Mark Peikert
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Articles by Mark Peikert
This Old-Fashioned Tavern Trail lets you sip bourbon at 70 drink destinations across the U.S. Original
Elijah Craig’s seventh annual Old Fashioned Week runs now through October 18, and this year it has a spirited new feature: the Old Fashioned Tavern Trail, a 70-stop nationwide collection of historic taverns and contemporary gathering places. Basically, great places to get your booze on. The trail spotlights bars that keep the classic bourbon cocktail alive, from colonial-era taverns to neighborhood hangouts.
These are the 7 best Airbnbs for Halloween weekend in the U.S. Original
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which means instead of just one spooky calendar date, you can extend the festive fun for a whole spine-chilling weekend. That actually seems to be the trend right now, as Airbnb says in its latest Halloween travel report that searches for Halloween weekend stays are up nearly 15-percent year over year, while searches from Gen Z travelers have jumped almost 45-percent.
Silver Lake’s new Thai spot has 12 ways to do pad Thai
Bad reviews are easy. We can all quickly identify what doesn’t work or tastes bad. Rave reviews are a little harder because they have to convey what worked without slipping into hyperbole (ideally). But reviews of great but unremarkable destinations are nearly impossible. How do you make “It was fine!” into compelling reading?
Silver Lake’s new Thai spot has 12 ways to do pad Thai
Bad reviews are easy. We can all quickly identify what doesn't work or tastes bad. Rave reviews are a little harder because they have to convey what worked without slipping into hyperbole (ideally). But reviews of great but unremarkable destinations are nearly impossible. How do you make "It was fine!" into compelling reading?
Gable in the Hollywood Roosevelt might be the new king of Hollywood
Electronic Music Now Remembering the Latina DJs who shaped LA’s house scene in the ’90s lapublicpress.org - Rigo Bonilla Jr. • 40m Equal parts dancing and LA history, underground music collective Made to Move recently hosted a night honoring the legacy of Latinas in the house … Crime 5 hours ago Cop Accused of Murder Wore Mask Only at Crime Scene, Witness Tells Jury Los Angeles Magazine - Michele McPhee • 5h At the Stoughton Police Department in February 2021, masking for the pandemic was...
Gable in the Hollywood Roosevelt might be the new king of Hollywood Original
The Hollywood Roosevelt has always been the ne plus ultra of Los Angeles for me. Long before I lived in L.A., I spent enough time on work trips at the poolside bar that, for a brief, glorious spell, they recognized me as a regular. In my daydreams of moving to the West Coast, I happily assumed that I’d spend a lot of time at my favorite local haunt.
This is the top school in America—and it’s not located in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has no shortage of elite universities (as those who attend one of them love to remind everyone), but according to a new ranking, the best college in America isn't located in the Bay State. It's actually in Jersey.
This is the spookiest city in the U.S.—and no, it’s not Salem
The mascot of Salem, Massachusetts might be a witch, but when it comes to America’s spookiest cities, another destination is raising the dead. New Orleans has officially claimed the top spot in a new ranking of the country’s most haunted-feeling destinations, proving that the Big Easy has plenty of skeletons spilling out of its closet and into your peripheral vision.
Chicago just smashed a nearly 20-year-old temperature record—what this means for fall ahead
News In other words, just stay indoors. Written by Mark Peikert Tuesday October 13 2026 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp Photograph: Shutterstock | Chicago skyline at dawn Advertising Chicago weather has decided to speed through all four seasons this week alone. After Monday's record-breaking heat, the city is bracing for a sharp turn toward chilly fall weather, with overnight temperatures potentially dipping into the 30s by Friday. So don't pack away any of your clothes just yet.
This is the top school in America—and it’s not located in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has no shortage of elite universities (as those who attend one of them love to remind everyone), but according to a new ranking, the best college in America isn't located in the Bay State. It's actually in Jersey.
