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 PBS (1)

nabj14

NABJ14

Have I been going to the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention for 23 years? YEP! And this year was no exception, though I almost didn’t make it. Fortunately, since it was in Boston, childhood BFF Ernest packed Ant, our bags, and me up in his car… and we did a road-trip – including playing the tag game (By the time we returned from Boston, Ern peeped 20 to my 19! Doesn’t anybody drive to Boston out of ALASKA, HAWAII, or ALABAMA!? LOL!). Since I wasn’t formally booked on any panels nor producing or hosting any presentations, was nice to hold court at the bar in the lobby of the hotel… and get a hearty does of my “Annual therapy” AKA hugs, kisses, and catch-ups from my industry family. Was cool to break away and get in some karaoke time as well. I LOVE NABJ! FOREVER! FOR ALWAYS!

KEHINDE WILEY

I am basking in the glow from my weekend in Boston at NABJ! CONGRATS to NABJ President Bob Butler; current Chair of the NABJ A&E Task Force Kelley Carter; and ALL who made it such a fun and productive time for those of us who got to attend! NEXT STOP: Minneapolis!!!! Can't wait!I got to talk to many fellow journalists about my friend Lamar Johnson's film project KEHINDE WILEY: AN ECONOMY OF GRACE on which he is Executive Producer in partnership with PBS, which will air the film next month: September 5, 2014! AND I’LL TELL THE REST OF YOU ABOUT IT HERE: Lamar brought Rémy Martin to NABJ (last year and the year prior): http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/8/7/remy-martin-meet-nabj.html. Inside his new professional chapter, he wanted to ensure that our crop of journalists had an opportunity to screen advance copies. Lamar hopes to attract ADVANCE COVERAGE of the film's airing and/or SOCIAL MEDIA support in the way of E-BLASTING, TWEETING, etc.The movie "Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace" follows the artist as he steps out of his comfort zone to create a series of paintings of women for the first time. Kehinde casts his models on the streets of New York and then enlists Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy to create couture gowns for each woman. The film traces the artist's process from concept to canvas as he reveals to us another side of black femininity. Lamar notes it is a celebration of art, style and African-American beauty and has been very well-received, garnering several festival awards including @SXSW 2014. The film is also an official selection in the "Run & Shoot” Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Fest. TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46wgtP3eiEs FOR PRESS INQURIES, please feel free to just email me here (patarack@hotmail.com) and I’ll forward accordingly to him. I will immediately forward you to Lamar to coordinate any additional info/intel/booking support you need to complete any of your proposed coverage. MEANWHILE, for more info, you can go to www.PBS.org/pressroom or www.pressroom.pbs.org/Programs/k/KEHINDE-WILEY-AN-ECONOMY-OF-GRACE.aspx. Stay in touch with us as Lamar and his team are planning the NYC premiere & after party to take place on Thursday September, 4 at a TBD location. This will coincide with NY/Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Editorial Angle Thought-starters:

The Art of Urban portraiture (feat. Kehinde Wiley)

Reshaping notions of Black beauty

Celebrating all the shades of Black femininity

LGBTQ self-image/acceptance

Kehinde “Telecommuting” between NYC , Paris and Beijing

AND FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, please include the following data:

KEHINDE WILEY: AN ECONOMY OF GRACE – a film to be telecast on PBS Sept. 5, 2014

TWITTER: @kehindewileyart - SUBJECT

TWITTER: @jeffdupre – DIRECTOR

TWITTER: @patarack – LIFE OF RILEY

#LOR_kehinde

#kehindewileyPBS

ABBY Z + ME

Episode #7 is up!!! #abbyzplusone #podcast #www.AbbyZ.com - CHECK THIS OUT: https://soundcloud.com/abbyz-one/abby-z-plus-one-ep-7/s-NEmr5. Host Abby Z, renowned Fashion Designer & Stylist conducts intimate interviews with celebrities, elite entrepreneurs, fellow designers and supermodels on the Abby Z Plus one Podcast. Tune in to hear exclusive interviews highlighting established and rising Movers & Shakers nationwide. Abby Z pushes the message of being sexy at every size, feeling confident and being on top of your game professionally and personally. For more information visit her website at www.AbbyZ.com.

