Brooklyn Loves MJ- Why Every Michael Jackson Fan Needs to Attend At Least Once

I’ve been looking forward to the annual Brooklyn Loves MJ party since the last one ended.

Every year Spike Lee hosts this event around the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s birthday. It is now at its third location but, managed to come back bigger and better than ever.

I attended the very first Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson party in 2009.

It was honestly the first time I had ever experienced listening to Michael Jackson’s music in public with thousands of other people. But more importantly, with people who loved him just as much I did.

Being a dedicated Michael Jackson fan can feel lonely at times. I find this to be true ESPECIALLY now, that he's no longer here. But every year at Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson, I realize there are seas of people who feel just the way I do.

For those who may not know, Spike Lee directed the short film for "They Don't Care About Us" as well as the poshumous documentaries, for Bad 25 and Off the Wall. This year he hosted the event with Rosie Perez who he starred with years ago, in his film “She’s Gotta Have It”. (On a sidenote, the film has been redone and will be available as a TV show on NETFLIX, on Thanksgiving Day. I am SUPER excited about checking it out after seeing the trailer. )

The Brooklyn Loves Michael celebration is unlike anything else I've experienced as a fan. It's something that I feel every Michael Jackson fan should try to attend, AT LEAST ONCE.

First of all, it’s free to the public.

You’ll see people of all ages, races, backgrounds, and cultures at the block party dancing and enjoying Michael’s music.

Second, except for a few selections- it’s ALL Michael Jackson music, ALL day.

DJ Spinna (one of my favorite DJs) has been on the wheels of steel each and every time and he does a consistently amazing job. His 7 hour set covers all of the hottest tracks from Michael’s solo career, the Jacksons era, and ALL of the greatest hits from the Jackson 5.  I spoke with a friend around 7:30pm, as we lingered during the stage break-down. We talked about how amazing it would be for this party to be EVEN longer. That’s us fans- we can never really get enough of Michael’s music.

my friends awesome flask... filled with good ole h20 of course!

Third, the sense of community and kinship among both diehard MJ fans, casual fans, and NEW fans is incredible.

My friends come equipped with folding chairs, coolers (this time full of frozen grapes- yum!), and our best Michael Jackson gear. Some people are there just passing by and end up staying. A lot of others are folks from the neighborhood that enjoy watching the festivities from the stoops of their Brooklyn brown house homes. Others bring their kids, decked out in Thriller jackets, fedoras, and rhinestone gloves. Seeing the next generation (some of whom were not even ALIVE when Michael was) ALWAYS makes me happy. Michael Jackson was MAGIC to me as a kid and to know that he’s bringing that same sense of wonder and enjoyment to kids today, really touches my heart.  

Two of the moments I look forward to the most are when Spike leads the crowd in singing “Wanna Be Starting Something” and “They Don’t Care About Us” together. At every party, the crew (otherwise known as “MJ SQUAD”) pass out cardboard signs with lyrics from each of the two songs. When the songs are played towards the end of the evening, everyone sings in unison with signs in hand.

Another thing I loved about this year was how involved the audience was.

Both Rosie and Spike interacted with the crowd and called fans up on stage to dance. There were also few appearances and performances by special guests, including hip-hop artist Talib Kweli and JT Taylor of Kool & the Gang.

JT Taylor performed a few songs, including “Hollywood Swingin” and “Ladies Night”. Thinking back to a video I’d seen of Kool & the Gang performing the same song years ago, brought tears to my eyes. I'm an emotional person and moments like these often serve as reminders of Michael's absence.

If you click the link you’ll be able to see a video of Michael singing along to “Ladies Night” at an awards show in 1979. It’s a candid moment and something we don’t see often- Michael Jackson casually singing along with another artist and enjoying a performance as an audience member.  In spite of the "moment" I had- the video is very enjoyable- check it out!

__________________________

I met Spike Lee briefly at Afropunk last year. I was there as a vendor (with my day job) and was completely bummed that I had to work. Of course I loved working the festival but, honestly would have rather been at BK Loves MJ that entire day.

