A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

WELCOME 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

Entries in 70 (1)

another night

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!!!