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

 

Entries in All Star Karaoke (29)

bye for now

ALL STAR KARAOKE

LAST NIGHT was another LOVE FEST at Billie’s Black Presents All-Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley!!! NEXT WEEK IS IT! Haven't we been having THE BEST TIME! Someone sent me a note, exclaiming "I really enjoyed last night it made my soul happy!" WELL, from TEAM ALL STAR KARAOKE: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! For those who haven't gotten into ALL STAR KARAOKE yet, one more week! And you can check out clips on my YOUTUBE page:  http://www.youtube.com/user/patarack2010 

and 
via my FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/media_set?set=vb.662073736&type=2 

As we wind down our Spring 2014 series, we want to leave you with some take-away plus a possibility:

(1) our generous, weekly sponsor Riley/Land [A Gourmet Pantry] would like to make one last sponsorship offer. This time we are extending it beyond the folks who make it into Billie’s Black for karaoke; everyone in my entire network across platforms is eligible for the special. READ ON: Anyone within Mr. Patrick L. Riley’s network who makes a purchase of $50 (in merchandise) by 3AM EST Tuesday, June 24, 2014 will receive a free gift in the box when they receive their purchase.

For the people in NYC who will be attending the All-Star Karaoke Season Finale, we can deliver packages to Billie’s Black with no delivery charges. Simply use this code when placing your order in the COUPON CODE section: BILLIESBLACK. For the people we will be shipping to, in the NOTES SECTION (on the page where you fill out billing/shipping info), use code: ALLSTARKARAOKE to ensure you receive your free gift. Gifts will be selected based on purchases. For example, someone spending $100 will receive a more expensive gift than someone spending $50. And so forth. If there are questions, please contact Riley/Land [A Gourmet Pantry] at info@riley-land.com. FOR MORE INFO, www.riley-land.com AND joseph@riley-land.com.


(2) SUMMER BIRTHDAYS: So, our weekly, Tuesday-night Spring 2014 series is - for sure - coming to a wrap. But since Billie's Black Presents All Star Karaoke served as such a great back-drop for BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, just drop a line to patarack@hotmail.com. I'll forward you accordingly to BILLIE'S BLACK as they will work with you on available dates; menu; method(s) of payment; particulars - including a premium option of booking our ALL STAR KARAOKE TEAM to host and produce your special celebration. It's a great way to celebrate for you and your friends.

Please feel free to pass this along and let everyone know!!! And as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke #motownmay #civilizedeating #supportsmallbusiness

FOR COLORED GIRLS

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Ntozake Shange’s iconic choreopoem, FOR COLORED GIRLS. To commemorate, Project1VOICE, an organization whose mission is to strengthen and promote African American theater and playwrights, has organized 25 readings around the country and in Africa. Erich McMillan-McCall (Project1VOICE’s Founder) invited “Life of Riley” to be the OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA HOST for the New York Event! CHECK OUT SOME OF MY INTERVIEWS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/patarack2010. AWESOME EVENT! Special shout out to the team that supported me making this happen: Derrick Hemphill and Bernice Wooden. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

www.project1voice.org 

Motown is 4ever

 

MOTOWN MAY – WEEK 2

 

I'M NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE Motown the Musical CONTEST at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black PRESENTS All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley!

 

BUT MOTOWN IS FOREVER and MY LOVE FOR MOTOWN is ENDLESS, hence my OPENING HOMAGE for Week 2 of #MOTOWNMAY –  http://youtu.be/UX1ncAQVRmg

 

TWO MORE WEEKS until the Grand Finale where the winner will win the opportunity to sing on the Broadway stage with Diana Ross from Motown the Musical.

 

For more info, click on my blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY, at http://bit.ly/lor_blog 

 

BUT IN A NUTSHELL: ONE MORE WEEK to qualify! So, WHO’S COMING OUT WITH US NEXT WEEK? Sign up begins at 7pm with the competition taking place between 9-10pm. TWO MORE WINNERS (OF SIX TOTAL) FROM NEXT TUESDAY WILL ADVANCE TO THE FINALE ON TUESDAY, MAY 27TH. So come join us for Billie's Black Bar Lounge & Restaurant Presents: All Star Karaoke w/ Patrick Riley. #motownmay #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

 

CONGRATS to ALL STAR KARAOKE faithful (from our prior venue), Danny Rey, on his stellar “Neither One of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye” by Gladys Knight & The Pips: http://youtu.be/FF4jeVmqRRs. HE DID THAT!

