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 SPIKE LEE (7)
BILL NUNN RIP did the right thing
REST IN PEACE BILL NUNN! As I sit here at home --- on social media, enthusiastically sharing the news about my Morehouse man nephew Herman Lee Riley III and his fellow HBCU alum cast-mates’ on new AspireTV reality web series "The Graduates NYC" (Oct. 8) AND while I’m just a few hours from attending a screening --- with NYC friends and fam --- to see my film debut in the Shaquille-O’Neal-Executive-Produced film STEPS by Eddie Harris, an Official Urbanworld Film Festival Selection, I'm stopped in my tracks with the news that my actual Morehouse College big brother Bill Nunn has passed away! Other Morehouse (big) brother Spike Lee posted it on FACEBOOK. SO I MUST TAKE PAUSE...AND PROCESS THIS LOSS and HIS LEGACY! My condolences to Donna Watts-Nunn and Bill's entire family! This is indeed a MAJOR FULL CIRCLE MOMENT! Bill Nunn is a Morehouse Man, class of 76. His impressive career includes brilliant stage work – often in collaboration with Clark Atlanta University’s own Kenny Leon…and his iconic film work includes his Morehouse buddy Spike Lee’s joints School Daze, Do The Right Thing, and Mo Better Blues. And Bill was a mentor of mine in my early days. On the first week I started Morehouse as part of “1988 freshman orientation”, I had dinner with him at his home where he lived with wife Donna and their kids. I was invited to this mentor dinner along with a handful of other new Morehouse brothers who had interests in TV/Film. Over the years since I graduated and started my career in TV, he'd stayed in touch with me and I kept him updated. I could always bounce anything off of him. And he would let me know – sometimes after the fact – that I played certain career moves well, like when I left Atlanta for New York City. He’d always say that I should do more on-camera and do more acting. Well, fast forward to 2005 when my nephew was in high school in Savannah, GA – deciding on which college he’d attend. Herman asked me to fly down from NYC to Atlanta to accompany him on his college tours (Emory, Georgia State, and Morehouse). It was quite overwhelming for him... on one hand. But he liked the campuses (all of which have differing qualities from each other). Herman said he could "see himself on Morehouse's campus". I stayed in the background on his search as I wanted him to make "his own choice" without my input, but it was nice to hear his take on Morehouse and to see his reaction. The Morehouse campus tour was great... and was met with a nice on-campus surprise. While we were touring, we stumbled into my first mentor when I started Morehouse: Bill Nunn. He yelled my name “PATRICK RILEY! PATRICK RILEY!” This, as he was shooting footage of his freshman dorm Graves Hall for a documentary he was shooting on his life. We rushed up to each other and gave each other a big embrace. We caught up. He even asked me to answer a few questions on-camera since he was there with the crew. I agreed. I then asked him to meet my nephew. He agreed. Bill noted to Noot (my nickname for Herman) that "Your uncle is the best person to tell you about Morehouse, but know that if you come here, you will be with people who care about you and will continue to care about you...". As Bill pointed that out, I got a chance to THANK HIM (on camera as his crew was still shooting us during this moment) for being that mentor who had the kind of caring and sustaining legs he described. Though we didn't talk everyday…and I would only see him a couple of times after that moment. He’d always tell me that he, Kenny Leon, Monty Ross (all contemporaries and close friends of Spike and Samuel L. Jackson) are always peeping my successes and talking about me. So, this reflection reminds me that I did say THANK YOU to him! And it’s on FILM somewhere! But more than that, BILL NUNN’s legacy lives on… through the young Florida A&M University students I’m mentoring as a 2016 William Hearst Visiting Professional at FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communications (The Dean Ann Wead Kimbrough is a dear college friend of his as well…and she advised me via CAU)….through my nephew and his #THEGRADUATESNYC cast…. through me: independent producer, personality, writer…and – inside this STEPS project – actor....and through that handful of Men of Morehouse who got to benefit from Bill Nunn's kindness and generosity our Freshman Week as we will celebrate 25 YEARS of being Morehouse Men next May 2017! AND SO MANY MORE! I owe a great debt to BILL NUNN! We ALL owe a great debt to BILL NUNN! REST IN PARADISE, RADIO RAHEEM! #DOTHERIGHTTHING#DIDTHERIGHTTHING #SISTERACT 
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in ATLANTA, Bill Nunn, Do The Right Thing, MOREHOUSE, Pittsburgh, SPIKE LEE, School Daze, Sister Act
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grace is amazing
DA BOSS
Everybody KNOWS Diana Ross' THE BOSS is my FAVORITE!
