WELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights. Some features to look forward to:
1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large.
2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".
3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.
4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get.
Entries in PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR (324)
life art
NYABJ FAMILY
Am GRATEFUL to the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) for honoring me a couple of months ago as one of its Trailblazers alongside Robert Anthony, Eric V. Tait, Lena Sherrod and Audrey Edwards. A BLESSING!
A couple of months later, I'm grateful AGAIN to NYABJ fam, President Mike Michael J. Feeney and the many Board and committee members – including Cheryl Wills; Diane Patrick; Christina Carrega; et al for inviting me to attend the 25th ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS BANQUET.
Late, great WNBC reporter Bob Teague was honored as well as veteran TV journalist Randall Pinkston (Lifetime Achievement Award).
And a WHO’S WHO of journalism and media were in the house to recognize the work of NYC journalists while being entertained by the one-and-only MISS Rhonda Ross (daughter of Diana Ross & Berry Gordy). 
Rhonda sang "Killing Me Softly" by the great Roberta Flac,! As always, WONDERFUL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg_qz6jluOk
David Ushery, WNBC Anchor
Carol Jenkins, Former WNBC Anchor & Presenter
Norma Quarles, Former NBC/CNN Anchor & Presenter
Toure, Co-Host, MSNBC “The Cycle” Honoree
Bill McCreary, Former Fox 5 Anchor & Presenter
Vanessa Bush, Editor-In-Chief, Essence Magazine
Patrik Henry Bass, Sr. Editor, Essence Magazine
Michelle Miller, National Correspondent, CBS News
David Rhodes, President, CBS News
Cheryl Wills, Anchor/Author, NY1 News (NYABJ Dinner Chair)
Diane King, Anchor, NY1 News (Dinner Host)
Larry Mullins, Anchor, 1010 WINS (Dinner Host)
Dan Bowens, Reporter, Fox News
Ruschell Boone, Reporter, NY1 News
Dean Meminger, Reporter, NY1 News
....and a HOST OF OTHER NABJ FAM!!!!
An advocacy group established in 1976, the New York Association of Black Journalists provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members. 
NYABJ is an affiliate of NABJ, the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation. 
I LOVE NYABJ!
GOOD BROTHERS
Shout out to two brothers who’ve been great to me in my journey as a pop culture expert – each having booked me on their shows to discuss all sorts of topics: (1) ED GORDON - Ed Gordon Media announced today the syndication of Conversations with Ed Gordon, a quarterly, one hour special with award-winning journalist and renowned interviewer, Ed Gordon, serving as host and executive producer.
The specials will be aired nationally, including on all ten NBC owned and operated affiliates. The first special begins airing April 28, 2013. Specific airdates, times and markets can be found on http://www.edgordon.net/conversations.htm. Gordon is known for in-depth and exclusive interviews. 
(2) TJ HOLMES – As he’s announced that he’s inside his what’s next (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/tj-holmes-ending-relationship-bet-future-career-plans_n_3266492.html), I want to thank he and his team for having me on “DON’T SLEEP – HOSTED BY TJ HOLMES” several times.
I'm most proud of being invited to participate in the post-election-day show. On that episdoe, I waxed philosophical and political alongside MSNBC's Toure and rapper The Game who noted he was a fan of my blog: http://www.bet.com/video/dont-sleep/highlights/2012/sleep-talkers-don-t-sleep-121-12021.html.
And here’s a behind-the-scenes look at that appearance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrBjpOe854Y. 
CONGRATS GENTLEMEN on all of your success and - as you climb - continuing to lift back and let some of us share the spotlight. You both make me proud to spell my demographic: B-L-A-C-K M-A-N!
DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON
It’s DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON time again this Sunday, May 19th in NYC! This is put on annually by my friend, producer Carl Nelson. I'll introduce the performers/acts on the main stage during the afternoon portion of the day (as I have several times before when DRUMS catches me actually in town:
).
Drums Along The Hudson is a Native American and multi-cultural family oriented festival on May 19th, 2013 at Inwood Hill Park, 218st. & Indian road in Manhattan.
This event is FREE to the public and Co sponsored by lotus Music & Dance & the New York City Parks Department. The festival includes a Native American Pow-Wow, exhibitions of world dance and drumming traditions as well as Native American crafts and international cuisines. It combines a celebration of Native Heritage,culture and art with the diversity of New York City.
We also honor two individuals or organizations for their contribution to humanitarian or environmental services. It is an all day event from 11:00 am to 6;00 pm. AND SO MUCH FUN! I hope you’ll come out and join us!
BIZ BOND
I decided to pop by the launch of my friends Nathan Hale Williams' & Tammy Ford's soon-to-be-weekly networking event at Hudson Bond on 215 W 40th btw 7th & 8th Avs.
PLEASE come and join us the next time!!! Congrats Nathan and Tammie! Fun and POWER NETWORKING to boot!!! WIN WIN!
Among others this most recent time, I saw my friends ENTERTAINER BUTTAFLY SOUL and MISS TONYA GIDDENS the creator and executive producer of the Ms. Full Figured HBCU Pageant™. She is also the Beauty director of Full Figured Fashion Week®. You can access the pageant website here:
.
And for Full Figured Fashion Week:
ww.fffweek.com. BIZ BOND is scheduled to be back in JUNE! Don't miss it!
THE LIFE OF RILEY HASN’T BEEN ALL WORK AND SHOP TALK:
UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT
Enjoyed a fight party at BFFs Mara Schiavocampo and her hubby Tommie Porter’s home!
GREAT FOOD! GREAT FOLKS (including NABJ buddy Nekesa Moody and my boo boo Sidra Smith).
BOBBY ROACHE BDAY
Enjoyed a BDAY PAJAMA PARTY for our friend, model Bobby Roache (at his pad). Dear friend Q (hairstylist guru) and many others were in the house to toast the birthday boy! 
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOBBY!
ROOFTOP COCKTAILS
Enjoyed rooftop cocktails at The Empire Hotel (overlooking the Lincoln Center Plaza) with our dear friends Jason and Marlynn.
Great to catch up with them! ALWAYS!
