Vicki L. Friedman

1 month ago | whro.org | Vicki L. Friedman

Williamsburg is full of history and the William & Mary women’s basketball team finally has its own chapter. Chalk it up to March Madness, or better yet, March Magic. The Tribe will make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament after an improbable tournament run – four victories over opponents that had beaten them six straight times during the regular season.

1 month ago | whro.org | Vicki L. Friedman

While the Jewish Museum & Cultural Center in Portsmouth is an epicenter of programming, it is also a relic of Eastern European orthodoxy. Its Ner Tamid, a lamp above the Ark holding the Torah, is dark; the building hasn’t been a functional synagogue for 40 years. Yet, stepping inside the brick building at 607 Effingham St. in Olde Town feels like a religious experience. “Would you like to see the Torah?” asked Jennifer Priest, interim executive director, who gives tours by appointment.

1 month ago | whro.org | Vicki L. Friedman

Natasha Lindeback zig zags around the state in her gray Toyota 4-Runner from one picturesque spot to the next. She’s smitten by the wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park in southwest Virginia, fascinated by the history in Surry’s Chippokes State Park and once discovered a ship ruin in Kiptopeke State Park along the Chesapeake Bay. The Richmonder is an official Master Hiker, a designation awarded by the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation.

1 month ago | whro.org | Vicki L. Friedman

Encountering Eddie Murphy, Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington at the Hampton University Museum is unlikely. Yet, in the Hampton Legacy gallery, the presence of the three stars is hard to miss. It’s as if the award-winning comedian, legendary talk show host and Oscar-winning actor are surveying the art and artifacts in the newly renovated museum. Hampton University Museum reopened recently after a yearlong closure.

1 month ago | whro.org | Vicki L. Friedman

It’s not only Grandma who would have fun this weekend at the largest quilt festival on the Eastern seaboard. Non-quilters might be tempted to take up a new hobby after a visit to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival. The four-day celebration of artistry and creativity opened Thursday at the Hampton Convention Center and it inspires the eye and the hand with its brilliant colors, detailed designs and often provoking messages.