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.
Entries in Big Freedia (2)
family vacation
xscape puerto rico 2016
WHAT A WEEKEND! And I MUST say off the top, it would NOT have happened without the recommendation from my partner Ant’s sister from another mother, Sabrina Coleman AKA Bri Cole AKA Pansophy PR guru – clients over the years having included and including LEON, FRENCHIE DAVIS, MICHAEL JAI WHITE, PRESSURE, and XSCAPE PR!
Once she extended the advisement to Xscape Puerto Rico founders Gregory Douglas and Maurice Foley, they invited me to co-host and present at their Memorial Day Weekend Tropical Getaway for an esteemed LGBTQ set, I couldn’t refuse.
Was a bit more of a journey to get to this weekend --- with family crisis; some reversals on our original deal; lots of juggling deadlines, but I’m clear where I was supposed to be this weekend! WHAT A BLAST!
We CELEBRATED all things Patrik Ian Polk and the cast of Noah's Arc, including the one cast member with whom I'd yet to take a pic til now:
Gregory Keith who plays Alex's partner and an anesthesiologist Trey Iverson. 
Always loved him on the show.
This was one of many highlights that included a “Noah’s Arc” reunion with most of the balance of the cast: Darryl Stephens;
Jensen Atwood - my friend who is always such a joy....
and such a stand for the LGBTQ set as he looks to showcase his authentic hetero side in the upcoming season of TV One's "Hollywood Divas" (but the "children" still love them some Jensen - me included);and Rodney Chester. I share to inspire you joining us next year: www.xscapepr.com. Instagram: xscapepuertorico Twitter: @xscapepr
Oh! And my dear friend James Earl Hardy – who I met via the National Association of Black Journalists in 1995 in Philadelphia – who is responsible for the B BOY BLUES franchise: books and staged work – was honored with a Vanguard Award. Love him and his work so much! Congrats James!
And you MUST KNOW Miss Frenchie Davis was a fierce and fun presence to the gathering of hundreds of LGBT professionals and our friends – performing a fab set of material in Old San Juan for one of our late night parties. She did Whitney’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”; Katy Perry’s “Fireworks”; a tribute to Prince and Denise Matthews: Vanity 6’s “Nasty Girl”; a remixed Rihann’s “We Found Love” with just piano accompaniment; and an a capella “Home”. YAZZZZ! AND THANK YOU!
We didn’t do ALL STAR KARAOKE (which I host in New York City) this year in Puerto Rico (though I did stumble upon some karaoke in the general lounge…and I just had to get “The Boss” in for the packed lobby). But as a Celebrity Ambassador, I got the chance to host the Opening Night party, which was star-filled: 
Angie Stone played her new CD “Dream” and performed a few tracks from it (and her classic repertoire). 
She received XSCAPE PR’s Vanguard award that night.
Was also a treat to introduce two of my favorites with whom I’ve had the chance to know on a friend/fam tip these last few years: 
My R&B DIVA QUEEN MONIFAH and The Queen of Bounce:
BIG FREEDIA – both also VANGUARD AWARD RECIPIENTS...
in addition to supermodel and star on “Real Housewives of Atlanta”, Miss Cynthia Bailey:
She shared her eyewear --- and lots of generous, connected time --- with everyone. LOVED hanging with her this weekend.
THE KIDS LOVE CYNTHIA BAILEY!
Also there were wonderful HIV/AIDS awareness panels – one featuring my friend Marco Benjamin with the Aids Healthcare Foundation.
There were also many authors in the mix including Sundiata Alaye whose book "Empty Promises Private Pain: A Light Out of Darkness" is winner of James Baldwin Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in the Arts
I don’t want to forget anyone, but let me take a stab at sharing with you who was in the house:
Wendell James (“Raising Whitley”); THE VIEW’s Raven Symone accompanied EMPIRE and AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL’s own Azmarie Livingston; Ariane Davis (“Love & Hip Hop Atlanta”);
my friend Clay Cane who presented his BET.com documentary “Holler if You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church”; Juan & Gee (Power Couple/Love Works/The Gentlemen's Ball); Torrei Hart (Actress & Reality TV Star/Hollywood Ex's ATL); Melli B, out hip hop artist; Sampson McCormick, Stand Up Comedian.Writer.Activist; MJ Harris (Co-Founder & Vice President-The Hurston Group); CoachG - Health & Fitness Expert; Alain Fagnidi, Celebrity & Intl. Lifestyle Brand Designer; Chef Will Brown (TV Network Personality); 
Sundiata Alaye (“Empty Promises Private Pain "A Light Out of Darkness"”); Rashad Burgess (Gliead Sciences, Inc.);
playwright and actor Daniel Beatty; etc.
