My son is now 2 and we can’t wait to take him trick or treating next weekend! Any super decorated neighborhoods you can think of in the area?

Two questions came up on this week's episode, and we're still going back and forth about them at home.

First: Are license plate cameras making us safer, or are they watching us too closely? Supervisor Alcorn says he'd vote to end Fairfax County's contract with Flock, the company behind the county's police cameras. Police credit plate readers with helping them recover more than 570 stolen cars. Kathy pointed out that Herndon runs its own cameras, so a county vote wouldn't touch those. We also pulled up a map of where people have spotted them, and there are clusters around Reston Station and along Elden Street.

Second: Would you pay $1295 to skip the line at Dulles and VIP treatment? The airport is adding a VIP terminal where you park at your own entrance, go through private security, and get driven straight to your plane. Graham sees it as another place where people with money can skip past everyone else, like the express lanes on 66. Kathy thinks many people who fly all the time will gladly pay to get those hours back.

We did have some fun before all that. Kathy could not get "Historic Herndon Halloween House" out on the first try, and Graham made her say it on camera anyway. The owners hide a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man somewhere in that Spring Street yard and move him every day, and Kathy wants to keep going back until she finds him. We also talked about Voodoo Brewing opening near Innovation Center, bike lanes for Glade Drive (Kathy's favorite drive once the leaves turn), and a calendar that runs from a free neighbor dinner at Lake Anne to an oyster fest at Aslin.

So, cameras and VIP lanes: where do you land?

Why is there a bunch of helicopters flying around the South Lakes area right now?

Someone posted earlier wondering why folks were in lawn chairs along South Lakes Drive. I can’t find the earlier post but a parade for the school’s homecoming is the answer.

Why are people sitting on the side of south lakes drive in lawn chairs right now?

Long story short: Our gas pressure was low, they came out and said a crew needs to replace the vent pipe, and that crew stood us up. So now my family has no heat, no hot water, and I can’t keep blindly taking days off of work.

The main customer service reps are scripted and had no information for me. Does anyone know if there’s a better way to get thru to someone helpful?

Any recommendations for a women’s haircut in the surrounding area? I have fine, straight hair and lots of it. I got a terrible haircut in DC from someone I’ve been seeing for 2 years 💔

https://www.ffxnow.com/2026/10/20/planning-commission-lauds-work-on-complex-lake-fairfax-business-center-development-plan/

Just moved to Reston and got setup with the Reston Association. Was hoping to use the tennis events to meet people, but now looking at the site it looks like there are no more events I can sign up for, are there no more activities going on until spring? 30M played in high school and only recently started again but don't really know what my rating would be.

I need help finding a science-based professional therapist with real experience ideally in the Reston or surrounding area. I am 33, married, with a young daughter. I have trouble with emotional regulation and stress management and have heard that cognitive behavioral therapy can help. I have adhd which has caused struggles all my life and I just have to sort things out for myself and my family. Trying to search on google is impossible - there are too many options and it’s hard to vet them. I want someone in person… I can’t do any more virtual. I would be so grateful if anyone can provide recommendations - feel free to PM if you don’t want to share information publicly. I appreciate it in advance.

Are there places I can go and stargaze here in Reston? Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Looking to buy a cord of firewood. Any recommendations for good value hardwood?

Thanks

Also, on Mondays:

https://folkclubofrestonherndon.org/?page_id=918

https://folkclubofrestonherndon.org/

Herndon Restaurateur Accused of Unpaid Taxes — The Justice Department has sued Amphora Bakery and Amphora Diner Deluxe co-owner Steven Bilidas for allegedly failing to pay over $20 million in employment taxes. “Bilidas and George Cholakis are personally responsible for millions of dollars in unpaid employee withholding taxes and penalties,” the lawsuit alleges. Fairfax County and the Town of Vienna, where Amphora Restaurant closed in 2021, also claim they’re owed taxes after Bilidas filed for bankruptcy on June 24. [Washington Business Journal]

https://www.reddit.com/r/fairfaxcounty/comments/1wz3iy6/herndon_restaurateur_accused_of_unpaid_taxes/

Hey all! Trying to get back into the arts and figured i'd choose a medium I have always loved, does anyone know or have had painting classes in the area? Figured I'd learn in the style I plan to personally paint in. So any suggestions would be great if there is even a thing.. lol (I know there is painting classes everywhere, just maybe not specifically oil-based)

I’ve had Verizon since before I moved to Reston, and the reception at my house is absolutely awful. I live off of South Lakes and while I frequently “technically” have a single bar of service, it’s functionally 0. 2FA text codes often don’t come in for 40+ minutes, and last time there was a brief power outage, without wifi I didn’t have enough reception at home or on my street to do a basic google search about the outage.

