Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Roadtrip 2021 - Route 66, Chicago to Los Angeles (getting started)

My wife and I decided to take an extended road trip during July of 2021. We drove the entire historic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.

This 2.448 mile trip, crossing 8 states is very doable, but has some challenges that can be minimized with good planning... 

I spent an entire year planning the trip, but became discouraged with much of the literature and blogs that I found inaccurate, hard to understand and easy to become lost in confusing detail, which makes it difficult to see the bigger picture, and how an efficient, enjoyable trip can be accomplished.   

Over the next year, I plan to add blog posts from my perspective to enable some insight into my trip with tips that may make it easier for those who may want to take this fabulous journey. 

Our trip lasted 10 days on the way out (we drove Chicago to LA), and we believe we experienced Route 66 in a most thorough way. We took a break in Santa Fe for 2 days (a brief departure from Route 66), but this was a great time and much needed resting spot. 

These are the kinds of diversions and worth doing side trips that the "purists" do not usually talk about; I find many books only focus on the road itself, are overly wordy, hard to follow, and offer poor translation to what you will actually experience. I believe and hope you will find this useful.   

This blog will cover the journey and experience from Chicago to LA, but if you travel LA to Chicago, simply reverse the  journey.  

Route 66 Begin Sign

Route 66 begins on E. Adams Street at Michigan Avenue (directly in front of the Art Institute of Chicago). If you stand in front of the Art Institute and walk due west, on the southside of Adams Street, you will run into the "Begin Sign" about 100 feet from Michigan Ave. on the Southside of Adams.

To see the "original sign" which is on the corner E.Adams and Wabash, continue walking due west in the same block to the first corner (Chicago "L" train) runs north and south at this intersection - if you cross the street (Wabash) and go under the "L" you have gone too far.  

Read more »

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Brokaw's gone; Rather's on the way out; Get ready for DJ Ben Steele (DJ Superman)


This article below was written by a friend. It is about my son (Ben) when he was selected as a Disc Jockey in High School. The DJ positon and studio was housed in the J. Everett Light Career Center, the vocational arm of North Central High School (Indianapolis) where my son graduated (North Central).  The career center is located on the campus of North Central.

I found this article recently in my electronic files and wanted to post it to my blog.

Ben's on-air name as a high school disc jockey was "DJ Superman" chosen from (Superman - Man of Steel). Ben graduated from North Central High School in 2006 and went on to graduate from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

Newpaper Article:

Ben Steele, the 16 year old son of my friends David and Lynne Steele has been selected to be the DJ for his class at North Centreal High School from 6-9 PM on Saturdays on the 1000 watt radio station, WJEL, which serves Marion Country and the surrounding area. He won the honor for "displaying responsibility" by manning the station alon on Saturdays during that time slot. Any of you might be interest in catching his show can do so by clicking here for an audio stream of the show (during those hours, of course).

The call letters, WJEL, stand for the J. Everett Light Career Center, the vocational arm of North Central High School, and from the station's web site comes this bit of history:

WJEL went on the air on September 3, 1975. Prior to that date, Radio-TV students only pretended to be on the air while working in training studios. The station was first licensed as a 10-watt, Class D FM station, broadcasting in monaural.

By 1981, we raised our power to 125 watts and in 1986, WJEL began broadcasting in stereo. In the early years our students played albums and 45-RPM records from turntables. Later, we advanced to putting on music on tape cartridges.

From 1976 to the early 1980's, we broadcast various instructional programs on science, spelling and history, that were heard in the school district's elementary classrooms. From the beginning, WJEL has featured current music, news and North Central High School varsity sports.

In February of 1996, WJEL increased its power to 1,000 watts becoming the most powerful high school station in the Indianapolis area.

My congratulations to you, Ben. Who knows what these early working experiences might mean for your life? My friend, Al Dale, who grew up in Gainesville, GA, began his working career in a local radio station in his home town at about your age and later went on to become a news broadcaster for ABC News and traveled the world on many assignments before his retirement a few years ago. You've come a long way from the young boy I used to know (since about 1989, but more personally from the year I spent in your town in 1994) who loved playing with Legos and was a dyed-in-the-wool Pacers fan. I hope you enjoy the challenge and opportunity this assignment presents you. I'm confident you'll handle it well.

