Waiting For Power - Poolside in Reston

The is not a bad place to cool your heels for an unexpected weekend getaway.

Cool, being the operative word. As in working air conditioning and a swimming pool.

The Sheraton never lost power , and therefore it was a popular spot the last few days with residents from around the Beltway who had given up the wait for the power company in favor of a breakfast buffet and ice in their drinks.

Arlington lawyer David Weslow said he packed up his wife and two preschoolers and decamped for Reston early Saturday,

"This is the closest hotel we could find with any vacancy," he said. "The temperature in the house was approaching 90. We spent yesterday morning trying to fine a hotel anywhere in the DC area."

Weslow said he was planning on spending Sunday at the hotel as well, but he just received word power was back on in their neighborhood. So off they went to the long check-out line.

By the pool, a Silver Spring woman watched her two sons, 11, and 6, splash around. She said as soon as the power went out, she consulted travel apps on her iPhone, which led her to the Sheraton.

"We have been here since Saturday morning," she said. "The staff has been fabulous and really welcoming to a lot of very scared people."

At the the lobby was still dark as the hotel -and the entire Reston Town Center - was without power Sunday morning.

The Hyatt front desk staff had worked by the light of glow sticks Saturday night. Sunday, they were busy trying to find Hyatt guests rooms nearby as Dulles and Fair Lakes properties did have power.

was nearly deserted Sunday as almost nothing was open due to the power outages. Some restaurants reported throwing large amounts of food away. Others had a backup plan - refrigerated trucks that took food away before it could spoil.

has a generator, so the restaurant is partially operational, says assistant manager Fraser Hay. They can cook, wash dishes and make lots of ice for drinks. The bad news: no air conditioning or front-of-the house lights. Good news, though - the patio is open.

"We'll be open all day and all night," said Hay. "People came in last night and said 'you are like a mirage' here at the Town Center.

The will be open Sunday. pools at Autumnwood, Golf Course Island, North Hills, North Shore, Tall Oaks, and Uplands are open and Nature House will be open 1 to 4 p.m.

RA will have information soon whether outages will affect camps on Monday.

Oak Marr Rec Center in Oakton has opened a cooling center: 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton, Va. 703-281-6501.  Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Have an update for your neighbors on what is opened or closed? Tell us in the comments.

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