Chicago just smashed a nearly 20-year-old temperature record—what this means for fall ahead
Chicago just smashed a nearly 20-year-old temperature record—what this means for fall ahead Primary Author: Mark Peikert Updated Tue, October 13, 2026 at 5:07 PM EDT Chicago weather has decided to speed through all four seasons this week alone. After Monday's record-breaking heat, the city is bracing for a sharp turn toward chilly fall weather, with overnight temperatures potentially dipping into the 30s by Friday. So don't pack away any of your clothes just yet.
Hollywood Burbank Airport opens its brand-new $1.3 billion terminal today, replacing a historic 1930s travel hub
1:06 1 hour ago Inside Hollywood Burbank Airport's new terminal USA TODAY • 1h Hollywood Burbank Airport's new terminal is now open, bringing modern upgrades, Old Hollywood-inspired design and a smoother travel experience for passengers. LGBTQ+ Community 4 hours ago ‘RuPaul Drag Race’ Alum Dead at 46 Parade Magazine - By Sophie Weller • 4h Lucian Piane appeared on numerous seasons of the hit reality television show.
Hollywood Burbank Airport opens its brand-new $1.3 billion terminal today, replacing a historic 1930s travel hub Original
Hollywood Burbank Airport has a new terminal, but let's get one thing clear: Passengers will still board and disembark on the runway, letting us all feel like starlets picking our way down the metal ramps.
You can try a crazy-rare $200 cup of coffee in these U.S. cities this week Original
Love coffee and have a couple hundred bucks lying around? (Really? No credit card bill that needs attention? No broken appliance that could use a refresh? Just extra money?!) In that case, let us introduce you to Brooklyn coffee shop SEY—named one of the Best Coffee Shops in America by Food & Wine—which is about to test that upper limit with a coffee that works out to more than $200 per cup.
The team behind NYC’s coolest hotels is opening a luxury 200-room property in West Palm Beach Original
News Think downtown chic and pink deck chairs. Written by Mark Peikert Thursday October 8 2026 Share Photograph: Courtesy The Nora Hotel | The Nora Hotel in West Palm Beach New York hotel royalty is making a South Florida move, bringing a Manhattan sensibility to West Palm Beach. The team behind Hotel Chelsea, The Bowery Hotel and The Mercer will open The Nora Hotel, a new 201-room luxury property, on October 19. Located at 1135 N.
This gorgeous Utah lodge was just named the best ski resort in all of America
If you're already dreaming about powder days, cozy lodges and an excuse to spend an unreasonable amount of money on après-ski cocktails, here's some news relevant to your interests: One Utah-based ski resort has just been named the best in America. Deer Valley Resort in Park City took the No. 1 spot in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards ranking of the best ski resorts in North America, earning an almost perfect score of 97.78 out of 100.
A Nicole Kidman-themed ‘Christmas Carol’ will camp up Off-Broadway next month
If you come to this place for holiday schmaltz, well, have we got the show for you. But if you come to this place for unplaceable accent work, distracting wigs and maybe a viral meme (or three), then we have just the reason to ignore Johnny Depp in Ebenezer and make your way to New World Stages.
A Nicole Kidman-themed ‘Christmas Carol’ will camp up Off-Broadway next month
Primary Author: Mark Peikert Updated Thu, October 8, 2026 at 1:07 PM EDT 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google If you come to this place for holiday schmaltz, well, have we got the show for you. But if you come to this place for unplaceable accent work, distracting wigs and maybe a viral meme (or three), then we have just the reason to ignore Johnny Depp in Ebenezer and make your way to New World Stages.
New York’s most viral coffee chain is officially coming to Wicker Park Original
News An empty Starbucks is about to become a Blank space. Written by Mark Peikert Tuesday October 6 2026 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp Photograph: Courtesy Blank Street Coffee | Blank Street Coffee Advertising Chicago’s coffee scene is about to get another national chain, because no one has yet reached critical caffeine mass.
These are the 25 most haunted hotels in America, including a Gothic landmark near Bourbon Street Original
Sometimes, the best travel trips are about what you don't see more than what you do. Or rather, what you think you might see out of the corner of your eye. If that's the case for you, Historic Hotels of America has just released a list you'll definitely want to check out.