Caroline Kennedy's Short Run for Office 2008


When Caroline Kennedy announced seeking the senate seat from New York held by Hillary Clinton in 2008, she was less than supported.  I thought mostly for the wrong reasons. I felt this was largely unfair and decided to write an editorial to the New York Times.

New York Times

Here it is below.....

The Peculiar Case of Caroline

As a Midwesterner I have read from afar the many articles appearing in the popular press regarding the interest Ms. Kennedy has expressed in seeking appointment to a US Senate vacancy. Much of the rhetoric is clearly unfair, judgmental and lacks an objective view of her right to express an interest in this position, and then allowing for the state bureaucracy to appoint her or another person of the Governor’s choosing.

On the issue of qualification, have we forgotten the backgrounds of Gov. Schwarzenegger or Gov. Ventura? On the issue of family name, it seems nothing could be more patriotic than another generation continuing the many years of dedicated service this family has provided their country. On the issue of wealth, we should revisit Sen. McCain who had trouble recalling his real estate portfolio. On the issue of visibility, how many of us knew Gov. Palin or any of her accomplishments until she was placed in the national forum.

So the reality of this mean spirited campaign appears to be nothing about Caroline’s qualification, her commitment, her wealth, and her lack of visibility. The data points all suggest it is about something else much more troubling – machine politics.   At a time when Americans have seen some restoration in the America Dream with the rise of President-elect Obama, contrasted at the other end of the spectrum with no shortage of daunting global challenges - this is clearly a time when we need very bright, caring people in our elected positions. We cannot afford to continue allowing the progression and succession of those appointed by party machines and quid pro quo. It is disconcerting that we only look for fault and not for upside in those who want to serve, and certainly do not have to. The prospect of having someone fresh and in touch with the array of challenges we face, should become the norm and not the exception. 

It is a noble thing to serve one’s country in whatever manner we can, whether it is a small county supervisor in a Midwestern town, a private on security detail in Iraq, or occupying a US Senate seat. We should never forget one of the most basic principles our founding fathers designed into the architecture of our democracy, was the opportunity for any citizen to serve in office. It’s time we let Caroline be a citizen and support her right to express her interest in this position. If chosen, I believe the citizens of New York will be served in an extraordinary manner.

David E. Steele

Indianapolis, Indiana  

Presidential Reflection



January 27, 2008

Op-Ed Contributor

A President Like My Father

By CAROLINE KENNEDY

Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.

My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.

Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.

Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.

I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

Caroline Kennedy is the author of “A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love.”

Excerpt verbatium from the New York Times, January 27, 2008


Sunday, November 18, 2007

Old Oaken Bucket Game - Indiana University vs. Purdue University


Since 1925, each year the Indiana University Hoosiers and Purdue University Boilermakers play a Big Ten conference football game to determine the winner of the Old Oaken Bucket; one of the oldest football trophies in the nation. The Old Oaken Bucket is symbolic of collegiate football supremacy between the two largest public universites in Indiana - the bucket is in it's 83rd year of spirited rivalry. These teams play at the highest level, NCAA Division I.

On Saturday, November 17, I attended my first "bucket game" in person and enjoyed the experience with the company of my son who is a sophmore at Indiana University - Bloomington, and a close friend of mine and his son from Chicago (who are avid Boiler fans).

The Hoosiers won the contest 27 - 24 with kicker Austin Starr sending a 49-yard game winning field goal squarely between the goal posts with 30 seconds remaining.

Earlier in the game Starr had made a 42-yard field goal to set an IU school record for field goals in a season with 18. Ironically, Starr wears jersey #18. "I had a dream this week about me doing this," he said of the game winner. "I'm not sure how long the kick was in my dream, but I prepared myself all week to be the guy to enable us to beat Purdue, to have a game-winning kick."

