A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

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.

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 L.A. (2)

jakki is back

NEW SHOWBIZ

Executive Producing a special project would lead me to L.A. We just had a week of work and two days of shoots. (I’ll share more when time for it to be viewed in 2015-16). Awesome project that you'll all get to see Meanwhile, where I go – so does THE LIFE OF RILEY:

NATE PARKER

My Welcome to L.A. hang ended up being hosted by my friend Ikechukwu Waldhaus and friend Nate Parker ("Red Tails", "Great Debaters", and more!). They chose the W Hollywood for our catch up! Nate Parker has some great updates that I'll be sharing soon! CONGRATS, BRO!

DIVAS SIMPLY SINGING

My friend V Scott Hamilton (Sheryl Lee Ralph Ralph's DIVAS SIMPLY SINGING) took me to say HI to Sheryl Lee Ralph at her beautiful home (OMG! No pix but Sheryl Lee Ralph was FIERCE! Lol!). We had lots to catch up on – including – this weekend: DIVAS SIMPLY SINGING.

BETTER BROTHERS

Scott also hosted a wonderful event with BETTER BROTHERS L.A. – a happy hour at McCormicks w/friends - including Derek Lafayette and Thornell Jones Jr: www.betterbrothersla.com.

ACE HOTEL

My Harpo BFF Itika then scooped me up and took us to Ace Hotel for rooftop music! L.A. is cute (enough)! LOL!

KIKI AND TITI

"Jakki's Back!": Taylor-Richardson that is! My BFF from our days producing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (She currently is Producer at "Queen Latifah" whose stylist Tim Snell joined her! I'm a BIG FAN of him and his work - including 13 years of styling the late, GREAT Whitney Houston).

My top secret L.A. assignment would allow me a hang with she and some uber-special peeps (I took an Uber tonight in L.A.! Cute, right? Lol!).

Shout out to those who schlepped to Culver City/Rush Street Restaurant to see me:

my other Harpo BFF Itika (mktg exec extraordinaire); media exec producer/friend Nicole Childers;

actress/entertainment diva Toni; astrologer Wayne Gonzalez;

and a special shout out to PR friend and Spelman sister Tosha Whitten Griggs who tried to make it but had an alumni event - all good folks and all my peeps! Love you ALL! XO

AROMA

After late wrap, did impromptu bday set at Aroma Bakery Cafe with old ATL buddy Derrick Lafayette hosted by old NYC buddy Keith Wooten: my industry brother friends! Happy BDAY Dela! L.A. is still poppin'.

OIL CAN HARRY

L.A! Great times! "Oil Can Harry's" gave us 70s/80 's music; karaoke (I did Endless Love); and Harpo besties Lesia Minor and Itika + my Diana BFF Curtis! Plus, my Delandis - Broadway performer and TV host extraordinaire! XO

GOODBYE LA

Dear friend Stacey Antonio capped off my L.A. trip with a great catch-up breakfast. This, before I had to get back to NYC! THANKS L.A. ET AL!

THINSPIRED

Congrats to my internet wife, Mara Schiavocampo. The cover of her upcoming book is done and she is ready to go! I'm very proud of her! #‎THINspired ‪#‎Dec30

LEON & THE PEOPLES

GOOD TIMES at LEON & THE PEOPLES LIVE in HARLEM USA at Red Rooster Harlem! Did LEON hand me that mic during his show? LOL! Anthony Harper's sister Bri Cole is Leon’s publicist and Victor E Lewis is the manager. Sabrina also reps Michael Jai White and Frenchie Davis among others! After Leon's Red Rooster show, we called on nearby Sylvia's Restaurant, the Queen of Soul food, for a later night bite. We were seated next to this one... LOVE ARETHA! Shout out to my boo Sidra Smith for popping by and our hangout buddies du jour Bernice Wooden and Charon Richardson of G'wan by Charon fame! ! #uptownsaturdaynight

THE ZERO DEGREE ZOMBIE ZONE

Great Sunday in Harlem to celebrate my friend Patrik Henry Bass and illustrator Jerry Craft on "The Zero Degree Zombie Zone" Patrik's 1st children's book (ages 8-12) from Scholastic. My girlfriend Robin Stone hosted the well-appointed set in her beautiful brownstone - filled with some of my favorite people - including NABJ sister friends Katti Gray and author of "The End of Fashion", Teri Agins whose new book "Hijacking The Runway: How Celebrities Are Stealing the Spotlight from Fashion Designers" hits stores this month! Always good to connect with my journalism peeps under one roof! Congrats Patrik! #blackboysread #ZeroDegreeZombieZone

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, J’NARA!

Was GREAT to CELEBRATE the FOREVER YOUNG, J’NARA CORBIN at The Celllar – below The Bryant Park Hotel. CHEERS, MY FRIEND! XOXOXO

JEHRIME CHADWICK

Okay, how EXCITED and IMPRESSED was I to be combing through UPTOWN Magazine and page turning to my friend Jehrime Chadwick - actor/model to KEEP WATCHING!

GMC cast this ad VERY WELL! CONGRATS, JEHRIME! KEEP GOING, MY FRIEND!

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY AWARDS

I got the chance to host the Miss Harlem Shake 2014 Contest for Musa Jackson Productions last month. He's asked me now to host the 10th Annual African American Literary Award Show on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Please come join us! I'm EXCITED!

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 09:50AM by

THE LIFE OF RILEY in Emmy Award, L.A., Leon & The Peoples, Los Angeles, MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Patrik Henry Bass, Red Rooster, THINSpired |

STAYING TOGETHER

THE GAME IS ON (AGAIN)

My first assignment for 2012 required I hit the ground running in L.A. for recurring client BET!