11 haunted bars in L.A. to visit this Halloween
While we dream of cooler nights, we can at least take some spooky-season comfort in looking at pumpkins and skeletons as we sweat through October in the days leading up to Halloween. Dating back about 2,000 years, All Hallows’ Eve originated in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan celebration beginning on the evening of October 31 that marked the end of the harvest season and the start of the “darker half” of the year.
Michelin fave COTOA is closing in North Miami this month—but it’s not goodbye forever Original
News Instead, it's hello additional seats! Written by Mark Peikert Thursday October 1 2026 Share Photograph: Courtesy COTOA | COTOA in Miami If you’ve been meaning to try COTOA, you still have time. But wait much longer, and you'll have to follow chef Alejandra Espinoza to a new address. The Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognized Ecuadorian restaurant is closing its original North Miami location later this month and relocating to a larger space just minutes away.
The U.S. just tightened travel restrictions to this nearby tropical island—here’s what to know about the new regulations
If you've ever thought about traveling to Cuba, the Trump administration just made that tropical trip significantly more complicated. The U.S. government has tightened restrictions on travel to the island nation, eliminating some previously authorized ways for Americans to visit the Caribbean country and adding new restrictions on certain financial transactions. The changes took effect September 30 as part of the Trump administration’s broader Cuba policy.
Planters wants you to drive across the U.S. in a 26-foot peanut-on-wheels
Sometimes you feel like a nut, but have you ever felt like a Peanutter? Planters is hiring three people to become its newest "Peanutters," an actual job title and easily the most aggressively nutty entry-level career opportunity in America. Starting in June 2027, the three hires will climb aboard the brand’s 26-foot-long NUTmobile and spend the year crisscrossing the country, seeing the U.S. from inside a peanut and meeting nut enthusiasts from all walks of life.
These are the best haunted hotels in America, including Lizzie Borden’s bloody digs
If your ideal hotel amenity is a bedside ghost, America has plenty of haunted places where you can check in—and potentially never check out. USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards has rounded up the country’s best haunted hotels, with properties ranging from grand historic resorts to a former ocean liner and, naturally, the Massachusetts home where Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother were brutally murdered in 1892.
Planters wants you to drive across the U.S. in a 26-foot peanut-on-wheels
Planters is hiring three people to become "Peanutters," traveling the country in a 26-foot NUTmobile to meet nut enthusiasts and create social media content. The Peanutter position is aimed at social media-savvy college graduates who are engaging storytellers and confident communicators, offering an annual salary, benefits, and travel stipends.
This Chicago steakhouse is offering 79-cent lunch items—including its famous pork chop—for one day only this week Original
News Can we get a double order? Written by Mark Peikert Tuesday September 29 2026 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp Photograph: Courtesy Perry's Steakhouse & Grille | Pork chop at Perry's Steakhouse & Grille Advertising We love a good chop at a classic Chicago steakhouse, but we love it even more when it costs less than a buck.
Boston’s spiciest free food festival returns this weekend, with hot-sauce challenges, zesty local bites and more Original
If your idea of a relaxing Saturday involves starring in your own personal episode of Hot Ones, Boston's got you. covered this weekend. That's right: Spicetoberfest, the city’s fall festival of spice, food and culture, returns to Boston City Hall Plaza on Saturday October 3, and admission is completely free.
Two L.A. spots made Yelp’s Best New Restaurants of 2026 list, including this Chinese-American stunner
There's never a shortage of new places to eat in Los Angeles, which makes getting noticed a little like trying to get a reservation at the hottest spot in town. But two L.A. newcomers have managed to stand out from the pack, landing on Yelp’s list of the 25 Best New Restaurants of 2026. The local entries are Firstborn at No. 2 and Lucia at No. 19, with both restaurants bringing very different approaches to the fine-dining game.
These are the best new restaurants of 2026, according to Yelp—and No. 1 definitely surprised us Original
If you were to take bets on where America’s best new restaurant of 2026 would be, you'd have won big by picking Tempe, Arizona. (Has anyone ever picked Tempe before?) Yelp just unveiled its Best New Restaurants of 2026, a list of 25 culinary newcomers selected using a combination of review volume and ratings from January 2025 through June 11, 2026.