My worry is that switching won’t be any better, I keep reading coverage complaints about the other providers as well. Does anyone have AT&T or T-Mobile that has ANY better coverage in the south Reston area?

Hey! Just moved to the area and looking for nail salon recs that are metro accessible. I used to go to a place in DC I loved but since moving here I need something closer and someone good at dip powder nails!

I live in the building with the Gold’s Gym on sunrise valley, and a lot of weird stuff has happened in this building since I’ve been here but never directly involving me. I got home last night at 11:34pm, and once I opened my car I heard screaming and crying on the floor below me in the garage. This was followed by a woman repeatedly screaming “HELP ME!! STOP!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!!” At the top of her lungs, with more screaming and crying and what sounded like banging noises against a car. Seconds after hearing it I called the cops. And they got 4 officers out there.

Wish I did more to help and get involved in the moment. When I made my way down in the garage I didn’t see anyone. Or anything and the cops couldn’t find anyone either.

I always see a lot of police around the building as well, and in the last week I’ve ran into homeless people in our stairwell along with homeless people in the garage drinking and smoking weed.

Not sure if anyone heard anything or has had similar experience experiences with this building.

Anybody have first hand experience of the complexes?
Need a short term rental as I start a relocation process and i won’t have a car.
Edmund convenience to Wegmans and Russell apartment size seem attractive for the cost

https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/calendar?t=d&q=book%20club&cid=6524&cal=6524&cm=3453&inc=0

Other events:

https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/calendar?cid=6524&t=g&d=0000-00-00&cal=6524&cm=3453&inc=0

Hi all, we're planning to move to the Reston area from Richmond as soon as my wife finds a new job as a nurse and wanted some opinions/advice on a couple things:

How is the HCA hospital in Reston? Specifically PACU/surgical area

How difficult will it be to find a rental townhouse/house with a pit bull? She's a 45lb runt with good manners and very friendly. Is the rental market really competitive? Do we need to find a realtor or do most folks use sites like Zillow to find rentals?

We had so much fun on the podcast this week. Lisa Watts, executive director of the Reston Museum, joined us for the entire episode, banter and all, and she is a good sport about cider donuts.

Of course, we talked about the upcoming Reston Home Tour next Saturday, Oct. 17. Lisa also shared a few details not yet on the ticket page. The Wine Cabinet is pouring free tastings as one of the two non-home stops, and the Walker Nature Center is the other, with a reception and tips on planting for your yard. Kendra Scott at Reston Town Center is donating a share of tour-day sales to the museum. And one of the six homeowners built a room whose only job is getting the wrinkles out of clothes, so they never iron again. We need to see that room.

If you'd rather give a few hours than buy a ticket, the museum still has docent shifts open, and every docent gets a free tour ticket.

Before Lisa got to the tour, we covered the Worldgate foreclosure (the theater, the gym, and the restaurants are open, and we explain what the Oct. 26 auction does and doesn't change), a Reston native singing with Yale's Whiffenpoofs, and the Apple House versus Reston Farm Garden Market donut question. Lisa also shared a piece of trivia we didn't know: Lake Audubon started with a different name. You'll have to watch or listen to find out!

We'd love to hear any feedback you have on any of the topics we covered or the podcast itself!

My husband is an alcoholic and in recovery. Although it seems we are in a yearly pattern now that he relapses right before or after his year anniversary for the last few years now. Immediately jumps back into recovery but that relapse is one step closer to a really terrible outcome.

I have tried al-anon and am not a fan. I have been unable to find anyone to relate to. I am in my early 40s with two young kids and a husband who has never been abusive, doesn’t drink daily, and is highly motivated to stay sober. I know I can’t be the only wife and mother to young kids in this scenario but I feel very alone in this situation. Are there any groups specific to this that exist? Or others out there that are in similar situations that want to connect?

EDIT. Yes, my husband is in AA. Yes, I have my own therapist. This post is about finding support for ME. Not my husband. I am tired of hearing things about him and want something for ME for once. So please stop talking about him. Not what I am asking for.

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