Author: Katie Taranto

Katie Taranto is a reporter at Local News Now, primarily covering business, public safety and the city of Falls Church. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 2024, where she previously covered K-12 education at The Columbia Missourian. She is originally from Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Around Town

MidnighTreats to offer free cookies at upcoming Reston reopening

By Katie Taranto
Mural at MidnighTreats' location in Reston (courtesy of MidnighTreats)

After more than a year of preparations, vegan cookie shop MidnighTreats plans to reopen in Reston this weekend.

The local bakery’s relocation from its original Plaza America storefront to Reston Town Center (1826 Discovery Street) is now complete. The shop will officially open for business at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, with giveaways and other festivities to celebrate.

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Around Town

Mediterranean restaurant rolls out new brunch with manoushe at Mosaic District

By Katie Taranto
NAJA Mediterranean manoushe at brunch (courtesy of NAJA Mediterranean)

A new weekend brunch is coming to NAJA Mediterranean at the Mosaic District in Merrifield, inspired by traditional breakfasts across the Middle East and Mediterranean.

Restaurateur Tariq Alaeddin’s eatery, described as a “love letter from Beirut to America,” is hosting its first weekend brunch tomorrow (Saturday) at 2911 District Avenue.

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Around Town

New Pilates studio with childcare coming to Lorton’s Gunston Plaza

By Katie Taranto
Studio Zo Pilates popup event (courtesy of Studio Zo Pilates)

A new Pilates studio with infrared heat and on-site childcare is coming to Lorton.

Studio Zo Pilates is aiming to open this summer at 7708 Gunston Plaza. Construction is currently underway to flip the former, 2,000-square-foot employment agency into a fitness studio with space for about 20 to 30 people in infrared-heated group classes, founder Zoya Burgess told FFXnow.

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Around Town

Interactive Hershey experience celebrates grand opening in Tysons

By Katie Taranto
Original X Productions CEO Stacy Moscatelli helps cut the ribbon on the Hershey Super Sweet Adventure (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Guests at Tysons Corner Center can now partake in candy-themed activities and pose for custom chocolate bar wrappers at the new Hershey’s experience, which held a grand opening last week.

Hershey’s Super Sweet Adventure opened Friday (April 24) on the mall’s first level near Macy’s, following a delay earlier this year. The storefront carries Hershey’s treats and a variety of branded collectibles and merchandise, while the backroom makes way for the ticketed experience: an interactive workshop with activities inspired by Hershey’s various confections.

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Around Town

Outdoor furniture store holds grand opening for Springfield location

By Katie Taranto
Outdoor furniture offered at Fortunoff Backyard Store (photo courtesy of Fortunoff)

A national outdoor furniture retailer held a grand opening for its new Springfield store today (Thursday).

Fortunoff Backyard Store is now open at Springfield Commons, with a new, 11,000-square-foot store and showroom at 6721B Frontier Drive. The showroom sells a variety of outdoor furniture, including dining sets, chaises, gazebos, fire pits and other patio decor.

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Around Town

Independent bookstore crawl gets underway this weekend in N. Va.

By Katie Taranto
Entering Scrawl Books at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Several Fairfax County bookstores are participating in an annual bookstore crawl program in Northern Virginia this spring.

The third annual NoVa+ Bookstore Crawl Passport program kicks off this Saturday (April 25) at 18 independent bookstores across Northern Virginia, including Bards Alley and Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Scrawl Books in Reston and Fonts Books & Gifts in McLean.

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Around Town

Vegan cookie shop MidnighTreats aims for Reston reopening later this spring

By Katie Taranto
The future MidnighTreats storefront by the pavilion at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

A vegan dessert shop known for its giant, fresh-baked cookies hopes to return to Reston this spring.

MidnighTreats is planning to open around late May to early June at Reston Town Center, owner Jemal Mahdi told FFXnow. It’s a relocation for the plant-based bakery, whose original storefront in Plaza America closed after about two years in business.

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Around Town

Ramen chain Kyuramen opens new restaurant at Arrowbrook Centre

By Katie Taranto
Kyruamen in Herndon (courtesy of Kyuramen)

A new spot for ramen and Japanese cuisine has opened for business at Herndon’s Arrowbrook Centre.

National ramen chain Kyuramen opened yesterday (Wednesday) at 2330 Silver Arrow Way and is currently offering a limited “soft service” menu of the brand’s popular dishes. The opening marks the Kyuramen’s second location in Northern Virginia and first outpost in Fairfax County.

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Around Town

Paris Baguette hosts ‘soft opening’ today at Reston Town Center

By Katie Taranto
Paris Baguette at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

A French-inspired bakery and cafe chain is opening for business this week at the Reston Town Center.

The new Paris Baguette at 2004 Opportunity Way is holding a “soft opening” today (Wednesday), owner Farooq Siddiqui told FFXnow. The franchise offers dozens of sweet and savory pastries in addition to cakes, breads, sandwiches, coffee and seasonal drinks.

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Around Town

Award-winning restaurant Clarity aims for May opening in Reston

By Katie Taranto
Clarity is being built out at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

An award-winning restaurant from Vienna is getting closer to opening its second location in Reston.

Clarity aims to open next month at the Reston Town Center. The RAMMY-studded, upscale American restaurant is “progressing rapidly and [is] looking to tentatively open on May 1,” joining its initial location that opened in 2015 at 442 Maple Avenue, a spokesperson told FFXnow.

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