Spike Lee Honors Michael Jackson at Annual Summer Party in Brooklyn

Crowd Dances, Sings to the King of Pop's Songs

http://online.wsj.com/articles/spike-lee-honors-michael-jackson-at-annual-summer-party-in-brooklyn-1409019164

By  David Shapiro

Aug. 25, 2014 10:12 p.m. ET

 

Director Spike Lee at his annual summer get-together in Brooklyn. Kevin Hagen for The Wall Street Journal

Spike Lee rarely cracked a smile as he walked around his annual party in Brooklyn signing autographs, fist-bumping fans and throwing T-shirts into the dancing-and-singing crowd.

Mr. Lee's stone-faced hosting style appeared out of sync with the jubilant atmosphere at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, where thousands of revelers gathered Sunday afternoon to celebrate what would have been Michael Jackson's 56th birthday.

At the party, titled "Brooklyn Loves MJ," Jackson's iconic music boomed for blocks around. In the neighborhood, passersby danced while carrying groceries. Residents of the apartments overlooking the plaza nodded their heads to the beat as they surveyed the scene from their balconies.

Mr. Lee strode through the crowd wearing an orange velveteen fedora (provided by Party City, which outfitted hundreds in free fedoras) and Nike Air Force One sneakers emblazoned with images of Jackson from the "Thriller" era. The sneakers said "Thriller" on the back.

In the early afternoon, Lionel Powell, a 54-year-old man dressed as a tree, caught the attention of many as he danced through the crowd on 10-foot-tall stilts that looked like tree trunks. He crouched on his stilts to speak and to be photographed, and once, when he stood back up, he stretched his arms out, blocking the sun for a moment.

"I'm givin' you a little shade," Mr. Powell said with a laugh.

Gritty James shows off his Michael Jackson moves at Mr. Lee's party, which honored the late pop icon. Kevin Hagen for The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Powell didn't charge passersby for taking photos with him, but plenty of others at the event were interested in making money. People sold Michael Jackson T-shirts, holistic health and beauty products, jerk chicken and fruity beverages.

A 44-year-old man who referred to himself as "The Strange One" sang along to the music while selling what he called "nutcrackers," small bottles of liquor mixed with brightly colored fruit-flavored juices. He charged $5 a bottle.

"I do Grey Goose, tequila, Ciroc and tropical juice. I combine them and thus I've got a nutcracker," he said, holding a handful of bottles and grinning. "If there's a really good DJ and he's playing really good music, it hypnotizes people to where they feel like they have to buy my nutcrackers. It's great for my business."

In the crowd, Mr. Lee may have been the only person without a smile. Police officers bobbed their heads as they patrolled. Maintenance workers sang as they picked up litter. Two emergency medical technicians attempted to learn Jackson's moonwalk.

"We're on duty," said one of the medical technicians, "but when 'Thriller' comes on, you can't just stand there."