 

RUNNERE UP: my friend Derrick Prwtch Leblanc, whose "Hello" by Lionel Richie was stunning! Check out my YOUTUBE channel for other selects from ALL STAR KARAOKE: http://www.youtube.com/user/patarack2010

 

BUT OUR ALL STAR for the night? My friend, Bravo's own MICA HUGHES from Bravo’s BLOOD, SWEAT, & HEELS! She attended with her man, Terry Lyon, on her arm. She sang many things… and it was all SWEET:  http://youtu.be/_hQkBhgANZ4

 

Special shout out to my ALL STAR FRIENDS CBS2 reporter/anchor Don Champion; artist Cynthia Burgos; Morehouse brother Michael K. Watts; publicist/producer of the most stylish note, George T. Wilson; and more for coming by to join us! And I'm so GLAD my girlfriend Dawn performed! MY GIRL!

 

Please come out and join us for BILLIE’S BLACK PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE WITH PATRICK L. RILEY!

We are having a BLAST!

 

This series runs EVERY TUESDAY from 7p-10p until the end of June.

 

GREENHOPE

 

CHECK THIS OUT: http://youtu.be/dQDVyZhz3Qs

 

Greenhope Services for Women commissioned me to narrate and produce its latest highlight video which highlights all the great work the agency is doing to help women involved with the criminal justice system who are struggling with substance abuse to reclaim their lives, reunite with their families, and rebuild their communities. Special shout out to my media partners:

 

Director of Photography James Michael Curry with Mindfile Multimedia, Inc. - http://www.mindfilemultimedia.com/  and Director/Editor Mitch Jacobson with Category-5 Studios - http://www.category5studios.com/.  These two gentlemen are often my A-TEAM collaborators for recurring clients OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Oprah: Where Are They Now?) and The Wendy Williams Show among others. For more info on Patrick L. Riley, check out blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY, which can be found at http://bit.ly/lor_blog - http://bit.ly/lor_greenh

 

SPECIAL PROJECT

 

Working on a new project. Stay tuned...

 

9/11 MUSEUM

My Tony-award-winning friend LaChanze, whose husband Calvin died when Tower One was struck, sang an extremely moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” at the opening of the 9/11 Museum.  The emotion of LaChanze’s performance was truly touching, and was a perfect, somber way to honor her husband and all of the other victims. I’ve had the chance to know LaChanze since that time. She is what “pop culture” and “possibilities” in “The Life of Riley” are all about. I LOVE YOU and the girls, LACHANZE, CELIA, and ZAYA! #neverforgotten SEE the clip NBC Nightly News did: http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/a-moment-of-amazing-grace-at-9-11-museum-dedication-257079363753

 

HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME

Shout out to MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL marketing outreach diva Marcia Pendelton – my dear friend for inviting me out to a wonderful preview event for an upcoming Broadway HIT [I’ve claimed it]! Marcia is always making sure I’m in the place to be – like the Opening Night of Motown: The Musical: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ&feature=share&list=PL1TUj2SKo8nvZ9A3Ah0NKuFI3BWM5aqru and as she has just booked another Broadway show to market, this evening was no exception for Marcia ensuring I was in yet another PLACE TO BE (Shout out to MOTOWN as her #motownmay sponsor for “Billie’s Black Presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley”: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/). It was a press event at legendary Sardi’s Restaurant – promoting the breakthrough musical HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME – based on the poetry and lyrics of Tupac Shakur. The show is directed by one of my early mentors from the AUC, Kenny Leon – late ‘70s Clark College grad who directed me on Clark and Morehouse’s stages when I was a student there in the ‘90s. Now, he is prolific Broadway director extraordinary whose current work “Raisin on the Sun” is one of The Great White Way’s big shows this season. It picked up FIVE nominations – including one for Kenny as Director. HOLLER is written by Todd Kreidler, and starring another familiar player from my AUC past, poet/actor Saul Williams, my Morehouse brother (same years): www.SaulWilliams.com. Also in the cast: Tony winner Tonya Pinkins and a friend I’ve now gotten the chance to know via Broadway: Saycon Segbloh (http://SayconSegbloh.com/ - TWITTER @sayconsengbloh). I got to interview her during her FELA! run and her “Motown: The Musical” run! SHE’S THE CREAM OF THE CROP! HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME will begin performances on May 29, 2014 and open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street) – home to where MOTOWN MUSE, Diana Ross, snagged a special TONY AWARD for her “An Evening with Diana Ross”, which broke box office records in the legendary venue. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster at www.Ticketmaster.com  or by calling 877-250-2929. Also stay tuned to LIFE OF RILEY (http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/) for DISCOUNT CODES and other info on the show – also reachable via www.HollerIfYaHearMe.com; on TWITTER, via @HollerBway; and on FACEBOOK, via: https://www.facebook.com/HollerBway

 

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL DISCOUNTS


let it go

 

Tuesday 3 of Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE w/ Patrick L. Riley" was a HOME RUN! This week, there was something for everyone! Of course, my ALL STAR KARAOKE supersrars were in the house at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul - from celebrity hairstylist Carla Bone to Chef Roblé & Co.'s Artie Thompson (also head of A2 Collections, Inc. - a brilliant array of bow-ties who did brilliant turns on Miss Ross' "It's My Turn": https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151065363737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater and "My Old Piano": https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151066318737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater) to Laurence Pinckney ( Zenbiz Travel (LGBT)) to our usual and FABULOUS suspects Ephraim, Toyce Francis (whose LGBT web series and short film site is http://iseegaypeople.tv/), Antar, et al. Also, friends who've been announcing their attendance made it -- from Danielle Johnson and Charzette Torrence AKA Charlie T ( Jillian's Peak Tv): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151066843737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater to homegirl Kamaria Milford (CBS News) to my BET colleague, karaoke enthusiast to fellow LIFE AFTER pop culture analyst and BET.com entertainment reporter supreme Clay Cane () and awesome singer Jeremy Trott. Also we introduced a FAB sistah from Germany, "B.B"! And I always say the "kids" turned it! This time, literally: 8-year-old Billie (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151064533737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater) and her brother, 6-year-old
Henderson (
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152151061553737&set=vb.662073736&type=3&theater) turned it out - not only singing beautifully, but reading every word off that screen than me! LOL! In addition to our yummy drink specials, we even had a giveaway from Harlem's own and my last-namesake Joseph Riley Land as in Riley-Land (A Gourmet Pantry): www.riley-land.com; Twitter and Instagram: @RileyLandPantry; Facebook: Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry (www.facebook.com/rileylandgourmetpantry).: Riley/Land Gourmet Pantry. Joseph donated a wonderful gift bag of goodies and an Uber-car credit to our event. We chose randomly the name of one of our ALL STAR KARAOKE first-timers Jonathan. THANK YOU! Please be sure to come back as we have some fun partnerships to soon announce for May. Plus, we never know who will come by "Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE w/ Patrick L. Riley". Thanks to all for your support! Come on out! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

