A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

WHAT A SATURDAY in the LIFE OF RILEY!

It started with work at the NYC headquarters of recurring client BET – prepping video for an upcoming network presentation. Then, with a special shout out to Denise Clay and Derrick Hemphill, I participated in my 1st GOOGLE Hangout presented by DJTF - NABJ's Digital Journalism Task Force - as in National Association of Black Journalists: "GETTING STARTED AS AFREELANCER". GREAT CHAT! Here you can here it - PART 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClJ7OOILiDw&list=UUFeGDctt-l14jAlCeHqRh_w. 

After that, back to BET to wrap up day.

Then, a wonderful hang at friend Paul Wharton’s NYC pad for food, fun, and fellowship.

After that, Derrick and I attended Broadway must-see play, “Mothers and Sons” starring Tony-award-winning and six-time-Emmy-award-winning Tyne Daly.

From there, to MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN’s NYC birthday party – celebrating 72. Shout out to publicist with the most, Gwendolyn Quinn, for ensuring I was in the house. I got to attend and blog about: MISS Aretha Franklin'S DETROIT BDAY PARTY in 2008: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2009/3/26/people-say-im-the-life-of-the-party.html. I also got to be an audience with THE QUEEN OF SOUL at her June 2009 "HOLLYWOOD BOWL" performance followed by a posh post-set at the Peninsula: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2009/9/21/ive-waited-so-long-to-hear-you-say-that-to-me-say-it-again-s.html. And was good to hang out with her at a MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL preview event here in the city: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ

But this one was special. It took place at The Ritz Carlton (Central Park South). I got to see my NABJ BFF Greg Dunmore – in town for the festivities. Also in the house: QUITE THE WHO’S WHO – including Denzel Washington (fresh from the RAISIN IN THE SUN Broadway stage); CLIVE DAVIS; CLIFTON DAVIS (subject of one of my LIFE AFTERs on TV ONE: http://tvone.tv/shows/life_after/video/full-episode--life-after-amen--clifton-davis-.html); JUDGE GREG MATHIS; Sister 2 Sister’s JAMIE FOSTER BROWN; Ebony’s MILES MARSHALL LEWIS; JET legend Clarence Waldron, who we got to honor via the NABJ A&E Task Force a couple of yeasr ago; my fellow NABJ baby ROLAND MARTIN and his awesome wife Jackie; and a host of others! Just ONE SATURDAY in the LIFE OF RILEY!

MARCH is quite the month for DIVAS birthdays. MISS CHAKA KHAN's special day is coming up and my MISS ROSS will be celebrating THE BIG 7-0! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LADIES!

I believe it was a Tuesday when ATL buddy Lamoh Hicks poppedinto town! Anthony Harper and I just had to catch up with him and grab a snack at Dallas BBQ! Guess who joins us? REAL HOUSEWIFE to R&BDivasTVOne's Monifah Carter, Terez Mychelle! Y'all better tune in for the new season April 23rd! Monifah Carter and the ladies promise to BRING IT! I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT! #divas LAST TEREZ, MONIFAH, and I happened upon each other, we were an audience with MISS ROSS at NJPAC in Newark where she introduced Newark's own Gloria Gaynor to the stage for an impromptu duet of their mutual hit "I Will Survive"! AND WE LIVED!!!

P.S. My Savannah homeboy Maurice Marable is continuing to impress and make us proud! Check this out: http://www.fastcompany.com/3027539/whos-next/from-big-love-to-veep-how-maurice-marable-directed-his-way-to-success #savannahpride