Running into him that night was unexpected and I chalked it up to fate.  God had placed Spike Lee RIGHT in front of me and it was only right to seize the moment.

I took the opportunity to go and say hello. It was just before the festival closed and I didn't want to take up too much of his time. I didn't think of anything long and meaningful but, I was able to share that I was a huge Michael Jackson fan. I also expressed how much the BK Loves MJ celebration meant to me and ALL MJ fans. He was kind and said thank you, with a smile. 

I'm not sure if anyone has ever thanked him for what he does to keep Michael's legacy and spirit alive but, I'm glad I had the chance to.

I am so grateful to him still and always will be.

For almost 7 hours straight I danced my heart out, spent time with friends, and celebrated Michael.

Michael Jackson would have turned 59 on August 29th this year.

Although I think of him almost daily and miss his presence more than ever, I am so happy that events like this still exist.

I’ll be at DO THE RIGHT THING WAY again next year, same time, same place for the Brooklyn Loves MJ Celebration. I’m already counting down the days.

Stay tuned for another surprise element to my review. (Subscribe to the newsletter to find out when it's live!)

Gratitude- Reflections on a week of Michaeling

The past few days have been somewhat of a whirlwind. 

I haven't been sleeping much.

I haven't been traveling or preoccupied with work (for once) but, just really busy with enjoying my friendships and "Michaeling".

For those of you that aren't familiar with the term, it's a common term for fangirls (and guys alike), especially here in NYC. Michaeling refers to any series of activities or Michael Jackson related events that one engages in, at any given time.  I've done three fun MJ related events with friends in the last few days and I thought I'd share some of it here.

The first event I attended was DJ Spinna's annual FOREVER MICHAEL party in Brooklyn.

DJ Spinna has been one of my favorite DJs for a long time. I feel like he and I really vibe off of the same wavelength when it comes to Michael Jackson. He plays all of the well known songs of course but, really digs into the crates and plays a lot of lesser known Jacksons' tracks at all of his MJ parties. Some of my favorites that night were "That's What You Get (For Being Polite)" and Jackson 5's "Body Language". I love a lot of the R&B and deeper grooves as opposed to the more popular pop/rock type songs so, DJ Spinna parties are always great times for me.

For six hours straight, friends and I danced and enjoyed the atmosphere. I got there around 10:30pm with my blogging bestie (also my best friend from high school) and stayed all the way until after 4am. One of the few times I've went to an MJ event with a non- MJ fan friend but, it was a great experience. She and I both had a lot of fun.

The first ALL Michael-music party I ever attended was on August 29th, 2009... just around 2 months after his death. It was a bittersweet moment. As a kid I'd always dreamed of being together with people who really got me. I've never publicly admitted this but, one of my favorite Michael Jackson short films was always "HIStory". Weird for some but, it represented a reality that I could only ever dream about (watch the video here).

After years and years of daydreaming... parties like this became real life. So much so, that I stopped going for a few years. But, it feels good to be back into the swing of things.

Here are some photos from the night below:

It's sad that it took losing Michael for me to completely find the sense of community that I had always searched for. But, nevertheless... I am grateful.

With one of my MJFAM sisters, who I founded Legacy of Love NYC (an MJ fan club) with, 7 years ago. 

The smiles you see above belong to 6 hours of non-stop Michael music and the feelings of 4:30am.

On June 29th, I saw my first movie under the New York City stars.

Friends and I gathered for one of the NYC Parks: Movies Under the Stars events and of course, we went specifically to see

Michael Jackson's This Is It

.

I am not one of those people who gets sad when I watch This Is It. I can watch it at home and feel okay (usually at least until "Man In The Mirror") so, I was excited for this gathering without hesitation.

When I got to the park, the inflatable screen was already blown up and some of my friends had already arrived to hold down a spot. We all came equipped with blankets and snacks but, at MJ fans always do... out group took it to the next level,

When I got to the park entrance, I immediately knew which direction to head. Why? Well... my friend brought her speaker and was blasting some cool MJ tracks loud enough to be heard throughout the area. 

And what's a movie without a full picnic spread, including some drinks to get us all a little loose and relaxed on a Thursday night?