The weather could have have been more gorgeous; an absolutely beautiful warm sunny, southern Indiana fall day where the afternoon temperature at the 3:30 pm kick-off was 57 degrees, clear skies and no wind. Those from this region know the setting for Indiana football does not get any better than this and Memorial Stadium, with a capacity is 50,180 was sold out.


Accordingly to the Chicago Chapter of the IU Alumni Association, the history of this rivalry began when both institutions, who had met on the field since 1891, held a meeting of the Indiana and Purdue Alumni Chapters of Chicago in 1925 to "discuss the possibility of undertaking worthy joint enterprises in behalf of the two schools."

The creation of a traditional football trophy to go to the winner of the annual clash was proposed. Dr. Clarence Jones of IU and Russell Gray of Purdue were appointed to recommend a suitable trophy.

At a later meeting they recommended "an old oaken bucket" as the most typical Hoosier form of trophy, that the bucket should be taken from a well in Indiana, and a chain to be made of bronze block "I" and "P" letters should be provided for the bucket. The school who wins the traditional football game each years should have possession of the "Old Oaken Bucket" until the next game and should attach the block letter representing the winning school to the bail with the score engraved on the latter link."

Fritz Ernst of Purdue and Indiana's Wiley J. Huddle were givent he task of finding the bucket. They located it on the old Bruner Farm between Kent and Hanover in southern Indiana. The region had been settled by the Bruner family in the 1840's, making today's bucket well over a century old. For the first game, in 1925, excellent repair work put the bucket, moss and mold-covered with some staves showing signs of decay into good shape for its initial appearance, which ended in a 0-0 tie!

I am glad 82 years after the first Old Oaken Bucket game that I was able to enjoy a Hoosier victory! After the win, we all went down onto the field and mixed with the team, students and fans - this was a unique experience that I hope to have again.....

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Reflection - When I met Norman Mailer


Norman Mailer died Saturday, November 11, 2007 in New York City at the age of 84.

He probably would not have wanted an old man's death. He would most likely have liked it to have gone another way - an accident or a bar fight, a lover's brawl, or perhaps at the White Horse Tavern, the Geenwich Village bar where another gifted writer, the poet Dylan Thomas, literally drank himself to death. Mailer was as renowned for hard living, womanising and fist-fights as he was for his literary works. He had nine children by six wives, including one who he stabbed, nearly fatally, in a drunken fight at a party; he also bit off part of the ear of actor Rip Torn.

His career took in other such bizarre events as running for mayor of New York City in attempt to make his beloved city the 51st state. During the 60's and 70's Mailer was one of the leaders of "hipsterdom" in New York; dabbling in avant-garde culture, black power, drugs - he was also co-founder of the alternative newspaper the Village Voice.

While many would have predicted a much more flamboyant demise, unlike his hero Ernest Hemingway; Mailer, the giant of American literature and one of English Language's most gifted writers, died of renal failure in a New York hosptial bed. A few month earlier he had an operation on his lungs to remove scar tissue.

Each year in my hometown of the Indianapolis - Marion County Public Library has sponsored the Marian McFadden Memorial Lecture series; an annual presentation that has hosted such notables as Norman Mailer, John Irving, Judy Blume, Maurice Sendak, Margaret Atwood and John Updike, Saul Bellow and most recently Kurt Vonnugut Jr's son, Mark, who presented the very speech his late father had planned to deliver at this year's 30th anniversary of the McFadden lecture series.

This yearly lecture was established after the Library Foundation received a gift from the estate of Marian McFadden, Director of Public Libraries from 1945-1956. The lecture typically occurs in the Spring and has been offered free to the public since 1978.

I was fortunate enough to meet Norman Mailer at the end of his lecture in probably 1979. My mother, who instilled in me and my brother, and later my son a love of books and reading, wanted to attend this lecture due to her affection for Mailer's works. I recall the lecture being serious, funny, cynical, political as well as deeply intellectual; Mailer talked much about Gary Gilmore, the central figure in the book he was finishing that went on to win the 1979 Pulitizer Prize; The Executioner's Song. This novel was based upon a true story of the double murderer from Utah, Gary Gilmore. Gilmore was the first person executed in the US after the re-instatement of the death penalty in 1976. He made famous the line "let's do it" when he faced his executioner.

