Meryl Pearlstein

Southeast Asia is a region brimming with contrasts, history and unique beauty. When deciding which countries to explore, I crafted an itinerary combining land and water experiences as the key to uncovering each area’s distinctive soul.

Some countries like Japan, China and Thailand merit in-depth exploration on their own, as I had discovered on previous visits to the region.
Others meld better into a multi-country journey with overlapping history and geography. For this Southeast Asia trip, I ...

Check out GAYOT's St. Patrick's Day dining guide to find the best local restaurants, bars and Irish pubs where revelers can chow down on traditional Irish fare like corned beef hash, fish and chips, and cabbage stew — and maybe have a pint or two! We've also included other restaurants getting into the Irish spirit with cocktail or food specials just for the holiday.

The 2025 Broadway season is filled with favorites, old and new. Long runs from the past show up in dazzling new renditions. Star power is on full display with performances by Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel and Denzel Washington. And we bid a fond adieu to creative gems like Romeo and Juliet, Stereophonic, Eureka Day and A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.
Where to Book Broa...

Where to dine in New York for Valentine's Day

Many restaurants will be offering special menus for Valentine's Day, but we've rounded up the best of the best for February 14, 2025. Celebrate with your sweetie with food from one of GAYOT's Best Valentine's Day Restaurants in New York .
Contact each establishment for details. These selections are presented in alphabetical order.

It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times or something like that according to Gary Gulman. In his new one-man show, Grandiloquent, comedian Gary Gulman takes you through a meandering chronology of his life and trials from growing up in Peabody, Massachusetts to becoming a hit star on HBO.

The charming, sometimes daunting story masterfully conveyed through delivery, smiles and other facial communication is engaging and empathy inducing. Gulman’s narratives about being...

Coming to New York City for IMM? If you live in New York City or are planning a visit, January 21 - February 9 is the best time to catch a Broadway show.

During NYC Broadway Week you can get 2-for-1 tickets to 27 shows. Just apply the code BWAYWK25 or BWAYUP25 for upgraded seats.
Participating shows include both plays and musicals.
Musicals:
The Great Gatsby
Hell's Kitchen
Maybe Happy Ending
The Lion King
Moulin Rouge!
Death Becomes Her
Romeo + Juliet
Sunset Blvd.
Aladdin
Wicked
Six the Music...

How many of us make a resolution each year to eat healthier, drink mindfully and get into better shape? Some add vegan eating to reverse the indulgences of the holiday season, or simply try to reduce their caloric intake, but I’d suggest focusing on one of our guiltiest pleasures, drinking. You’ll have a lot of company this month as Dry January is now an acknowledged way to reinvigorate a healthy lifestyle. Abstain from alcohol for a month, and if it works for you, there’s no reason not to ma...

Send off the year in style with a memorable meal. GAYOT has rounded up restaurants open on New Year's Eve, and some may even offer special menus or other festivities.

Check with each restaurant for details and be sure to make your New Year's Eve dinner reservations early.

Check out these Best New Year's Eve Restaurants in New York, presented in alphabetical order.

During the holidays, the American Museum of Natural History is a fun and exciting destination for visitors to New York City. This year, the Museum will offer extended hours, from 9 am–5:30 pm, beginning Thursday, December 26, through Sunday, December 29. The Museum is closed on Christmas Day but open all other days this season—including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish for residents of New York State.

Little Italy in New York offers much more than red sauce dining and the Feast of San Gennaro.

Read more from New York City Contributing Writer, Meryl Pearlstein who shares the inside scoop with us.

Perhaps you know a bit of the rich and tenacious history of the area, first populated by Germans, then by the Italians, and now a hodgepodge of Italians, Albanians and Asians.

You’ve visited New York City, and you think you’ve done it all. But any New Yorker will tell you that checking off Times Square, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center on a sightseeing list isn’t experiencing New York City to its fullest. It’s just scratching the surface.

On your second visit, delve deeper into the ‘City That Never Sleeps’ with the hidden attractions only a true inner-city insider knows about. Here’s how to see New York like a local.

Stay in an emerging neighbourhoo...

The Best Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Dining in New York
The holiday season is a time for feasting. Enjoy a festive dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day at one of GAYOT's Best Christmas Restaurants in New York, presented in alphabetical order.

It’s that time of the year again, the time when you decide what gifts to buy your friends and family. Cruises are an exciting option – and no one will think about returning them. Choose from small-ship sails, river and ocean voyages, and expedition cruises for the more adventurous. There are options to suit every taste, interest, and budget. Here are some of the best for the year ahead.
Sailing Holidays
Conjuring up the “grand age of sailing,” Star Clippers epitomizes romance on the high seas...

Visiting Broadway from out of town? You can now indulge in your favorite musical fantasy when you book a New York City hotel room.

Perfect for the holidays and the debut of the Wicked movie, the ‘Stay Like’ Wicked suite at New York Hilton Midtown adds another dimension to seeing the musical on Broadway or lining up to see the blockbuster movie. Within easy walking distance to the theaters of the Big Apple, this is a perfect location to soak up NYC and Broadway vibes. Thank...

I just returned from an extended trip in Turkiye. While I always have US dollars with me, it's advisable to carry a stash of local currency with you. In this case, I carried both euros and Turkish Lira, TRY with me just to be safe. The good news is that you can keep unused euros for other trips as that's a common currency. However, in Turkey, the local currency is often the only one accepted. You'll want to manage the amount of Turkish lira that you keep with you, as they are pretty much usel...