We also had fun reading the closed captions- some of them accurate, some of them not so much so.

After the movie we stayed in the park and listened to music together until well after midnight.

The last event I attended was seeing

Who's Bad

, my favorite Michael Jackson tribute band, perform at Brooklyn Bowl.

It was my seventh time seeing Who's Bad and each time feels like the first. You can read about my reviews of the band

HERE

and

HERE

but, I've said it before and I will say it again- they are THE BEST at what they do! 

I can only speak for myself but. I LOVE Michael Jackson tribute shows because I love hearing Michael's music played loud and live by fellow fans. 

James Times III is my new favorite tribute artist. He performs with awesome precision and you can tell that he has practiced a lot and takes a lot of pride in capturing Michael's energy on stage. You know how certain artists remind you of certain eras? 

Well, James is 100% Dangerous Tour to me and I think that's pretty good. (Most rank around HIStory tour or are frankly, only comparable to Michael's tour dancers.) Who's Bad has always done a pretty good job at selecting their main Michael leads and James is no exception.

He is also incredibly kind and took multiple photos with my friends and I, with a smile.

The Who's Bad band is also SUPER good! They have a new guitarist that I noticed did a great job fitting right in with the team. If you're interested to find out when they will be in your town, check out their official website

whosbadmusic.com

.

---

I had a moment this week that really reminded me what my love for Michael Jackson and his music is all about. Someone asked me at the Forever Michael party, what I loved about Michael.

I gave him a smart-ass answer... "EVERYTHING."

He challenged me further 

"No-- really?" he said... "What is it about Michael Jackson that you love? You say you're a real fan... so tell me... what is it?"

I looked around the room and held my hands out towards my friends. "You see all of these people?... This is why I love Michael Jackson....

he gave me all of this".

Michael Jackson is so loved, in part because of how he brought (and continues to bring) people together. Since the age of 14/15, I've been blessed to be a part of the fan community and have created so many bonds and friendships since then. My very best friends are people I've met through being a fan. Although we may not always see eye to eye, it's ALL LOVE. And that's the truth. 

I hope that you all enjoyed this post and special shout out to my friends who appear above and gave me permission to include them here.

____________________________________________

This post is dedicated to Michael Jackson. 

Michael- Thank you for all of the music & the memories. 

You are missed.

Why do YOU love Michael Jackson?

How would you answer that question briefly, to someone you've never met?

Spike Lee's Brooklyn Loves MJ 2014

Hello hello!
It's been a long time!

Summer has been good to me and Autumn is fast approaching. Can you believe how time flies?

I am back today to share my experience at this year's Brooklyn Loves MJ party, presented by Spike Lee & 40 Acres.

 In previous years, the celebration was held at Prospect Park but, after a few years of cancellations, and a shutdown from Hurricane Irene, Spike Lee and DJ Spinna reunited again on August 24th, 2014 at Restoration Plaza.

The party ran from 12-6 but, I got there around 2pm.  The space was much smaller than the Nethermead meadow at Prospect Park but, the energy was very much the same. I met up with some of my closest friends there. The funny thing about MJFAM, is that we may not speak to each other for months (sometimes even years!) but when we come together for huge events like Brooklyn Loves MJ, it's ALL about love and friendship.

Being around people and all enjoying Michael's music makes it an emotional experience for me.

My favorite part about being at the Spike Lee party, is feeling Michael's energy there. I consider myself to be a spiritual person and I often feel God's presence in my life. I often get those "aha! moments," humbling moments, and a sense of direction on which path I should be taking. But, other than God...  at times, I feel the presence of loved ones that I have lost. 

Although I never met him and have only seen him perform live once, Michael Jackson has had a profound impact on my life. He's been a pillar of strength for me. He's inspired me to never give up chasing dreams and working hard... and just made it cool to be different. His fans are people that I've always felt at home with, because we were all DIFFERENT in unique ways but, all accepted each other at face value. Something I had never really experienced before being a part of this community. 

