A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

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

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

more hosting

I'm on my freelance hustle out here! LOL! Just wrapped hosting a 2nd season of WELLS FARGO's MONEY MINUTE - first installments of which are out this week:

teaser:

http://www.advocate.com/advocate-money-minute

part 1:

http://www.advocate.com/.../9/24/purchasing-home-jason-shane

part 2:

http://www.advocate.com/.../planning-retirement-jason-shane

Please share with your PEEPS: #advocatemoneyminute And as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! XOXOXO

The Porters

Happy 10th Anniversary, to two-time Emmy-award-winning, GMA Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo and her husband Tommie Porter! Happy to host their vow renewal! We LOVE YOU! Thanks Reverend Al Sharpton for re-sealing the deal! Great to see him after interviewing him at Miss Aretha Franklin's birthday party earlier this year:

... and after Executive Producing him for this year's iconic, PSA campaign for NBCU: "The More You Know" 2015-16. He spoke of DIVERSITY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNoWX-dO9aM

. And the ENVIRONMENT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNSNKutJ7Rs

. And special shout out to contemporary fine artist Shenna Vaughn who Ant and I commissioned to create a 10-year anniversary piece for Mara and Tommie! It IS stunning! Shenna is described as “a vessel for enlightenment, virtue, creativity and color”. She uses her gift as an artist to evoke the raw essence of inner beauty, otherwise not seen until now. Her paintings range from customized gratitude pieces to original works of art. Her work has been featured In Chelsea, Miami Art Basel and Internationally just to name a few…and she will be showing at “Billie’s Black” in December during “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”.  #ENDLESSLOVE #ThePorters #ENDLESSLOVE #ThePorters

Happy Birthday, Nephew

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Herman Lee Riley III aka NOOT (to me)! BEST NEPHEW EVER! Great to celebrate with Savannah homegirl Aquilla and her childhood friends as my childhood BFF Ernest Maynor was also in the house – toasting 27 YEARS of Herman Lee Riley III. Also, a HAPPY 50^TH BIRTHDAY to my brother – and HLRIII’s father – Herman L. Riley Jr.

Ladies Who Lunch And Love

Excited to introduce my friend Nathan Hale Williams at the New York City book party for his new novel "Ladies Who Lunch & Love". What a great room: Bevy Smith, La Rivers, Beverly Johnson, Flo Anthony, and so many more! Also, Miss Miko Branch from Miss Jessie's was in the house. Miko partners with Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul. Season 4 to be announced soon for a late October return… STAY TUNED! Meanwhile, check out “Ladies Who Lunch & Love”. The novel is a hoot and gives "Sex & The City" with some #blackish and #girlfriends to boot! It's an exciting trip through the fabulous lives of 5 friends in New York City. Get the book exclusively on www.Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/oefd4kn. YOU MUST BUY IT! Oh! AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US ALL! CONGRATS,Nathan! #harlemskinlaserclinic #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #mikobranch #LadiesWhoLunchAndLove #AngelofHarlemNY #HarlemSkinClinic #NathanHWilliams #LadiesLunchLove

Beverly Johnson

Great to attend Beverly Johnson’s book launch party for her memoir 'The Face That Changed iIt All' at The Museum of the City of New York. Many friends – old and new – were in the house, including “The Original Dreamgirl” Sheryl Lee Ralph and BFF Ern’s and my dance diva CeCe Peniston for whom we’ve LIVED since she came out! Plus, I was excited to hang out with Co-Founder of MISS JESSIE'S, Miko Branch as I'm doing some consulting work with the brand in addition to Miss Jessie's being one of my sponsors for “Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html. Co-Founder Miko Branch was my EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR for#NABJ40 where she spoke on an AUTHOR's panel with PAULA MADISON and LUTHER CAMPBELL. Next up: Miko’s just back from DC at the Congressional Black Caucus and then was a Marshal in Harlem’s African-American Day Parade. GREAT to see everybody as SUMMER 2015 transitions into FALL 2015 with Fashion Week unfolding… XO #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

