Reston’s now-annual celebration of all things Lego is ready for assembly.

Bricks by the Lake will return to Lake Anne Plaza for a third year on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hosted by Reston Museum and Reston Community Center, the event centers on a Lego-building competition and is timed to nearly coincide with International Lego Day, which arrives annually on Jan. 28 — the day Danish carpenter Godtfred Kirk Christiansen submitted his patent for the original Lego brick.

“We’re excited to host this event just in time to celebrate National LEGO Day on Jan 28th!” Reston Museum Executive Director Alexandra Campbell said. “For those who don’t want to compete we will be offering a lot of fun free activities. In previous years, we have heard how great it is to have a competition focused on creativity and we can’t wait to see what everyone builds!”

While the overall event is free, registration is required to participate in the competition, which comes with a $50 fee that covers 500 bricks for up to four people. A $150 contribution includes a preorder of this year’s limited-edition brick kit — a replica of Lake Anne’s Van Gogh Bridge, designed by local artist Nathan Hagan.

Sponsored by FGM Architects and Reston Art Gallery and Studios, the limited-edition kit can also be purchased from Reston Museum in person and online. The museum is offering a discount for buyers of both this year’s kit and last year’s Lookout Tower kit, which is still available.

All proceeds from the competition, which will take place from noon to 12:45 p.m., support the nonprofit Reston Museum. The winners will be awarded in a ceremony at 1:45 p.m.

In addition to the contest, the 2024 edition of Bricks by the Lake will feature an exhibit of Master Builds by the Charm City Lego Users’ Group, light refreshments, free play at Reston Museum and crafts led by Reston Art Gallery.

Most activities will be held at Reston Museum (1639 Washington Plaza North) and RCC’s Lake Anne facility (1609-A Washington Plaza N), but other Lake Anne Plaza merchants are involved as well. Chesapeake Chocolates, for instance, will be selling brick-themed sweets.

Outside of Bricks by the Lake and private events, Reston Museum is closed this month so its shop can get a refresh and staff can plan the upcoming year, which will include a new exhibit on the Carter Glass Library set to open on Feb. 1.

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of Founder’s Day, Reston’s annual community celebration.

The festivities will be held this year on April 6 from noon to 4 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza (1609 Washington Plaza North), organizer Reston Museum announced today.

Presented by Reston Museum in conjunction with Reston Community Center and Public Art Reston, Founder’s Day was initially conceived in 2004 as a celebration of Reston founder Robert E. Simon’s 90th birthday. Since then, it has served as a showcase for “how Reston’s community continues to live the legacy established by Simon,” according to the museum.

While details of this year’s event won’t come until later, it will include live music and performances, a community clean-up led by Volunteer Reston, a book fair and various family-friendly activities, per a press release.

Reston Museum is currently seeking authors, community organizations and food service businesses to serve as vendors for the book fair.

“Space is limited, and priority is being given to local literacy-focused nonprofits, authors, and food vendors,” Reston Museum said. “Local nonprofits without a literary focus will be given second priority.”

Anyone who’s interested can obtain an application from Reston Museum Executive Director Alex Campbell at alex.campbell@restonmuseum.org. Approved vendors will be charged “a small fee” for their booth.

Last year’s Founder’s Day included a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of a Little Free Art Gallery at Reston Museum, along with cake and performances by South Lakes High School Theater, Reston Community Players and more.

(Updated at 10 a.m. on 12/13/2023) A community-oriented utility company that offers chilled water for air-conditioning has iced out over 600 customers in Reston.

Reston Lake Anne Air-conditioning Corporation (RELAC) announced yesterday (Monday) that it plans to halt its cooling system after this year, citing increased electrical costs and the refusal of some customers to pay their utility bills.

The company concluded its 2023 cooling season on Oct. 10 and typically shuts down for the winter. Regulated by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, it uses water from Lake Anne to provide air-conditioning to homes around the lake.

A Reston Association spokesperson says the organization plans to work with the community to determine next steps.

“We will be diligently working in the coming weeks to understand the full impact of this action to best help out affected members know and understand what alternatives to RLAC exist and the role LARCA and RA have moving forward,” Cara O’Donnell said in a statement to FFXnow.

Reston has 600 residential properties and 25 commercial ones that rely on RELAC for air-conditioning, according to RA.

In the past, some homeowners have sought to end the mandated use of RELAC, complaining that the 1960s-era system is outdated and inefficient. Referendums failed in 2008 and 2015.

Here’s the full text of the company’s letter to its customers.

