PATRICKRILEYHEADSHOT2.JPGWELCOME 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. 

5.) And anytime pictures or video can support an entry (in the blog, and perhaps in the subsequent podcasts, my space, and website), those visuals will keep things aesthetically enrolling. That section will be called "MY TUBE".
PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!
Patrick L. Riley

 

Titi Branch

Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley sends our sponsor and dear sister friend and client Miss Jessie's MIKO BRANCH our #ENDLESSLOVE as today. #DEC4 is the one year anniversary since her sister and Miss Jessie’s Co-Founder Titi Branch's passing. At the top of this year, Miko asked me to sing Sylvester and Patti LaBelle "You Are My Friend" for the public celebration of her sister Titi Branch's life held at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY:

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/10153400518588737/?l=4351585039571061562

. A BEAUTIFUL, UPLIFTING AFTERNOON! We SHARE with all of you in memory of Titi Branch. Her LEGACY LIVES ON! And what a FRIEND and SISTER she was to so many! PLEASE SHARE your memories of #TitiBranch with #MikoBranch #MissJessies #lifeand #legacy #youaremyfriend #miss_jessies #missjessiesbook #titibranch #titigift#TitiBranch #RIPTitiBranch #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #pics #memories #video#remember #PATTILABELLE#PATTIPIES#JAMESWRIGHT#JAMESWRIGHTCHANEL#SWEETPOTATOPIE #WALMART #OWNTV #OPRAHSMASTERCLASS #thebosschoir#mightysylvester #divassimplysinging #worldaidsday


Miss Jessie's is back atop our sponsors for Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley! I’m also doing some brand ambassador work with#missjessies CEO and CO-FOUNDER MIKO BRANCH who is still promoting her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI. As she is among the EBONY 100 today in Los Angeles, she is doing rounds of press – including “Breaking Into with Miko Branch” via Black Hollywood Live: https://t.co/NH6V0uQssC and a special shout out to my brother friend Derek Lafayette for inviting Miko to appear as a guest on the Rhythm Late Night Show, the prime time, top-rated, interactive program a live televised radio show (think: Dish Nation meets Howard Stern) that is filmed at Dream Magic Studios state of the art facility in Los Angeles, CA. We THANK MISS JESSIE’s for such an AWESOME PARTNERSHIP for Seasons 2, 3, and 4 of Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. BY THE WAY: I recently got to interview Shanice Williams for recurring client NBCBLK! That interview is here:  

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/shanice-williams-tonights-wiz-live-debut-n471616

Did you see THE WIZ LIVE? What did you think?

 

We hope the cast will come and sing with us at Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley! We’re always singing songs from THE WIZ:


PLEASE BE SURE TO CATCH US BEFORE WE WRAP SEASON 4: Reservations are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248. #life and #legacy#youaremyfriend #miss_jessies #missjessiesbook#titibranch #titigift #pattipies #pattilabelle#jameswrightchanel #sylvester #mightysylvester

 

 

 

doctor sister

Doctor Sister

MISS ROSS' sister Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee is SUPREME in the World of Medicine...and you are ALL INVITED TO  join me Tuesday, December 1st for a FREE PUBLIC TALK AND BOOK SIGNING with Author Crystal Emery whose crafted an initiative for us ALL to CELEBRATE and PROMOTE: It is a groundbreaking multimedia documentary project and educational initiative that celebrates the history, status and future of women of color in medicine. It designed to inspire young African American and Latino students across America to set their sights on careers in medicine and allied health fields in spite of stereotypes and obstacles. Changing the Face of Medicine follows the journey of Black women doctors from inequality to excellence. In telling the story of over 100 accomplished African American women in medicine who have achieved top positions and high honors in their fields, this initiative proves that anything is possible and shows youth a path of success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. COME ONE COME ALL...and bring your FUTURE DOCTORS with you! IT WILL BE INSPIRING AND FUN! And I will make an appearance before I head up to Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley! WILL BE A FUN NIGHT! #missjesies #changingthefaceofmedicine #allstakaraoke #billisblack

Shenna Vaughn

ONE MORE MONTH OF TUESDAYS in DECEMBER before our SEASON 4 of BILLIE'S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY wraps! NEXT WEEK, we celebrate the DECEMBER residency of contemporary artist Shenna Vaughn who I recently commissioned to do a wedding vow gift for my dearest friends, GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo and her husband Tommie Porter! PLEASE coome out and support Shenna, and get in on the FUN! Reservations are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248.

