A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

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Ringing in 2015 with Ernest Maynor, Cris Che-Che Miller, Kevin Freeman, Wardell Malloy, CJ, and more at the beautiful New Jersey home of Erika Liles and Kevin Liles proved to be nothing short of a BLAST (with Ern showing up as a SUPER-doppelganger to our hostess with the most Erika! LOL!). GREAT WAY TO COME INTO 2015! ONESIES and UGGS were the order of the day; many GAMES; and awesome spread of "potluck". THANKS to Moochie and our AWESOME HOSTS! PLUS, a special shout out to POCONOS fam, Cristal's mom Sheila and her posse, who fed us something "abundantly" on THE DAY! Happy New Year, EVERYBODY! #2015

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BFF since 7th grade, Ernest Maynor and I did our ANNUAL GA HOLIDAY again! This, while Ant caught up with his peeps in Denver (Hey Denver fam!). Ern and I enjoyed a "Welcome Back to ATL" brunch with our collective BFFs: Carla Jackson; Cristal Miller; Tina Johnson; Ern's and my Savannah homegirl/my Spelman sister Tandi Reddick; our world-traveling vegan diva and sister girlfriend for life Onlyone Camille; and several fun drive-bys, including Chandra's little brother/my mentee Calvin Jones. Great brunch at The Shed at Glenwood! Thx to my nephew Noot - Herman Lee Riley III - for the recommendation! We then hosted NYC BFF and LIFE OF RILEY producer/consultant Derrick Hemphill - in ATL for the holidays - and other friends at our fav couple Patrice and Keron's place. This, before heading to Carla Jackson's house to watch my special interview with Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie - my Ern's and my doppelgangers - on the Season Finale of Oprah: Where Are They Now? on recurring client OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network - http://youtu.be/jUgvR9Bkxr4. AND OF COURSE, I found time for my actual family. LOL! Queen and Mickey's kids - CHILDREN OF CHARLIE & DAISY RILEY - first got together again for Christmas 2014 at my fav cafeteria Piccadilly. My siblings Janice Riley Priester, Herman, and me caught up and got suitably nourished for the rest of the holiday! We got a pre-Savannah moment in Atlanta via childhood friend and Spelman sister Tandi Reddick. Her eve-of-eve party ensured we could all have fun - friends old and new, including my L.A.-based friend Wayne Gonzalez, Celebrity Astrologer whose analysis will “read” and explain many things about you - for the good. LOL!When last I was in L.A., Wayne joined some of me - and some of my friends from "The Queen Latifah Show", which was still in production at the time. He gave them an ear full. Look for more from this talent in 2015 (I predict! LOL!). Tandi's set - for sure - got the holiday celebrating off to a great start! While in Savannah, it was lots of catching up; visiting; children to gift and see; cocktails and juice; lots of food; and lots of laughter and love! Always so good to be home in Savannah where much of it all began. I LOVE MY FAMILY and ALL of my EXTENDED SAVANNAH FAMILY. And I was too excited to get some special “favorite cousin” time with Buddah. Was also nice to catch up with the E-WING CREW – from Natalie and her beautiful family to Ern and his clan. And a special treat it was to get some time with our beloved Bernadette. We got a kick out of catching up with old Windsor Forest High School classmates on one of the evenings. Had my close out in Savannah with fam. Well, a night-cap with the MAYNOR siblings at JEN'S&FRIENDS. AND THEN, a return to ATL for one more night to a "Welcome Back and BYE" party back in Atlanta - hosted by our dear friends and hosts Patrice and Keron (and the boys Zach and Hunter). One of my good-bye guests, dear friend Kevin Freeman taking me out on the ATL town for a night cap at Mixx Atlanta's Upscale Lounge & Nightclub and Chaperelle Nightclub where we bumped into several buddies - including Isoul Harris - ATLANTA's own who is now Editor in Chief of UPTOWN Magazine whose always been good to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1sAADNg3Ls and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD54heTwCpY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY!#siblingsbond #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #WHEREARETHEYNOW #ARISE360

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Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley" brought ALL OF OUR FAV FAM OUT for the eve-of-eve New Year's wrap of our uber-fun Fall 2014 Series! Look for us back up in the Spring of 2015 (and maybe some special ALL STAR KARAOKE moments here and there).! Meanwhile, feel the LOVE that I felt on our last night as Billie's Black Gourmet Soul's owner Adrian Ferguson provided a champagne toast for our ALL STAR KARAOKE faithfuls (and to RING IN THE NEW YEAR) - also to CELEBRATE EIGHT YEARS IN THE BUSINESS. AND SHE FINALLY SANG! She led "The Boss" choir for our weekly finale! Beautiful cap...and WORDS from her - thanking us for making "Tuesday" at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul like their BEST FRIDAY EVER! And come mid-January and for the winter months, MiKA DeHarlem will host KARAOKE UNSCRIPTED which I plan to support when I can. BIG THANKS to our sponsors Miss Jessie's, Joseph Riley Land, Vessie Goldsmith, Motown the Musical, and all the rest. AND MY TEAM is the best - including my producer and fill-in host Bernice Wooden! LOVE YOU! And BIG THANKS to my partner Ant whose vision for me to host something was All Star Karaoke (since 2010) and producer/BFF Derrick Hemphill for working with All Star Karaoke and Life of Riley as the brands grow. Much LOVE to ALL...and HAPPY NEW YEAR! #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #motownmay