It's sad to think about the fact that Michael is no longer with us but, when I attend events like Brooklyn Loves MJ, I see the impact that he has had on people and I feel his presence in the air. 

Happy (early) Birthday Michael.

Thanks for bringing so much JOY to the world. 

Review: Dave Paul's PRINCE Vs. MICHAEL JACKSON party at DROM

Happy TUESDAY everyone!

Today's a pretty exciting time in the community isn't it? If you have not already heard, a new album composed of songs from the MJ vault, XSCAPE, is being released on 5/13/14. My first thought when I saw the promo was... Uhhhhh we have already heard XSCAPE before! I hope that the rest- if not all, of the album is made of songs that we actually have not heard. I guess we will see... Post your comments below if you have any additional information on this project :)

Now on to the main event...

This weekend I went to the Dave Paul Prince VS. Michael Jackson experience party with about twenty close friends. And yes.... I said twenty. People always ask me , who do you go to these Michael Jackson parties with? When I say I know all of the hardcore Jackson fans there... I am not lying. We all know each other from a past life.

Just joking!

We know each other from Legacy of Love, the fan club I run in NYC with my good friend MJYanaGirl and Thrill the World's NYC chapter. It goes without saying that when we are all there, it's always a fun time but, this weekend at DROM was probably the best Prince VS Michael Jackson event I've ever been to.

the girl was bad. the girl was dangerous.

I decided to go wearing my new Urban Outfitters t-shirt. I got it in last week and I could not wait to throw it on. I am usually a size 4-6  depending on the brand so, a men's small fit me beautifully. If you're interested, check out Urban Outfitters, they offer free shipping with any purchase $50 or more... Buy one for you and a friend!

Dave and Marco (yes there were two DJs!) played all of the favorites from "I wanna be your lover" and "I want you back" to "Cream" and "Billie Jean". The party started jumping with non stop dance music from the beginning but, around 2am there was the sweet spot! They played DSTYGE and WBSS and all of my friends got on stage and danced their butts off! I even got up there for a few songs but, I really had no clue what I was doing, ha.

mjfangirl & my dancin' friend S

mjfangirl & my groovy friend I

mjfangirl & my lovely friend M

The highlight of the night was a little after 3am for me. To be honest, most other people had left by that point and it was mostly Michael Jackson fans at the venue. Dave Paul ended the party with my favorite Prince song "Adore" and a bunch of MJ music that you rarely ever hear in a party setting. Come on... Where else are you going to hear "I Can't Help It"... "Everybody" by the Jacksons... AND the full version of "I Am Love"???

Dave Paul knows that the Michael Jackson fans love and support his parties and in turn, always does something special for the fans!

photo courtesy of photographer Kurt W/ via FB

billie jean

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A Guide to Michael Jackson Season for #MJFAM- Part One

If you are at all attentive to the Michael Jackson online community, I am sure that you've come across the term "Michael Jackson season" more than a few times. The well-known "all things Jackson" Youtube guru Gadget Trish coined this term a few years ago. It refers to a period in time during which the Michael Jackson community is most active. After 2009, June pretty much kicked off Michael Jackson season but to my surprise (and JOY)- Michael season is starting earlier and earlier as time goes by. (I ain't made at that!)

If you aren't living in NYC, you may not even be familiar with the events associated with MJ season but, I am hoping that this post will break down all of the biggest events in Michael Jackson season 2013. I plan on doing another update later this summer in a part 2 installment but for now, take a look at what the season will bring us in May and June.




May

Thrill the World NYC & Legacy of Love at the 2013 Dance Parade


This year two of the most loved groups within the MJ fan community will join forces to dance at the annual New York City Dance Parade! Rehearsals are just about through but, there is still time for you to join in by being a spectator and cheering fellow #mjfam on!  One of the coolest things about this year is that they will be LEADING the parade- a HUGE and awesome honor.

The parade is on Saturday, May 18th-   join the Facebook event for more information! (Oh and if you like what you see- be sure to join in next year!)