And we MUST DO #THEBOSS with the #THEBOSSCHOIR every week at Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul --- EVERY TUESDAY! 
Even got my nephew's mom/friend Felecia Roberts to join in on the fun as she visits from our hometown of Savannah, GA: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153126723338737/?type=3&theater.
MUCH LOVE, FE! And FOLKS! with ONE MORE TO GO, WHO WILL JOIN US NEXT WEEK for #THEBOSS choir!? Reservations highly recommended or swing through and TOAST with us for a MOMENT! 
It's ALWAYS A BLAST! And we'll be back in the FALL and may be POPPIN' UP around TOWN and maybe somewhere out there! 
AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO PLAY A PART – including designer B. Michael (and his business partner and husband Mark-Anthony Edwards) for stepping into our room for the first time… WHAT A BLAST!
DA BUTT
THIS PAST TUESDAY was NEXT LEVEL! WASHINGTON DC brought GO GO music to LIFE! Morehouse man Spike Lee brought GO GO music to the world via his 1988 film School Daze. 
Howard’s own Carla Bone’s BFF Donna Kirkland – along with the capture by her fellow CAU alum Derrick Hemphill – created #DABUTT MANIA when this song was selected at our 2nd to the last Tuesday of the SPRING 2015 SERIES of Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley. 
The room ERUPTED with C.A.U., Morehouse, Spelman, Howard and all the the HBCU's representing when the EU classic was chosen! OMG! LOL! https://youtu.be/YjmBDlevexQ.
DA LAST TUESDAY
ONE MORE TUESDAY LEFT: Tuesday, July 14th! And if you plan to do more than a “drive by”, RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 212.280.2248. All Star Karaoke is a weekly karaoke series in Harlem, NY that I host in Harlem, NY! 
My blog, A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY can be found at http://bit.ly/lor_blog. #BILLIESBLACK#ALLSTARKARAOKE #DABUTT #DABUTTCHOIR#THEBOSSCHOIR #THEBOSS #thevoice #teamkimberlynichole#schooldaze
DA PLANE
Speaking of Miss Jessie’s and their continued support of BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with PATRICK L. RILEY and LIFE OF RILEY, I must note how appreciative our ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS are for the weekly giveaways.
And the SWAG bags she provides everyone who walks through the door! 
Along with other integrations we've been able to execute with RILEY LAND GOURMET PANTRY, HENDRICKS GIN, and MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, MISS JESSIE'S has been our MAIN SPONSORSHIP DIVA - in the cut for our folks...
and letting us wrap our arms around her from time to time as she's been inside a grueling year of personal losses;
major professional gains; and a major book release and tour:Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch---Naturally. 
And - sometimes - you just want to sing some karaoke
... and we do! LOL! #THEBOSS of course:
https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152964609513737/?type=3&theater! LOL!
Though LIFE OF RILEY can be FAB, it only beats one booking and one check at a time, so when folks in my life are the difference to me (as I aim to be for so many), I have to SHOUT it out!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to MY FRIEND, Miss Jessie's Founder Miko Branch and Miss Jessie's for SPONSORING ME to attend this year’s National Association of Black Journalists’ Convention 
– a bit of an off-shoot of my “Harlem open mic night” as I’ve been invited to HOST “#NABJ40 Night at the Apollo” (but it’s in MINNEAPOLIS on Opening Night of the Convention in August).
Everyone knows NABJ is "my annual therapy". 
