Michael Jackson Birthday Party in Prospect Park!

jamzer · August 2009

Spike Lee is hosting a birthday party for Michael Jackson on August 29th. The original plan was to have it in Fort Greene Park, but because of the publicity and expectations of huge crowds, it is moving to Prospect Park.

I think it is ok to use parks for one-time events like this, but I hope they do a good job of cleaning up after themselves!

http://www.40acres.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1465

sebastiaan vonk · August 2009

crap. as if there wasn't enough MJ coverage already. Let the pedophile (although super talented musician and dancer) rest in peace.

lo kee · August 2009

The city and people in the hood are trying to put the kaybosh on this.

WHO'S BAD?

olukemi · August 2009

-----and Spike Lee better provide enough garbage collectors and security. In fact, I think I'll call Marty's office in advance and ask what's being done to prevent another MIH Ventures debacle

gang trivia · August 2009

Link still says Fort Greene Park

armchair_warrior · August 2009

i hope he pays for the cleanup too.

squindar · August 2009

Prospect's not a done deal. The city's looking at "other options" according to 1010wins.

I think they should close down Grand Army Plaza and do it there. That would rock.

ringrunner · August 2009

Spike Lee in not MIH Ventures.

armchair_warrior · August 2009

Is the tax payers going to pay for this party clean up?

squindar · August 2009

the clean up is the least of the costs, I'm sure, once you start looking at a crowd of 10,000+. Even if a sponsor picks up a portion of the expenses like park clean-up, porta-potties, etc, there are plenty of costs to the public like extra police coverage, set-up and tear-down of crowd control barriers, extra MTA service if they bother to add it (doubt they will for this, but I'm guessing they do for the Carnival parade), etc. But if you want to object to those sorts of costs you might want to start with events like the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade or Macys 4th of July Fireworks. How much of the cost to the city do you think Macy's shoulders for either of those?

dw438 · August 2009

This is going to be a mess and a half. No one's going to be responsible and the Parks Department does a miserable job of enforcement in Prospect Park unless your poodle's off-leash.

armchair_warrior · August 2009

can the city stick the bill to the rich asshole who advocated for this party in the first place spike lee?

winstonsmith · August 2009

dw438 wrote: This is going to be a mess and a half. No one's going to be responsible and the Parks Department does a miserable job of enforcement in Prospect Park unless your poodle's off-leash.

Has there even been any of that?

dw438 · August 2009

According to a newspaper of record, it's official.
Start buying garbage bags now, Spike.

Party for Jackson Moves

By The NEW YORK TIMES
Published: August 21, 2009

It is official: Spike Lee’s party in honor of Michael Jackson’s birthday will be held in Brooklyn, but in Prospect Park, not in Fort Greene Park.

The party will take place at the Nethermead, a meadow in the center of Prospect Park, according to an e-mail message from a city official on Friday.

The date, Aug. 29, which would have been the singer’s 51st birthday, and the time, from noon to 5 p.m., remain unchanged.

The decision to move the party came after several days of discussion on the wisdom of holding it in the 30-acre Fort Greene Park because of the large number of people expected.

Prospect Park is about 18 times bigger.

dooderino · August 2009

^this sucks.

LOCK YOU DOORS, people

pitu · August 2009

It's not Spike's fault the city is getting worked up and moving the party to PP.
I like it better in Ft Greene Park myself....

restless native · August 2009

Spike has a responsibility to ensure enough funding for cleanup and security since he's the one organizing this event.

seasidearms · August 2009

Flexichick wrote: ^this sucks.

LOCK YOU DOORS, people

Why :?: :?:

grrrrn · August 2009

seasidearms wrote: [quote=Flexichick]^this sucks.

LOCK YOU DOORS, people

Why :?: :?:

That's an old board joke...you probably haven't been around long enough to remember how it started

whatchuwant · August 2009

I for one, am TOTALLY psyched. This is epic! All you old farts just stay inside that day.

em26 · August 2009

Flexichick wrote: crap. as if there wasn't enough MJ coverage already. Let the pedophile (although super talented musician and dancer) rest in peace.

Innocent until proven guilty so back the fuck up with that shit. :mad:

I'm excited that they're moving it closer!!!!!!! :bounce:

RIP MJ

lgr · August 2009

Em26 wrote: [quote=Flexichick]crap. as if there wasn't enough MJ coverage already. Let the pedophile (although super talented musician and dancer) rest in peace.

Innocent until proven guilty so back the fuck up with that shit. :mad:

I'm excited that they're moving it closer!!!!!!! :bounce:

RIP MJ

Totally different set of laws for celebrities. Enough hush money spent. Man was a freak. Talented as hell, messed up family, but a freak. When you have kids, see if you let a grown man get into bed with them with some "Jesus Juice"

Enjoy the party.

rlackner · August 2009

i am pumped, i dont care what anyone says and i will bring my own garbage bags and fill as many as i can tie them neatly and drop them off, if we have a hundred people willing to do the same it would be a great thing, but that would never happen.

RIP MJ, and for the record, whos fault is it for letting their kid sleep in ANY OTHER adults bed, the parents, those are the true freaks...

risenc · August 2009

^agree that parents who let this happen are totally in the wrong too. Glad to hear you are bringing your own cleanup supplies.

livetotravel · August 2009

I'll only go if Spike guarantees to show 3 non-stop hours of the 11-year-old Michael singing "I'll Be There"

veets · August 2009

Wow.. been away afew days and amazed at the mix response.
I do have some reactions. Gut level.. If Spike Lee is throwing the party it should be in Ft Greene because it is his home turf. And no mater where he should make a major financial contribution to cover costs if Spike is the host and he feels it is so important.
I just realized that MJ is gonna get buried on his Birthday. What is with that? I didn't realize he was still above ground. Perhaps, it is just the Jewish in me... We bury ASAP after a death (with many interesting and compelling reasons) and I find it creepy that the family is waiting for the "right time." An even if the family has that plan, I think Spike should be smart enough to not host a party ON the day of a funeral. I get the celebration idea but on the day of a burial It just feels to counter-intuitive to me.

And my last thought and question..
Why am I even being so sentimental, philosophical or Theological about MJ to begin with.

meredithb · August 2009

Enough MJ already! He was no King of Pop. Bullshit. He had a few good tunes and that's it. Enough.

Good thing I'm headed out of town for the day/night of this fiasco.

christina · August 2009

He's no longer being buried on his birthday, they moved the date once again. It shouldn't matter, with the amount of plastic surgery he had his body is probably still intact. And who's looking anyway? But you're right, it's ridiculous.

I will definitely be swinging by for this event, I have a feeling there will be lots of board stories on the next day, for better or worse.

Hopefully they'll leave him alone afterwards, it's not like any of the stories they're revealing every day are in any way a surprise.