Greater Reston Living

09/06/2026

We covered a ton of Reston and Herndon news on this week's episode. Everything from Thompson Restaurants taking over L'Auberge Chez François out in Great Falls, the JW Marriott at Reston Station getting a new operator, Herndon Police holding an e-bike session, and of course, our thoughts on the crossing guard situation at South Lakes.

And then Isaac Newton Square. Phase one is fully approved now. 488 homes on the north end, three parks, a 10-foot trail down Wiehle, and a set of mature willow oaks they actually saved instead of replacing with saplings. We walked through the whole thing block by block.

Also, thank you to whoever remembered Upton's. Kathy bought her mom pajamas there. Graham has no memory of the place existing.

Watch or listen, then tell us what you think about the density question. We know you have thoughts!

A 16-year-old was struck by a car walking to South Lakes High Schoo...

09/06/2026

Four of the five schools we cover hosted football Thursday night, and the week ran through both gyms and both turf fields before it was over.

South Lakes beat Robinson 30-7 in Reston and sits at 2-0. Oakton shut out Justice 49-0 at home. Westfield won 49-28 at Fairfax. West Springfield won 41-7 in Chantilly and Langley won 57-14 in Herndon.

On Wednesday the Liberty District ran its second cross country meet of the season at Lake Fairfax Park, right here in Reston. Herndon’s boys took fourth and the girls took third in a four-team field.

Next week football stays on Thursday. South Lakes hosts Battlefield, Westfield hosts Langley, and Herndon hosts Chantilly, all at 7:00. Tuesday and Wednesday fill up too, with fifteen home events across four days. Swipe for the full list.

Scores from MaxPreps, cross country from MileSplit, home and away confirmed on each host school’s own site.

Heading to a game this week? Tell us which one in the comments.



Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text to DM Me:

Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.232.7049 (call or text)

09/04/2026

New data center permit in Herndon, less than a mile from Skyview High School 📍
⠀
Fairfax County issued the permit on August 28 for a new data center just off Route 28, in the stretch between Frying Pan Road and McLearen Road.
⠀
It joins a campus that has been filling in that old warehouse corridor for a few years now. The first buildings there are reported to be Amazon data centers, and the campus keeps expanding.
⠀
That land has been planned for industry for a long time, so the location itself is not a surprise. The schools are the new part. Skyview opened this fall less than a mile away, and Rachel Carson Middle School serves the same neighborhoods. 🏫
⠀
Buyers ask us about this. Some shrug it off. Others want to know exactly how far it sits from where their kids go to school. Both reactions are fair, and the answer usually comes down to the specific street.
⠀
If you own or you are shopping in western Herndon, Oak Hill, or Floris, this one is worth tracking. We follow these filings every week and can tell you what is approved, what is permitted, and what is still on paper near any address. 👀
⠀
Know someone keeping tabs on data centers in Northern Virginia? Send this their way.
⠀

⠀
Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text to DM Me:
⠀
Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.232.7049 (call or text)

09/04/2026

Labor Day weekend is coming up, and Reston and Herndon have a little bit of everything on the calendar. There are outdoor concerts, farmers markets, a pool day for the dogs, a family-friendly movie screening, theatre in the park, and a few Labor Day picks to stretch the weekend into Monday.

As always, check the event pages before heading out in case anything changes with weather, timing, or registration. Happy Labor Day weekend, Reston and Herndon.

Comment “Insider” to get our weekly newsletter.

Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text or DM me:
Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.231.7049 (call or text)

09/02/2026

You know you’ve lived in Reston too long when the old names still come out before the new ones. McTacoHut. The dirt lot at RTC. Clyde’s. Safeway at Lake Anne. And at some point, realizing Reston Station has been here long enough that you have to think twice about what was there before.

Reston changes fast, but us locals always keep a mental map of what used to be where. Which ones do you miss?

Comment “Insider” to get our weekly newsletter.

Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text or DM me:
Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.231.7049 (call or text)

09/01/2026

North Point Village Center is getting a little more active. SWEAT440 opened at North Point on August 29 and a few doors down, Robeks has filed paperwork for a juice-and-smoothie bar at the center, which points to the brand returning to Reston in a new North Reston location. No opening date has been announced yet.