And my "annual therapy" is about to meet my "daily therapy" (karaoke) at the pass. LOL! The release reads: "Battle it out on stage with your fellow NABJ members as you compete in the ULTIMATE Apollo talent competition hosted by none other than Patrick L. Riley!
Bring your costumes, props, and song choice to the convention center after the opening reception. 
Solos, duets, and group performances are welcome! Become the 2015 #NABJ40 Apollo Night Champion!" 
If my NABJ fam is registered for the convention, coming, and going to be there and want to get in on the fun, PLEASE FILL THIS OUT and SUBMIT: https://thenabj.wufoo.com/forms/q1dixmwj177j5go/. 
#NABJ is a FAMILY REUNION and ALWAYS a good time! See LIFE OF RILEY's capture of NABJ over the years: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/tag/nabj. 
Once-NABJ “Emerging Journalists of the Year” Michael Feeney (NYABJ President);
dear friend Mara Schiavocampo (GMA Correspondent); NBC4 Anchor Shiba Russell (and the NBC 4 crew);
and one of Ant's and my favorite couples Nikita Stewart Henderson (New York Times) and consultant Brian Henderson frequent our night!
Also, NABJ President Will Sutton and NABJ's own Garry Howard brought their Dow Jones Business Reporting Internship students out. 
And they came two Tuesdays in a row at this Spring 2015's "Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley".
So, I’m excited to bring KARAOKE to NABJ!
And to see what our FABULOUS MEMBERS are going to sing! #WEAREFAMILY
DA GRACE
Broadway marketing/audience consultant SUPREME, Marcia Pendelton! THANK YOU! 
WHAT AN AWESOME MUSICAL!
Something ALL will want to experience when it OPENS next Wednesday!
Anthony Harper, Derrick Hemphill, Herman Lee Riley III, Felecia Roberts, RU, and I LOVED Amazing Grace, the musical.
It stars Chuck Cooper. 
He's a Broadway legend! 
AND IS JUST AWESOME in this musical!
I got to share the stage in Project1voice's Amen Corner by James Baldwin: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2012/6/29/impossible-inevitable.html. 
My friend Charles E Wallace is also in it...and STUNS!
The whole cast is AMAZING! 
But friend Charles Wallace does bring something special into the equation.
He'll be understudying for Chuck Cooper as well.
A MUST SEE!
#AGBROADWAY #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in AGBroadway, AGMusical, All Star Karaoke, Amazing Grace, Charles Wallace, Chuck Cooper, Da Butt, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, SPIKE LEE
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standing next to goddess
miss watley is everything
MISS Jody Watley made it a "Night to Remember" for 'Life of Riley' (and childhood friend Ernest Maynor's BDAY + NJ BFF TATA met her "DIVA" in person).
B.B. King Blues Club's was the place to be as MISS Watley sang from her Shalamar AND solo repertoire.
She was in AWESOME VOICE and her performance gave everything her loyal fans (and the sold-out audience) hunger to experience:
the HITS; the MOVES; the DRAG; the DRAMA; and the DIVA! I was on my feet through most of the highly-charged set... and on my knees -BOWING DOWN - for the rest! LOL! SO WAS THE REST OF HER LOYAL FOLLOWING! 
She did 'Most' of the material but not 'everything'! BACKSTORY: So, I have loved MISS Jody Watley since she was a teenager – dancing on Soul Train before she joined the group Shalamar – at which time I was a footloose and fancy-free Air Force Brat of six-years old in San Bernadino, CA on Norton Air Force Base --- with a blow-out of dusty dark brown and the inevitable bell bottoms! LOL! 
Well, fast forward through many years in which she brought me only the FIERCEST brand of JOY - from the balance of her SHALAMAR years through to the launch and lift-off of her SOLO career... and stop for a moment on July 1995. Philadelphia. And MISS Jody Watley was headlining a concert for the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention. She called me on stage to dance with her. Talk about A NIGHT TO REMEMBER! 
Though I’d seen her fabulous solo show a couple of years ago at B.B. KINGS, I got another opportunity to be an audience with MISS Jody Watley (album) back in September 2013. 
