly chaotic all at once. Families with younger children should also consider Totally Trucks on Friday morning, while the Smokey Bear Campfire at Walker Nature Center offers a quieter way to spend the evening outdoors.
Elsewhere in the newsletter, we have updates on new development around Reston Station, changes underway at an older Herndon office park and several local civic appointments and programs worth knowing about. There is also a closer look at the people, businesses and institutions shaping what comes next across Reston and Herndon.
Feature Story
RESTON AREA WINE BISTRO
The Cellar on Seneca may be one of the Greater Reston area’s best new spots for a relaxed dinner, great wine and a long evening on the patio. The elegant dining room, thoughtful menu and standout dishes like duck spring rolls, goat cheese croquettes and lobster ravioli make this Great Falls bistro well worth the short drive from Reston.
Around Town
CARDBOARD BOATS TAKE LAKE ANNE
Reston’s Cardboard Boat Regatta turns Lake Anne into a cheering, splashing showcase of creativity, teamwork and questionable engineering. Each summer, local families, schools, scouts and businesses race handmade boats built from cardboard and duct tape, proving that sinking can be almost as entertaining as winning.
Quick Hits
IN OTHER NEWS
Founding Farmers is planning an on-site distillery at its Reston Station restaurant. Soon, the trip from grain to glass may be shorter than the walk from the Metro platform to dinner.
Fairfax County has approved an expansion of the Lofts at Reston Station, adding hundreds of homes despite concerns about parking and environmental cleanup. Reston Station continues its campaign to become an entire city before anyone officially calls it one.
A townhouse proposal for an aging Reston office property has moved forward, although neighbors and county officials remain divided over how dense the project should be. In Reston, even agreement that an office building should go can lead to disagreement about what should replace it.
Reston Community Center is looking for candidates for three Board of Governors seats. Eligible residents have until August 14 to file, opening another opportunity to turn strong opinions about community programming into an official civic responsibility.
Cornerstones brought back its KAPE summer youth program in Herndon, but families are still pressing for a reliable long-term funding solution. The kids have a summer program again. The adults still have homework.
The Town of Herndon earned accreditation from the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia. It is the kind of municipal achievement that does not inspire a parade but should make residents feel slightly better about where their tax payments go.
Herndon appointed Michael D. “M.J.” Johnson as its new public works director. He will oversee streets, utilities, stormwater and capital projects, meaning he now has professional responsibility for many of the things residents notice only when they stop working.
Herndon approved the redevelopment of the Van Buren Office Park, clearing the way for another underused office property to begin a new life. Around here, “office park” is increasingly less of a land use and more of a before photo.
Curated Events
EVENTS IN RESTON, HERNDON, AND BEYOND
This week’s lineup is packed with family-friendly fun across Reston and Herndon, starting with Fiesta de Música Familiar at Herndon Town Hall Square on Thursday morning, followed by Totally Trucks, a Smokey Bear Campfire and a young actors’ production of “Dorothy in Wonderland” on Friday. Saturday brings two distinctly Reston experiences, from meeting local snakes at Walker Nature Center to cheering on cardboard boats as they race, wobble and occasionally sink at Lake Anne Plaza. Then, on Monday and Tuesday, families can cool off at Pony Barn Pavilion while exploring local creeks and the wildlife that depends on them. Don’t forget to check out the link at the top of the newsletter for all of the concerts!
A Final Note
YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM RESTON WHEN…
“…you’re wondering what’s floating on Lake Anne this week.”
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