In addition to producing TONY ROCK on the red carpet at the new-season premiere party of "The Game" & "Let's Stay Together" (http://www.bet.com/video/thegame/season5/exclusives/red-carpet-premiere-the-game5-redcarpet-s1.html), I too interviewed the cast members and their Hollywood friends at the casino-style after party - excerpts from which will run on BET through the night the show premieres. Both casts were so gracious. And I really enjoyed meeting some of the "Let's Stay Together" 'folks.

Don't forget to watch both hit shows Tuesday, January 10th at 10pm/eastern...and every Tuesday after that!

MEANWHILE, while in L.A., I got the chance to see one of LA's installments of FELA! (attended also by my industry buddy Tichina Arnold who discovered I was there during intermission...and what a FUN reunion that was as we normally see each other in NYC! ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE HER!).

Outside my temp digs for the week, The Hotel Roosevelt, I went on an errand down the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

While snapping my favorites, I stumbled into NABJ/AABJ (black journalist) mentor Vic Carter - in town on business.

Small world, huh? And though work kept me most occupied through most of my time in L.A., I did manage to see some friends - albeit too briefly:

Itika T. Oldwine; Derek Lafayette;

V Scott Hamilton; Stacey Antonio; Will Miller;

Jocelyn R Coleman;

Melora Rivera (who brought me my biggest surprise. I produced her mom, FOX 5 Atlanta anchor Amanda Davis in the mid-'90s on "Good Day Atlanta". After our newscast, I'd take Melora -- in 4th grade or less at the time - to school while her mom did teases for the NOON newscast which she also anchored. I'd take Melora to Chick-fil-a for a breakfast sandwich and drop her off to her school before I'd head back to either help write the NOON news or before I'd head home. Melora is now a WOMAN and working in Hollywood for my friend Salim Akil. CONGRATS, MELORA...and I'll be looking for your cameo in "Sparkle". MUCH LOVE TO YOU --- and your mom. HAPPY TO BE BACK IN TOUCH!); Zabrina Horton;

Loren Lillian;

TheQuan Lateef;

and a host of others that remind me I have some awesome friends who I consider family in L.A. not to mention my BFF (from high school) Maurice Marable who brought me on to do this gig for BET.

Was great to hang out with Mo and Mrs. Karen Good Marable, who - of course - is quite a joy.

Oh! One person I actually met for the first time and have adored from RuPaul's Drag Race (a recurring diva): Shangela Laquifa Wadley.

He will be featured on "Toddlers & Tiaras" - dropping the science of being fierce on the little ones. LOL! GO! THANKS L.A. & BET!

And special shout out to my friends Mara Brock-Akil and Salim Akil for creating "The Game" and continuing to take their Hollywood game to the next level: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2011/1/10/hope-theres-someone.html. Look for their "SPARKLE" remake in August of this year!

FRANK ISHMAN

I had to get back from L.A. on a red-eye that got me back to NYC Sunday morning because industry buddy Myrdith Leon-McCormack invited me to be shot by photographer extraordinaire Frank Ishman (www.frankishman.com). Frank also happens to be my Morehouse brother. The shoot is a part of a collective campaign that features portraits and brief write-ups on each participant’s legacy. Today, Artist/Philanthropist Danny Simmons; WNBC’s Kym Hampton; film director Dominga Martin; and FFAWN philanthropist Latonya Blige were shot. Also in the house: Justiin Davis (HBO Boardwalk Empire): http://harlemworldblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/board-walk-empires-justiin-davis-volunteers-at-mission-society-in-harlem-video/. And a special shout out to THE GLAM SQUAD: Makeup-- Francesca B; Hair---Moet Stewart; Stylist--Janine Linton! GREAT JOB, LADIES! And GREAT WORK, FRANK ISHMAN! XO

HAPPY NEW YEAR'

On the eve of New Year’s Eve, some friends did inspire me to come out and play (amidst a week of partial-work & partial-relaxation). NYC friend Sharon Nelson and her family hosted a holiday gathering which allowed me to toast some near and dear for the season: Carl Nelson; ABC 7 Anchor/Reporter Sandra Bookman (industry buddy from our Atlanta days); Gilda Squire; Marie Raxy; etc. Then, a pop down to Snack Dragon to hang with BFFs Jamar Dunn; Ryan T Hall; and Ryan’s cool-EST mom Donna. She proved herself a stellar vocalist as we found a little karaoke to get into, after enjoying delicious tacos and sangria. Our hosts Cindy and John threw an awesome HAPPY NEW YEAR set! We had a BLAST! HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!

SAVANNAH, I LOVE YOU!

Christmas in my hometown of Savannah with family and friends! GREAT TIMES! And a dose of Atlanta makes it all right for the holidays! XO Here are more pix: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150458807703737.367054.662073736&type=1&l=e0b1623d36

P.S. R-I-P

You may recall that while I was in L.A. - post-producing "Monica", I got to see the L.A. premiere of the documentary Kodjoe was working on before he died. I found out while I was in L.A. -- as I was going to see FELA in L.A. at the Ahmanson Theater - right next door to where Claudia's film screened that September in 2009: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2009/8/31/i-can-do-good-all-by-myself-and-with-someone.html & http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2009/9/21/ive-waited-so-long-to-hear-you-say-that-to-me-say-it-again-s.html - we found out that Claudia passed away. Her awarding-winning work as a producer with ABC, NBC and PBS has made her a recipient of numerous awards including 11 Emmys, a duPont and a Peabody. Here is a beautiful tribute written by David Guilbault, a former ABC executive producer, who worked with her on her important HIV/AIDS documentary "Why Us? Dying and Left Behind" (after Kodjoe passed away in March 2005: http://davidguilbault.typepad.com/such_is_life_by_david_gui/2012/01/a-loving-spirit.html). Claudia will be missed but her legacy lives on.