A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

April 28

 Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley starts our SPRING 2015 SERIES Tuesday, April 28^th from 7p to 10p! ALWAYS A BLAST! LINK: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/20/ask-patrick.html

 Cookie & Jamal

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: You all know how much I LOVE EMPIRE and Lee Daniels and its cast! LOL! So, imagine my EXCITMENT "stumbling into" "COOKIE" and "JAMAL" at the Summer Sizzle BVI 2015 launch party at Ricco Maresca Gallery! THANK THE LORD Derrick Hemphill got the shots! LOL! As you know, I’ve been talking about ALL THINGS EMPIRE on all platforms: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/3/3/empire-recap.html. Shout out to my friend The Wiz, Ron Smith, for inviting my Anthony Harper, our girlfriend Rachelle, Derrick, and me out for a lovely evening (after I had them all see “Airline Highway” on Broadway. I had a late edit with recurring client BET). Many industry players were in the house and I was glad to see them – including friends, fellow journalist Clay Cane, model/trainer Christopher Kadima, Beyonce stylist Ty Hunter, Wendy Williams’ stylist Memsor Kamarake , Bravo's "Blood Sweat & Heels" star Demetria Lucas D'Oyley, model Jordun Love, who walked for Givenchy last fashion week in Paris, and more! FOR MORE INFO: http://www.summersizzlebvi.com/events/. I think I'm going to have to go to the BVI in July. LOL! You remember my St. Croix fiesta last year: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/6/5/fvifw.html.  Audrey Irvine? You crashing this one!? OH! My last digression: I produced Wendy Williams in the BVI a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJZDNu3ztM&list=PL1TUj2SKo8nu4WfB_. BACK TO #SUMMERSIZZLEBVI:  A LITTLE VIDEO C/O Derrick Hemphill: http://bit.ly/ssbvi_dh  - www.summersizzlebvi.com - Summer Sizzle events include the Culture and Style Welcome Party, the Sunset White Fashion Fete, a Sailing Excursion, the highly anticipated fashion gala, VIP after-party, and other fabulous activities. Many highlights at Summer Sizzle BVI. They include: the Global Glamour fashion show, serves as a platform for showcasing international and Caribbean trend-setting fashion designers and models. All the world’s top agencies are represented. Line up includes Ford, IMG, Elite, DNA, Major, Muse and RED.

Who's joining Cookie, Jamal, and me?

lola is back

SHOUT OUT to my beloved Lola Ogunnaike for calling me in to fill in for my friend Shannon Lanier on Arise Entertainment 360. We interviewed my old industry buddy from the beginning of my career in New York City, Tavis Smiley who had lots to talk about – from his new book on Dr. Maya Angelou to EMPIRE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWT12NElT0&feature=youtu.be. Also in the house: Dr. Paul with STRESS AWARENESS MONTH tid-bits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC4nZi9W_64&feature=youtu.be

and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Darryl Strawberry’s daughter Diamond Strawberry – castmember of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ezlb-lLMJQ&feature=youtu.be.

Also, we interviewed Dr. Woody on "Horrible Bosses":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4YSW-65BEE&feature=youtu.be

 and R&B Singer Case who is so talented and super nice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoWzIjDESME&feature=youtu.be. YOU can watch them (and me

from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. I’ll soon be going back to talk BROADWAY and THEATER including two shows I saw this week: At the PUBLIC, BUZZER! And on Broadway, AIRLINE HIGHWAY! Lots going on inside The Great White Way! Please stay tuned! And as always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!#arise360#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

money minute

I'm booking more-and-more work - including hosting WELLS FARGO PRESENTS THE NEW ADVOCATE MONEY MINUTE - an online show that currently runs on-line (http://www.advocate.com/business/advocate-money-minute). Well, Wells Fargo is back as sponsor for another season of The Advocate Money Minute.  This season it is called "Working Sessions"; Wells Fargo and The Advocate would love to have me return as host! This season, the focus will be on families:  we will shoot in people's homes with the Wells Fargo subject matter expert.  I also do a lot of mentoring with LGBTQ youth! Please check out my testimonial for the IT GETS BETTER campaign I am PROUD to have been asked to be a part! http://www.advocate.com/youth/no-more-bullying/2014/01/24/healing-one-truth-time  FOR MORE INFO, check out the blog: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2014/1/24/hallelujah-amen.html 

black gays rock

I was just my girlfriend Mara Schiavocampo’s “+1”. The GMA Correrspondent and best-selling-author of THINspired was a #blackgirlsrock presenter. But recurring clients BET and CentricTV air showed that #blackgaysrock too! CUTAWAY after CUTAWAY! LOL! Be sure to tune in for ENCORE PRESENTATION! FOR MORE INFO on that night: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2015/4/1/black-girls-rock.html.   #BLACKGIRLSROCK