RUPAUL DRAG RACE
You know I love "Merrell's LEGENDS ball for some of the Black gay elite of NYC" (and our friends). This year's RuPaul's Drag Race Finale viewing party was no exception as we enjoyed the company ...of cosmetics mogul/make-up artist AJ Crimson; hairstylist superstar Chuckie Amos;
Publisher of DBQ Magazine, Derrick Bridgeforth; Wendy Williams' FAB stylist Memsor; casting director Adrian Wells; and a host of other dear friends.
Merrell is Wendy Williams' makeup artist and cosmetics icon his own right in the industry. He is quite the muse du jour for me as he takes his brand to the next level. Great set (and fried chicken a la Merrell), as always. But we were hoping for Alaska to win.
Some of us got to celebrate Wendy on her new book “Ask Wendy”! Worth noting, my partner Ant is the primary producer of "Ask Wendy", even though the book is a separate, albeit co-branded, effort. Graciously, Wendy autographed the first advance copy of the book to Ant some months ago as a THANK YOU for all he does on the daily for the franchise and the show.
CONGRATS, WENDY! This is my kinda' book! LOL!
“KINKY BOOTS”
Finally saw “Kinky Boots”! You know I’ve been yapping about it and consider Billy Porter one of my FAVORITE SOUL SINGERs! I FINALLY SAW IT AND LOVED IT! “Kinky Boots” which received 13 TONY nods (The Cyndi Lauper-scored "Kinky Boots," which earned a leading 13 Tony nominations. British import "Matilda: The Musical" has 12.
"Kinky Boots" is based on the 2005 British movie about a real-life shoe factory that struggles until it finds new life in fetish footwear. Lauper's songs and a story by Harvey Fierstein have made it a crowd-pleaser. Fierstein; one of my TOTAL FAV SINGERS Billy Porter; and Stark Sands as well as Annaleigh Ashford are nominated for “Kinky Boots”)! IT’S WONDERFUL!
TAHA CLAYTON ART
CONGRATS to dear friend, fine artist Taha Clayton on his latest project: "Round Zero", an Exhibition of Paintings by Tim Okamura, Jerome Lagarrigue, Taha Clayton, & Joseph Adolphe in NY! "Round Zero," a fine art exhibition, featuring four contemporary painters, will be on view May 13–17th* at the Art Director’s Club in Manhattan. Tim Okamura, Jerome Lagarrigue, Taha Clayton and Joseph Adolphe will exhibit their latest work in a boxing-themed collection curated by Dexter Wimberly. 
The exhibition also serves as the culmination of more than two years of documentation of these artists' creative journey by film-maker Jeff Martini, for an upcoming feature entitled "HEAVYWEIGHTPAINT," a segment of which will be shot at the events. A portion of proceeds went to the Brotherhood / Sister Sol, a Harlem-based youth organization. Artworks created by students from "Bro/Sis" were also on display at the event. (http://heavyweightpaint.com/) and (http://www.brotherhood-sistersol.org/) 
COMING UP:
LONETTE MCKEE FILES
Lonette McKee is appearing on an MMC Web Channel near you! Legendary Entertainer Lonette McKee Partners with Midnight Media Capture (MMC) a la my good girlfriend Nicole Franklin (and her fellow Executive Producer Giovanna Aguilar) to Engage Audiences with Her Story, 'The Lonette McKee Files,' and Performers with ‘Actors Empowered.’ Both appearances are Web-based at www.MidnightMediaCapture.com.
It’s ‘The Lonette McKee Files,’ an On Demand podcast series in which she shares her story of growing up, from a child musical prodigy to a distinguished actress, in the entertainment industry. Lonette also joins a stellar line up of media professionals on MMC Presents Summer 2013 Sessions, a series of online professional workshops dedicated to the storytelling process, from writing to directing to performing, launching on MMC’s online channel in June. Her first offering,‘Actors Empowered,’ is a 6-week online webinar enabling talent across the world to learn the tools of the trade from a Hollywood veteran. Lonette is excited about this new venture and says that The Lonette McKee Files will engage her fans and capture new audiences—a global community of storytellers and entertainment aficionados—with personal anecdotes, including the segment “What Happens When,” during which she poses compelling real-life situations to her followers based on her own experiences.
Lonette states she values MMC because they are a cutting-edge, forward-thinking company that is able to reach audiences around the world through their Web platform, and with highly defined content that mixes storytelling and marketing. She is confident that this synergy serves as an opportunity for her generation of entertainment professionals to couple their experience with technology into new ventures for empowering new generations of performers—storytellers. “It would serve us to get on the new wave of technology so we can share the stories, knowledge and wisdom that only come with veteran years of experience,” Lonette states.
‘The Lonette McKee Files’ has rolled out as podcasts for purchase at $2.99 on MMC’s online channe.
‘Actors Empowered’ course begins June 3, 2013. For more information, visit http://midnightmediacapture.com/. You can sign up right now by clicking this link:
http://midnightmediacapture.com/mmc-presents/the-lonette-mckee-files/
RAMSEY LEWIS AND HIS ELECTRIC BAND
Shout out to my friend Ed Roebuck who hipped me to this event he’s been working on: Composer, pianist and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis and his Electric Band will perform at The City College of New York’s Aaron Davis Hall for the first time in a special Father’s Day Weekend Celebration 7 p.m. Friday, June 14. Jazz greats Henry Johnson (guitar), Joshua Ramos (bass) and Charles Heath (drums) will join Ramsey in this extraordinary concert. “A Father’s Day Weekend Celebration with Ramsey Lewis” will take place at Aaron Davis Hall, West 135th Street and Convent Avenue on The City College campus. Tickets are: $30 and $40 (reserved seating).
For more information and ticket sales visit: www.adhatccny.org or call Aaron Davis Hall Box office at 212.650.6900. “We all know Harlem is so important to the world of jazz and to perform in Harlem at Aaron Davis Hall is a true delight,” states Mr. Lewis. “Just in time for the first days of summer and Father’s Day.” “Ramsey Lewis is a class act and I’m so happy he will perform at Aaron Davis Hall,” states Aaron Davis Hall Managing Director Gregory Shanck. “We’ve had world legends on our stage and this is one more creative giant I’m so proud to have perform at Aaron Davis Hall.”