Who's Bad Tribute Show

I have been to this show only once but, I have to say that it's my absolute favorite tribute show. The great thing about Who's Bad is not only the fact that they are big MJ fans themselves but, also that they take advantage of having a live band and encourage fan interaction. If you are a Michael Jackson fan who has never experienced Michael live, I would highly recommend this show to you. PS:  I am not one for impersonations so... coming from me, this is a pretty big deal!  The Who's Bad Show will be going down at BB King's in NYC on May 30th but, be sure to check the band's Official Website for more information on tour dates around the world.



June

Apollo Theater Vigil with MJ Fans of NY 

Everyone knows that the Apollo Theatre is one of the places that the Jackson Five got their start. I personally go to the Apollo with many other fans, to join MJ Fans of NY in this annual vigil. On an otherwise somber and sad day, this is a great way to celebrate Michael's music and life with others. You won't really find your typical #mjfam fan but, more of the general public that has enjoyed his music. Nevertheless, if you like seeing people dancing and enjoying the music, but don't mind shedding a few tears when we all join hands and sing "Man In The Mirror" when dusk sets in, this gathering is for you. For more information... just show up on June 25th in front of Harlem's Apollo Theater.

In the Studio With Michael Jackson Seminars    (Buy Tickets Now on Ticketbud.com)

If anyone knows me, they know that I am all about the MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC. This event is pretty much a dream come true for a fan like me so I have been urging all of my friends across the US to show this event some love and buy tickets! If you haven't heard (or seen my last post) here's a quick run-down of this unique and one of a kind seminar. 

Technical director to Michael Jackson for nearly two decades, Brad Sundberg has announced a series of informative seminars to take place this June in New York City. Brad will be sharing behind-the-scenes stories and little known facts from his time working with Michael on the Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory albums. This interactive, music and video-filled seminar will bring fans closer than they could ever imagine to working with Michael “In the Studio”. Brad will share the back stories from the projects he worked on, including firsthand experiences of being with Michael when we wrote and recorded his demos and songs. For more on Brad and what he says we can expect from the seminar, check out his exclusive Q&A with MJJC .

Only 50 fans have the chance to be at each seminar and VIP tickets for the first day are already sold out! I personally can't wait for this, as I feel it will bring me closer to Michael and bring me a greater understanding of what went into the music that was to become the SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE. I hope that a lot of fans show up, as it is rare that anyone who has worked so closely with Michael is willing to spend one-on-one time with the MJ fan base.   

   Buy Tickets for SATURDAY June 29th!     \\    Buy Tickets for SUNDAY June 30th! 

I will be at most (if not all) of these events and I totally look forward to celebrating and enjoying the special gifts that Michael left us, with my Michael Jackson family again this year. 

What will YOU be doing this MJ season? Got any other events to add to the list?

NOTE: If you are interested in getting involved in the "offline" fan community, you should join the most awesome MJ group on the planet (if I do say so myself!) Legacy of Love. My co-organizer and I would love to have ya! <3

Be sure to follow MJFANGiRL on social for more! 

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Breaking News: Legacy of Love NY MJ Fan Club Makes Headlines!

So proud. 

I never could have imagined that this small little club could become something so big, so meaningful, and so much fun for so many fans along the East Coast. 

If you are looking for a sure-fire way to make friends, this is certainly it.

<3

To join Legacy of Love check us out here (oh and tell em that MJFANGIRL sent cha). 

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King Of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson - Michael Bush New York Book Signing

I just wanted to pop in and announce to my readers that my partner in crime and fellow co-organizer at Legacy of Love has made a huge announcement! 

After much questioning and reaching out to the Michael Bush camp, there is going to be a book signing...

 right here in New York City in less than two weeks! 

PREORDER: The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson

----

For those of you who don't know Michael Bush, if you are a Michael Jackson fan, it's no DOUBT that you've seen his work on Michael at some point. So many of Michael's most iconic moments have been captured on film and the work of designer Michael Bush played a major part in his regal style. Michael Bush and his partner Dennis Tompkins not only worked with Michael through the Bad era onto the This Is It tour preparations, but they also designed some things for Neverland Valley Ranch and accessories used in other parts of Michael Jackson's life.

