FuninFairfax Visits the White House

FuninFairfax gained an invitation to the White House Holiday 2010 Open House. After patiently clearing two security checkpoints, I entered the East wing. I was able to spend about an hour viewing the festive decor and exited through the front door on Pennsylvania Avenue–what I call the Wolf Blitzer area.

Some photos:

This hallway included grand fruit garlands.

The model is pure white chocolate. Yum.

A couple of the trees and the Washington Monument view

Spending Your Year-End Bonus (Reston)

Today (Friday before Christmas) is a great day for companies to distribute year-end bonuses to employees. Did you get a nice bonus?

As a public service, I want to help you do something memorable with your windfall.

Here is a list of expensive restaurant selections in Reston. Enjoy:

* Market Street Bar & Grill. MSBG is a nice place to start. Enjoy the Crab Cake and Lobster Tail dinner for $28 or Sunday brunch for $35

* El Manantial. This restaurant is in Tall Oaks, in case you are unfamiliar. Don’t let the menu misspellings dissuade you. Enjoy the Lobster Fricasses for $33.

* The Melting Pot. Reston’s fave fondue joint and Mary-Louise Parker’s fave Reston spot. The Lobster Indulgence will only set you back $48 per person. You will have plenty of spare change to pay for drinks and extras.

* M& S Grill has a few menu items over $30 but I suggest the Filet and Lobster Tail for $38. You can also work up an appetite by walking all the way across the street to its sister restaurant, McCormick & Schmicks. How about the lobster for $35 AND a $33 filet? Now we’re talking!

* Passionfish. You definitely want to start with The Big Daddy appetizer for $69.

* Vinifera. Reston’s latest fancy eaterie in, don’t laugh, Reston Heights. They offer a couple of $30 entrees–sea bass and New York Strip–but you will likely spend many times that on their wine selections.

* Morton’s. Yes, this is the place you must go. Price is no object, right? If you still have a somewhat frugal mentality (I am with you there), then check out these two specials: first, a $110 steak & seafood deal for 2 persons ($130 for double cut filets). second, buy a $500 gift card and get a $100 gift card FREE. I suggest giving the $100 gift card to your benevolent boss (or donate to a worthy cause, like the FuninFairfax Research Project).

I am seriously hungry preparing this list for you. I think I will go have a $29 Morton’s lunch.

Let me know if you want to see a similar summary for other Fairfax county communities.

Are you following me on Twitter?

Fairfax discounts: movies

In the next few days, I will offer hundreds of discount coupons to restaurants, stores, and attractions in Fairfax county. All discounts are coupons from the 2010 Entertainment book. These coupons must be used by November 1, 2010 unless otherwise specified. I am not asking anything in return for these discounts but it would be nice if you follow me on Twitter and encourage others to do so also.

To request coupons, simply send a note to fairfax@funness.com with your mailing address and what you want. Please only request discount coupons that you expect to use. I will pay to mail them to you. If you want them sooner, you can pick up at HQ near Hunter Mill Road and Dulles Toll Road. I will distribute on first received, first sent basis. I will attempt to update this page frequently as items are claimed.

Coupons:

• Regal, $7 VIP admission, 2 per coupon – 9 available
• AMC, $7.50 admission – 10 available (exp. Dec 31, 2010)
• National Amusements (Showcase, Multiplex, Cinema de Lux) , $7.75 admission – 12 available

Reston Limo’s Father’s Day Contest

Enter Dad In Reston’s Father’s Day Contest

How to enter: Send your name and contact number to atravers@restonlimo.com. One winner will be chosen at random and notified Friday at 4:00pm.

Let Reston Limousine help you make Father’s Day extra special… visit our virtual showroom to help you choose the perfect vehicle to take Dad out in style!

Summer Outdoor Concerts, Fairfax county, Virginia

Here is a listing of summer outdoor concert series in Fairfax county.

Wednesday night concerts, 8 pm, Fairfax City Hall, http://novasummerconcerts.wordpress.com/fairfax/summer-concert-series-city-of-fairfax/

Thursday night, Take a Break concerts, 7 to 9, Lake Anne Plaza, Reston, http://lakeanneplaza.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2010/06/LakeAnne_Summer_Series.pdf

Thursday night, 7 pm, Falls Church Concerts in the Park, Cherry Hill Park, http://www.fallschurchva.gov/Content/Government/Departments/CommunityServices/RecsParks/CITP2010.aspx?cnlid=3382

Friday Night Live! summer concerts, 6:30 to 10:30, Herndon Rocks!, http://www.herndonrocks.com/schedule.php

Friday night concerts, 7:30, Lake Accotink Park,Springfield, http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/bn_flyer.pdf

Friday night concerts, 7:30, Royal Lake Park,Fairfax, http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/bn_flyer.pdf

Saturday night summer concerts, 6 – 8:30, Fairfax Corner, http://www.fairfaxcorner.com/images/pdf/summerconcerts_2010.pdf