Things to do in New York
Taste of Asia returns to Madison Square Park for its fifth annual celebration of New York’s AAPI culinary and cultural community on October 8. Bring your appetites, because more than 40 Asian and Asian-inspired restaurants will be on hand to pass out bites, including Sushi Noz, Atoboy, Bánh Anh Em, COQODAQ, Dhamaka, Joo Ok, KISA and Nowon, plus a special Shake Shack and COTE Korean Steakhouse collab. A new VVIP sit-down dining area offers a more intimate experience for $3,000.
Some of Japan's best bartenders are coming to Chicago this fall Original
News Leave the passport at home for this five-weekend series. Written by Mark Peikert Friday September 25 2026 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp Photograph: Courtesy Tokyo Last Call | Tokyo Last Call Advertising Sure, you could fly to Japan for cocktails. Or you could just head to Lincoln Park.
10/10 Burger gets an appropriate opening date for its brick-and-mortar location Original
Mike Majlak has eaten burgers around the world. Now he’s decided to do something slightly more ambitious than posting a number between one and 10 about them: He’s opening a burger restaurant in Hollywood. The social media personality, bestselling author of The Fifth Vital and IMPAULSIVE podcast co-host is bringing his 10/10Burger concept to a brick-and-mortar at 1253 Vine St., set to open October 10.
Get up to 60% off some of Las Vegas' top experiences during a massive sale this week Original
Anyone with an airline app on their phone knows that people are always trying to convince you to book low-cost travel ASAP. But here's one sale that would actually lose you money if you didn't act on it now. The annual Vegas 5-Day Sale is back with more than 180 limited-time offers, including deals on hotels, restaurants, shows, attractions and even weddings.
These popular U.S. attractions are more hype than must-see Original
Have you ever visited an iconic landmark and thought, "That's it?" You're not alone. A new study from luggage-storage company Stasher has examined Tripadvisor ratings for 665 attractions across the country, and there are some that travelers were less than enthused about. RECOMMENDED: These 10 U.S. hotels are a book lover’s dream come true The biggest mismatch belongs to a Los Angeles icon: the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
First look at the new Fort Greene flagship for Million Goods Original
As every New Yorker knows, space is at a premium. So why buy clothes, drink wine and listen to music in three different places when one storefront could offer all three at once? That’s the thinking behind Million Goods, a shop that has turned retail therapy into a full day out.
Where to celebrate Dolly Parton around L.A. this Friday Original
California has officially declared September 25 to be Dolly Parton Day, which is perfect because we typically leave work on Friday afternoons quoting Parton in 9 to 5: "I need a drink, Roz. I'm takin' the rest of the day off." And we'll have plenty of options on 9/25 (get it: nine two five?), because the only thing unifying this country is our deep love for Parton and all she did.
Grand Central commuters are about to get some great new dining options
Remember when it was exciting that Grand Central Terminal got a Shake Shack because finally there'd be something you wanted to eat on the go there? Those days are long gone, because this fall, Osteria Centrale and Mercato Centrale will open in the terminal’s southwest corner, bringing a 250-seat Italian restaurant and a gourmet market to the landmark.
Grand Central commuters are about to get some great new dining options
Osteria Centrale and Mercato Centrale, a 250-seat Italian restaurant and gourmet market, are set to open in Grand Central Terminal’s southwest corner this fall. Osteria Centrale, designed by The Rockwell Group, will feature a 50-seat oblong bar and a menu with Italian osteria staples, including dishes like branzino al cartoccio and stufato di manzo.
L.A. gets a taste of D.C.'s Moon Rabbit for two nights only Original
Kato is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with the kind of family reunion we can get behind: one that involves two acclaimed chefs, multiple courses and absolutely no tableside drama (or cheap wine). On September 24 and 25, the two-Michelin-starred Los Angeles restaurant will host chef Kevin Tien of Washington, D.C.’s Moon Rabbit for a two-night collaboration dinner honoring Zhongqiu Jie, the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time to celebrate family, abundance and the changing season.