OTHER LIFE OF RILEY TID BITS

Good weekend! Because of friend and colleague Derrick Hemphill, we got in (1) THE YANKEES!! Derrick's college buddy Katrina was visiting. FUN! And we also got in some BROADWAY prep for my next segments in which I’ll be breaking down all the many offerings on THE GREAT WHITE WAY: THE REALISTIC JONESES and Audra McDonald in a revival of the one-woman homage to BILLIE HOLLIDAY! WONDERFUL SHOWS! Then, http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/6/9/magic-2-do.html, you folks know I’d written last year attending my friend Chenoa Maxwell’s NYC solo debut LEADERS OF THE COOL - a one-night pop up photo exhibit showcasing an awesome round-table of artistic, cultural muses that Chenoa holds dear. The guests included Chef Roble; NFL great Curtis Martin; my BFF Sidra Smith; poet Mumms; our New Ro buddies Cynthia, Elijah, Beyonce's stylist Ty; and too many to mention. Was great to run into Danny Simmons who introduced Chenoa who had a chorus of cameras chronicling her special night for what is now an OWN show: LOVE IN THE CITY! - http://www.oprah.com/app/own-tv.html #LoveInTheCity #BeMagnifico #ReenaTreats CONGRATS, CHENOA and ALL of her FAB co-stars!

A NEW ODYSSEY

Shout out to my girlfriend Sidra Smith for ensuring Ant and I were in the house for "A NEW ODYSSEY" – The Romare Bearden Fundation FESTIVE FUNDRAISER!

Backdrop: THE LIGHTHOUSE AT CHELSEA PIERS IN NEW YORK CITY. 

 

HONORED: THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, JOHN W. ASHE; PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT ARTIST SIMMIE KNOX; BUSINESSMAN, COLLECTOR E.T. WILLIAMS, NOW EMERITUS CHAIR OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 

HOSTED BY: T.J. HOLMES

Always a pleasure to hang with TJ!
FEATURING: AUCTION, ROVING SUPPER, SPECIAL GUESTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT BY RECORDING ARTIST LUKE JAMES AND DJ RASHIDA!

IN THE HOUSE: So many but I’ll shout out a few: JONES Magazine Publisher L LONDELL MCMILLAN; artist/therapist JEANINE PRIMM JONES; Rush Arts own DANNY SIMMONS; and many more! FUN NIGHT!

GO TO WWW.BENEFITOFFICE.ORG/BEARDEN
 

Billies Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick Riley

SO MANY have been asking “When are you going to do another karaoke night in Harlem?” How THRILLED I am to finally have an answer.

 

Please join me TUESDAY, APRIL 1st from 7p to 10p (and every Tuesday evening after that throughout the Spring 2014) for:

 

“Billie’s Black presents:

All Star Karaoke with Patrick Riley”

 

As the weather warms, so should your vocals! LOL! Come on out and showcase them. Or just enjoy the ride from the side or while dining on some mouth-watering cuisine. And you must quench accordingly on the drink specials. And you never know who might pop by, so make sure you come out with your entourage in tow.

 

ALL-STAR KARAOKE HISTORY: I hosted ALL-STAR KARAOKE for NATIVE Restaurant from August 2010 to 2012. NATIVE is now closed. Our guest singers - on any given night - at ALL-STAR KARAOKE THURSDAY NIGHT included: songstress Tichina Arnold; NAACP Image Award winning producer Sidra Smith; R&B divas Alyson Williams & Monifah; actress Napiera Groves; the artist formerly known as TONEX, B. Slade; Mariah Carey's long-standing background singer Melony Daniels - an artist her own right; Broadway baby Brenda Braxton; singer/author David Nathan; FELA!s Kevin Mambo; Paul Wharton ("Real Housewives of DC"); etc. Of course, the blog "A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities" has chronicled much of the ALL-STAR KARAOKE THURSDAY NIGHT:http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/tag/karaoke.

 

 

The LIFE OF RILEY brand is EXCITED to partner with Billie’s Black to continue that exciting yet laid-back tradition of music, fellowship, and fun!

 

SOCIAL MEDIA: We’ll have an E-LIER for forwarding and sharing soon. MEANWHILE, please SHARE and connect with BILLIE’S BLACK via the following social media platforms. Let’s PLEASE get the word out and post our videos and pictures from this special Tuesday night in Spring 2014. In all sharing, please use hashtag #billiesASK

 

As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 

Warmest regards!

Patrick L. Riley

“A Day in the Life of Riley: pop culture & possibilities”

http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/

 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/patarack

 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley

 

 

FOLLOW BILLIE’S BLACK:

 

WEBSITE:

http://www.billiesblack.com/

 

TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/billiesblack

 

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/billiesblack

 

 

 

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