Saturday night summer concerts, 7:30 to 10, Reston Town Center Pavilion. http://restontowncenter.com/iframe/documents/2010ScheduleRestonConcertsontheTownFINAL.pdf

Sunday night concerts, 6 to 8, Great Falls Village Centre. http://www.gfvcca.com/concertFlyer2010.pdf

Summer Entertainment Series, various Fairfax county parks: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/

City of Alexandria summer concerts, various dates and venues: http://alexandriava.gov/Concerts

City of Fairfax Band, various dates: http://www.fairfaxband.org/calendar/index.php

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, various dates at various parks, http://www.fairfaxsymphony.org/

Lottery Fun

:: SIGH ::

No one has delivered any bags of money to the Fun in Fairfax HQ. Perhaps the excess snow has created a backlog. Maybe this week…

If, I mean WHEN, I win the lottery, there will be much fun in Fairfax. In fact, I am looking for ideas. What would you do with some excess cash? I mean A LOT of extra cash. If money was no object and you could spend any amount to create as much fun as possible, what would you do?

Consider this a contest. The winner will be hired as the CFO (Creative Funness One) at Fun in Fairfax. It will be the most fun job in the universe and also in Fairfax county. Salary will be very high and duties will be whatever you want. So, submit those entries. Date of hire will be right after that inevitable lottery win. I am looking forward to working with you.

Historic Hunter Mill Road

Articles and websites about historic Hunter Mill Road, through Oakton, Vienna, Reston, and Great Falls:

“Running from Route 123 in Oakton to Route 7 in the Herndon/Great Falls area, Hunter Mill is still the straightest line connecting Fairfax City and Vienna to points north.” - Washington Post

Civil War Markers along Hunter Mill Corridor - Connection Newspaper

New Signs along Hunter Mill Road - Fairfax Times

Hunter Mill Defense League

Battle of Hunter Mill

Hunter Mill District – Fairfax County Government

Hunter Mill Country Day School

#19 Best Place to Live in US: CNNMoney.com 2008

Some recent photos, taken before the recent big snowfall:

Fairfax County – Restaurant Discounts

On FairfaxTimes.com there is a link to 50% restaurant discounts in Fairfax county. The ad moves around the page but you can also go directly to the website at wspn.halfoffdeals.com.

Here are the currently listed restaurants and the deal:

* Blue Water Grille, Centreville, $50 certificate for $25

* El Manantial, Reston, $25 certificate for $12.50

* Eyo, Falls Church, $25 certificate for $12.50

* Generous George’s, Herndon,  $50 certificate for $25

* Kazan, Mclean,  $50 certificate for $25

* Tortilla Factory, Herndon, $25 certificate for $12.50

* Tommy Thai, Springfield, $25 certificate for $12.50

Restaurant.com is another source of dining certificates. They have many additional participating restaurants. Restaurant.com certificates are better than 50% off. Most certificates cost $4 (for $10 certificate) or $10 (for $25 certificate). That, however, is the starting point.

To get even better discounts, register to receive special promotions. The current promotion is 80% off until January 31, 2010. Simply enter BONUS on the checkout screen. So, that $25 certificate now costs $2. The 80% discount is off the regular $10 price NOT the $25 certificate value. That is a great deal!

Both programs let you immediately print your certificates, so you can use them for your next meal.

Happy Eating and have Fun in Fairfax!

© 2010, Charles McCool

Fairfax County Contest – Reston Limo

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Another Fun In Fairfax exclusive!

I recently learned that Reston Limousine (based in Sterling, huh?) is giving away two prizes. Sure, by letting you know, my chances of winning decrease but that’s the way I roll. You are welcome!

1. Win 2 tickets to see John Mayer and a Town Car to the show.–February 20, 2010 at Verizon Center. Their message: “How to Enter: Send an email with your name and contact phone number to atravers@restonlimo.com. Tell your friends! All are welcome to enter, though only one lucky person will win!”

2. Become the 1,000th fan of Reston Limousine on Facebook and receive 3 hours of limousine service FREE! I just checked and they currently have 939 fans.

You can find the contest information on their blog, although I read about it in their newsletter. Their website is RestonLimo.com. You can also follow Reston Limo on Twitter.

Fairfax Restaurant Email Lists

Just a quick post today to encourage you to join the e-mail list(s) for your favorite Fairfax county restaurant(s). They are free to join and you can save money.

I have a current e-mail offer for $5 sliders at Glory Days; regular prices start at $8. Many other restaurants, whose e-mail lists I have joined, regularly send me offers. I do not use them all (or even most) but it is great to have so many choices.

In the future, I may compile a list of Fairfax county restaurants that offer e-mail (and Twitter) discounts. For now, you are own your own to look up your favorite.

By the way, I trust our local merchants and do not believe that I have received any spam from joining their lists. I know that is a thought in the back of some minds. Sure, I get loads of spam messages but none because of our fine restaurants.

© 2010, Charles McCool