Episode 7

Gwendolyn DeVoe – Owner of DeVoe Signature Events

www.dseventsinc.com/home.html

www.twitter.com/fffweek

Josh Johnson – Abercrombie Model

Patrick Riley –Producer & writer

www.thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/

www.twitter.com/patarack

Elizabeth Taylor – Plus Size Model

www.findingelizabethtaylor.com/look.php

Brooke Notary - artistic director and choreographer

www.brooknotary.com/

FINDING FELA

FELA KUTI IS BACK! FINDING FELA is the new definitive documentary about FELA KUTI that rocked Sundance. Directed by Academy Award® Winner Alex Gibney. "Finding Fela has the makings of a classic music biopic: as thorough and soulful as Kevin Macdonald’s Marley, thrilling as Scorsese’s The Last Waltz all those years ago, or more recently Morgan Neville’s euphoric 20 Feet From Stardom, but follows an irresistible character in the same way Malik Bendjelloul’s Searching For Sugar Man did." – Andrew Latimer, Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014. Click here to watch trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=937SQ8-6RV4

Website: http://findingfela.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FindingFela

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingfela

Instagram: http://instagram.com/findingfela

LOVE FOR PASSION

I am too excited to support and help promote my friend Nathan Hale Williams’ film project “Love for Passion”. He’s hosting a wonderful fundraising event for which I am sitting on the host committee. I am extending a personal invitation for you and your guests to party with a purpose on Monday, August 18th 6-9pm at Katra Lounge (217 Bower Street). They have planned a wonderful and fun event celebrating dance as well as the arts in an effort to support the film that is so near & dear to us. But, it's more than a film, we are igniting a movement that will uplift, inspire and encourage young men of color to live their dreams and hopefully begin to foster better relationships between them and their fathers. We hope you will join us for this party & JOIN THE MOVEMENT. Love for Passion is a film about a young African-American dancer, Jeffrey Love, on the verge of his New York City debut. Jeffrey is distracted by his estranged father, Darryl Love who shows up after being absent for ten years. In a highly dramatic confrontation, Darryl now seeks forgiveness from his son for a multitude of transgressions. Love for Passion also celebrates the breakthrough of fathers loving their sons while confronting the breakdown of the father/son relationship.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/LoveforPassion

#loveforpassionfilm

#realmendance

#fathersandsons

DREAMS OF A PROPHET

A seasoned pro of stage and screen - big and small, Larry Powell was also SUPER SUPPORTIVE of our Billie's Black PRESENTS ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley - THE SPRING 2014 SERIES! With that, this SUPER TALENTED man has written an exciting, new play called DREAMS OF A PROPHET! And he is self-producing a workshop presentation of it 3rd week/weekend of August. What he needs is your amazing prayers and literal support! Watch the promo vid here-- and Click on link in vid to support! LINK TO PROMO: http://youtu.be/wxUz197DyLQ

LINK TO SUPPORT: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dreams-of-a-prophet

Sundae Sermon

THIS SUNDAY.

8.10.14

St. Nicholas Park

3-7pm SUNDAE SERMON

Need I say anything else? Well, SEE YOU THERE!

FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE READ ON:

Sundae Sermon is this Sunday! DJ Stormin’ Norman & I are so excited to see you at Harlem’s premiere community dance party & picnic this Sunday @ St. Nicholas Park at 135th & 8th Ave. 2-7p Again, we would be delighted to have you come by our “This is Sundae Sermon” section where we’ll be hosting an informal yet exclusive meet & greet for folks to get to know our mission and key members of our influential congregation. Just look for the table with the big happy Sundae Sermon sign. If you see yourself or your brand connecting with Harlem Sundae Sermon is the place to be seen! SWEET NEW NEWS: Sundae Sermon will be hosted by Harlem's First Lady of Style & Life Bravo & all around media star Bevy Smith !

(there's going to be a fierce performance too) #SeeYouAtSundaeSermon #SundaeSermon