#WhereAreTheyNow

She is LISA PRICE. Born in BROOKLYN. Made with LOVE. She is CAROL'S DAUGHTER! I can't say more than that today, but it was nice to interview her. Will tell you when you can see it in 2016! #BornAndMade Have something coming up with “The Chew”s Carla Hall as well. Also, IMAN! MEANWHILE, more of my assignments in the new season of “Oprah, Where Are They Now?” are beginning to air – including Debi Mazar: http://www.wherearetheynow.buzz/the-actress-who-started-out-as-a-makeup-artist-to-the-stars/. #WhereAreTheyNow

STUDIO 54

FUN to host Duane Gazi-White's Epic 50th Bday Party – a “RETURN TO STUDIO 54” starring DISCO DIVAS Carol Douglas; Taana Gardner; Norma Jean Wright and the Former Ladies of Chic; Sylvester doppelganger Clayton Bryant (with whom I even got the chance to sing in 2009 when I was asked to perform THE BOSS for its composers! And I looked to CLAYTON for all the high notes! LOL! And I can sing high! LMAO! ); Mel’lisa Morgan; Former Ladies of Skyy; and MISS KATHY SLEDGE! Shout out again to Musa Jackson Productions for booking me…and I’m too excited my Itika Oldwine was in town to enjoy! All the ladies must join us at Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley when we return at the end of October! CHEERS, DUANE! P.S. A MESSAGE FROM MUSA JACKSON PRODUCTIONS: it was a journey beyond Epic! Super agent Duane and his husband Rashgene Gazi-White along with artist extraordinaire Mira Gandy with our combined creative genius took MIST Harlem and transformed it back to the era of the most legendary and exclusive nightclub in History. Complete with back door VIP entrance, silver carpet and over the top open bar super sexy decadent disco fun! We had legends upon legends Kathy Sledge, Norma Jean Wright, Tania Gardner, Clayton Bryant, Meli'sa Morgan and the Ladies of Skyy performing some of their iconic hits on a first ever 3 stages with DJ Sir Charles Dixon ( WBLS master mixer) and DJ Magic Myke accompanied by the original videos playing on 3 screens. Hosted by Patrick L. Riley with 6 amazing hot male dancers/servers 2 gorgeous bartenders provided by hot choreographer Manwe Sauls Addison with door hosts Coco De'ball and legendary publicist Irene Gandy and hunk Daniel. Silver carpet Studio 54 photos courtesy of Will Will Vaultz and legendary lensman Ronnie Wright and Waddie G. with indoor photos from Rowena M Husbands and Sheila Ennisattended by 250 beautiful artists, fashionistas, supermodels, celebs and fabulous guests. It was a Harlem night for the record books. Thank you MOËT and Lennard Jackson for the champagne and Louis Johnson/ Harlem Haberdashery and designer Masahiro Saga for the gorgeous jacket and slippers. David Chevreux of Gin Fizz, Justin Walters of Real Life Studio, Alex Lerner and Bena. Cliff Cooper on security and Rachel, Sam, Anthony Harper and the staff of MIST.

Thank you again and a Happiest of birthdays to Duane for choosing MJP to help bring your birthday fantasy to life.

*Make your birthday dream an epic fantasy with musajacksonproductions@gmail.com.

