As one of the area’s most creative and prolific artists Dana Ann Scheurer is known for her expert manipulation of watercolor paints and whimsical subject matter.  In addition to participating in all twenty of the annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festivals, produced by Greater Reston Arts Center. Scheurer has been a featured artist in four exhibitions organized by GRACE and has been an active GRACE artist member since 1981.

Visit Market Street Bar and Grill for dinner and be filled with not only a delicious array of cuisine, but with the watercolor treasures from Scheurer’s exhibition, New Works.

Dana Scheurer with her work, "Magic Garden."

The exhibition of New Works includes 20 watercolor paintings that showcase Scheurer’s mastery of drawing, color, composition, and precise execution of a delicate media.  The largest work on display, Magic Garden, stretches 42” x 32” and is a comprehensive expression of Scheurer’s love of form, music, and classical images; all experienced by the viewer as a striking dreamlike visual delight.

Paintings are strategically placed in the exhibit prior to being mounted. Media used: Winsor Newton watercolor on D'Arches watercolor paper.

Other new compositions will explore Scheurer’s love of special iconic Reston images, such as Lake Anne and Reston Town Center, ageless classical forms, and the light hearted “beach series” where she excels in the use of bold color.  The precision of all Scheurer’s hand drawn work offers the viewer an opportunity for careful study.  The details hidden among each painting call the viewer to revisit multiple times in order to take the image fully in.

Join Scheurer at Market Street Bar and Grill on Monday, January 30, 5 – 7 pm, for a Reception and Gallery Talk; learn about the pieces and the vision behind them.

Dana Scheurer
www.danascheurer.com

GreaterRestonArtsCenter
www.gracearts.org

Photo courtesy of Marine Corps Marathon

For the second year in a row Reston’s Potomac River Running Store has conquered the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Team Running Store Competition.  A total of 15 stores from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. participated in the competition.  With a winning time of 8:46:30, PRR Reston clinched the win by 14 minutes.

PRR team members consisted of Adam Condit, Christ Sloane, and Mary Klaff.  Condit finished fifth overall in the competition – among 21,023 MCM finishers – with an individual time of 2:29:28 (beating his 2010 time of 2:31:00), pushing the PRR team into first.  Team Running Store results are determined by combining the finishing times of each store’s fastest three runners, including at least one runner of both genders.

The MCM Running Store Award was presented by MCM Director Rick Nealis and mascot Miles the bulldog to PRR store owners Ray and Cathy Pugsley and Margie and Brendan Shapiro on Wednesday, January 4. “We are so proud of our crew for once again hanging tough and finishing strong,” says Ray Pugsley.

Congratulations Potomac River Running and team! Find information on the Potomac River Running store and races at www.potomacriverrunning.com.

All unofficial results for the 36th MCM Team Competitions are available at www.marinemaration.com.

The day began with the Gingerbread Man Mile Run, a fun run for kids to race around Reston Town Center and then enjoy delicious Gingerbread Man cookies.

Next was the 21^st Annual Reston Holiday Parade celebrating the theme, “Storybook Magic!”  Characters from our favorite childhood stories marched, floated, and danced down Market Street alongside community groups, schools, and entertainers.  Chili and Carson from MIX 107.3 were the official emcees of the parade, keeping the crowds excited and informed of all the parade participants.  Santa Claus was once again the guest of honor, riding through last on his horse-drawn carriage and spreading with him tidings of joy for the new Christmas season.

Throughout the day were visits and photos with Santa, Ice skating, and a fantastic Gingerbread Village on display in the Hyatt Lobby!  Five days in the making, this delicious creation consists of 145 pounds of sugar, 100 pounds of flour, 2 gallons of molasses and honey, 1½ pounds of cinnamon and nutmeg, 15 pounds of pretzels, and 90 pounds of candy!

To round-off the perfect beginning to the holiday season, Santa and Mrs. Claus led thousands of spectators in the lighting of the giant Christmas tree in Fountain Square.  With the help of all who believe, Santa lit the tree on the count of three, and then led the crowds along with the Reston Chorale in a holiday sing along.

View live footage of the 21st Annual Reston Holiday Parade on Comcast Channel 28  in Reston on December 3,4,10,11,24, and 25 at 11am.  Also, view online at www.rctv28.com.

See all our pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/restontowncenter

“Run, run, fast as you can! Can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

Can YOU run like the Gingerbread Man?

Once you’ve stocked the refrigerator with your turkey and pumpkin pie leftovers, kick off the 2011 holiday season by running the inaugural Gingerbread Man Mile for Kids!, an event that we are sure the whole family will love. Join Potomac River Running and Reston Town Center for a little bit of running and a whole lot of shopping! Registration is FREE and all donations benefit Neediest Kids.

Kids can run like the Gingerbread Man at the Kids Mile Fun Run. The course covers a 1-mile loop around Reston Town Center. Once kids finish, they can enjoy delicious gingerbread cookies.

