Putting the city that never sleeps on mute

Written by Shelley McKay

It is a beautiful summer’s day in the city; the apartment windows are wide open, there is a light breeze, and it is not too humid. It would be perfect were it not for the noise. Right now, I can hear a jack hammer, someone banging something, an electric drill, a horn honking, traffic, and a consistent buzzing from the air conditioning units. And all in the time it took me to write those few words. I kid you not.

Someone might just advise: “Close the windows!” But believe me, I would still hear it all. The noise of New York has been an undefeatable nemesis since moving here. In her 2017 New York Times article, New York Becomes the City That Never Shuts Up, Winnie Hu writes, “Five years after The New York Times took a noise meter to restaurants, bars, stores and gyms across the city and found dangerous decibel levels, the city’s noise problem has only gotten worse, according to noise experts and residents. Citywide, about 420,000 noise complaints were lodged with the city’s 311 hotline in 2016, more than double the number of 2011.”

Peace and quiet is essential to our mental and emotional well-being. So where can you go to get away from it all without leaving the city? I have a few go-to places when I need my moment of Zen.

Peace in Central Park
There are certainly areas of Central Park that are over-crowded and noisy, but if you care to explore a bit, there are plenty of places for solitude. I love to wander around The Ravine and up towards Harlem Meer, where there are very few tourists and it’s so wonderfully thick with trees and shrubs that for a moment you feel like you’re in the middle of the countryside. Admittedly, you can still hear the hum of the traffic, but it fades into the background with the sound of birdsong. Bring a book, find a bench, and switch your mobile phone off.

Muted musings at The Met
We have all been to The Met when the queue is nearly around the block and the noise in the foyer sound like hundreds of buzzing of bees. Yet it is possible to find zones of calm. Firstly, get there early; I went one Thursday morning just as it opened, and there were times when I was the only person in a few of the galleries. It felt slightly disconcerting as first, but I soon relished the stillness. Secondly, stay away from the current exhibitions as these are the crowd pleasers and will be noisier, and you will be jostling. Rather, head towards the back of the museum; I have found that The American Wing and the Art of Africa Oceania and the Americas gallery can be quite tranquil. You might not always be on your own, but it will always be hushed.

Low-pitched libraries
Libraries the world over are known for being places of quiet. They provide an area for contemplation, a space for study, and somewhere to lose yourself in the world of books. I remember as a child that it was seen as disrespectful to make noise in a library, and to this day I still speak in subdued tones when inside one. Libraries are all over New York; in my neighborhood alone, I am within walking distance of at least two. At my local library, you often find people just hanging out; they go there to read the paper, sit quietly with a book, or surf the net. “That perfect tranquility of life, which is nowhere to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend and a good library.” – Aphra Behn, “The Lucky Chance, or, an Alderman’s Bargain.”

Restful Roosevelt Island
A 147-acre island, located in New York City’s East River, Roosevelt Island has to be one of the quietest neighborhoods in New York. There is very little traffic and few shops and restaurants, making it a real haven. Even though it is a popular destination for tourists, owing to the novel way to get there – the four-minute tram ride offering spectacular views – it still feels very residential and uncrowded. From one end with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, to the other with the 19th-century lighthouse, there are plenty of places to admire the views and enjoy the sounds of silence.

We cannot always afford to go on holiday, but we can find little pockets of tranquility to relax and recharge right on our doorstep.