Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment in Reston, VA

The Washington Capitals will soon unveil a new sports facility in Northern Virginia — one likely to be much less controversial than the team owner’s failed push for an arena in Alexandria.

Installation of the inline skate rink donated by the D.C.-based professional hockey team to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) in Reston is expected to finish this week, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

The park authority and Capitals will celebrate the project’s completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free ball hockey clinic at the rink this Saturday (May 11) from 10 a.m. to noon.

Located next to Lake Fairfax Park’s campground, athletic fields and skate park, the 85-foot-by-185-foot rink is the first facility of its kind at a county park, FCPA spokesperson Benjamin Boxer says. It features player and penalty boxes, hockey goals, bleachers and “ample” lighting to support daytime and evening use.

Under construction since last June, the rink was built with sport floor tiles on an asphalt pad, making it “ideal for roller hockey and skating” and allowing for “easy maintenance and modular tile replacement,” according to the park authority.

“There is literally something for everyone in the Fairfax County park system,” Boxer told FFXnow by email. “This new inline skate rink is a first for the Park Authority and it opens up another recreational opportunity for residents to enjoy and continues our commitment to provide wide diversity in program and facility offerings to serve the interests and needs of a diverse community.”

The inline skate rink is the product of an ongoing partnership between Fairfax County and the Capitals that began in 2021, when Fairfax County Public Schools joined the NHL team’s Hockey School Program, according to Capitals Director of Youth Hockey Development Peter Robinson.

Offered in 1,601 local schools that collectively reach over 1 million students, the program provides floor hockey equipment, teacher training and a custom curriculum to physical education teachers in all FCPS elementary and middle schools.

“The Washington Capitals are dedicated to growing the game of hockey by providing access to the sport in all its forms,” Robinson said. “A portion of that growth strategy is investing in the off-ice game by building facilities and creating programming within the community.”

Robinson says the team “jumped” at the opportunity to expand its partnership with the county by collaborating on the ball/inline skate rink at Lake Fairfax Park.

Though the facility was donated by the Capitals, the park authority was responsible for preparing the site and supporting infrastructure. The project cost the county an estimated $1.9 million, which came from park bonds approved by voters in 2020.

“Over the past ten years the Washington Capitals, along with the NHL/NHLPA, have invested over $3.5 million in growing the game off the ice,” Robinson said by email. “This rink project is a part of that overall investment strategy, and we are excited to begin offering programming at the new rink starting this summer.”

The Capitals’ programming at the rink will begin this Saturday with the free hockey clinic, which is part of the team’s Try Hockey for Free program. Starting at 11 a.m., the clinic will give attendees a chance to practice their stickhandling, passing, shooting and small games.

Though the clinic is free, advance registration is required, since spots are limited. Community members don’t need to bring equipment or prior hockey experience to participate.

Details about future programs, including classes and summer clinics, will be posted on the Capitals’ youth hockey development website.

The Lake Fairfax inline skate rink will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The rink can be reserved for $75 per hour, but when not reserved, it’s open to the general public for free on a first-come, first-served basis, Boxer says.

There’s a lot to love about Reston, Virginia. Just 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., this vibrant town can feel both urban and suburban. Reston was one of the first planned communities in the country and was designed as a place to work, play, learn, shop, and get involved. Today, it’s noted for its open-air town center, green spaces, arts and culture, and walking and biking trails that make it easy to get around Reston. Book a room at the Hyatt Regency Reston to be at the center of the action when you come to explore. Here’s what to do on your next visit to Reston.

Get To Know Reston

Lake Anne Plaza is one of five village centers in Reston that attracts residents and visitors alike with its weekly seasonal farmers market, walking trails, boutique shops, and gathering places, like Café Montmartre and Lake Anne Coffee House. In summer, look for festivals, like the Cardboard Boat Regatta and Reston Pride, as well as pedal boat, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals on the 17-acre lake. Stop to snap a few photos of the beloved Van Gogh Bridge.

lakeannemerchantsassociation.org, 1609 Washington Plaza N, Reston, VA 20190

Stop in the free Reston Museum for artifacts, exhibits, photographs, and art works that illustrate the history of Reston, one of the first planned communities in the United States. Temporary and permanent exhibits share how Reston came to be Reston, from the early days in 1962 when the town was little more than a master plan that placed importance on walkability, amenities, recreation areas, and usability as a space for work and play.

restonmuseum.org, 1639 Washington Plaza N, Reston, VA 20190

Reston Town Center is widely considered the heart of Reston. Since Reston Town Center opened in 1990, this mixed-use open-air space has grown, adding more offices, restaurants, bars, shops, a movie theater, a fountain, a four-star hotel, and a seasonal ice skating rink. The Washington & Old Dominion Trail, a 45-mile paved rail-trail, skirts along Reston Town Center’s south side. In November 2022, the Reston Town Center subway station opened, allowing easy public transit access to and from Reston.

restontowncenter.com, 11900 Market St, Reston, VA 20190

Get Outside In Reston

The paved 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail runs from Arlington to Purcellville, Virginia. A great place to pick up the trail in Reston is at Bike Lane Brewing & Café, a bike shop that sells coffees, teas, pastries, and cold brews. The shop also sells, services, and rents bikes, including pedal-assist e-bikes, for those who want to hit the trail but don’t have a bike.