My childhood BFF Ernest joined me after Ant couldn’t make it due to a family emergency. We enjoyed the company of Moe Dee; Ashley; and so many others. And when Sabrina Coleman wasn’t juggling her many balls as publicist of Frenchie Davis and XScape PR or her production/script writing duties for The Vanguard Awards or the Opening Night party for which she produced me, we all got several much-needed doses of fun and relaxation, which – even with rungs of resort hiccups – couldn’t make our time at XScape PR anything short of a OPRAH-LEGENDS-WEEKEND-style LOVE FEST! 
LOVE YOU ALL…and see you NEXT YEAR!
DISNEY on Broadway
“Can I tell you the way that Disney does it? There’s something for everyone. Shows like Aladdin and The Lion King get us in touch with our inner child.”
That’s what I told the hosts at Arise Entertainment 360 a couple of years ago on my former, recurring theater segment: : https://youtu.be/3x2PkFiqqu8 . 
Since Ant and I met on Broadway almost 11 years ago at Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple and I’m always waxing theatrical on some platform, the PR folks with these shows asked LIFE OF RILEY to return and – via blast – to underscore that any of Disney’s Broadway fare is a swell date night in addition to being a kid-friendly experience. Take some time to re-experience these amazing productions and each other on a DISNEY ON BROADWAY DATE NIGHT:www.disneyonbroadway.com. 
TWO favorites (among many) are in these two Great White Way productions
ALADDIN has Clifton Davis (whose LIFE AFTER on TV ONE is among the shows on which I appeared as pop culture analyst) As always, THANK YOU for keeping up with LIFE OF RILEY:www.thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/...
and THE LION KING has Morehouse brother RUSSELL BROWN, a Broadway veteran, in it. BRAVO TO ALL! 
As Ant and I were en route to the earlier curtain of 7p, we happened upon “Wicked” co-star Peter Scolari who I got the chance to interview a year or so ago for recurring client OWN-TV’s “Oprah, Where Are They Now?”:https://youtu.be/cwexkUN9iZU and https://youtu.be/noz_zrQasH4. then from Broadway’s “Shuffle Along”, we happened upon tap star Savion Glover and director George C. Wolfe – both Broadway babies!
I also got to recently interview multi-Tony-award-winning “Shuffle Along” star Audra McDonald for #WhereAreTheyNow - https://youtu.be/pE5EgP-a6Kc. #broadway #arise360 #aladdinonbroadway#thelionkingonbroadway #BazanPR#TheColorPurple #OprahWinfrey #Oprah#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #DisneyOnBroadway
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Big Freedia, Cynthia Bailey, MONIFAH, NOAH'S ARC, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Xscape, XscapePR, XscapePuertoRico
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power and freedia
ANGEL BALL
Shout out to Beth Rosenthal who I met through my friend, Tony-award-winning songstress LaChanze (at one of LaChanze's recent tributes to Miss Diana Ross). 
Beth invited me to sit at her table at The Angel Ball - benefitting such a good cause: www.gabriellesangels.org.
Denise Rich is the Founder of this organization that raises funds for stem-cell and cancer research. I know and LOVE her also as an amazing songwriter (including Billy Porter's "Love is on the Way" from "First Wives Club" and Miss Ross' "Until We Meet Again"). In the house to help raise millions: Chaka Khan (who opened tonight's show with a four-song jam); 
Pharrell who performed his hits! 
Then, for a BIG SURPRISE, invited Usher on the stage to peform; 
Clive Davis; my girlfriend, publicist Gwendolyn Quinn; ET's correspondent Rosci; E! News Correspondent and NABJ sister friend Alicia Quarles; 
fellow Georgia boy (He's from Columbus, GA), Joe; 
Hugh Jackman (who took our picture); my falsetto muse Maxwell; BET's Debra Lee and Stephen Hill; MISS Martha Stewart;
and so many more! A special shout out to my boo, Ki-Ki! LOVE U, girl! Stay encouraged, baby love!!!!
BLACK GIRLS ROCK
Recurring client BET asked me back in the building again - this time to produce some promo spots with host None for Black Girls Rock sponsor Chevrolet at the Black Girls Rock red carpet! 
As always, it was a pleasure! In addition to seeing and talking to honorees Patti LaBelle; Queen Latifah; my friend Mara Brock Akil; 
and Venus Williams. Saw many friends and fab, famous folks! Fun night! Black Girls Rock airs next Sun at 7p on BET! YOU MUST TUNE IN: Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monae, Ledisi, Patti LaBelle, and Alice Smith performed. 
The annual event promotes positive images of women of color and is hosted for 2nd year in a row by Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King, and will honor Patti Labelle (Living Legend Award), Queen Latifah (Rock Star Award), and more. 
