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 Wynton Marsalis (1)

sir duke

we’re back

TOMORROW (as in TUESDAY), we're back for WEEK 2 of SPRING 2015 SERIES: #ALLSTARKARAOKE #BILLIESBLACK #IAMMISSJESSIES are ALL BACK TOGETHER AGAIN inside Billie’s Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley: the SPRING 2015 SERIES! BUT MORE ON THAT IN A MINUTE....

tamia

I LOVE ME SOME TAMIA! And recurring client ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 provided an awesome opportunity for me to interview her:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW1kFsgRINE&feature=youtu.be! Another week of ARISE ENTERTAINMENT 360 makes the week complete - especially given that MISS LOLA and I interviewed one of my FAVORITES + WALL STREET JOURNAL style writer Ray Smith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0GQyU3IVes&feature=youtu.be; and actress Andrea Lewis (“Black Actress” web series) -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT4UvaJ-h24&feature=youtu.be! YOU can watch (and me from time to time) - now on Time Warner, Verizon Fios, and On Demand viawww.YouTube.com/AriseENT360. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! #arise360 #allstarkaraoke#billiesblack

back to our ALL STAR KARAOKE re-cap...

And my ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFULS did NOT disappoint – including Miss Jessie’s own Miko Branch who made a surprise visit after receiving a nod at the Essence Beauty Awards. Other victors of that prize included Porsche Cooper and ALL STAR KARAOKE DIVA Carla Bone – known for rocking the tresses of Kerry Washington and Jada Pinkett Smith. So glad they all chose to come out and CELEBRATE with us. We even ALL sang our weekly anthem #THEBOSS - https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10152964609513737/?type=3&theater. OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE HOUSE: Lisa Bonner, Esq and TV personality (winner of MISS JESSIE’s giveaway and our weekly raffle for a Mother’s Day weekend show at The Apollo); Musa Jackson (Harlem’s own super-producer of events and parties who has just been signed to model again with the iconic agent Nadia Shahrik; Ryan Tarpley, Agent extraordinaire including clients like Brandy; Boule (MC/rapper); photographer Ray Bangs; Charon Richardson (designer, GWAN “Heat” swimwear for curvy women); my dear friend from ATL, Lamoh Hicks; my industry buddy Angelique Miles (who is working on a cool project scheduled for May 6th in NYC: “COMMON – UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL” – an intimate evening of instrumental, spoken word, and musical performance – www.MISTHARLEM.COM/EVENT/COMMON); my nephew Herman L. Riley III and several of our Morehouse brothers; and a host of other SUPPORTERS for which our “Billie’s Black presents All Star Karaoke” is GRATEFUL! We’re up EVERY TUESDAY in Harlem from 7p-10p. Please come out and join us! RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: CALL 212 280 2248. And PLEASE consider us to celebrate your BIRTHDAY as we did my partner Anthony Harper last night! It’s the PERFECT BACKDROP! As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! XO

sir duke

The first shout out should go to Vice President of Development at Jazz at Lincoln Center Dwayne Ashley. He invited me to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Spring Gala in Frederick P. Rose Hall. This year we celebrated the indomitable spirit of swing in an evening titled "The World of Duke Ellington." Host Michael Keaton (booked for the event exclusively by my BFF Sidra Smith) joined the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis along with special guests: Tony Bennett, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jonathan Batiste, Christian McBride, Adriane Lenox, Dick Hyman, and Melissa Aldana for unforgettable performances. The evening also honorED Jazz at Lincoln Center Board Chairman Robert J. Appel with the Ed Bradley Award for Leadership in Jazz, and Wendy Oxenhorn, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America with the Ashley Schiff Ramos Community Development in Jazz Award. And how EXCITED was I to see so many friends in the house – including my dear friend since our college days (her FAMU; me MOREHOUSE; we both NABJ): Miss Paula Witt! LOVE Y’ALL! Great WEDNESDAY! #jalc #dukeellington

common

I'M SO EXCITED! Please make sure you click on the following link and snag your tickets if you want to join me getting UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL with Academy & Grammy Award winning Instrumental, Spoken Word and Musical performer and entertainer: Common: WWW.MISTHARLEM.COM/EVENT/COMMON. That’s right! And this experience could include Exclusive Meet & Greet Packages that are available - including VIP seating. There are two shows: 7PM & 9PM. Seated tickets are cabaret style & there will be dinner options, beer & wine bar available w/ a $20 minimum for any general enquiries please contact the Box Office at 646 738 3048. Shout out to Angelique Miles for hipping Anthony Harper and me to this one! I'M SO EXCITED! XOXOXOXO ‪#‎common ‪#‎ucap ‪#‎madebaharlem ‪#‎myimagestudios

real men graduate

Real Men Graduate National Signing Day is a day to amplify a positive narrative about Black males by celebrating those who have chosen enroll in college or are returning after a break of a semester or more in 2015. I have been asked to participate. For more information: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/24425-real-men-graduate-signing-day?locale=en.

camille

Only1Camille is in NYC! YOU KNOW! LOL! And say HI to South Africa’s own Tebogo Lefifi who lives in Beijing, China. Of course, Camille comes from DC by way of Atlanta by way of Orlando (on this leg of her life’s journey which usually has her holding it down in Malaysia, Bali, or WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CAMILLE? LOL! Even Beijing). But this pic finds these two – globally aforementioned – on the same block as me as I’m wrapping a freelance project with recurring client BET. So, we all met up at the Hyatt Times Square to say HI! ONE LOVE! #onlyinnewyork #only1camille

brotherly love

SHOUT OUT to my friend Gil Robertson with the African American Film Critics Association for always keeping me in the know. This time, he makes me aware of a new independent black film, “Brotherly Love,” produced by Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Productions – just released. KeKe Palmer, Cory Hardrict and Quincy Brown lead the cast for first time writer/director Jamal Hill in a complicated love story that will grip your heart and awaken your belief in family. Set in West Philadelphia, born-and-raised basketball star Sergio Taylor (Eric D. Hill Jr.) deals with the early pressures of fame. Alongside older brother June (Cory Hardrict), who lost his own hoop dreams to the streets to provide for the family after their father¹s death, and sister Jackie (KeKe Palmer), whose own musical ambitions are sidetracked by love, Sergio faces life-altering decisions on the streets of Philly. The film's cast includes: Macy Gray, Malik Yoba, Romeo Miller, Jay Lewis, Logan Browning, Faizon Love and Teyana Taylor. Flavor Unit partner, Queen Latifah comments: "Shakim and I have always paved our own lane in business. We are excited to release this incredible film with talent we really believe in. Flavor Unit is constantly looking for projects, new talent, writers and directors that we can create opportunities with and grow with. This movie is an important step for our company and a journey we're ready for." #brotherlylove #flavaunit