Her publicist Juanita Stephens is a mutual friend and led MISS JODY WATLEY to my blog A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY as a vehicle to – via phone and an on-line Q&A - update folks on her latest release "PARADISE" – quite the global dance senastion: iTunes Digitally (as well as other select digital outlets) –
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/paradise/id901587446?uo=4 [EXCLUSIVE CD, includes 'Everlasting' not available digital: http://jodywatley.bigcartel.com/]. What a GREAT PHONE CHAT:
http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2013/9/10/a-nightlife-to-remember.html. 
SO LAST NIGHT: MISS JODY WATLEY was back at B.B. King Blues Club accompanied by her new and reloaded Shalamar… and we ENJOYED THE SHOW; CELEBRATED BFF (since 7th grade), Ernest Maynor’s birthday; and – afterwards – got some LIFE OF RILEY & JODY WATLEY time and - FINALLY - my posed photo op (though LOVE NABJ bestie and Morehouse brother Michael K. Watts captured MISS WATLEY and me on stage in Philly). Was great to catch with MISS JODY WATLEY on all she's got going: her upcoming shows - including one in NYC this summer (TBA; Stay tuned...); 
how she came to re-incorporate the SHALAMAR legacy into her SOLO shows - now that she OWNS THE NAME & BRAND! YOU GO, MISS JODY!; and – because #itsinthemusic – she shared that her upcoming music release plans, which include forthcoming single “DANCER”: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/paradise/id901587446?uo=4. AND we're excited to hear some of what we didn't hear this go around THE NEXT TIME - including: "Most of All"; "Everything";
"All Begins With You" (MY REQUEST FOR NEXT! LOL!); "When A Man Loves A Woman"; "Off The Hook"; and WHAT ELSE? Shalamar’s “I Don’t Wanna Be The Last” and the MOTOWN REVUE song! LOL! OH, WE JUST LOVE YOU, JODY WATLEY! And could listen to you and DANCE WITH YOU ALL NIGHT LONG! SHOUT OUT to MR. WALLACE who works with JODY... and Editor in Chief of UPTOWN MAGAZINE, my brother friend Isoul Harris! XOXOXOXO 
#JodyWatley#itsinthemusic #dancer #paradise #nightlife#lifeofriley#allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #motownmay#ARISETV360 #NBCBLK#COZITV #OWNTV #TVONE#CENTRICTV #BET
more arise
In the wake of doing a freelance interview with Lee Daniels for recurring client NBCBLK:
YOU can watch them (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Here are a few of the segments we did this week:
Author of "The Work" Wes Moore!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghEXbewLspY
The Authors of "Single Man Married Man!"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hbvDBYlCJs
Author of "MelloYello" Walker Smith!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHd0HBPTpQ4
T.S. MONK (Thelonious Monk III)
BRIAN WATKINS (jeweler)
Zaraah Abrahams (from Spike Lee's "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus")
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOIm5qqeIdE
#arise360 #ariseTV360 #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #wesmoore #thework #singlemanmarriedman #pervistaylor #melloyello #jacktherapper #walkersmith #brianwatkins #ritani #theloniousmonkIII
vivica a. fox
Shout out to my friends from SavvyMarketing Entertainment Group LLc for inviting us out to the Unsung HOLLYWOOD premiere of Vivica A. Fox which is airing on TV One! IT'S GOOD!!!!!!
And was good to see my peeps Savoy Walker; Mark A Forrest; Cynna Gorham; Tasha Lynch; Jamar Dunn; Deborah Gregory; and MISS Vivica A Fox herself!
3 the hard way comedy
Shout out to my BET colleague and sister in CREATIVITY, Thembisa Mshaka, for hipping me to some work she's doing with an amazing comic named Jabari Baraka Davis, whose definitely on the rise in standup. He produces an event called 3 The Hard Way Comedy--the goal being to diversify comedy in NYC with talented women and people of color taking the often segregated stages of Manhattan.
