Illustration by Arnel Reynon
Few experiences can be as unforgettable and as hazy as a spring break. Just ask a few of Richmond’s familiar faces.
Andrew Freiden, NBC12 meteorologist: “My friend and I were on a trip to Cancun. There is a shuttle bus that takes tourists from the island to the town center but also serves to get the locals from their homes to their jobs at the resorts. The locals sat in the back of the bus. The tourists sat in the front. After a few trips and shots of tequila, we decided to bring these two groups together. On our next trip, we sat in the middle, took a deep breath, and started singing ‘Cielito Lindo.’ It was a spectacle that the Mexicans had never seen. They joined in on the verses, and the tourists joined in on the chorus. We got off to a standing ovation from the both ends of the bus.”
Karri Peifer, Richmond.com deputy editor: “A friend and I went to Los Angeles for a 10-day trip. It was the coldest 10 days in 150 years on the West Coast, while a heat wave hit the East Coast. We changed our flight to get back, resulting in a day spent in LAX, a missed connection and an overnight stay in Dallas, plus another half-day of waiting before we finally landed in Richmond — two days after our luggage. We split up to find the luggage. She ended up in the hotel bar getting hit on by foreign business travelers. I ended up loading up my body like a pack mule and dragging our luggage to every end of the airport and back.”
Beau Cribbs, principal at Relish Creative Communications and host of RVA Tonight: “I went to New York City to see a taping of the ‘Late Show with David Letterman.’ I was meeting a friend for lunch next door to the Ed Sullivan Theater before the filming started. Next thing I knew, the stage door opened, and there was David Letterman holding his son, who was probably 4 or 5 years old at the time. He was making faces at him, playing games and being really earnest and cute. I was standing there watching, feeling awkward that I was intruding on a personal moment, but I couldn’t really look away. I wanted to shake his hand and say hi, but I froze there like a star-struck moron.”
Melissa Chase, 103.7 Play morning show co-host and program director: “A hurricane went through Miami, so Habitat for Humanity was offering free trips for college kids who wanted to go to help them build houses there. I road-tripped down with friends. We built houses, and then partied our faces off in South Beach each night. The next morning, we’d pop a few aspirin and chug Gatorade before we’d get to the work site, with the echoing of hammers and drills buzzing in the hot sun while fighting off tequila hangovers. The struggle was real!”