A Father’s Day Weekend Celebration with Ramsey Lewis
Featuring: Ramsey Lewis & The Electric Band
With Henry Johnson (guitar), Joshua Ramos (bass) and Charles Heath (drums)
Friday, June 14, 2013
7 p.m.∙ Showtime
6:30 p.m. ∙ Doors Open
Tickets
Price: $30 and $40 (reserved seating)
Visit: www.adhatccny.org
Call: 212.650.6900
Aaron Davis Hall
West 135th Street & Convent Avenue
On the campus of The City College of New York
New York, NY 10031
Directions:
Bus: M11, M18, M100 or M101 to 135th Street
Subway: 1 to 137th Street; A, B, C or D to 145th Street
Driving: Free parking at West 133rd Street & Convent Avenue or parking on the street
MINORITEES
Y’all know “…THE LIFE OF RILEY…” LOVES MINORITEES: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2007/5/22/girlfriends-and-minoritees-are-doing-it-and-well.html. 
Born from the streets of New York City, Minoritees represents the voice of a generation that is as multi-cultural and unique as The Big Apple herself. Worn by the likes of Janet Jackson, Denzel Washington, P!nk, RuPaul, and Shakira to name a few, the Minoritees brand started by reclaiming the iconic image of an afro-pick to symbolize freedom and strength no matter what race, gender or religion you identify with.
Like any road worth travelling, Minoritees has seen its ups and downs. We’ve grown from street fairs to Macy’s stores and beyond, always representing the strength, individuality and pride that make up our fan base. Minoritees braved some super-storms, barely surviving an economic meltdown which resulting in the loss of jobs, substantial revenue due to the closing of stores and vendors which financially crippled the company and its operations.
And so, after much soul searching by it’s founder and encouragement from it’s loyal fan base; In 2013, we’re renewing our commitment to you by going back to basics with clothing, products and a lifestyle that is as loud, proud and fearless as you are. We ask for your participation and support by spreading the word about our re-birth and by participating in our incentive-driven Kickstarter campaign that will help with our re-launch.
We promise you with utmost certainty a renewal of focus and commitment to customer service and appreciation and a quality product. Expect a brand new website launch in Memorial Day 2013, new designs, a streamlined quality line of apparel and lifestyle products, sleek new packaging, limited editions re-issues of classic Minoritees collections and a robust integration of multi-format social networking.
TWITTER @MINORITEES
FACEBOOK.COM/MINORITEES
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Ask Wendy, Broadway, Chicacgo, Drums Along The Hudson, NABJ, NYABJ, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Rupaul's Drag Race, WENDY WILLIAMS
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10 References
gatsby and steampunk and more
Hi folks,
Shout out to ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 and its hosts Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier for having me on FRIDAY to talk GATSBY: the book, the film(s), the blueprint on hip hop!
HERE’S THE LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBT9mSmfmCo
GREAT TALK!
Last week, I was on to talk BROADWAY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY. In that segment, I predicted the iconic Cicely Tyson would be nominated for her role in Broadway's "The Trip to Bountiful". And she was!! YAY!
So, they played that clip and referenced my prediction the following day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJEs6ruin0.
Special shout out to Keyon Williams; my Amazing Grace Nichole Andrews; one of my NABJ BFFs Paula Witt; Eugenia Harvey; Gary Anthony Ramsay – just a few of the VILLAGE PEOPLE it has taken to get me on! And WOW! A CALL-BACK! Thanks ALL! @ARISETV360 #AE360
I’VE BEEN YAPPING A BIT OF LATE ON-AIR! LOL!:
THIS JUST IN: Steampunk is invading popular culture. What exactly is steampunk? Well, 26 minutes into the show, please see my on-cam, pop culture weigh-in on the rise of steampunk in popular culture. Shout out to Nadja Thomas – producer/reporter of CUNY’s 219 West TV news magazine show that airs five times a month on channel 75. You can see it here: http://219tvmagazine.journalism.cuny.edu/2013/05/12/219-west-may-2013/. The show will live online and be promoted until our next show airs in another month. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Please feel free to FWD/SHARE/BLAST OUT! XOXOXO
SOME OF MY LATEST ON-CAM POP CULTURE:
1) I got an invite to do red carpet interviews on MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL's opening night for its cameras! YAY! LOL! Here’s the clip I host: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. AND THIS VIDEO IS LOOPING ON THE MONITORS OUTSIDE THE THEATER! WOW! LOL!
2) Other outlets picked up the raw footage:
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=An_r_D2HM5Q.
3) My debut media impression on COZI-TV and NBC 4 a couple of weeks ago received raves as I weighed in - as pop culture expert - on BLACKS/BROADWAY:
COMING UP:
I just had a blast interviewing my friend Kenneth Carr this afternoon at his place. His new CD "Amazing Love" is coming out next month… and his management invited me to interview him for a promo video they will be using to promote its release. He recently released the video for his lead-off single “Brassing My Opinion” – shot and directed by my girlfriend Shareen King! It’s a huge hit – having already attracted upwards of 200,000 clicks on Kenny’s YOU TUBE channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNmTiAvVZW0. Follow @kennycarrmusic and www.facebookcom/kennethcarr. Purchase the single at Amazon, iTunes, Spotify,Google Play For Bookings contact thekingsdaughtersk@gmail.com. Stay tuned for the edited interview in the coming weeks! As Kenny knows singing is a sidelight for me, we not only reviewed his music-in-progress and music-completed, he let me play around with a track or few – one for which he wants me to write some lyrics – so we can record a track! Great SATURDAY!
As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Best & LOVE,
Patrick L. Riley
“A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities”
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in AArise Entertainment 360, DIANA ROSS, Jay Z, Kenneth Carr, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, The Great Gatsby, Tony Awards, steampunk
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6 References
NJPAC and Nelson George and A FILM ABOUT THE NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL
A FILM ABOUT THE NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL (1958)
NELSON GEORGE presents a screening of JAZZ ON A SUMMERS DAY and Panel Discussion with STANLEY
CROUCH, JOMMY COBB, BILL CHARLAP & WOODY SHAW III this Friday 5.10. BUY TICKETS! http://bit.ly/17Bt83o #NELSONGEORGE
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Jazz, MOTHER'S DAY, NEWARK, NJPAC, New York City, Newport Jazz Festival, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Stanley Crouch, Woody Shaw III
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2 References
Momz Day Wknd brings ALVIN AILEY, MOM, NJPAC, and a couple of FREE GIVEAWAYS
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS: http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #AILEYLIFE
Hi folks,
I’m CERTAIN my late, great mother is looking down from above and PROUD of a lot of the work that’s been coming my way! 
