With painted parking meters, gallery openings and a trivia contest, the Pottsville business community's second annual salute to late muralist David W. Naydock will be colorful in more ways than one.
"I'm excited about 'Dave Trivia,' " Michelle Halabura, director of community relations at Schuylkill United Way, Pottsville, said Thursday while discussing the numerous events slated for Dave Day, which will be held May 29.
"Dave Trivia Night" will be held at Hucklebucks, 114 E. Market St., starting at 9 p.m. The pub features Naydock's artwork on the bar wall and window.
"I'm working to come up with the material," Naydock's brother, Michael J., Pottsville, said Thursday.
"We're trying to determine how obscure we want to be. And for prizes, we're wanting something Dave-related," said Lorraine Koury, Pottsville, who was Naydock's companion for 12 years.
"We might give out cookies," Halabura said.
"Chocolate chip cookies," Michael Naydock said.
"Dave made the best chocolate chip cookies ever, from scratch. And he had a way he did it. He didn't use a timer. He just knew when the cookies were done," Koury said.
Born in Pottsville, May 29, 1960, Naydock was a son of Michael Naydock, Pottsville, and the late June Clark Naydock.
He painted murals professionally since 1983. In a July 2012 interview, he said he'd done about 180 of them, including paintings in York. In Pottsville, he said he'd done "about 65." His works include paintings near Pottsville Area High School, the former Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic (now Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street) and Big Jack's-Little Bob's Brewers' Outlet.
He died Jan. 20, 2013, at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street at age 52.
Shortly after his death, his friends discussed the idea of developing an annual event to celebrate his memory.
The first Dave Day was held on what would have been Naydock's 53rd birthday, May 29, 2013, and more than 200 people came out to events in the city that night featuring Naydock's artwork, according to Koury and Stephanie Premich, who co-owns Mud & Maker, Pottsville.
This year's Dave Day will be held on what would have been Naydock's 54th birthday.
Organizers include Michael Naydock, Koury, Halabura, Premich and Rob Mull, owner of Rob Mull Advertising & Design, Pottsville, who designed the event's promotional posters.
Other events slated for this year's Dave Day include:
- Sage Coffeehouse & Tea Garden, 26 N. Centre St., from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Naydock artwork will be on display. It includes murals he painted on walls and fixtures. In the evening, light snacks and samples of "Dave Juice" will be served.
"Dave enjoyed a drink made from spinach and carrots," Koury said.
Photos of Naydock taken by Johnathan Paroby, Pottsville, will also be displayed.
- Mud & Maker, 6 S. Centre St., from noon to 8 p.m.
"This location was a studio for Dave when it was The Mad Potter," Premich said. Displays will include Naydock artwork and contributions by local artists to a "Found Objects" show. It's a showcase of artwork involving random items the artists came across, Premich said. A community art mural will also be on display.
- The Greystone Restaurant, 315 N. Centre St., from 3 to 3:30 p.m. There will be an "Open Gathering" of Dave's fans and friends and it will include displays of Naydock's artwork. Koury said she and the organizers invite city officials to attend.
- All Things Good, 209 W. Market St., 5 to 9 p.m. There will be screenings of the documentary "A Covered Bridge" by Jerry Smith, in which Naydock discusses some of his artwork.
- Pottsville Arch Street Parking Lot, all day. As a tribute to Naydock, local artists, including students from Tamaqua Area High School, painted 25 parking meters in the lot.