The Other Art Fair brings Dolly, mini-golf and a unique bathroom to Santa Monica Original
If you like your art fairs with a little more personality (and perhaps a round of mini golf?), the Other Art Fair is coming back to Los Angeles to save you. The Saatchi Art-presented fair takes over Santa Monica's Barker Hangar Monica September 24–27 for its 16th L.A. edition, bringing together 160 independent artists from 14 countries.
Two L.A. eateries made the New York Times list of America’s best restaurants, including this standout Mexican spot
If you're new to the Los Angeles Psych/Doom/Stoner/Sludge kings Deathchant, then it's about time you dive into one of the most exciting bands out of …
Grab a book and a drink at these L.A. literary events this fall Original
The more you think about that old canard about Angelenos being shallow, beautiful idiots, the less sense it makes. Sure, New York City has an impeccable literary reputation (which NYC writers have spent a few dozen decades burnishing themselves), but L.A. has inspired everyone from Raymond Chandler and Eve Babitz to John Fante and Bret Easton Ellis. And there's no better time to cozy up with a great book (whether it's set in L.A. or not) than fall.
Two L.A. eateries made the New York Times list of America’s best restaurants, including this standout Mexican spot Original
Los Angeles has landed two spots on The New York Times’ 2026 Restaurant List, with Komal in South L.A. and Jacaranda on Melrose joining the annual roundup of 50 restaurants across the country, selected by the Times’ dining team. The two once again remind the country that our restaurant scene does not come with a single dress code or playbook.
A new opera about Lincoln’s dead son is getting a spooky preview at Green-Wood Cemetery Original
Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery is about to become the setting for one very unusual night at the opera. On September 25, Death of Classical, Green-Wood and the Metropolitan Opera team up for an immersive preview of Lincoln in the Bardo, a new opera based on George Saunders’s Booker Prize–winning novel.
Two Chicago-area eateries made the New York Times list of America’s best restaurants, including this suburban Greek charmer Original
News Yes, Niles, IL is officially a food destination. Written by Mark Peikert Thursday September 17 2026 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp Photograph: Courtesy Kouklas Greek Eatery | Kouklas Greek Eatery Advertising Chicago restaurants landed not one but two spots on The New York Times’ 2026 Restaurant List, and the picks make a pretty strong case for getting out of the usual dining bubble.
This Little Havana stunner was named one of America’s best restaurants of 2026, per the New York Times Original
News Maybe we should call it "Ten Ten." Written by Mark Peikert Thursday September 17 2026 Share Photograph: Courtesy Tin Tin | Tin Tin Miami has no shortage of great restaurants where you’re expected to dress up, valet your car and pretend you’re not checking whether anyone famous is sitting at the next table. Now The New York Times is reminding us that some of the city’s most exciting food is happening far beyond velvet ropes.
This South Boston Spanish spot was named one of America’s best restaurants of 2026, per the New York Times Original
At Dalia, the “noodles” are calamari, the pork is sobrasada and Chef Nicholas Dixon’s dan dan is a sly collision of Sichuan and Spanish cooking. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the acclaimed Boston restaurant's menu.
Miami Spice extends through Halloween for the first time in 25 years, giving diners a whole extra month of amazing deals Original
News Another month of savings doesn't mean spending more money, right? Written by Mark Peikert Wednesday September 16 2026 Share Photograph: Courtesy Miami Spice | Miami Spice Miami Spice 2026 is getting extra heated this year: The city's annual prix-fixe extravaganza has been extended through October 31 to give Miamians another month to score discounted meals at some of the city’s best restaurants.
Amy Poehler is bringing her 'Good Hang' podcast live to The Vic next month, and tickets are on sale now
Amy Poehler is coming to hang in Chicago, which means we're all canceling plans with our real friends to spend time with her, right? The comedian, actor, writer and Saturday Night Live MVP is bringing Good Hang with Amy Poehler live to the Vic Theatre on Sunday, October 18, at 2pm.
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