Registration and Information at http://www.prraces.com/gingerbread/

Holidays are HERE! at Reston Town Center

After a thrilling morning of tiny tots racing down Market Street, get set for a day full of holiday festivities!  Stores open at 8 am for the early Reston Town Center shopper, and the Ice Skating rink is open all day – as is the Hyatt’s giant gingerbread village, on display in the lobby! Beginning at 11 am is the 21^st Annual Reston Holiday Parade, complete with Macy’s-style balloons, floats, community groups, antique cars, and more!  From 12:30-4:30 enjoy visits and photos with Santa.  He’ll be checking his list right next to the Skate Shop before heading back out to light up Reston Town Center and the holiday tree at 6 pm.  Join him in Fountain Square for the official start of the Holiday Season, sing carols along with the Reston Chorale and hop on board  a horse-drawn carriage to round-off  wonderful wintry day!

John Clark from Planning Magazine wrote about Reston’s evolution, from its beginnings as a simple idea to its construction and reality as a suburban-downtown destination.  Follow along for a fascinating account of how this town came to be: Reston Revisited PLANNING MAGAZINE 2011

Join Perkowitz+Ruth Architects and K3 Construction as they give the traditional canned food drive a patriotic twist, and build a giant American Flag in the Reston Town Center Pavilion with your canned food donations!  Non-perishable food and cash donations will be accepted all day in order to benefit Reston Interfaith!

Help to fill the pantries of those in need before the holidays are here again!

For more information or to make other arrangements for your donation, contact Nicole Standish at 703.668.0056 or nstandish@prarchitects.com.

On July 18, local artist Laurie Fields’ art show, “DiscARTed,” went on exhibition at Market Street Bar and Grill! The recipient of many of Gulick Group Design Studio’s discontinued items, which would have otherwise been recycled, Laurie put many materials to work in this show. The result of Gulick Group’s donation and Laurie’s creativity was “DiscARTed,” which, hence its name, features many unique collage pieces made from an array of materials.

Laurie explained how rather than having a prior inspiration, and then appointing the materials she would utilize, she takes a more backwards approach than most artists. “For me, a walk through Home Depot is as inspirational as watching a sunset. The aisles filled with cement, grout, plaster and building materials stir my imagination, as I think about new ways to use them,” she said.

Laurie arrived at Market Street Bar and Grill last Monday with GRACE gallery manager Erica Harrison to replace the current art display. Dozens of works to be taken down, and dozens more to hang also required the presence of two Hyatt engineers. Erica’s expertise in art display was apparent throughout the process, as she took many factors into consideration to determine the exact position of each work of art. She focused on creating groupings where the pieces involved would “communicate,” or compliment each other. After many different grouping, height, lighting, and other positioning attempts, the final arrangement was discovered and “DiscARTed” was officially in place!

Laurie Fields’ exhibition will be on display through October 17! All works in her exhibition are available for purchase through GRACE. Any purchase directly supports the artist and GRACE’s mission of enriching community life by promoting involvement and excellence in contemporary visual arts.

The Verny Varela Band will be closing out July and heating up the Pavilion with spicy Salsa, Merengue, Rumba and more! Verny Varela is an arranger, composer, singer, and flutist from Cali, Colombia where he first started singing and playing with his father’s band, “El Nuevo Son.”  He takes the stage this Saturday, July 30, 7:30-10pm.

Verny has been on tour in both Europe and in the U.S. with the Tito Gomez after branching out from his Colombian roots. He wrote and sang for Thievery Corporation on the albums: “The Richest man in Babylon,” ”The Cosmic Game,” and “The Radio Retaliation.” Verny also sang on the 40th Anniversary CD of the outstanding charanga band, “Orquesta Broadway” in New York City in 2002.

Verny released his album “Amar de Nuevo” in 2004, which was placed on the Latin Grammy list of “best tropical albums” of 2005.  In 2008, Verny released his newest album “Gracias” – in which he wrote and arranged 90% of the songs.

Come ready to dance, you won’t be able to resist!

This Saturday night’s free concert at Reston Town Center is Incendio from Los Angeles. This concert is part of the free summer series that takes place at the Reston Town Center Pavilion every Saturday night thru August 27, from 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., rain or shine.

Incendio: Jim Stubblefield (guitar), JP Durand (guitar), and Liza Care (guitar/bass).

Incendio in both Italian and Spanish means “fire” and this moniker is fitting for a musical group whose sound is all about energy, exploration, and passion. At the heart of Incendio’s sound is the Latin or Spanish guitar which can conjure up romantic as well as powerful and bold images – they refer to their style as “Latin guitar world fusion.” Averaging more than 150 shows a year since 2000, their live performance has  become an explosive improvisatory journey, garnering tremendous audience response at festivals across the United States.  Their seven CD’s have enjoyed international radio airplay and critical acclaim.  Their latest guitar trio CD, “Vihuela”, was released in March 2009. Incendio will leave you amazed by their phenomenal guitar skills and dazzling interplay

Don’t miss this experiencia caliente this Saturday, July 23, 7:30-10pm!

Following the theme of competition, join us for a free culinary event presented by Cadillac’s culinary partners. Watch a lively competition between two talented and renowned chefs – Geoffrey Zakarian of The Lambs Club and The National, and Chris Clime of PassionFish.  Pick up tips from the best in the business and then sample their delicious creations!

Cadillac Culinary Challenge Test Drive program

Saturday, July 16, 10 am – 6 pm & 
Sunday, July 17, 10 am – 6 pm

Test drives run the entire program time and culinary demonstrations take place at 11:30am, 2pm and 4pm. Seating is limited to a first come, first serve basis.

This is an open event, so please invite your friends and family to join.
www.CadillacChallenge.com