New York Association of Black Journalists

Last week’s All Star Karaoke had our weekly sponsor MISS JESSIE's providing an array of special MISS JESSIE'S product and T-shirts for our SPECIAL TUESDAY NIGHT GUESTS: Members of the New York Association of Black Journalists - led by my brother friend President Mike Feeney, an awesome feature writer all around New York City! IT WAS QUITE A FAMILY NIGHT: INDUSTRY FAMILY of course! Mike brought his mom REBA! Our ALL STAR KARAOKE DIVA, celebrity hairstylist Carla Bone brought her buddies AND her mom Barbara and sister Cheryl Gentry of Glow Event Planning! Was quite the PACKED HOUSE - perfect for ushering in THANKSGIVING! We also got a surprise, smart phone call from ALL STAR KARAOKE ALUM, my friend Tichina Arnold, who attended when we were at Native Restaurant. She sent co-producers Dawn M. Haynes and Musa Jackson Productions to promote her performances in Harlem during Thanksgiving weekend. ONE MORE giveaway/raffle allows ALL STAR KARAOKE sound-design diva LAURIANNE LUMBSBY to get to see "Invisible Thread", an amazing musical running in pre-views now at Second Stage Theatre (on 43rd and 8th).

Sweetie Pie

THE OTHER WEEK, WELCOME TO SWEETIE PIE’s stars Robbie Montgomery and Tim Norman stopped by – to catch us up on the cookbook! Also, their new season of their OWNTV show: http://dailycommune.com/missrobbie/. So many came out - including my friend Candi Carter, Executive Producer at "The View"! #getready #billiesblack #motownmay #allstarkaraoke#thebosschoir #GRATITUDE #steps #shaquilleoneal#stepsthemovie #billiesblack

BIRTHDAY 45

I’ll never forget BIRTHDAY 45 because I saw my FILM DEBUT for the first time! Ant, my nephew Herman L Riley III, friends Rachelle and Verizon-fios TV reporter Lyndsey Christian, and a robust crowd gathered with the cast of #STEPSTHEMOVIE by Eddie Harris to see our labor of love as it is being pitched to which platform on which the world will be able to see the wonderful film. We gathered in Jersey City (Journal Square) to screen. Afterwards, we all gathered at Porto to celebrate. They even had a cake for “Rudy” (that’s my character…and since it was my birthday and all). And the karaoke set-up at the after-spot would inspire a request for Mr. All Star Karaoke – yours truly – to sing. I did Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight” and Miss Ross’ “The Boss”. I’d mentioned before AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST QAASIM MIDDLETON is in it too along with his brother KHALIL MIDDLETON. AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL! And BIGGEST of THANKS to EDDIE HARRIS and PENWAH for casting me in this amazing project – Co-Executive Produced by Shaquille O' Neal! Great BIRTHDAY GIFT - TO ME! For more info, go to www.Stepsthemovie.info. Shout out to#MISSJESSIES for its donation for the screening – also allocated to benefit several homeless shelters in the area. THANKS EVERYBODY for your well wishes and for supporting LIFE OF RILEY! #GRATITUDE #steps #shaquilleoneal #stepsthemovie #billiesblack#allstarkaraoke #MISS_JESSIES #MISSJESSIESBOOK #TITIGIFT #MIKOBRANCH

