Various events and happenings in New York make the news throughout the year. The stock market is an ongoing media obsession as are political and cultural events in the city. And while this is a standard aspect of the city’s national prominence, there is one major news-making event that occurs in June every year. This, of course, is when the Tony Award celebration takes place and the top theater practitioners across the nation are recognized and honored. People visit New York from around the world all year long and many of them take in a Broadway production while they are there.

The Tony Awards are commonly recognized as the highest achievement honor for theater practitioners. It is frequently considered to be the equivalent of the Academy Awards for the stage. The Tony Award ceremony was originally established in 1947 when the American Theatre Wing initiated the event to honor excellence in the field. The ceremony was named after the recently deceased leader of the Wing, Antoinette Perry, who was also an acclaimed producer, director and actor. The first celebration occurred at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria on April 6, 1947.

This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday June 13 and will include performances and celebrities among the presenters. Many of the film and television actors working today had their roots in the theater and return to it from time to time. In addition, it is more common for film trained actors to explore the stage and this year’s awards see a high percentage of actors who are known for their film and television on the nomination lists. Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Liev Schreiber, Alfred Molina and Jude Law are the nominees for Leading Actor in a Play and the nominees for Best Actress in a Play are Viola Davis, Linda Lavin, Laura Linney, Jan Maxwell, Valerie Harper and Viola Davis. The New York city hotels will be full of fans and honorees during this special annual event.

Bristol Palin was thrust into the spotlight when her mother, former govenor of Alaska Sarah Palin, ran for vice-president in 2008. The media swarmed when reports that the teen was pregnant were confirmed. However, Bristol has made the most of the situation, becoming an advocate for teen pregnancy and abstinence. It was also recently confirmed that she has signed up with a speaking agency. Her speeches are said to include her views on teen pregnancy and parenthood, life on the campaign trail, and living in the public spotlight. For more of the story visit cnn.com.

This week YouTube celebrates its 5th anniversary. For 5 years they have been helping users spread home vdeos, political ads, music videos and much more. YouTube has become an integral part of how we share information and communicate with each other. So YouTube, congratulations!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of years you are probably aware of the immense popularity that Miley Cyrus achieved with her hit Disney show Hannah Montana.  Always a good role model both on and off the set, Miley has been stepping out on her own more frequently in the last year.  With the show rapping up its last season, you have to wonder if there will be anything left to keep her check.  If her latest music video is any indication, Miley is ready to step fully into womanhood.  But is she, perhaps, taking it too far?  Personally, the video reminds of Brittany Spears after her break from Disney.  Check out the video and leave your comments below.

For some the Kentucky Derby is about horse racing.  Watching the country’s most prestigious and celebrated horse race.  Though the race occurs each year during the spring, Kentucky’s rainy season, the several inches of rain that fell before the race this year made for a particularly muddy track.  A track that some just couldn’t pass up.  I guess you could say that they were just making the most of the situation.