Reston has hosted a film festival for 15 years, and it gives 100% of its net box office to charity. We finally caught up with it.

The Washington West Film Festival runs Oct. 8 to 12, mostly at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas at Reston Town Center. We preview the opening night documentary, Stronger Than You Think, about swimmer Ali Truwit, who survived a shark attack and made the 2024 U.S. Paralympic team a year later. We also look at A Mosquito in the Ear and at Jimmy, the Jimmy Stewart film that closes the festival on Oct. 10 after a tribute to Robert Duvall.

In Herndon, a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge ruled for Comstock on Sept. 17 in the fight over downtown's five acres at Elden and Center streets. We play Mayor Keven LeBlanc's video response and walk through what comes next, including the town's Oct. 19 appeal deadline.

We open with Voodoo Brewing's license approval at Dulles Station, three new restaurants in Reston and Herndon, the Herndon Municipal Center's three-month closure, and a fall calendar with Vertical Horizon at Rocktoberfest, Halloween on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park, the witches paddle on Lake Anne and the Reston Holiday Parade.

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Links referenced in this episode: Washington West Film Festival schedule and tickets: https://wwfilmfest.com/schedule-tickets/ Voodoo Brewing first look: https://greaterrestonliving.com/voodoo-brewing-herndon-dulles-station-first-look/ Big Greek Cafe coming to North Point: https://www.ffxnow.com/2026/09/21/big-greek-cafe-to-open-location-in-restons-north-point-village-center/ Navarasa by Biryani Grill: https://navarasa.restaurant/ Mezeh Mediterranean Grill coming to Village Center at Dulles: https://theburn.com/2026/09/16/new-mezeh-mediterranean-grill-headed-to-herndon/ Herndon Municipal Center closure: https://greaterrestonliving.com/herndon-municipal-center-closes-october-2/ Rocktoberfest at Reston Town Center: https://www.restontowncenter.com/calendar-events/rocktoberfest Halloween on the Farm: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/frying-pan-park/halloween-farm/ Reston Holiday Parade: https://www.restontowncenter.com/calendar-events/reston-holiday-parade-tree-lighting Herndon v. Comstock ruling: https://greaterrestonliving.com/herndon-comstock-ruling-downtown-five-acres/ Last episode's Herndon v. Comstock segment: https://youtu.be/7HHCelmQEi8?t=845