We, the owners of RELAC, regrettably and with great difficulty have to announce that the 2023 cooling season will be the last year that RELAC provides chilled water to our customers. We have reached this decision due to many factors including the following:

Electrical costs have increased 20% in the ten years we have owned RELAC.

We have considered applying for a tariff increase which would cost over $50,000. We believe it would hasten our customers applying for exemptions as rates would increase by up to 30%.

We did promise not to increase the tariff 11 years ago and thought we could cut costs with new equipment but found it impossible to secure a loan for a new chiller that would cost over $400,000.

Reston Association continues to grant “health exemptions” to customers without enforcing the rules returning homes to RELAC when they change ownership. We now have 33 homes off the system.

A significant number of customers on the RELAC system have refused to pay their utility bills. This has caused a serious problem for RELAC’s bottom line. The amount of unpaid utilities has fluctuated between $80K to $120K. We have sent letters, made phone calls, knocked on doors trying to reason with customers to pay their overdue bills. Some customers are years behind and we have no way of turning off their service as the other utilities do.

We have been a community oriented utility for over 50 years and understand the hardship we are generating on our customers. We know that the cost of retrofitting a new A/C system will be expensive. Leaving our good customers is the worse part of this decision and we feel a profound regret. The decision we have made is not an easy way to end our relationship with you, our loyal customers.

With a new month on the horizon, algae blooms at three lakes in Reston appear to be turning a leaf.

Warnings to avoid making contact with Lake Anne and Lake Audubon have been lifted after an algae bloom took over some parts of the lakes since mid-November.

A spokesperson for Reston Association, which manages the lakes, told FFXnow the decision was made after evidence of algae was no longer present.

Out of an abundance of caution, however, a warning for Lake Thoreau remains in place, according to Reston Association.

Blooms of algae emerged in Thoreau and Audubon early this fall and lingered as a result of the season’s warm weather, according to RA. Another bloom was spotted in Lake Anne on Nov. 16.

At that time, RA urged residents to avoid contact with the water, though the risk of incidental exposure risk is low during this time of the year.

Staff decided against treating the bloom, which would have disrupted oxygen levels in the lake, potentially harming fish and other wildlife.

Photo via RA/Twitter

A new CBD boutique is set to celebrate its grand opening on Dec. 6 at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston.

Launched by Radhika Murari, a Reston resident and entrepreneur, OmBaked sells cannabidiol products that are aimed at holistic wellness.

“Soon after I began my journey into the CBD space, I realized that the CBD industry is the wild west, with very little regulation. So, I imposed my own quality guidelines,” Murai said in a statement. “Every product at OmBaked has been selected by me after thorough research, including having folks in Reston try the products. All the products we carry have certificates of authenticity (lab tests). Moreover, we do not carry any smoking/vaping products or anything that has synthetics.”

The company is Murari’s second. She also owns OmMade Peanut Butter, which makes gluten-free and vegan peanut butter that was since picked up for sale by Whole Foods.

“My dream of opening OmBaked has become a reality thanks to the support of my family and fellow Restonians,” Murari said. “I am excited to continue contributing to the flourishing small-business tapestry of Virginia.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. Attendees will get to sample the company’s CBD products.

The business is currently open daily from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. at 11414 Washington Plaza West.

Planning efforts to determine an economic vision for the Lake Anne area in Reston continue to receive financial support from Fairfax County.

At a meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 26), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $200,000 in carryover funding for the Lake Anne economic visioning study. The board considered a number of items to fund by carrying over leftover money from the fiscal year 2023 budget.

The funds will further the formation of an economic vision for the Lake Anne Commercial Revitilization Area, which kicked off last year. The first phase of the study concluded this summer after a series of public engagement efforts with the community.

So far, the vision suggests a concentration of new apartment units at 1527 Cameron Crescent Drive, added cultural attractions, a parking structure, a centralized green space, connections from the Crescent site to Lake Anne Plaza via a new park, and the restoration of a tunnel to the east side of the area.

In a statement to FFXnow, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcron said he was pleased with the board’s decision to continue funding the project.

“With the overall vision identified through the consensus process during Phase 1, it is time for the community to take the next steps and for respective property owners to explore critical revitalization projects to ensure Lake Anne continues as the cultural heart of Reston for another 60 years, and beyond,” Alcorn wrote.

Phase two of the economic visioning study kicked off in August and is expected to take three months. This phase is assessing the interests of individual property owners and their willingness to partner on implementing the vision. With the new funding from the county, the third phase of the study would kick off in the first quarter of 2024.

