Don’t be weirded out by the guy giving hugs and high fives at Living Kitchen Saturday
Don’t be weirded out by the guy giving hugs and high fives at the South End Living Kitchen this weekend. It’s just part of David Sylvester’s plan, in partnership with Duke Cannon Supply Co., to give 25,000 hugs and high fives to strangers during a 48-state road trip around America, starting and ending in Philadelphia.
He should be hard to miss. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, July 1, he’ll be standing next to a 6-foot sign that reads “Hugs and High Fives Road Trip,” with a handheld sign that reads “Hi, My Name is Big Dave.”
Sylvester, nicknamed “The Human High5,” has actually been on a mission to hug and high-five people around the country and as far as Australia since Sept. 12, 2001. This is how he chose to respond to losing a friend in the 9/11 terrorist attacks — with simple, positive gestures. Sylvester claims to have given 184,064 hugs and high fives over the past 16 years. What’s 25,000 more?
For his summer road trip, Sylvester said, “I want to go to cities where I have had good vibes and had good energy, and Charlotte was definitely one of those places.”
Living Kitchen owner Stephen Edwards agreed to let Sylvester hold an event at the restaurant, where Sylvester said he’d enjoyed a living burrito there a few years ago.
“His focus on one-on-one kindness is at the heart of how we approach hospitality, so I’m grateful he selected our restaurant as a stop on his tour,” Edwards wrote in an email. “Plus, I was living in the New York area at the time of the 9/11 attacks and like many others was affected by the tragedy. I appreciate the catalyst for his mission.”
For those of you at Living Kitchen on July 1, Sylvester will likely recommend getting a hug or a high five. While you’re at it, Edwards recommends their Summer Lovin’ juice made with cold-pressed watermelon, coconut water and a hint of lime.
It’ll be fun to see how Charlotte responds to this kind of encounter. Sylvester has seen both ends of the spectrum with responses from strangers.
“People are quizzical, without a doubt, but overall they are just great,” he said. “It is what it is. I mean, it’s hugs and high fives, and that’s it. There’s no hidden agenda.”
Catch the Hugs and High Fives Road Trip stop at Living Kitchen
When: Saturday, July 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Luna’s Living Kitchen, 2000 South Blvd., #300
Photos: David Sylvester, Mike Finney/The Delaware State News
This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Don’t be weirded out by the guy giving hugs and high fives at Living Kitchen Saturday."