#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay

LEON

Ant’s sister Sabrina, who I met the night I met him in December 2005, was in town with client Leon & The Peoples. So, in addition to an awesome dinner at MIST Harlem where Ant works, we all – with GWAN’s Charon Richardson and Sabrina’s bio brother Jason in tow – enjoyed the awesome band at La Marina for “Reggae on the Beach”. Then, after Ant and I enjoyed the PA-based wedding of dear friends Robin Stone and Rodney Pope... we got an encore presentation from Leon & The Peoples at an awesome, Trenton-based “prostate cancer awareness fundraiser”! GREAT CAUSE! #nyc #nyfw #reggae #soul #music #inwood #hudsonriver

STILL THE BOSS

MISS ROSS was at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) LAST NIGHT! At the top of the day, it was SOLD OUT! I was despondent that I hadn’t secured my ticket before time. Was hoping for a hook-up or a sponsor. Still, I went to SEE if MISS ROSS had room for one more in the house! And upon my arrival, one of her FANS did: an orchestra seat right by the sound-board and near my friends Karu Daniels, Audrey Bernard, Phil Geston, Stanley Hopkins, and a FULL HOUSE MORE! The show was familiar but she did introduce a new gown that she’d only worn in her Hawaii stop this past summer. “It’s My House” was a highlight and it is clear that MISS ROSS was in control. But as she sang “Don’t Explain”, she did confess vulnerably and jokingly: “…I can’t stop thinking about that Billy Dee Williams!” The audience exploded with applause. MISS ROSS did it again: EXCELLENT SHOW! LOVE ME SOME MISS ROSS! As you all know, I was hired as Opening Night Host of “Motown the Musical” – another chance to interview Diana Ross, a video that ran on the Lunt Fontanne Theatre for the hit show’s full run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. (Was also a DREAM to interview MISS ROSS for Oprah at the Legends Ball in 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFgjJ7u1hk). They all got me ready for my latest get with MISS ARETHA FRANKLIN. Here’s my recap: www.nbcnews.to/1HFEc48.

Nice Tits

My editor friend Shaun Edwards introduced me to Amy Marcs who recently wrote a one-woman show aptly titled "Nice T!ts" which is about her experience with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy. She performed it last year to a sold out crowd at The Peoples Improv Theater. Now, she is excited to announce that, beginning October 8th in conjunction with breast cancer awareness month, The Rack is Back.... 

Nice T!ts

Thursday October 8th  8pm

Sunday   October 11th 4pm

Sunday   October 25th 4pm

Thursday October 29th 8pm

to buy tickets www.thepit-nyc.com/event/nice-tts-5

 #NiceTits #TheRackisBack

CHARLES PERRY

Thanks to my girlfriend Paula Witt, PR at Sunshine Sachs, for inviting us out to hear her client Charles Perry at Quad Studios. Here is a little snippet of him performing a song with none other than Jeff Goldblum! He certainly has the theatrics and the voice like ME! We MUST get him to ALL STAR KARAOKE to jam with us at BILLIE’S BLACK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59AAfRz0yZ0.

MARCIA PENDELTON

My dear sister friend Marcia Pendelton's Walk Tall Girl Productions Celebrated 15 Years of Bringing the Best in Performing Arts to NYC‏. For 15 years, Marcia Pendelton has been guiding audiences to the best in theater and other performing arts across New York City. Her work was feted last night. The event included performances by Classical Theatre of Harlem, Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, Darius Crenshaw, Tony nominee André De Shields (The Wiz, The Full Monty), Eden Duncan-Smith (Fences, The Lion King), Marva Hicks (Motown The Musical), Ebony JoAnn (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre, Sounds of Praise of Emmanuel Baptist Church,  Jamal Story (Motown the Musical, The Color Purple [2005]) Rema Webb (The Lion King, Violet, The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple[2015]). For more information and reservations visitwww.walktallgirlproductions.com.

ALL STAR KARAOKE is BACK

We will be singing MISS ROSS and MISS FRANKLIN at BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY for this FALL 2015 SERIES – starting at the end of October: October 27, 2015 from 7p-10p (and going through to Tuesday, December 29, 2015)!

And as MIKO did this 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 for our little night that could and IS!  Would LOVE TO SEE YOU some Tuesday - really soon! #BILLIESBLACK #ALLSTARKARAOKE #MOTOWNMAY #missjessiesbook #iammissjessies #Legacy of #TitiBranch

DA BOSS

Everybody KNOWS Diana Ross' THE BOSS is my FAVORITE!