Olu

Was nice recently to unwind with friends Brian Henderson, Nikita Stewart Henderson, Rachelle, Mario Ephriam, and more between two spots: On an invite from my friend Jae Joseph, we gathered at Gallery 151 for a show he curated. Ori is the first solo exhibition from Toronto-based visual artist Oluseye. Great to see some industry buddies - like artist Henry Mitchell and creative director Mykel C Smith Creative. Join the conversation: @gallery151 #ORI After, we all went to NABE for my friends Mario Ephriam and Randall Isaac's Thursday night set - come one, come all. Perfect back-drop for joyful conversation among gentlemen (and an array of beauties in the mix, of course); dance and house music piping to temperature of the room, so you can hear yourselves until "The Boss" or something the like comes on (LOL!); cocktail specials; and some hearty fare for the social kind. With Spring beginning to do what it do, Thursdays at NABE in Harlem (127th St and Frederick Douglass/8th Av) is often where I'll be.

brenda braxton

Broadway Star and Tony Nominee Brenda Braxton - and friend of ALL STAR KARAOKE - comes to the Metropolitan Room in her new One Woman show "ACT 2...Now What?" Join Brenda on her journey of Love, Loss, and What wore her out, yet lifted her up!! MAC and Bistro Award Winner Tracy Stark is Musical Director. There are 2 shows scheduled Sunday, April 26th @ 7:00 and Sunday, May 3rd @ 7:00. For ticket information see the link below. http://metropolitanroom.com/event.cfm?id=185269  Or call 2122060440 to make your reservations. A large number of tickets have already been sold so purchase your tickets today.

wendy hilliard gymnastics foundation

My dear friend Janet Hill Talbert has asked me to be a reverse auctioneer for a benefit that is being held to at the New York Atheletic Club to benefit the Harlem based Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation. She also wants me to invite me friends. It’s April 16 from 6:30-8:30 at the New York Athletic Club. Here's a quick link that tells you what the Foundation is all about! http://aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com/2015/videos.php?month=2. Olympic Medalist Sarah Hughes is our MC. It's cocktail reception benefit; the kids will be doing a brief performance; and we are trying to raise money for the kids!FOR MORE INFO on how to get tickets, go to www.whfny.org.

from remy to kehinde to pet rescue road trip

I’m always talking about the awesome projects on which my friend Lamar Johnson is working and – sometimes – extending my way for collaboration. Well, I must tell you his latest. He and his partner Susanne Rehse are getting ready to embark on an 8,300 MILE trek AND crowdfund for Pet SHELTERS.  Yep! It’s what happens when you combine two dog-loving New Yorkers, a 15-pound Baguette, an 8,300-mile sightseeing journey and a crowd-funding campaign to support animal rescue shelters.  Pet Rescue Road Trip is the brainchild of Lamar, a NYC-based marketing consultant and documentary filmmaker who, along with his partner Susanne Rehse, wanted to raise awareness of the benefits of pet adoption and to raise funds to support No-Kill animal shelters.  Johnson and Rehse own a shelter-rescued 8 year old Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix named “Baguette” and had been tossing around the idea of a 2-week sightseeing road trip vacation for over 2 years when they decided to extend the duration and incorporate a charitable “passion project” into the trip. Rehse, a German-born ex-pat says, “We kept seeing those heart-wrenching TV commercials with the sad Sarah McLachlan song and I said to Lamar one day, ‘I wonder if we could come up with something to help promote animal adoptions that would feel more fun and upbeat and not like such a “downer”.’ The couple went to work planning and mapping out their bucket-list-style tour of National Parks, historic sites, pet-friendly activities and points-of-interest (using trip-planning websites -- Roadtrippers.com and BringFido.com). Next, they launched a crowd-funding campaign on GoFundMe.com with the starting goal of raising $15,000 (to support 6 shelters with donations of $2,000 each and $3,000 to cover GoFundMe processing fees and to offset a portion of gas and lodging expenses).  They spread the word via social media, word-of-mouth, flyers and magnetic and vinyl decals affixed to Johnson’s SUV. Within the first 4 weeks, the campaign had raised just over $3,000 and donations continue to trickle in. On April 2, Johnson and Rehse presented the first donation check to Animal Haven NYC -- the shelter they fostered then adopted Baguette from in the months following SuperStorm Sandy. Lamar says, “It’s like our own little telethon. To keep folks entertained, we’ve outfitted Baguette with a GoPro “Fetch” harness-cam and installed dash cams in the SUV so fans and followers can get a streaming “dog’s-eye” view of the journey on social media - @K9Baguette. We can’t wait to hit the road!” The Pet Rescue Road Trip departs from NYC on April 11 “National Pet Day” and lasts four weeks, stopping and taking pics at National Parks, monuments and points-of-interest like Mt. Rushmore, the Hollywood sign, and the Gateway Arch -- just to name a few. The trip will also visit and make donations to additional No-Kill animal shelters along the way and will wrap up in our nation’s capital at the end of National Pet Week (May 10).  For more information, please visit www.gofund.me/PetRescueRoadTrip and www.PetRescueRoadTrip.com. Hey Lamar! When y’all get back, be sure to come by Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley and tell us all about it!

playback

EMPIRE is on everybody’s minds these days! THE LIFE OF RILEY is no exception. Not only am I talking about the antics of Cookie, Luscious, and the Lyons “dynasty”… but when I wear my guest co-host hat and/or my pop culture analyst hat, it’s EMPIRE and its creator Lee Daniels all day:

Last week, Lee Daniels stopped by to dish on EMPIRE and its over-the-top SUCCESS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXw5_p5fpBI!