My late mother took with her a small 5" x 6" red textile copy of "The Naked and the Dead" (1948) the World War II novel, set in the Pacific, inspired by his experiences as a soldier that made Mailer famous at the age of 25. After the lecture, Mailer stood at the edge of the stage at North Cental High School and talked with a small group of people who had gathered to greet him.

I escorted my mother up the steps on the left side of the stage and Mailer immediately made eye-contact and smiled at my mother as she stood in the circle of probably 8 - 10 people. He quietly acknowledged her and said "hello" and my mother said she loved his novels and asked if he would he be so kind as to sign the book she had brought. He genuinely seemed touched and said "I would love to, what is you name dear". My mother replied Marie and he took out a black cartridge pen and wrote inside the front cover "Best Wishes Marie, Cheers, Norman Mailer". We both shook his hand, relayed our thanks and departed the stage. My brother now has the book in his personal collection.

Several years later my wife and I honeymooned in Provincetown, where Mailer's spent much of his time and was a pillar of the community. Considered an eccentric and outcast in many circles, when in Provincetown he could be himself; the hard-fighting, serial-marrying and Pulitzer Prize winning Mailer played in the town poker tournament, gave numerous readings in support of the Fine Arts Work Center and the local library, and helped raise money to build the town's first theater in nearly three decades.

Mailer's love affair with Provincetown began on a 1943 visit while he was a student at Harvard University, according to J. Michael Lennon, his longtime editor, archivist and friend. Mailer loved the 18th century white clapboard houses in Provincetown as much as he liked the artists, merchants and fisherman who occupied them.

For 60 years he would return to Provincetown, where he bought a brick house overlooking the bay living with his sixth wife of 32 years, Norris Church Mailer. To Mailer, according to Lennon, "Provincetown was the perfect place to write, a place with all the bohemian charm of Greenwich Village without the noise and distraction".

Lennon has gone on to say "he became a fixture in town, everybody knew him, he'd walk down the street to buy a newspaper and wave to people and stop to chat". In his younger days, he would walk the dunes during the day, write late into the night and hold court on the back porch of his home as the sun and into the horizon.

"He choose to live in a small town at the edge of the continent, but he was at the center of the nation's political and social discourse, whether he was taking on the war in Iraq or taking on Adolf Hitler", said friend Seth Rolbein, editor of the Cape Cod voice.

"In his final days, assisted by two canes, Mailer would walk the quarter mile from his home to his favorite resturant, Michael Shay's, order two dozen Wellfleet oysters and take the shells home to ponder them, discerning the face of a Greek warrior in on or a sun goddess in another".

"He had deep blue eyes" said owner Shay Santos, "and when you had a conversation with him, you knew you had his full attention".

The photo I selected to place on this entry is quite similar to the way he looked the night I met him in Indianapolis. I am very happy to have had the opportunity to hear Norman Mailer speak his thoughts in a setting such as this; I am even luckier to have had the chance to make eye contact into those deep blue eyes for just a moment in time, and shake the hand of one of our great literary contributors.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Almost Famous


While growing up I played the drums and other related percussion instruments beginning in the fifth grade and continued through high school and beyond. During grade school I quickly became the best drummer at public school #18, located in the Fountain Square section of Indianapolis. While the first chair drummer in grade school I began the first ever pep band for athletic events and even marched in a parade; something not many people in the 7th grade did in those days, the year was 1968.

As I transitioned into high school, I eventually sat first chair and studied privately from the head of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for all four years of high school. A key event was placing 1st in the state solo ensemble contest held at Butler University for snare drum competition. During high school I played in concert band, orchestra, pit band, pep band and marching band. I was fortunate enough to march in the Indianapolis 500 parade, around the track before the race, and on Monument Circle for various city events that required a high school band. The high school was Manual, which is on the south side. In the 1970’s Manual had a reputation for being the best band and music program in the city.