Currently, the county’s Department of Planning and Development and Streetsense is meeting with residents and stakeholders.

Earlier this month, roughly 25 members of the Lake Anne Residential Condominium Association (LARCA) met with the study team to share their ideas and address their concerns.

Seven homes will be showcased in Reston Museum’s annual Reston Home Tour.

The 21st iteration of the event is set for Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will have the chance to take part in self-guided tours with volunteer docents at each of the seven homes, which are related to the theme, “A Style All Their Own.”

“Starting with the original architectural elements of their homes, each homeowner thoughtfully created new designs and spaces – and added unique features – to make the home their own,” Reston Museum Executive Director Alex Campbell said. “We hope everyone enjoys all the delightfully personal pieces and meaningful artwork showcased throughout the tour. Each homeowner beautifully integrated their style – and we are so thankful they agreed to share their home with us.”

Lake Anne Coffee House and Wine Bar will host a bites and bubbles event from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. that day, and there will be a wine tasting and appetizer samples at The Wine Cabinet in North Point Village Center from 1 to 5 p.m.

Early bird tickets are now on sale for $30 through Oct. 3. Tickets can be purchased at Reston Museum (1639 Washington Plaza) or online.

The second annual Reggae on the Lake festival returns to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday (Sept. 9).

The festival brings together reggae bands from around the country. It is headlined by Third World, a Grammy-nominated, Jamaica-based band that is currently completing its 50th anniversary world tour.

It’s the brainchild of Ramon Pardo, a Reston-based realtor who brought the idea to Reston after he contracted a well-known reggae band for his wedding last year in Jamaica.

His team at Terra Properties is hoping to raise $25,000 for research on Parkinson’s disease. The company’s nonprofit arm, Terra Gives Back, has partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

“The event operates under a philanthropic model, channeling all profits to a charity each year, with this year’s proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. This alignment of entertainment and altruism elevates the festival from a mere celebration to an impactful community initiative,” Pardo said.

Entry is free — part of an effort to maintain the financial accessible of the festival, he said.

“With free general admission, the event is open to everyone, ensuring a diverse and inclusive crowd. VIP options offer an enhanced experience for those who choose it, but the essential joys of the festival are available to all,” he said.

At the event, raffle tickets for an all-expenses paid trip for a resort in Negril, Jamaica will be on sale for $50. All proceeds will go to the foundation.

The festival includes games, face painting, balloon art, crafts vendors, arts, food and live music. VIP tickets — which are sponsored by Lake Anne Coffee House & Wine Bar — will be available to go backstage and meet the bands in person. 

Lake Anne and Lake Audubon in Reston are now clear of harmful algae that bloomed on the surface of the lakes last week.

Reston Association staff had reported “potentially harmful” algae in both lakes. Staff worked with an environmental contractor to determine if Lake Audubon was clear of the algae Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 9). Lake Anne was previously reported as safe.

“The bloom began after hot weather allowed cyanobacteria to thrive which was then enhanced further by an influx of nutrients that came from a water main break that flowed into Snakeden Branch last week,” RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk said.

Specifically, Dolichospermum was found — a potentially harmful cyanobacteria. The bacteria found in Lake Anne, however, is not considered harmful.

RA had previously encouraged residents to avoid contact with the lake water. The bloom at Lake Anne was mostly limited to the east of the lake near Wiehle Avenue.

The water main break referenced by Lusk occurred the morning of Aug. 4 behind Hunters Woods Plaza, contributing to the deaths of a number of fish found in Snakeden Branch stream, according to RA.

(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) Reston Association is monitoring the presence of potentially harmful algae at Lake Anne.

According to a statement released yesterday (Wednesday), the blue-green algae was spotted in some parts of the lake.

There are currently no restrictions on boating and fishing, but it’s best to avoid contact with the lake water, RA wrote in a statement.

RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk told FFXnow that the bloom is limited to the east end of the lake next to Wiehle Avenue.

“With cooler weather predicted the forecast, we are hoping to see this small growth resolve itself soon. Should the extent of the bloom change, or if the bloom last longer than one week,  testing will be performed to ensure the lake is safe for all users,” Lusk wrote in a statement.

Blue-green algae has been observed at Lake Anne. This potentially harmful algae is being monitored by RA staff. Swimming is not permitted in the lake, and it is recommended to keep dogs from the lake water at this time. pic.twitter.com/3n2LXEmRUX

— Reston Association (@RestonOnline) August 2, 2023