He considers himself a product of both philosophy and hip hop, and his comedy reflects this in unexpected ways. He's also a former substitute teacher, so the jokes are smart and street.The BHM edition has 3 Black comedians: Seaton C. Smith and Janelle James join Jabari Davis on 2/24 at 8pm at Stand Up NY LabsY. There will also be shows March 6 and 31 - so look for my updated accordingly and know that I'll likely be at one of the shows. SO, PLEASE SAY HI, if you come. Here's a link to Jabari's bio: http://jabaridavis.site.socxs.com/home CONGRATS!
get focused on reading
Shout out to my brother friend Goldin Martinez, Founder of Get Focused - www.getfocused.org - introducing its newest initiative called Get Focused On Reading, which will be the focus of an event on Saturday, March 21st, 2015 at Inwood Academy to commemorate National Reading Month.
They want to increase their impact with Get Focused On Reading… and to give you a chance to help:
1. Organize a book collection with your network. They accept all books from poetry, biographies, children books, and more, and can arrange a pick-up. This will help us reach our goal of 1,000 books.
2. Make a personal monetary donation to our cause. This will help us with transportation, storage, t-shirts, marketing material, etc. Our goal is to raise $2,000 to help pay for expenses.
Go to www.getfocused.org for more information.
standing next to God
He's much like a nephew!
Mr. Myles and his mom Tracey Moore are producing his documentary "Standing Next to God" about his recovery from traumatic brain injury. Please make a Love Donation and share this link in your network. Thank you!
This is the fundraising campaign for Standing Next to God -Myles Marable: http://de.gofund.me/StandingNextToGod #StandingNextToGod
precious queen
MY LATE, GREAT MOM QUEEN ELIZABETH BELLINGER RILEY - a social media SENSATION! LOL! With all the controversy over Beyonce and Ledisi and "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and the Grammys, I'd been having an internal dialogue with myself about MY LATE, GREAT MOM QUEEN ELIZABETH BELLINGER RILEY.
My self-chat goes something like this: "Thank you, Thomas Dorsey for the song! Thank you, Mahalia for sharing it with the world! Thank you, Ledisi for your recording on SELMA! Thank you, Beyonce for your performance on the THE GRAMMYS! But NO ONE SANG "TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD" LIKE MY MOTHER!!!!!!!!"
Well, I'd told many of you my mother could sing and did often in The House of Prayer (our family church) as well as in all our travels - from Germany to Japan to California to Valdosta, GA, etc.
I've even compared her to Mahalia Jackson with a little Tamala Mann to boot! LOL! Well, via FACEBOOK, it seems we're not the only ones thinking this. A FACEBOOK note from my sister's childhood friend from our mid-to-late-'70s days in San Bernadino, Califonia on Norton Air Force Base underscored what we always knew (How’d she remember, after all these years?):
February 10 at 7:05am · Edited ·
Janice, I don't care what anyone says "Queen" is still my winner when it comes to singing "Take my hand". Everytime I hear it I remember her singing it at Norton! — feeling blessed.
MY FIRST DIVA! LOL! #RIP #QUEENELIZABETHBELLINGERRILEY
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Arise Entertainment 360, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, Empire, JODY WATLEY, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, SPIKE LEE, TVOne, Vivica A. Fox, shalamar
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beyond the cray
mo’ better arise
I guest co-hosted this week on Arise Entertainment 360 – filling in for my friend Shannon Lanier and rejoining Sharon Carpenter who is filling in for our beloved Lola Ogunnaike.
YOU can watch them (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand... www.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. 
As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Here are a few of the segments we did this week:
Author of "The Work" Wes Moore!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghEXbewLspY
The Authors of "Single Man Married Man!"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hbvDBYlCJs
Author of "MelloYello" Walker Smith!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHd0HBPTpQ4
T.S. MONK (Thelonious Monk III)
BRIAN WATKINS (jeweler)
- http://youtu.be/T4dNgHuqxa4.
