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 Ebony Power 100 (1)
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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