What a beautiful fall day for our annual Washington Plaza Cluster picnic on Lake Anne. Temperature this morning was a crisp 53 degrees, with low 70s likely by picnic time. Summer seems gone for real. Now we’re just missing fall tree colors to continue what has been an exceptional year around Lake Anne Village Center. 

Saturdays once again have been beehives of activity in both the Reston Farmers Market (RFM) in the parking lot and the Lake Anne Crafts Market on Washington Plaza — with literally thousands of shoppers weekly enjoying Lake Anne’s best.

The Farmers Market, my pride and joy since we opened it 27 years ago, continues its tops-in-the-region billing in its first year since my retirement. I had assumed it wouldn’t be quite what it had been in the good old days, but, lo and behold, it apparently hasn’t missed a beat. There are even some whispers it may be better!? It is thriving under Fran (my partner of 59 years), co-managers Keith and Anne, and energetic new community volunteers. 

The Crafts Market not only continues to grow, but under its new management profits from vendor space rentals now go directly to the Lake Anne Condo Association (LARCA), the owner of the Plaza. Those funds are making a major difference to LARCA and its member-owners in upkeep of their property.

Also, this year LARCA and the Reston Community Center resolved a lingering issue over use of the Plaza. Their working together led to the return of summertime musical entertainment on the Plaza as well as RCC providing needed revenue to the Condo Association.

Which brings me to more good news at the Village Center. The LARCA Board succeeded in bolstering its difficult financial situation, thanks in part to the actions mentioned above and cooperation from neighboring Washington Plaza Cluster in sharing costs for repaving shared residential access roads. In the last year, LARCA fully repaved all its commercial and residential parking areas … something last done over 30 years ago. They power washed the entire Village Center and upgraded its landscaping as well. Furthermore, as I write this, the concrete exterior of the Heron House Condominium Tower is being repaired from top to bottom … a million-dollar job in itself. 

The Village Center also welcomed a very special new business, the Elden Street Tea Shop on the Plaza. It is a lovely place to have a cup of tea, from the biggest selection of teas I’ve ever seen, and lovely snacks any time of the day. A couple more new businesses are also on the way, should they succeed in clearing the ponderous Fairfax County bureaucratic hurdles. I doubt they will make it in 2024, but Lake Anne already now has a fine selection of quality places to eat or have a drink on a lovely lake. 

2024 has been a good year to date in Reston, especially at Lake Anne Village Center. Now, if Lake Anne, Reston and the country can get through Nov. 5 without electing any convicted felons, who knows what might be possible in 2025?