thebikelane.com, 11150 Sunset Hills Rd STE 110, Reston, VA 20190

NOVA Wild is a 30-acre non-profit zoo that supports international conservation programs, like Worth Wild Africa, which works to conserve wildlife species. The zoo is home to more than 200 animals, including lemurs, llamas, kangaroos, and pygmy goats. NOVA Wild has a drive-thru safari and stroll-thru sections where visitors can view, pet, and feed select zoo animals.

novawild.org, 1228 Hunter Mill Rd, Vienna, VA 22182

Walker Nature Center is a 72-acre green space in Reston that offers nature-based programs that help visitors grow positive and respectful relationships with the natural environment. At the nature center, there are wooded walking trails, picnic tables, a small pond, and native plant gardens. Walker Nature Center offers children’s programs, nature camps, bird walks, and wildlife counts.

reston.org/walker-nature-center, 11450 Glade Dr, Reston, VA 20191

At 476 acres, Lake Fairfax Park is the largest public park in Reston. There’s a lot to do at Lake Fairfax Park, too. You’ll find a campground, a carousel, picnic pavilions, multi-use trails, a skate park, a pump track, a water park, and a marina on the 18-acre lake with pedalboat and kayak rentals. Reston is also home to several other green spaces, including Fred Crabtree Park, Baron Cameron Park, and Hunter Woods Park.

fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-fairfax, 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr, Reston, VA 20190

Eat And Drink In Reston

For drinks out with friends, you’re covered in Reston. In late-2023, Sixty Vines, a wine-themed restaurant with 60 wines on tap opened at Reston Town Center. Yes, wines on tap. Wines come from reusable kegs rather than single-use glass bottles. You can also sample wines (and tapas) at Barcelona Wine Bar. For fruity cocktails with colorful umbrellas, head to Tiki Thai. There’s even a hidden speakeasy in Reston called Heirloom (hint, it’s tucked into Open Road Distilling Co.).

Brunch is everyone’s favorite meal and Reston has more than a few restaurants that know how to do brunch. A favorite is Makers Union, which serves up brunch faves like smashed avocado toast and smoked salmon lox. It’s a must to order the maple-sweet monkey bread. For more brunch deliciousness – as well as mimosas and bellinis – head to Founding Farmers or Ted’s Bulletin.

It’s easy to love an open-air patio and there are plenty of places to eat outside in Reston, including Ariake, a Japanese restaurant and Cafesano, a Mediterranean restaurant. Another favorite is Kalypso’s Sports Tavern on Lake Anne, which is considered by many to have the best waterfront and dog-friendly dining in Fairfax County. Red’s Table is another top pick when you want to enjoy delicious cuisine and enjoy the views across Lake Anne from the open-air dining room.

Cultural Sites

For arts and culture, there are wonderful museums and art galleries in Reston, including Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, which celebrates 50 years in 2024. Tephra ICA hosts art exhibitions, as well as public programs that encourage a meaningful dialogue about art works. At Reston Art Gallery, which is only open on weekends, look for rotating exhibitions in a variety of art mediums, including photography, sculpture, and oil painting. Reston has a variety of public art works, too.

At Reston’s CenterStage, a 260-seat theatre hosts dozens of cultural performances each year that range from musicals to author talks to comedy shows. There are also live concerts throughout the year in such musical genres as classical, soul, and bluegrass. CenterStage is known for summer concerts and annual festivals, like the Reston Multicultural Festival.

restoncommunitycenter.com, 2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston, VA 20191

Google announced the company is expanding data centers in northern Virginia during a news conference on April 26, 2024. (7News)

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RESTON, Va. (7News) — On Friday, Google announced the company is expanding data centers in northern Virginia.

“Google has called Virginia home for more than 15 years now,” said Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google.

Google plans to invest $1 billion in data center expansion this year in Virginia, and on Friday, Google announced $75 million for AI workforce development initiatives to help over one million Americans learn essential AI skills.

Google has two data centers in Loudoun County.

“And today, I’m really pleased to announce that we are investing [an] additional $1 billion in Virginia to expand those campuses and to add a third data center in Prince William County,” said Porat.

"Today is a great day. We’ve got a $1 billion investment in the commonwealth,” said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

READ | Prince William County approves world's largest data center project amid 27-hour debate

Youngkin joined Google executives for the announcement in Reston.

“Virginia is the global hub for data centers unlike any other place in the world,” Youngkin said. “We are larger than the next five US markets combined. We are larger than the next four global markets combined.”

On Friday, Youngkin spoke about the benefits of data centers for local communities.

ALSO READ | Prince William County residents sue county over recently approved Bristow, Va. data center

“$2.2 billion of wages are paid to Virginians associated with our data center ecosystem,” said Youngkin. “$1 billion in local revenue that funds an immense investment in schools and public services and social services. And in Loudoun County alone, 25% of these essential services are funded by the data community.”

Data center expansion has been a controversial topic in both Loudoun County and Prince William County.

