Prince fans gathered in Harlem and Brooklyn to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of the legendary musician, who died at 57 on Thursday.
In Brooklyn, hundreds assembled for a block party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee.
The Apollo Theater in Harlem, one of New York City's most iconic music venues, changed its marquee hours after the musician's death was announced.
"In honor of the beautiful one," the marquee states in a reference to the song "The Beautiful Ones," off of Prince's iconic "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
Below it are the singer's name, and the words "Nothing compares 2 U."
The theater was also playing Prince's music throughout the afternoon and into the night.
One fan, Caren Menardy, said that she didn't find out Prince had died until after she looked at the marquee, where many of music's acts have played. She was seen sobbing in front of the theater Thursday afternoon.
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"I looked up and I see 'In loving memory' and I see Prince in the middle and I couldn't believe what I was seeing," she said.
The Apollo's marquee was one of the most notable tributes in New York City to the artist whose career spanned four decades.
New York City director Spike Lee also announced that he would be hosting a celebration of Prince's life at the 40 Acres bar in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Prince did the soundtrack to Lee's 1996 film "Girl 6."
Prince, a Minneapolis native, died at his home in the suburbs of the Minnesota city.