And we MUST DO #THEBOSS with the #THEBOSSCHOIR every week at Billie's Black​ presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley​ at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul​ --- EVERY TUESDAY! Even got my nephew's mom/friend Felecia Roberts to join in on the fun as she visits from our hometown of Savannah, GA: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153126723338737/?type=3&theater. MUCH LOVE, FE! And FOLKS! with ONE MORE TO GO, WHO WILL JOIN US NEXT WEEK for #THEBOSS choir!? Reservations highly recommended or swing through and TOAST with us for a MOMENT! It's ALWAYS A BLAST! And we'll be back in the FALL and may be POPPIN' UP around TOWN and maybe somewhere out there! AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO PLAY A PART – including designer B. Michael (and his business partner and husband Mark-Anthony Edwards) for stepping into our room for the first time… WHAT A BLAST!

DA BUTT

THIS PAST TUESDAY was NEXT LEVEL! WASHINGTON DC brought GO GO music to LIFE! Morehouse man Spike Lee brought GO GO music to the world via his 1988 film School Daze. Howard’s own Carla Bone’s BFF Donna Kirkland – along with the capture by her fellow CAU alum Derrick Hemphill – created ‪#‎DABUTT MANIA when this song was selected at our 2nd to the last Tuesday of the SPRING 2015 SERIES of Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. The room ERUPTED with C.A.U., Morehouse, Spelman, Howard and all the the HBCU's representing when the EU classic was chosen! OMG! LOL! https://youtu.be/YjmBDlevexQ.

DA LAST TUESDAY

ONE MORE TUESDAY LEFT: Tuesday, July 14th! And if you plan to do more than a “drive by”, RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248. All Star Karaoke is a weekly karaoke series in Harlem, NY that I host in Harlem, NY! My blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY can be found at http://bit.ly/lor_blog.  ‪#‎BILLIESBLACK#ALLSTARKARAOKE #DABUTT ‪#‎DABUTTCHOIR#THEBOSSCHOIR ‪#‎THEBOSS ‪#‎thevoice ‪#‎teamkimberlynichole‪#‎schooldaze

DA PLANE

Speaking of Miss Jessie’s and their continued support of BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with PATRICK L. RILEY and LIFE OF RILEY, I must note how appreciative our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS are for the weekly giveaways. And the SWAG bags she provides everyone who walks through the door! Along with other integrations we've been able to execute with RILEY LAND GOURMET PANTRY, HENDRICKS GIN, and MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, MISS JESSIE'S has been our MAIN SPONSORSHIP DIVA - in the cut for our folks... and letting us wrap our arms around her from time to time as she's been inside a grueling year of personal losses; major professional gains; and a major book release and tour:Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch---Naturally. And - sometimes - you just want to sing some karaoke... and we do! LOL! #THEBOSS of course:

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152964609513737/?type=3&theater! LOL!