After all, no one knew of my love of all things POP CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, and the ARTS better than she as I came out the womb exclaiming “I’M COMING OUT!” LOL!. To have a month in which I was up-front-and-personal with childhood favorites like Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, and all the MOTOWN Legends (but a few with whom I’ve been chatting up of late) has me feeling her SMILE bathing all over me from above!
My life-long friend Jimmy Bethea who hails from a family that paralleled the international journey of my own family via the Air Force (and - like me - was born in Tokyo, Japan) noted something sensitively to me via text that made me choke up re:my mom whose name is Queen Elizabeth Bellinger Riley. Jimmy txt "The QUEEN is smiling down on you, young man! Extremely happy for you!" BEAUTIFUL SENTIMENT from someone I know who LOVES his mom as much as I do and MISSES his mom as much as I miss my own (This, as we - the baby boys - are both dealing with life (in our adulthood) without our SUPER MOMS (R.I.P. Miss Chris Bethea)). 
If my mom was here, I’d take her to NJPAC to see the ALVIN AILEY dancers at NJPAC where they’ll perform REVELATIONS & OTHER GREAT PERFORMANCES MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND. 5/10-5/12. If you are in the area, I’m recommending you take your mom. http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #AILEYLIFE
With that, let me help TWO of you out: I have the opportunity to raffle off two NJPAC Just Imagine Gift Cards -- each of $50 individual value. The gift card is good at the NJPAC on site restaurant and can be used towards buying tickets to any designated performances atNJPAC. The prizes will go ONLY to those that include the following custom #hashtag designated just for me on Facebook or Twitter between now and May 10: http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #AILEYLIFE
MY TWITTER: @patarack
MY FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley
We will screenshot the winner’s post or tweet and pick two winners from our tracking and will then follow up with you to confirm your acceptance of the gift and your contact information for claiming the prize – so we can send it to you.
Again, my designated hashtag for all of my followers and those who want to be considered for these two prizes: #AILEYLIFE
IT’S A PERFECT MOTHER’S DAY GIFT, right?
TONY AWARDS
CHECK THIS OUT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJEs6ruin0. Shout out to ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 and its hosts Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier for shouting me out in the wake of my debut the day prior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxfe-hG_aY.
In my BROADWAY ROUND-UP segment, I predicted the iconic Cicely Tyson would be nominated for her role in Broadway’s “The Trip to Bountiful”. 
And she was!!!! YAY! 
I appreciate the attribution, ARISE FAM! CALL ME ANYTIME and THANK YOU for trusting and reinforcing my predictions and enthusiasm which translated into other nods – including Condola Rashad (also for “Trip to Bountiful”). 
I also totally enjoyed The Trip to Bountiful Broadway’s Opening Night after party! FUN ROOM including star Vanessa Williams' daughter Lionbabe; 
my fellow journalist friends Jacque Reid and Karu Daniels; 
my Broadway darlings La Chanze (who'd just wrapped her one-woman-tribute to Miss Ross at 54 Below), Ken Roberson, and Tamara Tune; and the lovely DEBORAH COX whose publicist, my friend Gwendolyn Quinn notes is “the sweetest”! I agree and also note that she’s among the most fierce as she too is starring on Broadway in “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde”:https://www.facebook.com/JekyllMusical?fref=ts AND I REALLY DO LOVE IT! 
OTHER TONY NOMINEES I REFERENCED YESTERDAY: Pippin’ and its Lead Player Patina Miller ("Pippin" nabbed 10 nominations for MUSICAL REVIVAL against other best musical revival candidates are "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella," "Annie," and ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood”.
Patina Miller, last on Broadway as the heroine of "Sister Act," stepped into the Ben Vereen role of Leading Player in "Pippin" and earned her second straight nomination); “Kinky Boots” which received 13 nods (The Cyndi Lauper-scored "Kinky Boots," which earned a leading 13 Tony nominations. British import "Matilda: The Musical" has 12. "Kinky Boots" is based on the 2005 British movie about a real-life shoe factory that struggles until it finds new life in fetish footwear. Lauper's songs and a story by Harvey Fierstein have made it a crowd-pleaser. 
Fierstein; one of my TOTAL FAV SINGERS Billy Porter; and Stark Sands as well as Annaleigh Ashford are nominated for “Kinky Boots”); and though considered a snub by some: just-four nominations for “Motown: The Musical” – including "Motown: The Musical”s Valisia LeKae who was nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role for her portrayal of Diana Ross, while Charl Brown earned the nod for best performance by an actor in a featured role for his portrayal of Smokey Robinson. "Motown's" Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook are up for best orchestrations, while Peter Hylenski earned a nomination for best sound design of a musical.
ALSO: CONGRATS to Courtney B. Vance who earned a best featured actor nomination playing an editor in "Lucky Guy" with Tom Hanks, making his Broadway debut and earning a nomination as leading man in a play. Some big snubs, according to Hollywood (and other than more for “Motown”): Al Pacino of "Glengarry Glen Ross," Alec Baldwin in "Orphans," Katie Holmes in "Dead Accounts," Bette Midler in "I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers" and Scarlett Johansson from the revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." The nominations were announced Tuesday in a televised event co-hosted by Tony winner Sutton Foster and "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The awards will be broadcast on CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 9. 
THANKS to ASPIRE for allowing me a platform to share my intel. In addition to the FAB co-hosts, was also good to see so many of my industry buddies at this promising start-up – including Eugenia Harvey; Paula Witt (my friend who booked me); Keyon Williams (my friend who first told ARISE to book me); and one of my fellow contributors Sean Joelle Johnson, TV exec and entertainment attorney who weighed in on celebrities and their legal issues. BACKGROUND ON THE SHOW (per the producers): The show airs live online and on Sky Cable in London, Monday-Friday at 2pm. The segment lasts 8-10 minutes. These are talk segments only but there will eventually be opportunities for performances. Recent guests included Kevin Liles, Mona Scott, Taiye Sealsi, Big Daddy Kane, Dr. Ian Smith, Kid Capri, Kym Whitley, Michaela Angela Davis and more. 