RELATED | 'You got to fight:' Prince William Co. woman organizes lawsuit against county for data center proposal

In recent years, Loudoun County and Prince William County residents have spoken out about data center expansion.

And recently, County Supervisors and County Chairs in Loudoun and Prince William Counties have been critical of data center expansion.

7News asked Google if they need approval from the Board of Supervisors in Loudoun County or Prince William County to expand.

MORE | Warrenton residents demand more answers on Amazon data center project

“We are excited to grow our data center presence in Loudoun and Prince William and are working with the local municipalities on all of the necessary permits and approvals to support our operations. Our Loudoun sites are located near Arcola and Leesburg, both of which are in the overlay district as designated by the county," a Google spokesperson told 7News.

After the announcement, Gov. Youngkin was asked about the pushback on data center development in northern Virginia.

“I think that community engagement around data center development is hugely important,” said Youngkin. “I do believe that there really is a requirement for local leadership at the board of supervisors or city council levels to be very responsive to their citizens and again to be very transparent, and to work with the data center community to express their concerns and to allow people to react to them. This should be a very open communication."

“Google’s announcement today of a $1 billion investment in our Virginia data centers brings our total investments across the state to more than $4 billion,” said Porat. “In addition, our AI Essentials Course and $75 million Google.org AI Opportunity Fund will help provide access to the economic opportunities AI can offer. Together with our partners and community-led organizations, Google is committed to delivering targeted AI skilling and training so that Virginians, veterans, and millions of others can make the most of the opportunities of today and tomorrow.”

The Elden Street Tea Shop is almost ready to unveil its new location in Reston.

After closing its original Herndon location in January, the business is set to reopen at 1633A Washington Plaza in Lake Anne Plaza this Saturday (May 4).

The tea shop will celebrate its grand opening in conjunction with the second annual Northern Virginia Tea Festival, which will take place on the Lake Anne Plaza waterfront from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Lake Anne Washington Plaza Merchant Association, the festival is expected to draw more than 40 vendors who will sell various tea-related products and accessories, according to a press release.

“Visitors can browse and shop for everything from loose-leaf teas and tea blends to tea sets, teapots, and infusers, as well as local crafts and unique gifts,” the merchant association said in an announcement for the festival. “…The Tea Festival is a fun and educational experience for all with plenty of opportunities to sample teas, learn from experts, and have fun!”

Other activities will include live music, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, morning yoga sessions, classes and workshops, and chai-making and costume contests.

While admission to the vendor market is free, access to the classes, workshops and tea ceremony will require a ticket. Tickets will be sold at the festival, but a Northern Virginia Tea Excursion package that includes a full-day trip to Lunch The Tea Cart in Berryville on May 5 has sold out.

The tea festival was first held in May 2023 at Elden Street Tea Shop’s first location at 714 Pine Street in Herndon.

Co-owner Rachel Eisenfeld previously told FFXnow that the business had outgrown the space, which it established in 2017. Though they hoped to retain the downtown Herndon location while opening a second spot, lease negotiations with the landlord stalled, leading the shop to relocate instead.

Elden Street Tea Shop sells loose-leaf tea, both in-store and wholesale. Once it reopens in Reston, it will offer a variety of events, such as tea parties, yoga and tea meditation, paddle board tea time, open mic night and literary tea hours.

Join us at Scrawl Books on Wednesday. May 8 at 11AM as we welcome Joan Waites! Joan will be reading from her most recent board book, Finley Feels. This event will be most appropriate for ages 0-4, but children of all ages are welcome!

Order ahead here: https://www.scrawlbooks.com/event/toddler-time-joan-waites

ABOUT THE BOOK

Finley is a piebald dachshund who just wants a new family. But with any new experience comes some very big feelings!

Finley is a piebald dachshund who just wants a new family! But with this new experience comes some very big feelings.

Finley was sad.Finley was scared.Finley was anxious.

Follow along with this little dog as he deals with all the emotions of being adopted. From initially feeling shy and curious to eventually feeling playful and happy, Finley slowly adjusts to his new home and a jealous kitty. Through playful illustrations, young readers will easily identify with this sweet puppy, especially the excitement he feels when his new best friend comes home for school. All pets deserve a loving home, and this adoption story leaves you feeling just as loved as Finley is by his new family.

Sturdy board pages are designed for young children learning to read and encourages readers to build their emotional vocabulary in a kid-friendly, accessible format. This adorable book about a little dachshund highlights the many common emotions a young child feels when experiencing something scary or unfamiliar, and then ultimately taking comfort in the fact that when they are loved, things will be okay.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joan Waites is an award-winning author-illustrator with more than 45 titles published for the children's trade and educational markets, including A Colorful Tail: Finding Monet at Giverny, A Purr-fect Painting: Matisse's Other Great Cat, and A Bone for Bo: Painting with Georgia O'Keeffe. A former adjunct faculty member of the Corcoran Museum's school of art and design for their aspiring-artists programs, she continues to teach art for children and adults. Joan is a member of the Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC, and the National Art Education Association and previously served as the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI illustrator coordinator. Visit her at http://www.joanwaites.com or follow her on Instagram at @‌joanwaites.​