Presenters included Marsha Ambrosius, Nia Long, La La Anthony, Tatyana Ali, broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien and Black Girls Rock! founder Beverly Bond. Black Girls Rock! premiered on BET Networks this past Sunday, November 3rd at 7pm ET/PT. Always a pleasure to see Beverly and her husband. ##blackgirlsrockawards #blackgirlsrock2013
EBONY 100
Thanks to Linda Johnson Rice, Desiree Rogers, and Amy Dubois Barnett for inviting Ant and me to EBONY's POWER 100! 
What an awesome evening inside of which we honored the 100 most influential African Americans in the country
- including Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Berry Gordy - Motown Founder and Music Impresario for whom I got the chance to work as the Opening Night host of Broadway's "Motown: The Musical": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1yncqPlOQ. 
Shout out to Director Charles Randolph Wright for reminding Mr. Gordy. 
Also honored: President Barack Obama; Kerry Washington; Earvin "Magic" Johnson; Nick Cannon; and Marian Wright Edelman. The gala celebration took place in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Time Warner Center. The EBONY editorial team selected the 100 most influential African Americans in the country. 
The 2013 Power 100 list will appear in the December/January issue of EBONY on newsstands.
AND P.S. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE MY FRIENDS! XOXOXOXOXOX
ERDA
Was happy to take my platonic boo Carl Nelson out recently! We supported an event our girl Sidra produced: the Annual Gala for the East River Development Alliance (ERDA). ERDA is a non-profit organization in New York City whose mission is to improve and transform New York City public housing neighborhoods by providing residents with the tools and opportunities necessary for self-reliance and ec...onomic mobility. 
The event took place at the Angel Orensanz Foundation for Contemporary Art (www.orenxanz.org). It was an impressive room – including Mayor Bloomberg (who was honored); Doug E. Fresh (accompanied by that iconic “beat box”); friend Paul Wharton; and a host of top corporate executives from JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Sydell Group and Bain and Company just to name a few, in addition to celebrities, tastemakers, bloggers, top politicians and community leaders from around New York city. 
Also, several men and women who have benefitted from ERDA’s public housing programs came out to enjoy this truly distinctive cause improving public housing communities in New York City. For more information about ERDA please visit their website at http://www.erdalliance.org/site/index.php. Was happy to take my platonic boo Carl Nelson out last night! We supported an event our girl Sidra produced: the Annual Gala for the East River Development Alliance (ERDA). ERDA is a non-profit organization in New York City whose mission is to improve and transform New York City public housing neighborhoods by providing residents with the tools and opportunities necessary for self-reliance and economic mobility. The event took place at the Angel Orensanz Foundation for Contemporary Art (www.orenxanz.org). It was an impressive room – including Mayor Bloomberg (who was honored);
Doug E. Fresh (accompanied by that iconic “beat box”);
friend Paul Wharton; and a host of top corporate executives from JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Sydell Group and Bain and Company just to name a few, in addition to celebrities, tastemakers, bloggers, top politicians and community leaders from around New York city. Also, several men and women who have benefitted from ERDA’s public housing programs came out to enjoy this truly distinctive cause…improving public housing communities in New York City. For more information about ERDA please visit their website at http://www.erdalliance.org/site/index.php.
RHONDA ROSS
Great times with Rhonda Ross at The Cutting Room! FOREVER… AND ALWAYS! 
THANKS RHONDA! Your SONG-VERSATION turns us everytime! ROSS LOVE ALWAYS! 
Right, fellas? LOL! 
WENDY
How You Doin', Wendy Williams! Ant hooked buddy Derrick and me up with show tix today. 
My girls from TLC and the stars of the VH1 film were in the house! Happy Thursday!
BIG FREEDIA
Special shout out to my friend Derrick Hemphill who has been itching for me to experience BIG FREEDIA in person! 
Well, THE NIGHT happened recently at Brooklyn Bowl with friends Lisa, Isoul, David, Devon, and Ron in tow. 
The next night, Ern, Ant, cousin Shauntay, and I went.
And what a great show that New Orleans hip-hop artist Big Freedia put on – twerking to boot! The rapper of the underground-music-scene kind now has a weekly Fuse show, "Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce"
. He's helped bring bounce music — the energetic brand of hip-hop born in New Orleans that's conducive to the mid-section, hip-shaking dance move known as twerking — to the masses. 
Last month, Big Freedia earned a Guinness World Records title for most people twerking simultaneously with more than 250 people in New York's Herald Square. GREAT FUN! www.fuse.tv/shows/big-freedia 
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in BERRY GORDY, Big Freedia, Ebony Power 100, Fuse, Hugh Jackman, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Pharrell Williams, Usher, WENDY WILLIAMS
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5 References