They made it in the greatest city in the world! Last night, Tracy Morgan, Michelle Buteau, and more were honored at the 2025 “Made in NY” Awards.
Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment brought together the luminaries for an incredible celebration at Gracie Mansion.
MOME Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman curated the affair that brought together Big Apple greats for a ceremony held for the first time in a decade at the mayor’s official residence.
Created in 2006 by the MOME, the “Made in NY” awards shine a light on the film and television artists who bring the streets and iconic locations of New York City to screens around the world and encourage global audiences to visit, work, and live here.
Mayor Eric Adams and Michelle Buteau (Credit Avis Boone)
This year’s honorees included: Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky; actress, comedian, producer, and writer Michelle Butea; Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Tracy Morgan; President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Thomas J. O’Donnell; and Emmy Award-winning producer Celia Costas.
When I became the commissioner, one of the first things I decided I wanted to do was to bring back the ‘Made in New York’ awards party at Gracie Mansion,” Kaufman told Knockturnal on the red carpet. “It’s such a great way to celebrate this whole industry and all the people that work in it, all the jobs that get created, and the vendors, because it’s such an important industry for our city. It generates so much economic activity. It creates so many jobs for so many people. So, we wanted to really celebrate.”
Adrian Martinez, Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman, Tracy Morgan (Credit Avis Boone)
Honoree Butea took time to reflect on her joy for being selected for the award on the grand night uptown. Calling the moment insanely good, she had a true pinch me moment.
I used to edit local news about Gracie Mansion, and now I’m here,” the actor said about her career that started in local television only to climb up global stardom. “It’s just a testament to the New York spirit that you really can do anything. It isn’t if you make it here, you make it anywhere. It’s if you believe you can make it here, you really can make it anywhere.”
The night continued as guests gathered on the lawn of the mansion for a thrilling party. They overlooked views of the East River as they delighted in sips of New York state wines and treats of the city like black and white cookies.
Presentations sparkled with the magic of New York as Mayor Adams announced the awards alongside Commissioner Kaufman. They danced when Butea came to the stage as the crowd waved their hands in the air to the pulse of the excitement. Morgan made the beat of the party grow stronger with a speech that left the partygoers in hysterics.
The “SNL” alum didn’t hold back when he said he was the ultimate New York after a recent famous headline-making incident on the courts of Madison Square Garden, where a little episode stopped the game. He said if he could do that, “King Kong had nothing on him.”
Other highlights of the evening were a special performance of “Gramercy Park” from the Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen performed by Phillip Johnson Richardson as well as a DJ set by Ralph McDaniels, a Brooklyn-native and founder of Video Music Box.
In the concrete jungle and to the top of the Empire State Building, these visionaries represented at the event the very best of Gotham.
**** Commissioner Kaufman presented Darren Aronofsky with his award earlier this month as part of a special presentation during the Tribeca Festival’s 25th anniversary screening of his film “Requiem for a Dream.”
