Spike Pulls Plug on Dekalb HQ
It’s official: Spike Lee has moved his 40 Acres and a Mule production company out of its long-time headquarters at 124 Dekalb Avenue. A reader noticed movers coming and going last week and the drive-by this morning confirmed that the company’s big red flag had been taken down. A call to 40 Acres a few…
It’s official: Spike Lee has moved his 40 Acres and a Mule production company out of its long-time headquarters at 124 Dekalb Avenue. A reader noticed movers coming and going last week and the drive-by this morning confirmed that the company’s big red flag had been taken down. A call to 40 Acres a few minutes ago revealed that the company has consolidated its activities into one location. And, luckily, it’s not on the Upper East Side, where Lee decamped several years ago with his family. It’s just a block away at 76 South Elliott Place.
Spike’s Gone But 40 Acres and a Mule Lingers On [Brownstoner] GMAP
Too many Jews on the Westside for Lee
1:30:
That’s true about Riverside Park. At the time it was built, the East River was lined with factories and tenements populated by a German, Irish, and Hungarian working class. These buildings came down for the terrible high-rises that distinguish the area east of Third Avenue from the Gold Coast’s town houses and pre-War co-ops to the west. Except for Carl Schurz Park, what do they have over there? Concrete running paths along the East River Drive! (Not exactly healthy, either.)
Woody, by the way, lives in a palatial house on the East Side, having moved from a co-op on Fifth. Much bigger than Spike’s house — but then he’s older.
Moore? I think on Central Park West (no doubt to be among “the people”).
I like many of these directors’ works, by the way. If Lee made only “Do the Right Thing” he could retire. And “Crimes and Misdemeanors” by Allen is one of the best mordant looks at New York and its value systems — ever. These guys have aspects of New York down cold!
And Moore hit it of the park with “Sicko.” It’s so strong I’m going to have to wait a while before seeing it again.
Biff, last time I visited, Woody was in a big co-op on the Upper East but that was before the whole Soon-Yi thing. Mia might have gotten it in the break-up. Pity, he had a nice screening room and editing room on the first floor.
I got jungle fever shes got jungle fever we’ve got jungle fever in Bloomies baby! Yes Tanya and Spike in Bloomies. Why deal with the hood and all the black folk. weze made it! We finally got our piece of the pie!!!
1:22, good points all. I used to spend most of my time in Central Park on the weekend, but was contemplating more that if you don’t live on the “Gold Coast” and are closer to water and don’t want to go to Central Park, i.e., 3rd Avenue to East End Ave or Broadway to West End Ave, Riverside Park is a better alternative to what the East Side has. I prefer a mix of people, unlike “old-line East Siders”, which is why I prefer the UWS.
As a total non-sequitur, I think Michael Moore lives on the UWS. In the battle of directors, which side wins? Is Woody on the UWS or UES?
Inside Man is decidedly mediocre. All it is a rehash of a true crime featured on of those A&E shows.
1:10:
There’s the East Side and there’s the East Side’s “Gold Coast,” where the Lee’s live.
The blocks between Lexington and Fifth can be nice and low, many with beautiful, individually-designed town houses, as opposed to the mass-produced brownstones on the West Side (built for the middle classes, as described in Robert Stern’s New York 1900).
And with Central Park, how much open space do you need?
Granted, there’s more of a “mix” of people on the West Side, but that’s exactly what old-line East Siders pay to avoid.
Too bad that Lee moved from Brooklyn (his promise of fealty to the borough obligates him somewhat) but I chuckle to think that his appearance probably got some of my racist neighbors in a twist.
To: 12:33,
Expression is worthless if it is not explored, critiqued and tested. You are advocating for a worthless artist. All artists engage the public in dialogue. It is their raison d’etre.
On a tangent, much of today’s art is labeled worthless because they are commercially-motivated pieces marketed to a certain image of the young and wealthy New Yorker, the assumption being that the content is designed to sell and not to convey an independent message.
1:05, true – nothing wrong with that. Although I’m not in the Social Register last I checked, and don’t ever expect to be, I lived in the 60s (street, not decade) on the UES and eventually needed a change. Regarding Spike’s movies, I think he’s an incredible and original film maker. I love all his stuff.