Reston Mom

moms start local theater company

Just wanted to let my local readers know about a fun opportunity!  Two fellow Reston moms have started a local theater company called The Hub Theater.   Here is what Helen writes about the company:
"The Hub Theatre endeavors to produce work that highlights our common humanity. To create a theatrical experience that is at once challenging and inclusive; to be the physical center of a dynamic circle of story, art and community, a place where we all gather to experience and inform that transcendent exchange so unique to live theatre."

You can still catch a performance of their current family show "Trunks."

"TRUNKS is the story of Bruno and Buffo (who are brothers) and their vaudeville show that goes to pieces when the beautiful Bella shows up. Full of prat falls, high jinks, and an all out water fight, the kids will laugh themselves silly."

Performances are at Lake Anne Plaza this Friday/Saturday (8pm) and Sunday (7pm) August 8-10. The cost is free, although a $10 donation is appreciated.

Also, let me point you to their website (which is still a bit under construction)  so that you can keep an eye out for future performances - 'cause you'll definitely want to keep them on your radar.

Hooray for Robeks!

I am so excited that we just got a Robeks at Reston Town Center (it's located in front of Le Madeleine).  It's about time we got a fantastic smoothie joint in here!  They've got a great variety of healthy smoothies (with or without supplements) and more....including fresh juice blends like orange/carrot/ginger and apple/beet/carrot and also a yummy menu of sandwiches and salads and frozen yogurt with fruit.  I'm totally going to hit this place up for breakfast soon...a smoothie or some juice and a power muffin for me please!

Festival Fun

I'm home for a rest after spending a hot morning at the Reston Festival (which continues until 10 tonight and all day tomorrow).  I finally made it over to the children's area this year and was pleasantly surprised (though we did go early before the crowd was too large).  My kids enjoyed the crafts but also the kiddie play area which included some really creative ideas.  My favorite would be easy to repeat at home - they provided golf tees and small wooden mallets and blocks of styrofoam packing...Voila! Let the kids hammer to their heart's content! Also a big hit - the two trains that are running rides through town center.  We're letting kids paint with spray bottles of non-toxic, washable paint at our booth.  I'll be headed back tonight and again tomorrow, see you

Our Town

Reston is a great place to live and raise children...and it's just an interesting place to live in general. Right now, for us, it's home.  Here are some things you might not know about the town:

• we have a level 4 strain of Ebola named after us - Ebola Reston.  Author Richard Preston wrote a "non-fiction bio-thriller" called The Hot Zone about the events surrounding this.
• Reston is an internationally known planned community (the first modern, post-war planned community in America)
• Reston straddles the Dulles Technology Corridor and is home to three Fortune 500 companies as well as the US Geological Survey, the National Wildlife Federation, and CNRI
• Reston is one of just a handful of communities in the U.S. that has been designated a backyard wildlife habitat community. Usually this designation is for single homes.
• Reston developed as 5 village centers and one town center
• Reston was the first post-war community in the U.S. to use clustered townhouse development, a strategy that allows for the preservation of open space along with higher density. Reston was also the first private 20th Century community in the U.S. to incorporate natural preservation in its planning.

lilaguide

If you aren't familiar with lilaguide, you might find it a helpful resource.  Self-tagged as the "word-of-mouth survival guide" it is chock full of information - baby gear, shops, activities, groups, services, restaurants and more are listed and then reviewed by real parents.  It's available for tons of different cities nationwide, including several right here in Northern Va.  Click here to see if there's one for your city.

Reston real-estate market

Here is some FYI on the real estate market in Reston.....I know with recent dips in the economy, people have had this on their minds.  So, my friend Scott Montgomery who is an agent for Keller Williams, and who also lives in Reston, had his team send some current market "good news" information our way:

• While there's been talk of a housing slump and a recession, comparing average sales prices for Nov. 2007 - Jan. 2008 to the same time last year, you'll notice there isn't much of a change at all: Av. sales price Nov. 06- Jan. 07; 437k / Av. sales price Nov. 07- Jan. 08; 430k
• With the recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, you might be able to negotiate a lower interest rate for the remainder of your mortgage.

Here's what Scott has to say about the Reston area: "Reston's numbers are staying put! This is a great indication of how the area sustains its value. With the great education system, proximity to Washington D.C., and suburban lifestyle, Reston continues to be a great place to buy and live. Being a Reston resident myself, I truly believe in this area as both an investment and a place to begin a family. My children have a backyard to play in, a safe neighborhood to run around in, go trick-or-treating, and grow up!  I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."
If you are interested in more information about the real estate market in Reston right now, check out www.TheRealEstatePost.com.  You'll find a ton of information, some really helpful people, and even some great blogs - fun too! Did you know that one Reston address was voted #7 of all tackiest Christmas displays in the state? (you can see a picture).
Scott would love to help you out as well, so feel free to contact him.  He's got some great expertise, is a local, and can help take out some of your stress with buying or selling right now and cares that the process should be easy and successful for you.  Plus, he's about to be a father again, this time to twins! So he understands the concerns, worries, needs, and limited schedules of parents!