Real Estate and Reston, VA: July 2008

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, your friends, entertainment, and wonderful food. Next weekend in Reston, Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10,  will be the 5th Annual Asian Festival (www.AsianFestivalDC.com). Gather your friends together and go!

The festival, which will be held at the Lake Newport Tennis Park (11452 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, VA 20194) will feature some really cool features and events. Some of the things you will find there include:

• Traditional Foods from over 25 well known local Asian Restaurants
• Arts & Crafts
• All Day Stage Performances
• Asian Idol Singing Contest
• Asian Martial Arts and Kickboxing tournament
• Children's Corner
• Many,many more activities and events
• Admission is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The parking will be very limited, so you can find off site parking with a free shuttle at 1930 Isaac Newton Square in Reston (this is where the Reston Association is for those of you familiar with Reston). From The Toll Road, turn North on Wiehle Avenue and then make a left just past the fire station (gas station on the corner) onto Isaac Newton Square. If you miss the turn, you can turn at the next intersection (no light), too.

The hours of the Festival on Saturday are 10 am to 9 pm and on Sunday they are 11 am to 7 pm. Don't forget that the admission is free!

If you spend any amount of time in the Washington DC Metro area (which includes Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland) , you will notice that the Redskins are almost a religion to the folks who live here.

For those of you who love the red and gold, tomorrow is fan appreciation day at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Virginia.

Located off Loudoun Country Parkway in Ashburn,  Redskins Park will open to fans from 12:15 p.m. to 3:45 pm, tomorrow, Saturday July 26th, 2008.  Festivities will include the Redskins band playing the Redskins Fight Song, the cheerleaders, a team scrimmage and an address by the new Redskins head coach, Jim Zorn.

Go to the Redskin's website, www.redskins.com and print an invitation for free parking and admission. The park is located at 21300 Redskins Park Dr., Ashburn...just follow the cars!

Hail to the Redskins!

By the way, I will be sending out my Redskins Schedule Magnet next week if you are on my mailing distribution list. If you would like to be added, please send me your name and home address and I will send out a magnet to you, hollyweatherwax@mris.com.

For anyone lucky enough to live in Northern Virginia and within a reasonable distance of the Wolf Trap Foundation  for the Performing Arts, please make it a priority to pick a concert or a show to attend this summer and GO!

We went to see Earth, Wind & Fire last night with some good friends.  The show was spectacular, the park was beautiful and the location cannot be beat if you live in Northern Virginia--or even metropolitan Maryland or DC!

Many concert-goers opt to purchase the more affordable lawn tickets and have a picnic while enjoying the music. If you go this route, be sure to get there early; the lawn fills quickly and can be quite crowded. Low beach chairs are allowed, as are blankets, coolers and picnic baskets.

If you prefer to sit in a seat and have reserved seating, buy your tickets early. Some people do both--arrive early and picnic and then move inside for the concert. Just remember that coolers and picnic baskets are not allowed into the reserved seating area.

We had our dinner at home and arrived at Wolftrap in time for a drink before the concert.

Dress is casual since you will have to walk from your car.  The park provides transportation from the far parking lots, but there is often a line. If you are sitting on the lawn, women should stick with pants or shorts since the lawn is on a hill and it is very hard to sit gracefully.

If you would like more information about upcoming concerts, go to: http://www.wolftrap.org/

Back when I was a kid, the Reston Festival was the highlight of my summer. I vaguely remember Lake Anne festivals, but really it really  sticks in my mind when it was at Browns Chapel.

These days you will find it at Reston Town Center, but the spirit of the festival remains true to the original goals--bring Restonians together to celebrate the culture and people of Reston.

The Festival is being held this weekend, Saturday July 12, 2008, 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday, July 13, 2008 , 10 am to 7 pm.  You can get more information about the festival at: http://restonfestival.com/

We live in a crazy-busy, topsy-turvy world. It is very easy to get caught up in our own angst, problems and jam-packed schedules.

In the summertime, the Movie studios usually release their Super Hero movies.  Sitting in the theater with my children the other day, watching Kung Fu Panda (it is a stretch to call it a 'super hero' move, I realize), I got to thinking about the fact that each one of us has so much to give to our communities.

Some folks have money, some folks have talent, but all of us have the the ability to work hard for the 'greater good.'

With the school year fast approaching (can you believe it?) there are many opportunities to make a real difference in the life of a child in your community. Maybe this is the year that you can find the time to do some mentoring.  How about some coaching with the local football, soccer or cheerleading squads?  Maybe your time is all accounted for, but when you next go to a local store, why don't you pick up a backpack and fill it with school supplies? Even at our local elementary school, with a very high socioeconomic student body, the principal keeps a supply of these backpacks just 'in case.'

There are many local charities that could use your time and financing. If you look around your community, and look inward to see what is important to YOU, you will be able to find a way to become a Super Hero in your community!

More information on becoming a Super Hero in the Reston/Herndon/Great Falls Area:
In the Reston/Herndon/Great Falls area, a really good place to start is Reston Interfaith (www.restoninterfaith.org). As stated on their website, ' Reston Interfaith promotes self-sufficiency through support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other services.'
Reston Interfaith also collects supplies for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter, which is run by Fairfax Country.  On the Reston Interfaith website, you will see a link for supplies that the shelter needs.

