It’s St. Patrick’s Day. So, faith and begorrah, spring cannot be far behind. I love snow, but even I have pretty much had enough!
We have enjoyed watching an especially interesting selection of cold weather water birds on Lake Anne this year—Double-crested Cormorants, Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks, and American Coots. But we are ready now to welcome back our resident Great Blue and Little Green Herons to join the Canada Geese and Mallards who are here pretty much all year. Enough of the cold, quiet days and nights on Washington Plaza! We are ready to once again fill the Plaza’s four fine restaurants—the Kalypso, Montmartre Café, Singh Thai, and Jasmine Café for lunches and fine dinners. I can almost taste the flaming Saganake cheese dish at the Kalypso, the Trout Amandine at Montmartre, the Founder to die for at Singh Thai, and the White Pizza at the Jasmine.
We have some great news for all who love Lake Anne. The new owners of the Lakeside Pharmacy have decided to keep an interesting, re-invented pharmacy as part of their new business and to keep Pharmacist Larry Cohn part-time until his 100th birthday! We thank the wonderful people at Small Change, Lake Anne Florist (and Chocolate and Wine!), New Family Naturals, the barbers and hair stylists, Reston Used Book Shop and the others who have been there for us all winter long. And we wish them prosperous spring, summer and fall.
Then there’s the very essence of springtime—The Reston Farmers Market, again selected as the best in Northern Virginia. The Market will open its 17th season on Saturday, May 3 at 8 a.m. -- 27 of your 28 favorite vendors are returning! In addition, we have recruited a special, all natural grass-fed meat farm and homemade pasta kitchen. And, we are proud to announce that the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will join the Market thanks to Cornerstones which will administer the program. The Reston Farmers Market will be open 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays beginning May 3 and going through Nov. 8 this year. Full disclosure—my wife Fran and I are the co-Market Masters, volunteers for the Fairfax County Park Authority, which sponsors the Market and 10 others all around the County.
I just measured the snow in our little yard on St. Patty’s Day. Good grief—eight inches on the grass and our patio furniture. But, I assure you that by the time you read this column it will be gone and you will be able to go about the business of enjoying Reston as I’ve outline above.
Happy Springtime to all!