Results tagged “tribute”

Don't expect any subway lines to be renamed the Neverland Express anytime soon, but Councilwoman Letitia James will get Michael Jackson some sort of tribute underground even if she has to break in Poster Boy style and do it herself. As we all know by now, the King of Pop's epic 16-minute video for "Bad" (directed by Martin Scorsese) was filmed in the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Brooklyn, and the MTA (because of some such rules that exist) refuse to rename the station after him, or even give him a plaque. That's just not how they roll. So James has come up with an alternative: a mural. The NY Post reports that she is trying to work with the MTA to commission an art contest honoring the performer, saying, "I think it would be a big tourist draw for the cash-strapped transit authority." But the MTA says they only add new artwork to stations undergoing rehabilitation, which isn't happening at Hoyt-Schermerhorn for at least five years. Could it be that someone at the organization just isn't a fan?

The King of Pop's posthumous birthday celebration will go on as planned tomorrow in Prospect Park (after being moved from Fort Greene). We talked to the Parks Department and they're currently putting up some fencing for the event, which will run from noon to 5 p.m. They say on top of deejays, a jumbotron and Marty Markowitz declaring it Michael Jackson Day in the borough, organizer Spike Lee will be overseeing the day. According to Bloomberg News, around 10,000 people are expected, and Lee put down $11,000 for a permit. And as for the weather, "it's rain or shine—though if there was severe weather, like heavy winds and constant lightning—then the Parks Dept. and/or NYPD could cancel or postpone the event." If you make it over there, be sure to send us your pics or tag them "gothamist" on Flickr! Elsewhere in town there will be a Michael Jackson Tribute show by Rent musical performers at Sullivan Hall, which will take place at 7:30 p.m.; and as pointed out in our newsletter, there will be another birthday bash at (Le) Poisson Rouge at 10 p.m.

Michael Jackson was not a New Yorker, but that doesn't mean this city isn't trying to make him an honorary one posthumously. Block parties, amusement park rides, and now a tribute underground? City Councilwoman Letitia James wants a plaque in tribute to the performer placed at Brooklyn's Hoyt-Schermerhorn station... and has even suggested "Jackson" be added to station name. Okay, well, he did film his Martin Scorsese-directed "Bad" video there, so maybe it makes sense to put up a dedication, but it seems unlikely that anyone will ever call it the Hoyt-Schermerhorn-Jackson stop. In fact, MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said a tribute of any kind is unlikely. Sounds harsh, but he added that they prohibit station plaques of any kind. Still, James says she's going to start a petition, "Having Michael Jackson visit and moonwalk at this station was a huge deal not only for Brooklyn, but all of New York in the '80s. And renaming this station in his honor would put it on the map and help ensure that people don't forget." If that doesn't happen, maybe we can just all think of the JMZ line (sans Z) as the MJ line from now on.

Last night Joe's Pub hosted a Michael Jackson edition of their Our Hit Parade series. Some adorable kids joined in on the fun (video here), performing as the Jackson 6, only to be upstaged by one Mr. Alan Cumming. Watch him adorably fumble over the words to "You Are Not Alone" and "Smile":

As Michael Jackson memorialmania continues to sweep the nation, nay, The World, here's a nice little tribute that recently went down at the Trinity Wall Street Church. That's right, the June 28th service included "Beat It," "ABC," and other hits from MJ's catalogue.

Well, it lasted longer than it was supposed to: the Keith Haring tribute mural that went up last April on Houston and Bowery is being whitewashed today. The mural went up to celebrate what would have been the artist's 50th birthday, it underwent a modification by his former collaborator in July 2008, and was meant to be down by this past December, according to Animal NY. We contacted Deitch Projects, who along with the Keith Haring Foundation commissioned the recreation of the artist's piece, to find out what might go up on the wall next. We'll update the post when we hear back, but in the meantime, expect it to be tagged by some enterprising young street artists by sun up.

The King of Pop's death and legacy was honored by the City Council today. But PolitickerNY, which took video (below), noticed that some City Council members walked out—Republicans Jimmy Oddo, Vinny Ignizio and Eric Ulrich and Democrats Peter Vallone Jr. and Lew Fidler—during fellow members Inez Dickens' and Helen Diane Foster's tributes.

The Apollo Theater is ready to open its doors between 2 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for mourners to remember music icon Michael Jackson. During 45 minute intervals, 600 mourners at time will be allowed inside the theater where Jackson and his brothers won Amateur Night in 1967. The mourners will be able to leave memorabilia and flowers, while Jackson's music will be played along with video tributes. Mourners can also sign the tribute wall outside the theater. Under the Apollo's marquee, Reverend Al Sharpton will be leading a moment of silence at 5:26 p.m.—Jackson's time of death—and give a eulogy. On Wednesday night, there will be a moonwalking component during Amateur Night at the Apollo. Apollo Theater Foundation President Jonelle Procope said, "We at the Apollo thought it was important to put these events together to give Michael's fans the chance to remember him as the consummate entertainer that he was." The Apollo Theater is on West 125th Street, between between Adam Clayton Powell (7th Avenue) & Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Avenue).

Following the fall that Nicole Gagne took when the outdoor staircase at 5Pointz collapsed over the weekend, the graffiti artists who are responsible for painting the murals covering the Long Island City building have added a new one in tribute to her.

       

This coming week, throngs of John Lennon fans will come together once again to celebrate his life and remember the day that he was murdered outside of his home at the Dakota. The Beatle was shot on the night of December 8th (28 years ago this Monday) by Mark David Chapman (who was just denied parole again). Shortly after, he was pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital, and was later cremated in Hartsdale, New York. Today, those who loved and admired him continue to commemorate his life.

Cartoonist Harry Bliss has been drawn into a bit of controversy over at the New Yorker because his illustration for last week’s cartoon caption contest (right) is the spitting image of a Marvel comic book cover from 1962 (left). Bliss’s editors were seemingly unaware of the resemblance, and no credit was given to the original, inked by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. And yes, life is now imitating Seinfeld episode #169, in which The New Yorker publishes a Ziggy cartoon inadvertently plagiarized by “some charlatan” (Elaine).

Nylon has some shots of the new Keith Haring mural going up on E. Houston as a tribute to the artist on his upcoming birthday, May 4th. Still a work-in-progress, you can find it between Bowery and 2nd Avenue.

Two of the more recognizable New Yorkers down in Austin last week for SXSW were Lou Reed and Moby. During a tribute show for...himself, Reed showed up for a 7-minute encore of "Walk on the Wilde Side," which can be seen below.