MIST HARLEM

I am just overflowing with #gratitude for those who came out to celebrate my 45th birthday at MIST HARLEM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq1uovrAx0o! We had a BLAST! The pictures show all the love and joy that was in the room --- oozing out of my favorite people in the world – including my Ant (who – with the team at MIST – showed up and showed out for my special day); childhood BFF Ernest Maynor; GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo and hubby Tommie Porter; #bevelations own hostess with the most Bevy Smith; NAACP Image Award winning producer Sidra Smith; celebrity hairstylist Carla Bone; #STEPSthemovie writer and Executive Producer Eddie Harris and fellow producer Michele Baldwin; Drums Along the Hudson producer Carl Nelson; Apprentice alum Stacey J; and a host of other dear friends and a mix of my New York City industry family – all who got in on the #allstarkaraoke and the delectable cuisine that was so lovingly prepared by Celebrity Chef Carlos Brown whose “famous shrimp and grits” were THE BEST! Shout out to #MISSJESSIES for its donation to the festivities.

STREET TALK

I get to work freelance with the team at recurring client ‘Wendy’ this season on the MetroPCS Street Talk segment. Our THANKSGIVING edition airs today on ‘Wendy’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uwBc_wEzTE.

SHANICE WILLIAMS

You know I’m obsessed with ALL THINGS THE WIZ – including TODAY’S NEWS: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/diana-ross-sings-songs-from-the-wiz-released-today-373271.  ALSO STAY TUNED: I recently got to interview Shanice Williams for recurring client NBCBLK! That interview will post soon! LOVE when NBCBLK calls! We hope the cast will come and sing with us at Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley! We’re always singing songs from THE WIZ:

BRAND NEW DAY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOKtUdgTunQ

HOME - https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153340104878737/?type=3&theater.  And EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD - https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153338090793737/?type=3&theater.

THANKSGIVING

FOR THANKSGIVING 2015, New York City fam Brian Henderson and his wife Nikita Stewart Henderson (New York Times) hosted a well-appointed feast – including Brian’s childhood friend Dionne Figgins – performer/choreographer supreme and Motown the Musical’s own (Dionne is one of four sisters – all of whom are professional dancers and performers). Dionne’s current beau is Tony-nominated actor Brandon Victor Dixon who made for THANKSGIVING 2015’s star sighting! Always a pleasure to see him!

TICHINA

Tichina Arnold. Gin Fizz. 11/28/15. Harlem.

THANKS Musa Jackson for the GREAT NIGHT with Tichina Arnold...and your words here: "It was an epic night! My sister from another mister producer Dawn To Dusk Haynes along with host, promoter Musa Jackson debuted the amazing multi talented actress and singer Tichina Arnold new stage show at Gin Fizz in Harlem that brought the packed SOLD OUT audience to their feet! This Queens born native graced the stage and slayed it with an effortless combination of powerful vocals, stage mastery, comedic raw wit, a tight band featuring Romell her killer guitarist. She sang through a barrel full of iconic hits that off times rivaled the originals. Entertainment Industry insiders Ty Hunter, James Germany, R& B group Allure, Mira Gandy, Tammy Ford, Patrick Riley and Anthony Harper were amongst the crowd that cheered her on an hour pass her set. Harlem born r&b legend Freddie Jackson looking fabulous was unexpectedly called onstage, getting huge applause for his mega classic You Are My Lady. But this Harlem night clearly belonged to Tichina. She announced she will be touring big cities with new show. My suggestion get your tickets early, advanced word of mouth could easily have this show sold out on arrival. ‪#‎DawnTichinaMusa ‪#‎epic ‪#‎legendary ‪#‎night ‪#‎MyUptownWorld ‪#‎UptownHarlemAmbassador"

TITI BRANCH

Share your memories of  ‪#‎TitiBranch with #MikoBranch #MissJessies on Dec 4th… and stay tuned for a SPECIAL TRIBUTE to #TitiBranch from Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley. ‪#‎life and ‪#‎legacy #youaremyfriend #miss_jessies #missjessiesbook #titibranch #titigift

save these life of riley dates 2015

Hi fam!

A handful of SAVE THE DATES that I need you to consider --- pending details:

1. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH – ALL STAR KARAOKE

WE’LL BE THERE TONIGHT and every TUESDAY OF COURSE…. but NEXT Tuesday, November 17th at "Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE" with Patrick L. Riley, we’ll START CELEBRATING my 45th BIRTHDAY! SPECIAL GUESTS WILL BE IN THE HOUSE! Don’t forget to make your RESERVATIONS (whether tonight or any Tuesday) at Billie’s Black: 212.280.2248.


2. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH – PATRICK L. RILEY BIRTHDAY & STEPS FILM SCREENING (in Jersey City)

Shaquille O'Neal is Executive Producer of STEPS by Eddie Harris – a wonderful film in which I got the chance to make my “film acting debut”. To all my LIFE OF RILEY VIPs, YOU ARE INVITED to this special private event, which includes a partnership with St. Lucy's Shelter, Christ Hospital, Ocean Ave Baptist Church, other invited churches and community service organizations. Also in the house: Miss Jessie’s! Arrive on time! 7:00pm Doors Open

Trailer: http://Vimeo.com/142798556

Teaser: https://vimeo.com/135097155

Additional links:

Website: http://www.stepsthemovie.info

RSVP here: stepsthemovie2015@gmail.com

3. Sunday, November 22nd at MIST: an ALL STAR KARAOKE birthday brunch of a pre-Thanksgiving menu by Celebrity Chef Carlos Brown. 

Please join us and RSVP here:

www.eventbrite.com/e/mist-harlem-presents-all-star-karaoke-and-brunch-with-patrick-riley-tickets-19319414890!

4. MY NEW YORKERS! SAVE THE DATE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST for details about a SPECIAL EVENT you are ALL INVITED TO ATTEND. It’s a 5p BOOK SIGNING of “AGAINST ALL ODDS: Celebrating Black Women in Medicine” by Crystal Emery

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/55554c6de4b075eeaec5736a/t/55cde72ee4b01e36b69c7e49/1439557436228/7.28.15+sampler.pdf.

IT WILL BE INSPIRING AND FUN to celebrate our DOCTOR SISTERS! And I will make an appearance before I head up to Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley! WILL BE A FUN NIGHT! STAY TUNED!


5. IN PREVIEWS NOW!  “INVISIBLE THREAD” at SECOND STAGE THEATRE

DISCOUNT CODE: WICG …and get as low as $39-ticket per person, if you buy before December 2nd.

SECOND STAGE THEATRE presents
In association with AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER

INVISIBLE THREAD
BY MATT GOULD AND GRIFFIN MATTHEWS
CO-CHOREOGRAPHED BY DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE
CHOREOGRAPHED BY SERGIO TRUJILLO
DIRECTED BY DIANE PAULUS

Second Stage Theatre
305 West 43rd Street @ 8th Avenue

"An awesomely powerful musical that will thrill you to the bones." - CBS

Determined to find his place in the world, 20-something Griffin leaves his job and his New York City apartment to volunteer for a charity in Africa. But when his altruistic aspirations collide with the real world, his life is changed in unexpected and profound ways. Inspired by a true story, this rousing new musical infuses a world pop score with African beats in an electrifying journey about discovering whether changing the world is even possible.

INVISIBLE THREAD runs approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes including one 15 minute intermission.
The performance begins promptly and there is absolutely NO late seating.


for one for all

BIRTHDAY BRUNCH

ONE AFTERNOON ONLY! An ALL STAR KARAOKE at MIST Harlem! SPREAD THE WORD AND SAVE THE DATE! LINK: www.eventbrite.com/e/mist-harlem-presents-all-star-karaoke-and-brunch-with-patrick-riley-tickets-19319414890. WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING Y'ALL IN THE HOUSE for our MIST special and ONE of my bday fetes (of course, we'll also celebrate at Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley the prior Tuesday 11/17 and you don't want to miss that one as some famous friends may pop by. Make your reservations at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. The bday itself is 11/19! WHEW! LOL! AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!