ARISE is an African owned global network geared primarily to Africans, African-Americans and people interested in the diaspora. The network has hubs in New York, London, Johannesburg and Lagos, and the New York hub just launched on March 11. As part of the US launch, ARISE 360 airs a daily entertainment show featuring hosts Lola Ogunnaike (former NY Times & Daily News feature reporter, current MSNBC & Today Show contributor and freelance reporter) and Shannon LaNier (Black Enterprise TV). ARISE Entertainment 360 airs online in the US and airs on the Sky Cable in London (currently showing in over 35 countries across Europe). The ARISE entity also owns Arise Magazine (www.ariselive.com). Although it is a separate entity, it is under the ARISE brand.
MORE TV STUFF
In the wake of my COZI-TV Blacks/Broadway round-up (http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html) and my MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL opening night moments (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ).
PLUS: the other outlets that ran with that footage (1) http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/04/16/motown-memorialized-in-new-musical?videoId=242278913&videoChannel=3 & (2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=An_r_D2HM5Q, I’m excited that the industry’s real estate has room for ME!
RHONDA ROSS AT CUTTING ROOM
After enjoying the inaugural event for my friend Nathan's Renaissance Brunch Series, I met up with my 'Amazing Grace' Nichole, my date for Miss Rhonda Ross' performance at The Cutting Room (www.thecuttingroomnyc.com). 
As always, she was amazing. In addition to her fan favorites - original and covers, she included some new experiences - including "Cabaret" (which she first performed at the Hearts of Gold event to which I introduced recurring client Remy Martin as a liquor sponsor and partner back in November 2012); 
her mom's "Home" (from "The Wiz"); and super-encore "I'm Every Woman". 
All my favorite Ross fans were in the house - including Andreas, Judy, Jim, Dustin, et al as well as friend Tamara Tunie (accompanied by her lovely mother). 
Also in the house: one of my All-Star Karaoke SUPERSTARS, actress Pernell Walker who has been filming Lee Daniels' "The Butler" - also starring Oprah, Terrence Howard; Lenny Kravitz; Jane Fonda; etc.
SAVANNAH ROCKS VIA TERRY SARTOR, DUANE HARDEN, ET AL
I also recently got to celebrate one of my Savannah homeboys Terry Sartor who hosted a launch party for his new music label Valiant Horizon at the lavish Trump International Hotel & Tower Central Park.
It’s a celebration of Valiant Horizon’s triumphant start and its first six official releases as well as remix work – which include music from Lorchee (Poland), Terry Sartor (USA), Milosz-B (UK), Kyle Brylin (USA), Thought Leaders (USA) and Dream Attackers (USA) with more to come including the hot up-and-coming U.S.-based dance music crew Automatic Recreation! Congrats to Terry who started his own music label and production with a focus on dance music: http://www.facebook.com/valianthorizon and www.soundcloud.com/terrysartor. 
Was also great to meet another two Savannah homeboys – one of whome, Duane Harden, I’d never met. He’s a songwriter/recording artist whose “You Don’t Know Me” – WITH Armand van Helden - was a #1 dance hit in the U.K.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkXTbHebcQs. Another recent project “Love Will” with Ferry Corsten can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmojYngSy-w. Like Terry, Duane is a Beach High grad. I graduated from often their rival school: Windsor Forest High School. But these many years later, being from Savannah makes us all ONE!
RENAISSANCE BRUNCH SERIES
Shout out to my friend Nathan Hale Williams and Artie Thompson (http://www.bravotv.com/chef-roble-and-co) for inviting us to be their guest at the Renaissance Brunch Series today at the Hudson Bond. 
Special guest host was the one and only Ms. Bevy Smith (Bravo's Fashion Queens & Dining with Bevy): http://www.bravotv.com/fashion-queens. 
There were even give-aways including the award-winning work, "For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Still Is Not Enough," written by New York Times Best Selling Author, Keith Boykin. 
The book recently won the American Library Association's Stonewall Award for Non-Ficition Book of the Year and is nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. From cocktail hour to delicious brunch to great dancing afterword, Nathan truly designed an exceptional afternoon of fun, fellowship and networking. 
Music was provided by DJ Poison Ivy. AND WHAT A BLAST to see so many great friends! CONGRATS, NATHAN!
GET OMERGED SWEEPTSTAKES
Beginning TODAY - Friday, 5/31, IMAN Cosmetics, Skullcandy, TIGI/Catwalk, Me & The Girls and Republic Records are offering free products in the Get Omerged Sweepstakes. Point of entry is www.getomerged.com, which is LIVE! 
Republic Records has chosen to feature Adrian Marcel, protege of Raphael Saadiq, in this promotion. Adrian has a brand new mix tape out called "7 Days of Weak" (featuring Saadiq, Wale and others), and his music is AMAZING. And, people can win the CD through this promo: https://soundcloud.com/adrian-marcel510 For more details, read the embedded art in this segment.
SENIOR DATE NIGHT in HARLEM
On Friday, May 10th from 6pm - 10pm at National Black Theatre, in Harlem (125th Street & 5th Ave), my friend Sharon Nelson is launching her first event SENIOR DATE NIGHT which soon will have a multi-format presences on-line and on the airwaves. 
For those who have paid the price of admission to be a part of the 50+ club (AKA Senior Date Night), this program provides enrichment of personal fulfillment of social expression for those who are 50 and above. Through music, food and like minded people -- a good time and fun is the order of the day. First up: a fun night with lots of food, fun, drinks, and entertainment. DON’T MISS IT!
BCS HUMAN SPIRIT AWARDS
Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) is one of the largest and oldest nonprofit organizations in New York. These amazing folks have been serving people in Brooklyn for 147 years. On June 4th, I am excited to be among the Benefit Committee members who are leading the charge to honor my friend Michaela angela Davis and Danny Simmons at the Human Spirit Awards, which will be held at the Grand Hyatt-Manhattan Ballroom. BLACK GIRLS ROCK’s Beverly Bond has agreed to present the award to Michaela. Marty Markowitz will present the award to Danny. 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANT!