Some of you might say... okay, what could possibly be IN this book that would tickle my fancy? Well, here's a small excerpt from the official website, dressingmichaeljackson.com:

 "THE KING OF STYLE will feature exquisite photographs of the striking fashions worn by Michael at the height of his career, as well as images showing the carefully planned construction of the clothes to incorporate his unique dance moves and the details of the dynamic fabrics, metals and other materials used. Accompanying text will provide insight into the artists’ methodology and fascinating stories from their decades-long relationship. Their stories are funny and touching, and show a human and artistic side of Michael Jackson not seen in the various other books about him on the market."


Interested? If you happen to be one of the lucky ones who will be at the annual Comic Convention (Comic Con) at the Jacob Javitz Center, you can visit Michael Bush for an advance copy of his book Dressing Michael Jackson there.

For those who won't make that, the Michael Jackson Fan Exclusive book signing will be held at the Hard Rock New York Times Square on Friday, October 12th from 3-5 p.m. 

Guests will be the FIRST in the world to purchase the book and get it personally autographed by Michael Bush.

I am so sad because I will be on a business trip and unable to attend this event but, I am SUPER excited for all of my friends that will get to have this amazing opportunity  I can personally vouch that after Michael passed away in 2009, I reached out to Michael Bush on Facebook and asked him what the CTE on Michael's shirts stood for. He was kind enough to answer me in a private message. (I wore a replica of Michael's CTE shirt to a party last spring). There's no doubt to the answer to that and other burning questions will be inside the book!


What are you waiting for?       Visit LegacyOfLoveNYC.com for more information on how to attend with other MJ Fans in the area!

Forever Michael Review & Michael Jackson BAD T-Shirt.

Hey all!

So I am back with an update on the Michael birthday weekend festivities. It was really a great weekend overall but, can I say that I could hardly move on Sunday afternoon?

#truestory

It all started with the MJ Fun Fest held by Heal the World for Children. 

I was one of many volunteers there and was at the registration/sign-in table for the majority of the time. I really enjoy that job because I am pretty organized and consider myself to be a people person so, dealing with wristbanding and consent form collection is my thing. And if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that my career goal is to become an event producer, and registration is one of my specialties.

The sun was blazing hot but, the shining rays were lovely reminders of Michael's love and the good that we were doing for all of the children. (Plus, we had our handy dandy Michael Jackson umbrellas shading us from the sun. Can you see my arm peaking out on the right side?)


The children engaged in Arts&Crafts, played games, and got to snack on pizza and yummy cake. The best part was watching the kids interact with the Thrill the World dancers and Aarteast, one of NYC's best tribute artists.


And onto the night, Forever Michael.

This year DJ Spinna held a slammin party at Dekalb Market in Brooklyn and as always, the party was awesome and rockin' all night long. I used to dream about parties where they'd play MJ all night long.

Kinda like the HIStory Remix music video but cooler.

Yeah... :)


Here are some pictures of me getting my groove on.

It was a fun weekend. I chose to wore the BAD shirt because we are all so anxiously awaiting BAD 25 and what better way to show my love for the BADDEST man in the history of music?

I got my shirt right here on amazon.com. it's really good quality and a nice fitting Ladies Shirt for those of you who like the BAD era like I do.

Celebrating Michael is always bittersweet but, many good memories were made with my MJ Family.





Well, until the next adventure....

Spike Lee, Brooklyn Loves MJ Cancelled - DJ Spinna to Still Spin on August 25th

One of the biggest and most shocking disappointments of Michael Jackson season 2012 has been the sudden cancellation of the BK loves MJ party in Prospect Park. 

I can say that I, like many others looked forward to this all year and the cancellation just 12 days before the event was really frustrating. It was also cancelled last year due to Hurricane Irene.

I hope that it will go on next year since it will be Michael's 55th birthday in spirit.


On the flip side, its awesome to know that the party isn't stopping for DJ Spinna! He will be throwing an alternative event from 6pm-12am in Delkalb Market, also in Brooklyn. Its open to people of all ages and free for children 13 and under - only 10 bucks each for everyone else. You know that I've raved about his work here and here so, you can guess where I will be!