In Herndon is The Closet.  This store provides a greatly needed resource for families on a tight budget. They are always in need of volunteers and donations.  You can get more information about what they need at: theclosetinc.org/

Collections of new, unused backpacks are currently going on. I know that there are boxes at the Lake Anne Reston Community Center and the StarBucks next to Barnes and Noble. I am sure there are many other locations in the area, just keep your eyes open.

I have been doing a series of blogs about preparing your home for sale.  I thought it might be helpful to put all of the links in one place.

If you have a question about getting your house ready, and I have not addressed it in one of my blogs, please let me know and I would be happy to let you know how I handle it with my sellers.

1. Help! I have been in my house Forever (http://activerain.com/blogsview/559358/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
2. What to do with an Empty Room (http://activerain.com/blogsview/554693/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
3. Deal with the Paint Cans! (http://activerain.com/blogsview/542140/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
4. Plants and Shrubs by the Front Door (http://activerain.com/blogsview/528517/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
5. What is that Smell? (http://activerain.com/blogsview/520436/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
6. Handicapping Your Home Sale (http://activerain.com/blogsview/517086/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
7. Setting Your Sales Price (http://activerain.com/blogsview/511618/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
8. The Surprising Thing I Tell My Sellers (http://activerain.com/blogsview/511618/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
9. The Front Door Matters (http://activerain.com/blogsview/477703/Getting-Your-House-Ready)
10. The Condition Matters (http://activerain.com/blogsview/462153/Getting-Your-Home-Ready)

I hope that you find this series of articles helpful in preparing your house for sale. Check back at my blog in the future (www.activerain.com/hollyweatherwax) , as I am planning to continue writing articles in this series.

The new and improved American Tap Room (http://www.americantaproom.com/about.html) opened this week at Reston Towncenter. Located next to Rio Grande and within steps of the movie theater, this reincarnation is worth checking out.

Always known as a great evening bar, the restaurant has been physically redesigned and the menu has been completely reworked.  Like many restaurants, the ATR can offer you either indoor or outdoor seating.

Because my daughter is on the staff (yes, this is a little self-serving), we were lucky to be included in the weekend 'test run' they did last weekend. 

The food was great (I had the lobster, my husband and son had hamburgers and my daughter had steak salad). We started the meal with an order of pan roasted mussels(which were great) and the Spinach & Artichoke Fondue.  We all enjoyed our meals completely.

The wine, in particular, was very expensive by the glass, but we did make a point to the manager that this is a location where people will stop for a  quick glass of wine or a beer before the movies, and if it is too expensive, they will not return. The menu posted on line is still showing Chardonnay by the glass at $14.95 or $16.95. I hope that they are making a change to that pricing.

Seating at Reston Towncenter restaurants is always competitive. American Tap Room is a great option...until it is discovered! Parking is available at either of the two parking garages located on Library Street.

Driving down to North Carolina last weekend, we started passing signs that warned of dangerous ozone levels.  Okay, it was over 90 degrees--that happens sometimes.

We got to a certain point in North Carolina, however, where the smell of smoke was really strong. We switched from satellite radio to local stations to see if we could find out what was burning. Nothing.

Finally, we arrived in the Outerbanks, unpacked the car and computer and I googled it. I had no idea that there was a fire going on in the Dismal Swamp, in both Virginia and North Carolina that had burned over 4000 acres!

In the morning, we can smell it here in the Outer Banks. It usually blows out by lunch time.

I guess I am just really surprised at how little coverage it has gotten outside of the immediate area. I am a self-reported news 'junkie' and if it was reported at home, I would have heard it.

Here is a link to the story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25153642/

It is that time of year again...time to get out to local parks and high schools in Northern Virginia (and the rest of the country) and celebrate our freedom by watching fireworks.

Below is a list of places that will be holding these July 4th, 2008 celebrations:

1. Lake Fairfax Park, Reston: 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr., Reston, VA. Fireworks begin around 9:15.
2. Herndon Community Center: 814 Ferndale Avenue, Herndon,VA. Fireworks begin around 9:30
3. Fairfax High School, Fairfax City: , Fireworks begin at dark.
4. Langley High School,McLean,VA: 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLen,VA. Fireworks begin at dark.
5. George Mason High School, Falls Church,VA: 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church,VA. Live Music begins at 7:00 pm, Fireworks at 9:30
6. Ida Lee Park, Leesburg,VA: Route 15, Gates open at 6:00, Fireworks at 9:30.
7. Manassas Park, Manassas,VA: 9300 Signal Drive,Enjoy live music, children's activities, food and fireworks. 6-9:30 p.m. Limited parking.

Celebrate the birth of our country at George Washington's home, Mount Vernon:Independence Day at Mount Vernon - Red, White and Blue Celebration. July 4th 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. For More information, follow this link: http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/July4thatMV.htm

Have a happy and safe July 4th Holiday!