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 Billy Porter (1)

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