JOSH POWELL

Two-time NBA Champ Josh Powell (most recently an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets) was in town shooting VH1s Black Ink. He wanted to stop by All Star Karaoke tonight… and did! He even sang The Boss with me! Lol! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #joshpowell

https://www.facebook.com/JoshPowell21/?fref=ts

http://www.josh21powell.com/

@jp21reasons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Powell

I TOLD YOU WE NEVER KNOW WHO WILL POP BY! Please come join us! We have 8 MORE TUESDAYS through the end of the year! Reservations are highly recommended: 212 280 2248: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/. Miss Jessie's is back among our sponsors! And as #missjessies CEO and CO-FOUNDER MIKO BRANCH did last season in promotion of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://invalid.invalid/RL-EqYvCAeI, we hope you will come SING your FAVORITES with us, ENJOY cocktail specials and tasty soul food, and NETWORK with a ROOM FULL of FABULOUS FOLKS! SEASON 4 is - in part - POWERED by ALL STAR KARAOKE PLATINUM PATRON Mr. Reginald Van Lee…and more and more partners are coming through – including Kehinde Wiley documentary Executive Producer Lamar Johnson and new spirits sponsor William Wolf: http://thinklikeawolf.com/. Special shout out to Koran Thomas. WE THANK THEM and all of you who continue to be such a support! And Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry via Joseph Riley Land is back IN THE HOUSE - literally as the critically-acclaimed pantry has taken up semi-permanent space in the back of Billie’s Black. Gift certificates to purchase #rileyland products will be raffled. Plus, look for Riley/Land inside our ALL STAR KARAOKE signature cocktails (Riley/Land-curated mixers that will also be in stock for sale. Stay tuned!). Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! Let us know if you want to use ALL STAR KARAOKE as a back-drop to promote or present any of your projects inside an intimate but power-filled room of taste-makers and top talent! PLEASE TELL YOUR PEEPS...and SHARE!#BILLIESBLACK#ALLSTARKARAOKE#MOTOWNMAY #StockYourPantry #HarlemEats #missjessiesbook #iammissjessies #Legacy of #TitiBranch  #williamwolf  #thinklikeawolf #21REASONS #JP21REASONS

MONEY MINUTE FINALE

What a JOY it has been to host the WELLS FARGO PRESENTS THE ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE – a six-part video series in which Wells Fargo Financial Experts provide financial wellness tips through the LGBTQ lens. In our last episode of the season, Matt & Rick learn how to effectively pay off student loan debt while saving for other investments: http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/23/paying-student-loans-matt-rick. Shout out to all of you for your support. See the whole season and last season (which I also co-hosted) here:  www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute. #WELLSFARGO #MONEYMINUTE #ADVOCATE


HAPPY HARLEM-WEEN!

CALL ME RASTA RILEY aka The Grinch that SHUT HALLOWEEN DOWN! LOL! CALL Anthony Harper #lusciouslyons from #empire. And LOOK WHO'S IN TOWN FOR #HALLOWEEN2015 Onlyone Camille, our BELOVED!!!! And Melody Vaughn - from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams HOSTED US WELL! HAPPY HARLEM-WEEN! XOXOXO

CIZE

Surely, you’ve all noticed my Incredible Shrinking Man: ANT! Well, now I can say that he’s featured in the ‪#‎CIZE infomercial which chronicles the story of he and the many who participated with the great Shaun T to transform and start their journey to a new WAY! Ant is currently 70 pounds down… and counting! He THANKS ALL OF YOU for your  motivation and support! I'M SO PROUD OF ANT! LOVE YOU, BABE! #CIZEOPPORTUNITY

Where are my up and coming funny people? Do you do improv? Are you starting to do stand-up? Do you LOVE POP CULTURE! If you do...and want an unpaid, but high-visibility, opportunity to be on TV, I'd just need 20 minutes or less of your time on the couple of days a month through July that I'll be shooting. For more info, please email me...and I can tell you more...: patarack@hotmail.com. THANKS FOLKS!


reframe

REFRAME

Hosting REFRAME: The Summit was a BLAST! REFRAME: The Brand™ is a business acceleration platform for brands and businesses. REFRAME offers a Total Market Enterprise™ SaaS platform for members. What a BEAUTIFUL EVENT at MIST in Harlem! CONGRATULATIONS to Jeffrey L. Bowman, CEO and CREATOR of REFRAME…and THANKS TO my friend Sidra Smith, NAACP Image Award winning producer (“Free Angela”) for booking me to HOST! AWESOME GIG! https://www.reframethebrand.com/ #reframe

