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 Chocolate City (1)

prove it on me

prove it on me

HI FOLKS! The chance to reconnect with AMEN’s “Thelma”: THE Anna Marie Horsford! An opportunity to meet BRAVE from R&B DIVAS-LA! SINGING “BEST OF MY LOVE” with MISS MONIFAH!

EXCERPT:

 https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153006964663737/?type=2&theater

 

WHAT A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF RILEY! Please make sure you POP BY and/or MAKE YOUR HIGHLY-RECOMMENDED RESERVATIONS at BILLIE’S BLACK for “BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley”: 212.280.2248. We never know who is going to roll through…


ALL STAR KARAOKE – WEEK 4

That’s right! Monifah not only sang with me, she blessed us with an a cappella take on her new song ONE MOMENT... and shut us all down: http://bit.ly/onemoment_plr. BE SURE TO GET IT ON ALL PLATFORMS! ALSO: Monifah is Assistant Directing a TRIBUTE to GERALD LEVERT next month at The Beacon (SOLD OUT) and The New Jersey Symphony Hall (a few tickets left). MONIFAH also generously joined us to take care our SPONSOR business: Miss Jessie's is our weekly sponsor… and partner Miko Branch had lots of giveaways for everybody – including her AMAZING new book: “Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally” and the amazing MISS JESSIE’S products! AND OF COURSE, our NEW FRIENDS and our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS sang ALL NIGHT LONG! LOL! Well, folks! We’re up every Tuesday from 7p-10p --- through mid-July. #billiesblack

#allstarkaraoke#iammissjessies #wearemissjessies #motownmay#monifah

#monifahcarter #onemoment

COVE – 3RD ANNIVERSARY

Shout out to Michelle Huff Elliott - HUFF Events and PR/Strategic Heights Media (www.HUFFent.com) and Alyah Horsford-Sidberry for Cove Lounge's 3-year anniversary celebration - hosted by Ed Lover and actress Anna Maria Horsford, who is always such a joy! I asked her for some scoop...and she gave it to me! She's playing the mother of the Transgender character inside a hot plot I'm watching daily on one of my favorite soaps CBS' "Bold and the Beautiful". Was a delight to meet "R and B Diva" Brave Williams who performed a special vintage set for the Harlem Nights theme: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153008271668737/?type=3&theater. Fun night!

ARISE 360 – MEMORIAL WEEK

I did a week of guest co-hosting at ARISE 360 this week - filling in for my friend Shannon Lanier and co-hosting with the FABULOUS MISS Lola Ogunnaike. In the course of the week, we interviewed singer/songwriter Elle Varner; the iconic Antonio Fargas - new brand ambassador for one of my recurring pop culture critic locales Cozi TV; Vivica A. Fox; Darren DeWitt Henson; Robert Ri'chard - all from Chocolate City Movie; superproducer/rapper/writer Rico Love; and more! MEANWHILE, YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand via www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

LOTS OF CLIPS below:

Elle Varner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgA8AJbz1yc



Tanya Wright & Andrew Davis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXcxThnPYPI&feature=youtu.be

Singer Emin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOviloBERAo&feature=youtu.be

Antonio Fargas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWxCQo7GqO8&feature=youtu.be

Cast of Chocolate City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIoknC5wYsg&feature=youtu.be

Michele Bohbot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Teg7XlcL8&feature=youtu.be

Gillian Laub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4IEyAZbw6M&feature=youtu.be

Phillip Bloch & Emil Wilbekin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22H43h1pqIo&feature=youtu.be

Yandy Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH9jpjc03aI&feature=youtu.be

Tricia Lee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkYAXYyCj78&feature=youtu.be

Gotham Beauty owner Chris Coffee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPVwFtjfKb0



Wedding expert Jason Mitchell

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


Kate Pierson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfUPRPk9ScM


Rico Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkiO2PoNFoM



Lance Knowling from Harlem's Bluejeen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUYOAZSJ65w



Dog Trainer Ann Grossman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSRL5TsT19Q

Elijah Bland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEaK_p2ZahM

Pop culture expert Rhonda Ridley and Comedian Adam Wade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cn5xd77_xY

NBA Star and Coach Craig Speedy Claxton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi32bkTxMCI

Eden Wexler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv2xAZJ0IZE

ALSO did a BILLBOARD recap this week on ARISE AMERICA:

http://youtu.be/Z29BrWEdAk8