A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

NEW SHOWBIZ

Executive Producing a special project would lead me to L.A. We just had a week of work and two days of shoots. (I’ll share more when time for it to be viewed in 2015-16). Awesome project that you'll all get to see Meanwhile, where I go – so does THE LIFE OF RILEY:

NATE PARKER

My Welcome to L.A. hang ended up being hosted by my friend Ikechukwu Waldhaus and friend Nate Parker ("Red Tails", "Great Debaters", and more!). They chose the W Hollywood for our catch up! Nate Parker has some great updates that I'll be sharing soon! CONGRATS, BRO!

DIVAS SIMPLY SINGING

My friend V Scott Hamilton (Sheryl Lee Ralph Ralph's DIVAS SIMPLY SINGING) took me to say HI to Sheryl Lee Ralph at her beautiful home (OMG! No pix but Sheryl Lee Ralph was FIERCE! Lol!). We had lots to catch up on – including – this weekend: DIVAS SIMPLY SINGING.

BETTER BROTHERS

 Scott also hosted a wonderful event with BETTER BROTHERS L.A. – a happy hour at McCormicks w/friends - including Derek Lafayette and Thornell Jones Jr: www.betterbrothersla.com.

ACE HOTEL

My Harpo BFF Itika then scooped me up and took us to Ace Hotel for rooftop music! L.A. is cute (enough)! LOL!

KIKI AND TITI

"Jakki's Back!": Taylor-Richardson that is! My BFF from our days producing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (She currently is Producer at "Queen Latifah" whose stylist Tim Snell joined her! I'm a BIG FAN of him and his work - including 13 years of styling the late, GREAT Whitney Houston).

My top secret L.A. assignment would allow me a hang with she and some uber-special peeps (I took an Uber tonight in L.A.! Cute, right? Lol!).

Shout out to those who schlepped to Culver City/Rush Street Restaurant to see me:

my other Harpo BFF Itika (mktg exec extraordinaire); media exec producer/friend Nicole Childers;

actress/entertainment diva Toni; astrologer Wayne Gonzalez;

and a special shout out to PR friend and Spelman sister Tosha Whitten Griggs who tried to make it but had an alumni event - all good folks and all my peeps! Love you ALL! XO

 AROMA

After late wrap, did impromptu bday set at Aroma Bakery Cafe with old ATL buddy Derrick Lafayette hosted by old NYC buddy Keith Wooten: my industry brother friends! Happy BDAY Dela! L.A. is still poppin'.

OIL CAN HARRY

L.A! Great times! "Oil Can Harry's" gave us 70s/80 's music; karaoke (I did Endless Love); and Harpo besties Lesia Minor and Itika + my Diana BFF Curtis! Plus, my Delandis - Broadway performer and TV host extraordinaire! XO

GOODBYE LA

Dear friend Stacey Antonio capped off my L.A. trip with a great catch-up breakfast. This, before I had to get back to NYC! THANKS L.A. ET AL!

THINSPIRED

Congrats to my internet wife, Mara Schiavocampo. The cover of her upcoming book is done and she is ready to go! I'm very proud of her! #‎THINspired ‪#‎Dec30

LEON & THE PEOPLES

GOOD TIMES at LEON & THE PEOPLES LIVE in HARLEM USA at Red Rooster Harlem! Did LEON hand me that mic during his show? LOL! Anthony Harper's sister Bri Cole is Leon’s publicist and Victor E Lewis is the manager. Sabrina also reps Michael Jai White and Frenchie Davis among others! After Leon's Red Rooster show, we called on nearby Sylvia's Restaurant, the Queen of Soul food, for a later night bite. We were seated next to this one... LOVE ARETHA! Shout out to my boo Sidra Smith for popping by and our hangout buddies du jour Bernice Wooden and Charon Richardson of G'wan by Charon fame! ! #uptownsaturdaynight

THE ZERO DEGREE ZOMBIE ZONE

Great Sunday in Harlem to celebrate my friend Patrik Henry Bass and illustrator Jerry Craft on "The Zero Degree Zombie Zone" Patrik's 1st children's book (ages 8-12) from Scholastic. My girlfriend Robin Stone hosted the well-appointed set in her beautiful brownstone - filled with some of my favorite people - including NABJ sister friends Katti Gray and author of "The End of Fashion", Teri Agins whose new book "Hijacking The Runway: How Celebrities Are Stealing the Spotlight from Fashion Designers" hits stores this month! Always good to connect with my journalism peeps under one roof! Congrats Patrik! #blackboysread #ZeroDegreeZombieZone

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, J’NARA!

Was GREAT to CELEBRATE the FOREVER YOUNG, J’NARA CORBIN at The Celllar – below The Bryant Park Hotel. CHEERS, MY FRIEND! XOXOXO

JEHRIME CHADWICK

Okay, how EXCITED and IMPRESSED was I to be combing through UPTOWN Magazine and page turning to my friend Jehrime Chadwick - actor/model to KEEP WATCHING!

GMC cast this ad VERY WELL! CONGRATS, JEHRIME! KEEP GOING, MY FRIEND!

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY AWARDS

I got the chance to host the Miss Harlem Shake 2014 Contest for Musa Jackson Productions last month. He's asked me now to host the 10th Annual African American Literary Award Show on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Please come join us! I'm EXCITED!