That booking came a couple of weeks after my NBCBLK interview  - my debut contribution to that new, African American vertical for NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/precious-butler-director-lee-daniels-building-empire-n290416.

And ARISE AMERICA had me on with Debbye Turner Bell who – like me – is a FAN! GREAT CHAT with Debbye: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152816022788737.

LORRA RIVERS

I've been talking about the careers of the EMPIRE cast for years. I've met Taraji. Terrence has been really cool throughout the years - dressy or casul! LOL! I attended the "Precious" premiere in Hollywood and met Gabourey. She, Lee, and I would be in the same screening room to see one of his first sharings of "Lee Daniels' "The Butler". And on and on, I could go about the AWESOME cast. Also: From two day-playing roles on another FOX TV hit from the mid-'90s, "New York Undercover", I first got to know EMPIRE co-star Malik Yoba. Have attended his live shows over the years. Happened to be producing BET reality show "Monica: Still Standing" while Malik and the cast of Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?" were filming. We all stayed at the TWELVE Atlantic Station. But par for the course in the LIFE OF RILEY, I'll also be sharing some NAMES behind the STARS and the BRAND of EMPIRE who will be popping up! I want to make sure you are in the KNOW! Shout out to my college BFF Audrey Irvine – CNN’s own – for sending some EMPIRE tea my way. On THIS WEDNESDAY’s episode (March 3, 2015), the vision and cutting edge style of designer Lorra Rivers 'Nikita' clutch will make its debut on Empire!! A homegrown DC talent, Lorra Rivers is a professsionally trained interior designer who received her interior design degree with a minor in architecture from Taraji's alma mater Howard University. With over 27 years' experience, Lorra has served as a contributing writer for Ebony, Homes of Color and Upscale magazines. She was a featured designer in the coffee table book, Spectacular Homes of Greater Washington, DC where her custom furniture designs were on display. In a little over 5 years, Lorra has transitioned her design experience towards another passion, the fashion industry. In creating the 'LorraRivers' brand, her purse designs reflect a cutting edge style for the fashionista with flair. The signature collection 'Nikita' clutch will be featured on this week's Empire.  Which character will  hold the 'Nikita'? Lorra describes the 'Lorra Rivers Woman' as one who possesses awe inspiring sensuality, a playfully shines from within and commands strength tempered with refinement. Stay tuned this Wednesday at 9p on FOX. And let LORRA RIVERS – and LIFE OF RILEY –know your thoughts on the purse AND the episode.

Contact information

www.lorrarivers.com

IG: lorrarivers

Twitter: @lorrarivers1

Facebook: Lorra Rivers bag

KEHINDE WILEY

I have also been seeing Kehinde Wiley’s work in EMPIRE – since Episode 1. Was happy to support my friend Lamar Johnson's film project KEHINDE WILEY: AN ECONOMY OF GRACE which he Executive Produced in partnership with PBS: TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46wgtP3eiEF. It was on a short list of documentaries being considered for the final ballot at this year’s Academy Awards. Look to hear more from Lamar very soon; meanwhile, so good to see Kehinde on EMPIRE!

Nsilo

You see the one on the right with the sunglasses and the pink shirt? I used to call him "Tandi's little brother". She and I were closer in age as we matriculated through Savannah's social teen scene. But I must give him a GROWN MAN shout out to my Savannah homeboy; fellow Windsor Forest High School KNIGHT; and Morehouse brother Nsilo Reddick – business partner and producer to Grammy-winning MC Chamillionaire: http://allhiphop.com/2015/02/24/chamillionaire-start-up-companies/. The two moguls and their team are stellar exemplars of making the most of THE BUSINESS in SHOW BUSINESS as they aim to encourage "our people" to learn more about finance, investing, the tech industry, etc...and to put some of that floss less into bottle service and more into making power moves - for example - at a venture capital firm. And the proof is in the pudding as Chamillionaire announces that he - and Nsilo - are now an entrepreneurs-in-residence for Upfront Ventures, an investment firm. EXCERPT from the article above: “In a letter written by Upfront Ventures’  investment partner Mark Suster, he detailed how his relationship with Chamillionaire began and how the “Hip Hop Police” rapper is flourishing into quite the entrepreneur. The Houston spitter caught Suster’s eye after a 2009 speech about social media engagement in the music industry. A few years back he started many mini investments in tech firms with Suster, which led to Cham wanting to becoming more involved with the tech start up world. “A while back Chamillionaire started telling me he wanted to immerse himself even more in the tech world – learning to build products, studying different business models and committing himself to being a true tech entrepreneur,” Suster wrote. “Chamillionaire has a way more refined sense of what customer behavior is like than most ivy league graduates with nice Powerpoint slides that I meet.” Now as an entrepreneur-in-residence for the next several months, Chamillionaire is soaking up knowledge about start ups and is also advising Upfront Ventures along with his business partner and producer Nsilo Reddick.” LOVE IT! LEAD BY EXAMPLE, MY BROTHERS!