LUPITA


#lupitaatmist Lupita Nyong'o in Conversation with Michaela Angela Davis. @mist Harlem. #eclipsedplay CONGRATS to my Spelman sister Alia Jones-Harvey, Stephen Byrd, and their team on bringing #eclipsedplay from The Public Theater to BROADWAY!!!! #eclipsedbroadway

SHOUT OUT to MARCIA PENDLETON of WALK TALL GIRL PRODUCTIONS FAME for producing this AMAZING EVENT! MIST also housed it... brilliantly! Holla at my Ant if you want to book something there. They are attracting some AWESOME EVENTS over there... and I've been excited to host some of them!

TASHA & SIDRA

Often you could find my friend Sidra Smith on my arm inside a New York City set. This time, LIFE OF RILEY was TOO EXCITED to have her fabulous twin Tasha as my door-to-door date to Sidra Smith production: BRAG 45TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS GALA at 583 PARK AVENUE – honorees including mega-designer Zac Posen. Tasha – you should know – is currently in POWER, EMPIRE, and FOR BETTER OR WORSE: THREE HIT SHOWS! She’s also promoting her directorial film debut, short film BOXED IN. My NABJ girlfriend Alicia Quarles hosted the well-appointed evening which moved seamlessly (not to mention the food and drinks were on point). Gordon Chambers, Bevy Smith, DeJuan Wilson, fine artist Dianne Smith and so many of my favorite buddies were in the house. Plus, Ant joined us after he got off work. A little after set at Red Rooster would make our night complete! AWESOME JOB, SIDRA! By the way, BRAG is a non-profit organization that prepares and educates professionals, entrepreneurs and students of color for executive leadership in the retail, fashion and related industries. 

ANOTHER MONEY MINUTE

Episode 5:

http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute/2015/10/15/planning-adoption-matt-rick

THE WAY WE ARE

A quick trip to ATL brought fun times in the new home and hood of my Amazing Grace Nichole Shellman and her peeps…. Then, I got to celebrate one of my nearest and dearest Rachel Allen at her nuptials to her wonderful husband Lawrence. So happy I could be there….. and a reunion of the RILEY siblings was necessary and so it was! AND LOOK WHO I HAPPENED TO SEE THE OTHER DAY:

ALL STAR KARAOKE

Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley is coming back Tuesday, October 27th and every Tuesday after that through the end of the year! Reservations are highly recommended: 212 280 2248: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/9/27/working-overtime-sessions.html. Miss Jessie's is back among our sponsors! And as #missjessies CEO and CO-FOUNDER MIKO BRANCH did last season in promotion of her book Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from... (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99): https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI, we hope you will come SING your FAVORITES with us, ENJOY cocktail specials and tasty soul food, and NETWORK with a ROOM FULL of FABULOUS FOLKS! SEASON 4 is - in part - POWERED by ALL STAR KARAOKE PLATINUM PATRON Mr. Reginald Van Lee. WE THANK HIM and all of you who continue to be such a support! And we knew but can now officially say Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry via Joseph Riley Land is back IN THE HOUSE - literally as the critically-acclaimed pantry has taken up semi-permanent space in the back of Billie’s Black. Gift certificates to purchase #rileyland products will be raffled. Plus, look for Riley/Land inside our ALL STAR KARAOKE signature cocktails (Riley/Land-curated mixers that will also be in stock for sale. Stay tuned!). Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! Let us know if you want to use ALL STAR KARAOKE as a back-drop to promote or present any of your projects inside an intimate but power-filled room of taste-makers and top talent! PLEASE TELL YOUR PEEPS...and SHARE! #BILLIESBLACK #ALLSTARKARAOKE#MOTOWNMAY #StockYourPantry #HarlemEats #missjessiesbook#iammissjessies #Legacy of #TitiBranch