David Letterman had a show on Saturday morning at channel 13 called “Clover Power” which was sponsored by 4-H to showcase local high school talent. I put together a drum ensemble called “36 heads” which was one of the coolest music events going on at that time. The piece called for 4 drum sets, 8 drum heads each, i.e. two heads on the snare, two heads on the ride tom, two heads on the bass, and two heads on the floor tom. 4 x 8 = 32, then you add in the human head of each drummer which is 4 total and you have 36 heads. The piece was so extraordinary we played at various schools, art museum, and sectional basketball games at half time.

We were spotted by a scout from Clover Power and they had us on the show. I remember it well, we drove to 11th and Meridian where the old channel 13 studio was located (now channel 20) and met a very, very young an not famous, not yet discovered David Letterman. He was very nice to us, and very funny. He told us what a break it was to have something besides kid with their sheep. He bought us cokes in the commissary and joke with us during the taping. I like to tell people “have I ever told you about the time I played the drums live on David Letterman”.

I graduated from high school and went to London with the thought of trying to live there and play live music. Understand at this time I have been playing every day and practicing no less than 30 minutes per day every day of my life since grade school. I was among the best out there. I met a music booking agent in London who told me Steve Miller (who I didn’t really know at the time) was looking for a studio drummer for his next album and was auditioning. If the drummer selected fit the band well, they would go on tour with them. The audition neared and I had met some friends who were going to the continent and down to Greece for the winter. I thought this sounded just about perfect so I took off with them and did not show up for the audition.

I came back to the US and through correspondence learned Steve Miller had really wanted me to audition after hearing my credentials (which were impressive for an 18 year old). He did get a drummer and they cut the studio album which was called “The Joker” and went to #1 within one month after release. The song is still popular to this day.

So, here I am writing about it and thinking whenever I heard the song “The Joker”, I smile and think to myself - that could have been playing the drums on that album…..but at least I got to play on David Letterman!

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Indiana University Kelley School of Business News Release


Kelley Indianapolis News Room
IU Kelley School of Business Indianapolis students learn financial markets firsthand during trip to NYC

2/12/2007 (Kelley Indianapolis)

The New York Stock Exchange and other securities markets have driven capital investment and economic growth in the U.S. for more than 200 years – yet many Americans still lack a basic understanding of these institutions. A recent survey by the National Council on Economic Education showed that more than half of students couldn’t identify the basic purpose of the stock market.

At the IU Kelley School of Business Indianapolis, Professor David Steele is helping reverse this trend, one classroom at a time. For the last six years, Steele has organized a unique field trip for freshman undergraduate students in his Honors X105 course: These students travel to the heart of the U.S. financial capital, New York City, and learn firsthand the history and operations of the securities and public equity markets.

“I saw a lack of understanding of the capital-raising process, which is really a fundamental concept,” said Steele. “I starting thinking, ‘What’s the best way to bring this to life?’ A trip to New York seemed like a great way to get students excited about our financial history and how the system works today.”

In Steele’s Fall 2006 course, 24 students traveled to New York, each spending just over $500 on airfare, lodging and meals. The trip’s itinerary mixed a study of the current markets with a look into the past.

“We visited Alexander Hamilton’s grave and Federal Hall, the first U.S. seat of government; we toured the Museum of Financial History, and stood on the spot where the agreement to form the New York Stock Exchange was signed in 1782,” said Krista Bontreger, one of the students on the trip. “Learning the history helped us understand why things are done the way they are today, and how our government and our financial markets developed together.”

In delving into the modern New York Stock Exchange, students learned the ins and outs of the largest capital-raising market in the world.

“We learned that exchanges like the NASDAQ are 100% electronic, while the New York Stock Exchange trades electronically and manually – that’s the trading floor that’s usually seen on TV,” said Stephen Reusser, another of Steele’s students. “We talked to several traders and learned about the process, how they spend their days – it’s very hectic.”

Students also toured the offices of Merrill Lynch, exploring areas of the global brokerage that are typically closed to the public. The class also heard from Merrill Lynch associates who had been evacuated from the firm’s headquarters on 9/11, when three employees lost their lives during the terrorist attacks.