There are also other options like the annual Heal the World for Children Festival which will feature activities, food, and fun for children of all ages that morning. After that, there is the MJ Fanmily Event (organized by 3 rockin' ladies who spearhead the Thrill the World event every year) in Central Park at 3pm.


All of these events can be found my doing a simple Facebook search and if I have any updated information I will post links accordingly.

What are you doing to celebrate Michael's birthday this year?

A Fan Review- Spike Lee's Annual Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson Party in Prospect Park

If you are an active member of the Michael Jackson fan community, I'm sure that you've heard of one of the biggest events of the summer. Every year since 2009, Spike Lee has hosted a gathering in Brooklyn's Prospect Park to celebrate and remember Michael Jackson's life. Its become one of the absolute must -attend events for me and I'm sure, many other fans feel the same.  

This year it will be held on August 25th from 12pm-5pm and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

The first year I attended, it was on August 29th which happened to land on a Sunday. It was the first summer without Michael. I know to some non-fans that sounds extreme but hear me out... For YEARS I'd go days and days without listening to anything besides Michael's voice. In fact, my first MP3 player (a Creative Zen *throwback*) was actually full of MJ related songs (there may have been 20-25 other songs but, besides that it was strictly the King of Pop). I am serious when I say that I'd spend all day in high school staring at my Michael Jackson binder (before they had MJ stationary I had to handcraft mine) and I'd come home to chat with my MJ friends (most of whom I am still besties with today). I'd browse eBay for the most interesting and rare finds and spend hours on MJJC (when it was MJJForum). When I say it was a summer without Michael, I mean it was the first time in my life without knowing that MJ was somewhere out there. All of my dreams about new albums, new music, the chance to meet him, new interviews, heck- even the latest paparazzi pictures would never ever come to fruition. It was what I thought was the end to a beautiful (sometimes painful) but, a special chapter of my life.


When Michael left us in June 2009, I was not at the height of my fandom. It's the truth. I'd just graduated from a prestigious university (We Are... Penn State!), was in the beginnings of my relationship with my first love, and I had a ton of money in my pocket. I had planned to totally have a kick-ass summer. Unfortunately, when Michael died, so did those plans.

Until the Brooklyn Loves Michael Party...

This party is special to me for soooo many reasons but, the number one reason is that it makes me feel closer to Michael. If any of you guys have ever suffered a loss, you know that certain activities and certain things just make you feel CLOSER to the person that you lost. For Michael, it's events like these that help me remember why I love this guy and his music so much. Being around thousands upon thousands that have been touched in the same way helps as well. DJ Spinna is the resident DJ for this event (I think I've told you before how much I LOVE DJ Spinna's MJ set) and there are always special guests popping up on stage to celebrate Michael's legacy.

If you are a fan of BLASTING MJ's music in your room/car/in your headphones... you will LOVE this party. Trust me, you have never heard MJ's music loud until you come to this event. It's just beautiful to hear ALL of his songs (I will say some eras get more love than others but, perfect for those who love the J5 and Jacksons music too- like me!). Most of the songs are faster ones, from "Can You Feel It" to "ABC"

The first year I attended, I remember there was this super magical moment where it started to rain and just really get windy and foggy out but, before you know it, the sun shined, bursting with light and drying the field. It was like Michael cleared the skies for us and let us know that everything would be okay! I am not one of those fans that has a deep spiritual connection to Michael or anything but, I totally felt his presence running through me that day.

Last year the party was cancelled because of the awful weather we were having but, this year it seems like nothing will be stopping the show. If you are thinking of traveling to attend--- do it!

I promise you will not be disappointed. 

For more information on this AWESOME event, happening August 25th this year from 12 noon -5pm Click HERE    and don't forget to check out the Brooklyn Loves MJ Facebook fan page for more information and to link up with fans who will be attending. 


I hope to see you all there!

Do you anxiously await the Brooklyn Loves MJ party each year as much as I do?

 Wanna meet up with me and the rest of the Legacy of Love NYC crew (legacyoflovenyc.com) --- 

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