It is a small update, but it says something about North Point. This center is one of the everyday anchors for the 20194 side of Reston, and new health-and-wellness tenants give nearby residents another reason to use it as part of their regular routine.

Read more on our blog and comment “Insider” to get our weekly newsletter.

Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text or DM me:
Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.231.7049 (call or text)

08/31/2026

Happy National Eat Outside Day, Reston and Herndon. A good patio can turn an ordinary dinner into a whole little evening plan, so we pulled together a few local favorites for when you want to sit outside while the weather is still cooperating. Which outdoor patio would you add to the list?

And honestly, your own backyard or a friend’s patio works too. Grab takeout, set out a few drinks, and call it a night.

Comment “Insider” to get our weekly newsletter.

Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text or DM me:
Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.231.7049 (call or text)

08/30/2026

Fairfax County removed crossing guards from nine high schools this year to save about $1.89 million. South Lakes is one of them. If you have driven past that entrance at dismissal, you already know buses stack up, cars turning through the crosswalk, students giving up and cutting diagonally across five lanes, and everything locking solid for a minute at a time.

Several of you actually messaged us and asked us to cover this, so we reviewed one of the videos posted from the scene and it was chaos.

We also covered how the bag rules at Fairfax County football games have changed. Clear bags only, two sizes, and everything else stays in the car. Middle schoolers can no longer be dropped off at the gate to find their own way in, which will surprise many families who have been doing that for years. Tickets are still seven dollars for adults and five for students.

We also get into Sweat440 and Robeks coming to North Point, Meanwhile Coffee closing in Herndon, and Lidl taking the old Whole Foods space at Plaza America, which set off an argument about whether Reston has too many grocery stores.

Watch or listen, then tell us what you think about the crossing.

Fairfax County pulled the crossing guards from nine high schools th...

08/29/2026

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCOREBOARD, RESTON AND HERNDON: football opened Friday and four of five local teams won.
⠀
Comment "INSIDER" and I'll send you our free Reston and Herndon newsletter.
⠀
South Lakes went to Arlington and put up 43 in a 43-21 win over Yorktown. Oakton won 49-7 at Edison. Westfield held on 36-33 against Patriot at home. Chantilly won a two-point game over McLean, 15-13. Herndon hosted Tuscarora and lost 27-14. 🏈
⠀
Saturday morning sent runners to Great Meadow for the Dave Davis Invitational, where Westfield's Brianna Pritchard won the varsity girls 5K in 19:43. Westfield placed sixth and Oakton tenth in that race, and Oakton took fifth in the varsity boys field. 👟
⠀
Volleyball and field hockey filled the rest of the week. South Lakes and Herndon met in both gyms Wednesday and South Lakes won both varsity matches. Oakton beat Robinson 7-1 on the field hockey turf. Chantilly and Lake Braddock finished 1-1. 🏐
⠀
This week the calendar gets busy at home. Monday brings South Lakes and Herndon together for field hockey in Reston. Tuesday sends boys cross country to Lake Fairfax Park and golf to Herndon Centennial. Thursday is the big one, with four football home games kicking off at 7:00 at South Lakes, Herndon, Oakton and Chantilly. 🏑
⠀

⠀
Comment "INSIDER" and I'll send you our free Reston and Herndon newsletter.
⠀
Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text to DM Me:

Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.232.7049 (call or text)

08/28/2026

Reston and Herndon are closing out August with a full weekend lineup. From Friday night concerts in Herndon and Reston Station to KidsFest, Dog Paddle, farmers markets, movie night, nature center programs, fitness classes, and Sunday Art in the Park, there are plenty of ways to get out before the long weekend energy fully kicks in.

Save this for the weekend and check each event’s official page before heading out in case of weather or schedule changes.

Comment “Insider” to get our weekly newsletter.

Looking to make a move in Northern Virginia? Text or DM me:
Kathy Tracey, Realtor
Greater Reston Living at Compass
[email protected]
703.231.7049 (call or text)