Bieber Fever sweeps city on 'Bieber Appreciation Day'
Justin Bieber signs autographs for Alexa Mitchel and Taylor Morgan. Credit: Justin Bieber signs autographs for Alexa Mitchel and Taylor Morgan. (Kim Mitchell)
Manhattan's borough president proclaimed Tuesday "Justin Bieber Appreciation Day" as the teen star dropped by J&R Electronics to sign copies of his newly released CD for thousands of Beliebers.
"This proclamation is on behalf of the 1.6 million people who live in Manhattan, and it's very exciting to have Bieber here with us," Manhattan borough President Scott Stringer said at the store on Park Row, adding that he is "totally" a Bieber fan.
"I don't give proclamation unless I believe," Stringer said.
Thousands of diehard fans - and their parents - lined the streets near City Hall waiting for their chance to meet the 18-year-old phenom, and some were overjoyed to the point of tears after meeting him.
"He's so gorgeous, I am so in love with him, I can't even believe I met him," said Taylor Morgan, 11, who cried with happiness after Bieber sighed her copy of the CD, "Believe," whiched came out yesterday.
"I've been waiting to meet him for three years. This is the best day of my life," Taylor said, adding that she had been in line since 6 a.m. with her friend, Alexa, and Alexa's mother.
Kathleen Lopez, 18, of the Bronx, arrived in line around 7 a.m. and said meeting Bieber "was the best 20 seconds of my life."
"I love him! I've been supporting him since 2009, so it was about time for me to try and meet him," Lopez said. "I don't think anything could top this."
Bieber played the Apollo Theater Monday night, where his performance was interrupted by a power outage. He will return in November for a pair of concerts, first on Nov. 12 at Brooklyn's new Barclays Center, followed up on Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden.