Steele’s class also broadened their horizons with a taste of New York culture, visiting historic neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, Little Italy, Chinatown and SoHo.

“We were enlightened by the cultural diversity, and found that the New Yorkers we met were actually very nice and outgoing,” said student Morgan McTargett. “We had a great time, and learned a lot.”

Steele deemed the trip a success.

“The student came back from New York with a much greater understanding of our capital-raising process and financial markets than they did when they left, and memories that will last a lifetime,” he said. “Just as important, it helped them learn concepts that will appear again and again throughout the rest of their business education at Kelley.”



The IU Kelley School of Business has been a leader in American business education for more than 80 years. With an enrollment of 3,716 undergraduate and over 1000 graduate students, it is among the premier business schools in the country, with both the undergraduate and graduate programs ranked among the best in the United States. Kelley’s Indianapolis campus, based at IUPUI, is home to the school’s Evening MBA and Master of Professional Accountancy programs and a full-time undergraduate program.









View Entire List of News Items



Staff Login

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Kelley School of Business Indianapolis Kelley School of Business Bloomington IUPUI Home
801 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 Ph: (317) 274-2147 Contact the Kelley School of Business
Copyright 2007, The Trustees of Indiana University Copyright Complaints

The Kelley School of Business is accredited by AACSB International.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Broken Angel House

Broken Angel or the Broken Angel House is a building located at 4 Downing Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, at the intersection of Downing and Quincy Streets. The house was featured prominently as a backdrop in the film Dave Chappelle's Block Party. The photo to the left is looking from the east (Quincy Street) toward the facade of the building.

My son is a huge fan of Dave Chappelle and encouraged my wife and I to see the film, a.k.a. Block Party which we did some time ago. We thought this film, with a strong hip hop spirit, was well done and we both enjoyed it very much.

The Broken Angel House which serves as the backdrop for much of the movie is such and interesting focal point of the film, my son and I decided during our next trip to New York we would drive by and see it in person.

While in New York with my son about a year ago we drove by the house and took several photo's. This past week, on Thursday, January 4, 2007, my wife, son and I were in New York and we made the trip again so my wife had the opportunity to see the Broken Angel House.

Broken Angel House is the home of Brooklyn artist Arthur Wood who originally purchased the 4-story brick tenement building in 1972 for $2,000. He lives in the house with his wife Cynthia and raised their son Christopher who is now a stone carver. The artist explored ideas about design and vernacular architecture with improvised construction to add new floors and rooms to the orginal building, to the point where the structure reaches 104 feet, or about 9 storys above the sidewalk. The site had been compared to Watts Tower in Los Angeles for the ad hoc construction and is acknowledged for its value as folk art and as part of the cultural heritage of the area.

Dave Chappelle's Block Party is a documentary film hosted and written by comedian Dave Chappelle, and directed by Michel Gondry. The budget for the movie was $2,000,000 and was distributed by Rouge Pictures. As of July, 2006 the film grossed a total of $16.9 million dollars in US box office and DVD sales.

The film features Chappell during the fall of 2004 when he threw a block party on the corner of Quincy and Downing Street in Brooklyn. The Broken Angel House is on Downing where it dead ends and joins Quincy. The film gained prominence after its production, which took place after Chappelle's highly-publized decision to walk away from a $50 million deal to continue his hit Chappelle's Show.

He invited several alternative hip hop and neo-soul musical artists to perform at the party, including Kanye West, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Erykah, and The Roots along with The Central State University Marching Band, Lauryn Hill was also scheduled to perform at teh party, but since Columbia Records refused to release her songs for use in the production, she decided insteead to reunite The Fugees for the occasion. In addition, Chappelle performed comedy monologues and sketches in between the musical acts.

I recommend the movie and I also recommend driving by and seeing the Broken Angel House in person; it is quite a piece or "living artwork".

Broken Angel House
4 Downing Street
Downing & Quincy Streets
Brooklyn, New York 11238