WE ALL GATHERED TO TOAST Anthony Harper but the guests at the birthday hang last night read like a WHO'S WHO! THANKS TO ALL!: 
* Tony-award-winning actress La Chanze (also in film - including "The Help") *
Emmy-award-winning NBC "Today" correspondent and MSNBC anchor Mara Schiavocampo 
* World-famous model Bobby Roache (Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" video) * Senior exec at Ogilvy Jeff Bowman * Brian Badie (Ice T personal hairstylist and co-star on "Ice T loves Coco") * NYU Journalism Professor (NY Post) Frankie Edozien 
* Senior Producer "Bill Cunningham Show" Shareen King * BET's "Don't Sleep w/TJ Holmes" producer Nichole Shellman * Wall Street Journal reporter (also BET) Taj Tsonga * Stlylist of the stars and TV personality Phillip Bloch 
* Karen Good Marable (Writer/Editor - EBONY) * Nathan Hale Williams (producer/writer/personality) * Tony-award-nominee/Broadway choreographer and director Ken Roberson 
* 'Wendy Williams' make-up artist (also for Diddy and many more) Merrell Hollis * COZI-TV/NBC 4 producer Tiffany Zeno * a host of "Wendy Williams" producers
* several out of town guests who drove in from Durham, NC and Philly * and a host more. 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABE!
BLAST FROM THE PAST
THROWBACK: Morehouse grew my childhood interests in pop culture and entertainment in two fell swoops: 
(1) Kennedy Center Honors 1991 when the Morehouse College Glee Club paid tribute to Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Conductor/Composer Robert Shaw (circa early December 1991) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZF2iK2VOY8); (2) When I was selected by everybody’s favorite Morehouse icon, Dr. Anne Watts, to present an award to Louis Gossett, Jr. at the “Candle in the Dark Awards” during Founders Day Weekend [circa February 1992] – a moment captured on BET’s Screen Scene. 
And all the stuff in between that would lead me to MOTOWN’s Opening Night Celebration on Broadway:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. #throwbackthursday
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Arise Entertainment 360, Broadway, CICELY TYSON, DIANA ROSS, Motown: The Musical, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, The Trip to Bountiful, Tony Awards, sMOKEY rOBINSON
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in the name of love
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL IS OPEN!
UPDATE: The video I host on Motown: The Musical's Opening Night Celebration is edited and here. Please feel free to VIEW/FWD/SHARE...and - most of all - to come and see MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL on BROADWAY):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ
After I did my “Blacks and Broadway” segment on COZI-TV (http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Pop-Culture-Expert-Patrick-Riley-on-Black-Broadway_New-York.html), the “Motown: The Musical” ad folks hired me as its host for the show's OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION – including interviewing all the guests as they walked the red carpet! Stay tuned for that clip...
You see me interviewing my life-time idol Diana Ross and Motown Founder Berry Gordy along with many other greats!!!
The client also serviced my interviews to REUTERS and others.
SEE MISS Diana Ross; Berry Gordy; and a little of me (along with reax from Jane Fonda) also here in this piece: http://www.reuters.com/video/2013/04/16/motown-memorialized-in-new-musical?videoId=242278913&videoChannel=3.
And in this BROADWAY CHANNEL clip, you'll see glimpses of my footage and me as I interview the great Debbie Allen, Cuba Gooding Jr., Vanessa Williams, Sting, his wife Trudie Styler, and more excerpts from my Ross and Gordy chat (not all of the soundbites are mine as Broadway Channel had someone on-site as well): http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=An_r_D2HM5Q. WHAT A MAGICAL NIGHT! 45th Street shook like an earthquake when Miss Ross arrived in the same limo as Mr. Gordy for the highly
anticipated world premiere at The Lunt Fontanne Theatre, followed by party at Roseland Ballroom.
I reminded Miss Ross and Mr. Gordy that Motown nor Diana were strangers to Broadway (1. Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations' follow-up TV special to their debut TCB was GIT: Getting It Together on Broadway;
2. "Pippin'" with Tony-award-winning Ben Vereen was a Motown soundtrack and Diana and the Jackson 5 both covered the show's hit track "Corner of the Sky";
3. Miss Ross won a Tony for her Broadway-staged one-woman show which broke box office records: "An Evening with Diana Ross").
Diana said to Berry: "He has a great memory! Always!" (Miss Ross referencing my memory of steel on all things Ross & Motown from a three-day set of interviews I got to do with her in 2005 at the "Legends" ball + she's called me on the stage to dance on "Upside Down" a couple of times over the years, too).
Worth also noting that Miss Ross, her original supreme mate Mary Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and many of the other Motown LEGENDS joined the cast on stage at the end --- embracing and celebrating the performers who were playing them (I also interviewed them all on the red carpet).
SOMEDAY WE’LL BE TOGETHER, INDEED!
These pictures and video were taken by my friend Brandon Bain – singer/personality/karaoke host – who got to sing with ‘Diana Ross’ [Valisia Lekae (formerly of “The Book of Mormon”)] on “Reach Out & Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” – preview night one. He too attended the opening night after party.
While I was on duty, he shot some of this behind-the-scenes footage of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL’s after party
(including the great still shot of Diana, Berry, and Mary (and Jesse Jackson)! INDEED, Miss Ross and Mary Wilson BACK TOGETHER AGAIN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lYDMm04esk);
Afterwards, Miss Ross - as promised (with Berry Gordy still in tow) – came to talk to me again.
She exclaimed she LOVED Valisia in the leading role of Diana Ross ("I'm CUTE," Miss Ross shared before giggling, sharp contrast to the many tears of joy and nostalgia she'd expressed from her seat during the show).
She too said that Berry Gordy is a 'great storyteller'!!! MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL features music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy. It is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright stars - in addition to 'Diana Ross' - Tony Award® nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple) and and features Charl Brown (Jersey Boys) as Smokey Robinson, Bryan Terrell Clark as Marvin Gaye and an ensemble cast of 40. I spoke to many of them. Others in the house - many of whom I too spoke: THE COMMODORES, BONO, GAYLE KING, STING, JANE FONDA, JULIE CHEN from "The Talk"; LES MOONVES;
CLIVE DAVIS, LA REID, JIMMY IOVINE, VALERIE SIMPSON, SPIKE LEE, JESSE JACKSON, ANTHONY MASON, VANESSA WILLIAMS, CUBA GOODING JR., JUDY CRAYMER, SUZANNE DEPASSE, KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, HODA KOTB, ANDY COHEN, BRUCE RESNIKOFF, BENNY MEDINA, DAVID GEFFEN, TOMMY MOTTOLA, LMFAO's RED FOO, CLAUDETTE ROBINSON, CINDY ADAMS, STAR JONES, BARRY MANILOW, MELBA MOORE, ROSANNA ARQUETTE,
DEBBIE ALLEN, TRACEE ELLIS ROSS,
MARY HART, BOB MARTIN, GEORGE SCHLATTER, SHELLY BERGER, MICKEY STEVENSON, RHONDA ROSS, COURTNEY B. VANCE,LAMONT DOZIER, EDWARD HOLLAND JR., MICKEY STEVENSON, Songwriting team KENNETH GAMBLE & LEON HUFF, EPIC Records recording artist JADA GRACE, WOLFGANG PUCK, LUCIAN GRAINGE, Congresswoman MAXINE WATERS, EVANDER HOLYFIELD, PRODUCERS KEVIN MCCOLLUM, DOUG MORRIS,NORM LEWIS, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL,
NONA HENDRYX, etc.
MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed our culture forever.
This exhilarating show charts Motown Founder Berry Gordy's incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross,
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and many more.
Featuring all the classics you love, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America.
The music that shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat finally comes to Broadway in the season's most anticipated show.
It's playing at The Lunt Fontanne Theatre - 205 West 46th Street (Btwn Broadway & 8th Ave - North sid Roseland Ballroom 239 West 52nd Street (Between Broadway & 8th Avenue). www.motownthemusical.com. Special shout out to Marcia Pendelton, Marketing Outreach for the Motown: The Muiscal. She was THE key player in ensuring I was a part of this historic night!
THANKS MARCIA! ENDLESS LOVE TO MOTOWN, MR. GORDY, AND DIANA ROSS!
LA CHANZE’S DIANA ROSS HANGOVER
Motown and Diana Ross' collective and respective LEGACIES LIVE alongside their LIVING FABULOUSNESS (a la Broadways’s ‘Motown: The Musical’ and Miss Ross' still-busy-and-impressive itinerary (She hosted 'Christmas in Washington' for The Obamas this past December: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIb3eDIOrMY - cast in tow from injury sustained at a reported $1,000,000 one-nighter to serenade supermodel Naomi Campbell's billionaire boyfriend's birthday party in India): 
My friend, TONY AWARD WINNING STAR OF 'THE COLOR PURPLE' AND "RAGTIME' LACHANZE's three-date, one-woman-show LOVE HANGOVER, which runs again Thursday, April 18 & Monday, April 22: www.54Below.com. 
LaChanze presented "Love Hangover" - her mostly re-conceived arrangements of Miss Ross' repertoire (or as she put it "...the soundtrack of my life...").
In attendance, a room full of LaChanze's friends and fans - many our own: 
our friend, Director Ken Roberson (GREAT JOB!), jazz singer Greg Generet (who performs three sets every Thursday in NYC at SMOKE); 
one of my favorite actresses on TV, film, stage, daytime, nighttime, Broadway, off-Broadway, cabaret: Tamara Tunie; 
Broadway's best Norm Lewis (also in 'Scandal'); all my other favorites: siblings Sapp (and Bree);
Rita Wilson (singer, actress, film/TV producer; and wife of Tom Hanks) who was performing a later set at the same venue [I got the chance to shoot a pic with her outside the preview press event 54 Below hosted with LaChanze, Wilson, and some of the other stars performing there in the next month.]; 
film/TV producer Angelique Francis;
my homeboy, Richmond Hill's own Algernon Campbell: dancer (and dance instructor) EXTRAORDINNAIRE: and many more!!!
Set list: starting from back of the house onto the stage:
Love Hangover
Them There Eyes (from "Lady Sings the Blues")
Touch Me in the Morning
Last Time I Saw Him
Good Morning Heartache (from "Lady...Blues")
You Can't Hurry Love
I Hear A Symphony
Baby Love
Reach Out & Touch prelude (featuring LaChanze's first leading man Jerry Dixon - "Once on this Island")
You're All I Need To Get By (w/Jerry)
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (w/Jerry)
You Keep Me Hangin' On w/hints of Sting's "If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free" w/two gentlemen background singers
Be A Lion (from 'The Wiz')
I'm Coming Out (w/two gentlemen background singers)
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
The Boss (encore)
BRILLIANT SET!
WATCHING IDOL WITH PEPA
Then, my friend Jamar Dunn asked Ant and me to pop by his place for an. 'American Idol' screening party with a fun group including the legendary Pepa of 'Salt & Pepa' fame; her hairdresser Troy Turner (Also Lil' Kim's hair stylist); another celebrity hairstylist Octavio (Mary, Mary; Serena Williams; and more); and a host of others. A-I-wise, we're all Team Candice!!!!
But we are also Team Pepa! She engaged us so about the history of hip hop and her place in the landscape. And though I've enjoyed several moments in which I was an audience with Pepa, none quite this intimate and open - Pep and I even uncovering we share an astrological sign in common: Scorpio! What a pop cultural blessing! #moreloot 
BET UP FRONT 2013
What a week! "Motown: The Musical" on Broadway was a blast on Sunday. But Monday had me dotting Is and crossing Ts to ready the video for BET's Up Front, a project on which I have been working with recurring client BET Creative Services for the last few months. Always nice to see my labor of love on an EPIC screen in the front of Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall where BET pulled out... all the stops in addition to the video programming sizzles I had a hand in producing: performances by Chaka Khan ("Tell Me Something Good" for CENTRIC section); Kierra Sheard and brother John Drew Sheard II (who performed a Gospel tribute to Boston); 
also, appearances by Boris Kodjoe; Kevin Hart; Nelly; Selita Ebanks; and others from "Real Husbands of Hollywood"; Chris Tucker (just-announced host of the BET Awards which go down during the unprecedented BET Experience at LA LIVE, a three-day music-and-more festival at the end of June);
Comedians Sommore and Tony Rock; star of BET's 1st Original Movie & 1st weekly, one-hour drama "Being Mary Jane", Gabrielle Union; Boris' beautiful wife, actress Nicole Ari Parker; legendary Gladys Knight; 
and a performance by Miguel. Several mingled and posed for pix with the many advertising folks in the audience - there to determine if they will buy into BET. From the feedback and various ovations, it looks good. Great to work with such an AWESOME TEAM at BET. Happy my nephew Herman L. Riley III was in attendance and I got to hang out with him a little - a rare treat.
