Ferris Bueller

Paid Parking Pushes Obi Sushi Out of Reston Town Center, by Catherine Douglas Moran, RestonNow

How about this?  We need to constantly upgrade infrastructure in the US, and could repave roads with recycled plastics as a component ....Road makers turn to recycled plastic for tougher surfaces - The Economist

Additionally, the recycling of asphalt which is commonplace now - only helps limit waste, increasing reuse.

Not to rain on the parade, but....Huge device built to trap plastic in Pacific Ocean isn’t working.  This was featured on the 60 Minutes piece Sunday.

Paid Parking Under Consideration for Reston, Tysons by Catherine Douglas Moran, RestonNow

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is gearing up to study parking management options, which could add paid parking in Reston and Tysons.

FCDOT hopes to hire a professional parking consultant to explore parking management, which FCDOT says would fulfill the vision of the Comprehensive Plan for each area.

It would also reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions from drivers circling blocks to find free street parking and create a new revenue stream, FCDOT argues.

Very cool Christmas/Holiday train exhibit (great for kids and adults) at the US Botanical Gardens.  There are concerts on select Tuesdays and Thursdays and admission is free.  The place is warm, protected from the elements and there are plant-based US landmarks recreated sprinkled throughout the center hall.

Lines can be long to get in, but if you have not done this it is really cool.

The National Christmas tree and events around the US State and Territory trees are also pretty neat to do if you have not.

Update since paid parking was implemented, working mostly from memory so it is possible I missed a few on either side (not intentional). 

Closed

Pottery Barn

Williams Sonoma

M&S Grill

Paolos, then remodelled and opened as Neyla which also closed

Teavana

Ann Taylor

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Il Fornaio

Busara

Edibles Incredible

The Bike Lane

The Running Store

Appalachian Spring

Open

Mason's Lobster Rolls

&PIzza

Balduccis

Pottery Barn Set to Close in Reston Town Center in January by Catherine Douglas Moran, RestonNow 

The Pottery Barn in Reston Town Center will shut its doors in January, along with the Williams-Sonoma down the block.

SLAPFISH QUIETLY OPENS A WEEK EARLY by Chris Wadsworth, theburn

Slapfish, the new seafood restaurant at One Loudoun, accelerated their timeline and quietly opened to customers a week early.

Williams-Sonoma in Reston Town Center to Close in January by Catherine Douglas Moran, RestonNow

Why we can’t agree on gun control by Jen Zamzoe

The problem isn’t a lack of information. It’s how we are predisposed to interpret it.

There are laws in place, I would not call them strict nor are they tight.  Violence stats are out there and sobering to say the least.

We are a Country where guns are part of our lives (even if you do not own one or more) - and not for absolute need (I am sure people will disagree).   The daily and weekly headlines noting violence are not helping strengthen laws, perhaps just the opposite...are we becoming immune to them?

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls Opens This Week in Reston Town Center by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow

After some delays, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is opening tomorrow (Nov. 7) in Reston Town Center.

Oyamel - I like their ceviche bar.

Opening of Mason’s Famous Lobsters in Reston Town Center Delayed by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow

A soft opening was anticipated by Malcolm Gilbreath this week, but the process was delayed pending the scheduling of final inspections with the county.

If you want to let your Representatives know you are pissed, concerned or whatever, here are links (email addresses, phone #'s etc) and stats for you and our surrounding areas:

Virginia

Maryland

District of Columbia

The stats are sobering - for anyone outside the area, you can easily look up your state and district here.

I am not saying they listen, but you have to let them know.  

So I digress (sort of) - I have always been impressed with server(s) who can remember an order without writing it down.  I even order in reverse order i.e. dessert, entree, salad, appetizer to mix them up and see if they can do it (for fun).  Those who do, and it has been often, rarely fail.  Upon occasion we have had a server come back and ask for a clarification, but overall, experience has been pretty good.  We go to this restaurant several times/year (were there 2 weeks ago), and there is a server there who has never written down our order.  It is quite impressive and our kids love it.

If dining in a nicer restaurant, I always think it a little tacky when a server pulls out a pad of paper and writes down an order, but again, I am always impressed by someone taking their job seriously.  I could not be a server and wait on people - just could not do it, not in my wheelhouse; have the utmost respect.

Ford's Fish Shack has a decent roll as does Jackson's.  I was really hesitant to try one at Jacksons, but it was pleasantly good.

Mason’s Famous Lobsters to Open Next Week in Reston Town Center by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow

One of my favorites is Blue Rock VIneyards - if you like a nice red, smooth and finishes nicely.  There are two options, Blue Rock which is their higher end, French Oak aged (22 mos - but not necessarily better) cabernet sauvignon version at $49, or Baby Blue (blend) French Oak (12 mos) which typically runs around $30.   

Google search brings up big prospective lease by the Wiehle-Reston East Metro By Daniel J Sernovitz, WBJ

The Mountain View, California-based company is in talks to lease about 100,000 square feet from Comstock Cos. at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza,

Fairfax County Planning Commission Defers Decision on Reston Corner by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow

One Loudoun restaurants, while not stellar, offer a wide range and are a short drive from IAD, between the Toll Road and bordering Route 7.

If venturing West towards Leesburg, Fireworks Pizza, Tuscarora Mill, Lightfoot.

@ RTC West there is a garage that has "free" parking, but you have to walk either thru the office lobby or around the exterior to get to the retail.  On weekends, they sometimes have Valet in the surface lot across from SB and Cooper's Hawk.

BTW - Glory Days has the Impossible Burger as well, the closest location is at North Point Village Plaza and the parking is free and fairly plentiful.

New restaurant opening at RTC West....

BGR The Burger Joint to Open in RTC West Next Week by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow.com

Planning Commission Approves RTC West Expansion by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow

The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved the project, which adds up to 576 multifamily units, 700,000 square feet of office space and 1.4 million square feet of new development to the existing office park, on Thursday night.

B DOUGHNUT OPENING ONE LOUDOUN LOCATION by Chris Wadsworth, theburn.com

Supposed to be open by the end of the month.