#arise360 #ariseTV360 #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #wesmoore #thework #singlemanmarriedman #pervistaylor #melloyello #jacktherapper #walkersmith
cindy crawford
Shout out to my dear friend Kiwan Michael Anderson, Special Events Manager at Ω OMEGA Watches (Division of The Swatch Group (U.S.), Inc.): www.omegawatches.com/corbis.
He made sure Anthony Harper and I were in the house at The NY Historical Society to celebrate the screening of a special documentary OMEGA produced with iconic Supermodel and businesswoman Cindy Crawford and Orbis (the flying eye hospital). 
Crawford narrates the compelling doc. Nice to pop by my friends Mario and Randall’s Thursday night set in HARLEM: NABE. FUN TIMES! #omegaorbisteddy
beyond the lights
Shout out to Tagan Lee and Anna Fuson for getting me out to the Parker Meridian Hotel-Bar to see Director SUPREME Gina Prince-Bythewood whose Beyond the Lights is now available on Digital HD via iTunes and Amazon digital – just in time for Valentine’s Day!
It will release on Blu-ray™ & DVD Feb 24. The PG-13 film – called by some a modern-day The Bodyguard – stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (also from Belle – the premiere of which I got to attend and meet Gugu);
my buddy Nate Parker (who I recently saw in L.A. while out there Executive Producing NBCUniversal’s The More You Know campaign for 2015-16);
Minnie Driver; Richard Colson Baker (MGK); and Danny Glover.
I got to interview Gina Prince-Bythewood and Nate Parker in Chicago in 2008 at the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention where they were promoting The Secret Life of Bees (film) - also directed by Gina: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2008/7/29/like-i-never-left.html.
#beyondthelightsfilm #nateparker#belle #BeyondTheLights
between riverside and crazy
ALSO: Shouting out my friend Marcia Pendelton for getting Anthony Harper, Marlynn Snyder, Derrick Hemphill, and more out to see one of several off-Broadway productions she’s marketing where the lives of African-Americans unfold in front of the audience in bold, diverse strokes. 
Our latest treat from her repository of HOT SHOWS was Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis starring Stephen McKinley Henderson and Ron Cephas Jones, now playing at Second Stage Theatre, through March 22…and inside its very NYC-centric narrative, the two-act play is nothing short of spectacular! MUST-CHECK-OUT
#SecondStageTheatre#BetweenRiversideandCrazy 
loud 100
Shout out to David Bridgeforth for including me on your Loud 100 LGBT PEOPLE OF COLOR OF 2014 LIST http://dbqmag.com/loud100.html. 
Go see who else made the list! CONGRATS to all of my brethren and sisters! #dbq #loud100 #lgbt
blackbird
A few months ago, I shared with all of your that I attended Film Life Presents the 18th annual American Black Film Festival in NYC: www.abff.com - at which my friend Patrik-Ian Polk PREMIERED his NEW FILM “BLACKBIRD – Executive Produced by and Starring Academy Award winner Mo’Nique.
Well, the distribution deal is done and the theatrical release date is April 24th: http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/exclusive-umc-sets-theatrical-date-for-patrik-ian-polks-blackbird-new-release-poster-trailer-20150210. 
Here is the trailer:
https://vimeo.com/86641697 #blkbirdthefilm #abff
lesbe real radio talk
Shout out to Jazz Gray-Sadler, Producer and Host of LesBe Real Radio Talk! She popped into New York City for her birthday and squeezed me in for a FAB TALK that she'll be sharing via her airwaves very soon. Stay tuned for those details. 
Meanwhile, please take a few minutes to check out this video & article to learn more about her journey: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/speak-easy/speak-easy-feature/item/75910-a-live-mic-for-lgbt-philadelphias-most-disenfranchised. ALSO: Check out What's New @ LesBe Real on Pinterest! Adventure, Lovers, Travel, Wellness & more...www.pinterest.com/lesbereal1/ THANKS JAZZ! Looking forward to seeing/hearing our CHAT! #lesberealradiotalk
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in Beyond The Lights, Cindy Crawford, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, Gina Prince Blythewood, Oscars, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, SPIKE LEE, T.S. Monk, Thelonious Monk
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Oscar and Rémy Martin
Oscar and Rémy Martin
Was in L.A. this weekend with recurring client Rémy Martin.