DIVORCE COUNSELOR
So happy to attend the New York City PREMIERE of SEEIt Film THE DIVORCE COUNSELOR – written, 
produced, and directed by my friend and often-fellow-collaborator (at recurring client BET): 
THEMBISA S. MSHAKA. It took place recently at the New York Film Academy. 
And now you can get in on the session: THE DIVORCE COUNSELOR can be seen on-line --- EXCLUSIVELY on WWW.FREESWORLD.COM (FREE hosted the festivities!).
Please feel free to REFER “The Divorce Counselor”. 
CONGRATS, THEMBISA! BEAUTIFUL NIGHT! Shout out to Chasity, Loren, Kris, Deangelo, Rachel, et al. #TheDivorceCounselor
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
You know I love the Dance Theatre of Harlem! You may recall I recently attended DTH's Vision Gala as a guest of friends Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil who weren't able to attend (Vanessa Williams - now in Broadway's "The Trip To Bountiful" - was honored): http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/3/7/mercury-in-retrograde.html. You may also recall I hosted DTH's Annual Street Fair in Harlem a few years ago: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2008/8/15/masters-mentors.html. Recently, many of us gathered to see the DTH Company at Jazz at Lincoln Center - a beautiful series of performance in the Rose Theater.
In the house: SO MANY FRIENDS - including my 'Amazing Grace' Nichole; 
friend (and producer of "Drums Along The Hudson") Carl Nelson; 
BFF Sidra Smith (Producer, "Free Angela" documentary); Stacie J ('Apprentice' star - Season 2); 
Ed Roebuck (clients including Diana Ross, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Nancy Wilson); Miss Dawn Riley (performer as well as TV production credits that include "Third Watch" and "Lipstick Jungle" among many others); 
and my SURPRISE BLAST FROM THE PAST (who happened to be seated next to me): CNBC Business News talent Sharon Epperson, my former co-worker (I worked at CNBC with Geraldo Rivera in the mid-'90s) and forever NABJ sister!! 
It was her birthday but the treat was all mine to chat she and her sister up during scene pauses and intermissions. And to those I'm not listing due to space, GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL and as ALWAYS! http://www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/company/ny-season Center Charge: 212.721.6500 www.JALC.org. Afterwards, we grabbed a bite in the area (Rosa Mexicana) before turning in. FUN FRIDAY!!!
DEBORAH COX IN “JEKYLL & HYDE”
Date DAY & NIGHT: Ant & I got a quality-time Saturday in, compliments of friend, publicist Gwendolyn Quinn. We saw one of my TOTAL FAVs, GRAMMY® nominated recording artist Deborah Cox (as Lucy) in JEKYLL & HYDE THE MUSICAL alongside another American Idol FAV, Constantine Maroulis (Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde). 
Deborah's return to Broadway is a 13-week limited engagement at Broadway's Marquis Theatre in New York City. It's a great show-Deborah is AMAZING!!! The review I text some close friends: "Deborah Cox (AND Constantine) are singing for the gODZ in "Jekyll & Hyde" on Broadway! 
Sexy! Sultry! Beautiful, BELTING & nuanced vocals!!!" JEKYLL & HYDE is based on the acclaimed novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, about a London doctor who accidentally unleashes an evil alternate personality in his quest to cure his father's mental illness.
HUMAN SPIRIT AWARDS
On June 4, 2013, Brooklyn Community Services will host its annual BCS Human Spirit Awards at the Grand Hyatt-Manhattan Ballroom. I’ve been asked to join its host committee and to invite as many of you to get in on this wonderful cause as possible. This year BCS will honor two cultural leaders who call Brooklyn their home. 
My friend, National image activist, Michaela angela Davis, and award-winning artist, Danny Simmons, will join other honorees in a ceremony that celebrates individuals who through their vision, leadership, service and generosity have built a lasting impression on both culture and community. The Human Spirit Awards is the annual fundraising dinner for BCS that highlights individuals, groups and programs that have made lifting up the lives of Brooklynites their call to action. 
Last year's gala raised $500,000 and provided vital resources to support BCS's mission to strengthen families, help children and youth reach their full potential, and support adults in leading productive, fulfilling lives. Proceeds from this year's online and silent auction will support efforts to provide continued relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy in Coney Island. This year's gala is already shaping up as a Who's Who of local and national notables, including international DJ and Black Girls Rock Founder and Executive Director, Beverly Bond, who will present the award to Ms. Davis. 
As a leading image/style maven, she has worked with the likes of Oprah, Beyoncé, and Prince. Currently she leads MAD Free, a multi-platform, multi-generational critical community conversation project focusing on image. Danny Simmons has been a leading figure in the New York art scene for over 30 years. Danny is a noted abstract expressionist painter and the older brother of hip hop impresario Russell Simmons and rapper Joseph Simmons ("Reverend Run" of Run–D.M.C.). He is the co-founder and Chairman of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (since 1995), which provides disadvantaged urban youth with arts access and education. 
As a former social worker, Danny understands the impact early intervention can have on a child's life, believing that arts and creativity are a way out of a particular circumstance through the power of imagination. Through their courage, determination and creative drive, Ms. Davis and Mr. Simmons have inspired and uplifted the many young people, struggling families and adults with challenges, who are served by BCS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN BUY TICKETS FOR THIS AWESOME GALA OR MAKE A DONATION: Click on http://www.wearebcs.org/.
KENYA MOORE
Though the night got a little long in the tooth, glad we got to support our friend Nathan Hale Williams’ Ocean Thursdays party at Splash recently! 
Special guest Kenya Moore performed “Gone With The Wind” fabulous!
and was most gracious to show the kids how to pose – on stage and at the step & repeat. 
Was also EXTRA special to see some dear friends – 
including face-beater-par-excellence (makeup artist to the stars) Sam Fine; 
Editor-in-Chief at Uptown Magazine, Isoul Harris (my Morehouse brother whose book “NICKI MINAJ: HIP POP MOMENTS 4 LIFE” just came out this week) ------ 
ALL OF THIS after enjoying a nice family meal with my nephew and his mom (visiting from our hometown Savannah) at Billie’s Black. 
#GoneWithTheWindFabulous!!!!
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in BERRY GORDY, DDIANA ROSS, KENYA MOORE, Mary Wilson, Motown: The Musical, OPENING NIGHT, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Real Housewives of Atlanta, SUPREMES
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