Though LIFE OF RILEY can be FAB, it only beats one booking and one check at a time, so when folks in my life are the difference to me (as I aim to be for so many), I have to SHOUT it out! SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to MY FRIEND, Miss Jessie's Founder Miko Branch and Miss Jessie's for SPONSORING ME to attend this year’s National Association of Black Journalists’ Convention – a bit of an off-shoot of my “Harlem open mic night” as I’ve been invited to HOST “#NABJ40 Night at the Apollo” (but it’s in MINNEAPOLIS on Opening Night of the Convention in August). Everyone knows NABJ is "my annual therapy". And my "annual therapy" is about to meet my "daily therapy" (karaoke) at the pass. LOL!  The release reads: "Battle it out on stage with your fellow NABJ members as you compete in the ULTIMATE Apollo talent competition hosted by none other than Patrick L. Riley! Bring your costumes, props, and song choice to the convention center after the opening reception. Solos, duets, and group performances are welcome! Become the 2015 #NABJ40 Apollo Night Champion!" If my NABJ fam is registered for the convention, coming, and going to be there and want to get in on the fun, PLEASE FILL THIS OUT and SUBMIT: https://thenabj.wufoo.com/forms/q1dixmwj177j5go/. #NABJ is a FAMILY REUNION and ALWAYS a good time! See LIFE OF RILEY's capture of NABJ over the years: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/tag/nabj. Once-NABJ “Emerging Journalists of the Year” Michael Feeney (NYABJ President); dear friend Mara Schiavocampo (GMA Correspondent); NBC4 Anchor Shiba Russell (and the NBC 4 crew); and one of Ant's and my favorite couples Nikita Stewart Henderson (New York Times) and consultant Brian Henderson frequent our night! Also, NABJ President Will Sutton and NABJ's own Garry Howard brought their Dow Jones Business Reporting Internship students out. And they came two Tuesdays in a row at this Spring 2015's "Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley". So, I’m excited to bring KARAOKE to NABJ! And to see what our FABULOUS MEMBERS are going to sing! #WEAREFAMILY 

DA GRACE

Broadway marketing/audience consultant SUPREME, Marcia Pendelton​! THANK YOU! WHAT AN AWESOME MUSICAL! Something ALL will want to experience when it OPENS next Wednesday! Anthony Harper​, Derrick Hemphill​, Herman Lee Riley III, Felecia Roberts​, RU, and I LOVED Amazing Grace, the musical. It stars Chuck Cooper. He's a Broadway legend! AND IS JUST AWESOME in this musical!I got to share the stage in Project1voice​'s Amen Corner​ by James Baldwin​: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/6/29/impossible-inevitable.html. My friend Charles E Wallace​ is also in it...and STUNS! The whole cast is AMAZING! But friend Charles Wallace does bring something special into the equation. He'll be understudying for Chuck Cooper as well. A MUST SEE!  #AGBROADWAY #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

I love when my MOREHOUSE COLLEGE brother Michael K. Watts - LIVE! from Front Row keeps me posted on where he is in his #LIFEOFRILEY reading. He reads on varied commutes... on demand. Or when he chooses! LOL! His note with this picture: "You've been blogging your a__ off this year!! This is only half of them!!" LOL! Thank MKW and all who take the time to check out LIFE OF RILEY: http://bit.ly/lor_blog. #lor #lifeofriley

Kimberly Nichole

The Voice Finalist KimberlyNichole - of KimberlyNichole & the Yellow Brick Journey! fame - was in the house! She was SANGING Led Zeppelin's hit A Whole Lotta Love and more at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley!

OUR CHAT:

KIMBERLY NICHOLE's and my chat: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153109483253737/?type=3&theater

SHORTER LINK OF KIMBERLY NICHOLE’S PERFORMANCE: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153109062548737/?type=2&theater

LONGER LINK OF KIMBERLY NICHOLE’S PERFORMANCE:

https://www.facebook.com/derrick.styles.98/videos/vb.100000292492552/1086888071330932/?type=2&theater

We NEVER know! And how gracious was Kimberly Nichole to get in on the fun of our Miss Jessie's GIVEAWAYS! Plus, we had Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry back in the house with a "pop up situation" and we did a raffle giveaway of Joseph Riley Land products - an awesome grouping of sauces, jams, rubs, popcorn, chocolates, OH MY! TOO YUMMY! He'll be back in the house to raffle off some more goodies this Tuesday! TWO MORE TUESDAYS TO GO, FOLKS! MORE GIVEAWAYS, SPECIAL GUESTS, and SO MUCH FUN! Please come join us... and make your reservations: 212.280.2248. AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO PLAY A PART! XOXOXOXO ‪#‎billiesblack ‪#‎allstarkaroke ‪#‎thevoice ‪#‎teamkimberlynichole