A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

FRIENDS OF HARLEM HOSPITAL

On a referral from my BFF Sidra Smith, I was invited to host The Friends of Harlem Hospital Center’s Holiday Party (www.nychhc.org). It took place at Londel’s Restaurant in Harlem (www.londelsrestaurant.com/).  The Friends of Harlem Hospital Center was founded in 1987 on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Harlem Hospital Center to engage in and support activities that promote the work of the Hospital. TOTAL HONOR to be a part of a LOVE MOVEMENT which honored the iconic John M. Palmer, Ph.D, President of John Palmer Associates, Inc., a consulting company. His commitment to Harlem and the Harlem Hospital Center for which he worked - over 12 years - as the Executive Director (impact - among many things - including taking the lead on preserving and reviving the institution's beautiful murals of old into murals of new that can now be seen at the hospital). Since 2000, the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center has dispersed grants of over $1.3 million dollars; in 2008-2009 they donated $224,146 in grants to various departments and programs, and, in 2006 they donated $100,000 to Harlem Hospital Center’s Capital Campaign Modernization Project. The Friends of Harlem Hospital Center are committed to assist Hospital initiatives that are not funded by NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. For more information about the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center call the Development office at (212) 939-1390.

MOHEGAN SUN

Ant & I got the chance to celebrate our 7th anniversary with a complimentary, two-night, three-day stay at Mohegan Sun (http://www.mohegansun.com/) in Connecticut. We had a blast! The 34-story hotel overlooks the Thames River - making for beautiful New England views and vistas. We got to dine at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain - a meal of filet mignon, shrimp & grits, deviled eggs...and lots of champagne! And ...when not dining 5-star, Johnny Rockets provided lots of comfort food - from its chili dogs to the chocolate malt. We danced a bit at Club Vista and -- of course -- we enjoyed the slots and proved WINNERS - especially on the Michael Jackson machine! SO MUCH FUN! We didn't get any spa treatments this time, but plan to return - perhaps for Ant's BDAY weekend in April. But the whole experience was a spa treatment for us - relaxing, fun, and romantic. Casino culture is unique. I enjoy popping in from time to time to experience it. Quite a re-nourishing getaway.

WICKED WILLY’S

Upon our return from the Mohegan Sun, we did a night-cap at Wicked Willy's (in the Village - next to Bitter End where I have performed a time or few in the '90s - primarily as host (and singer) for an event that was the brainchild of the brilliant Doreen Oliver: "Frustrated Artists in Corporate America" - a showcase featuring a host of 9-to-5er professionals - performing their sidelight i.e. singing, poetry, etc. What a FUN experience! ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT? But I digress, the Wicked Willy invite came from our girlfriends Ashlei and Natasha. My Carl Nelson joined us. It was karaoke night - so with what voice I had left from the 2nd-hand smoke in those CT casinos (It's still legal there to smoke inside! YUK!), I performed a - WHEW!-I-got-through-it version of "Reasons" by Earth, Wind, & Fire - one of my favorites to hear and perform.

THE LOUD 100

Shout out to my friend Stanley Bennett Clay, Contributing Editor for DBQ Magazine (as in David Bridgeforth – Editor and Publisher). I’ve just been informed that I have been named to “The Loud 100 LGBT People of Color” list, according to DBQ magazine. I’m told a hard copy of the magazine is on its way. I look forward to seeing the entire list of company of which I’m proud to be a part! Thanks GUYS! http://dbqmag.com/

LEWIS JOHNSON

Shout out to my friend Kelly J. Welborn whose idreamSpeakers, LLC is making a big difference already as the firm just launched (TWITTER: @idreamspeakers.com). Kelly’s client, seven-time NBC Olympic Commentator and ESPN reporter Lewis Johnson is hosting his World-Class Coat Drive benefiting the New York Cares 24th Annual Coat Drive and the Boys and Girls Clubs in the NY/NJ Metropolitan area (Twitter: @LewisJohnsonMG). Lewis was in New York to cover the ING NYC Marathon for ESPN in the days after Hurricane Sandy impacted the Northeast. Lewis has organized this coat drive to help families still recovering from the storm as well as those preparing for the Winter weather during this Holiday Season. He is inviting Olympic champions, world-class athletes, broadcast colleagues, corporations, and community friends to join him on Saturday, December 15, 2012 to kick-off his World-Class Coat Drive by collecting new or clean gently used winter coats, jackets, scarves, hats and gloves to donate to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The kick-off event plus a FREE Kids Holiday Village will be held at A Touch of Paris Art Gallery, owned by his wife, Dominique Galleron, located in historic downtown Grapevine, TX. From Saturday, December 15 - Saturday, December 29, other drop-off locations include Trinity Chiropractic Clinic in Carrollton, TX, Golden Corral in Keller, TX, The Arbors of Central Park in Bedford, TX and more locations to be announced. For more information, keep up with both entities on TWITTER.

VALIANT HORIZON

My Savannah homeboy Terry Sartor has started his own music label and production with a focus on dance music. It's called Valiant Horizon: http://www.facebook.com/valianthorizon. He is the first artist to release a single on it. It's a progressive house track called “Industry” with a number of remixes in the progressive house and techno spaces. Also, he now has another artist slated to release a single. His name is Lorchee (also known as David El). Lorchee is a music producer and DJ out of Poland. His music styles are house, techno and trance. Put your dance shoes on (or take them off) and enjoy! CONGRATS, TERRY (www.soundcloud.com/terrysartor)!

NAACP IMAGE AWARDS

Four of the five nominees in the category of the NAACP Image Award’s BEST TALK category have one degree of separation with me as they are all recurring clients! CONGRATS to : "Don't Sleep!" (BET); "Oprah's Lifeclass" (OWN); "Oprah's Next Chapter" (OWN); and "The View" (ABC).  I made recent impressions - on-cam and/or behind-the-scenes - on all of them this last year and change. My recent appearance on BET’s Don't Sleep, with T. J. Holmes for its POST-ELECTION DAY SHOW with Rapper The Game and MSNBC’s Toure: Here’s a clip: http://www.bet.com/video/dont-sleep/highlights/2012/sleep-talkers-don-t-sleep-121-12021.html. Also, I was interviewed back-stage before the show: http://bet.us/TuU3Eb.

MISS ROSS, THE OBAMAS, & CHRISTMAS

My Miss Ross overcame the challenge of a broken ankle to perform in excellence (with choir accompaniment) for the annual "Christmas In Washington" television-concert special, which will air on TNT Friday, December 21^st (http://www.tntdrama.com/schedule/).

Hosted by Late Night's Conan O'Brien, the show also featured appearances Demi Lovato and Scotty McCreery, among others… but MOST SUPREME: MISS ROSS! http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/diana-ross-performs-at-tnts-christmas-in-washington/2012/12/10/a201c766-42e9-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_video.html.

ROSS BURTON R.I.P.

We had many friends in common. All ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIM! When I met him and got to know him for a short, but recent window of time (the last five years or so), I too found him to be an AWESOME GUY! SUPER NICE & SWEET! And SO HANDSOME! Death is bigger than us and our comprehension sometimes. This one - for sure - feels like he's GONE TOO SOON! R.I.P. ROSS! Please see the info below re: a Celebration of ROSS' beautiful life that will take place here in NYC!