I partnered the fine liquor company with my friend Gil Robertson's African American Black Film Critics Association for its Oscar Viewing Party - including other partners and friends. 
All fundraising benefits the Robey Theatre Company (http://www.robeytheatrecompany.com/). 
What a great night - including in attendance:
Oscar nominee Viola Davis; 
the iconic Danny Glover; 
Tony-award-winning Obba Babatunde; 
A Different World's Glynn Turman; 
Judyann Elder (Gina's mom on "Martin");
Harold Sylvester (Dwayne Wayne's dad on "Different World");
Sheryl Lee Ralph's son Etienne; and a host of other actors and actresses of note. 
And several of my friends joined me: Itika; Will; 
Scott; 
Adolpha; 
Ern; and many more. 
Meanwhile, with childhood BFF Ern along for company, we also got to enjoy those cookies at The Doubletree Hotel; 
we got to hang out with my once-Chi-town BFF Itika Oldwine - and two of my favorite Directors of Photography friends Will Miller and Paul Hamilton - for catch-up; 
we enjoyed brunch at Pete's Cafe; 
(I've told you often about my friend Scott who works with Sheryl Lee Ralph) we got to attend his 40th birthday bash in Venice Beach (and to see great friends - including Scott's Tony; L.A buddies - including Henry;
Spry; 
and the legendary publicist Ken Reynolds;
make-up artist extraordinaire Valente Frazier [He's Tyra's main man and often 'beats' the faces of Nicole Ari Parker and Sidra Smith]; and a host of others);
we got to go to the Grammy Museum for the 'Whitney Houston' exhibit (quite moving and I got to sing along with Whitney in the studio with Narada Michael Walden - a virtual recording game included in the beautiful and heartbreaking walk down memory land); we got to experience L.A. Live where the BET Experience at L.A. Live will take place June 28, June 29, and June 30 - starring Beyonce; and so much more (www.betexperience.com)!
L.A. --- in the right dosage! Happy to back home in NYC! TO SEE MORE PIX FROM MY L.A. WEEKEND, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151325515808737.465685.662073736&type=3&l=a22ba9042a
Where Did Our Love Go?
Speaking of my friend, Gil Robertson, He asked me to share his latest work “Where Did Our Love Go: Love & Relationships in the African American Community” with all of you! The tome features essays by an impressive array of prominent thought-leaders from the creative, religious, business and mental health communities.
Each shares powerful insights on love & relationships in the African American community. This is Gil’s third anthology that examines crucial issues affecting the quality of African American life. The book is in stores now and Gil will be on the road to promote it throughout March and April. Go to www.wheredidrlovego.com for more information. CONGRATS, GIL! Great to see you in L.A.
MY FIRST LOVES
I’m on the Host Committee in support of two friends, filmmakers Dominga Martin and Monty Ross who are making the film MY FIRST LOVES – the campaign of which to raise funds is going on NOW! All donations are tax-deductible because of fiscal sponsor New York Women in Film & Television. Here’s the link to the campaign: www.indiegogo.com/myfirstloves "My First Loves" is a romantic comedy about a young woman who gets cold feet before her wedding day. 
Written by Director, Dominga Martin and being produced by Monty Ross; the Producer behind Spike Lee's first 7 films. Our current goal is to raise awareness for the film, to raise funds and ultimately exceed the fundraising marker. @domingamartin @my1stlovesmovie @MRMontyRoss #myfirstlovesmovie Be sure to stop by the page often to share, or participate with all of the great things that we have coming up. https://www.facebook.com/MyFirstLovesMovie
THE LIFE OF RILEY
in AAFCA, Academy Awards, Danny Glover, Oscars, PATRICK'S POP(UP)DATES/TESTIFY/PR, Robey Theatre Company, SPIKE LEE, Viola Davis, Where Did Our Love Go
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