A Prayer for Quiet During the Noisy Holidays

Dear Diary:

I live near Bloomingdale’s and a busy shopping district on Lexington Avenue. But, since we have two young children, both sleep and quiet are precious commodities in my household.

Last winter, for a few nights during the holiday season, I was consistently awakened between 4 and 5 a.m. by the blaring sound of commercial holiday music. Finally fed up, I trudged out one night to explore the source. The streets were empty and, apart from the music, peaceful.

I discovered that the music was coming from the speakers at Bloomingdale’s, which, I later learned, had been set in error to commence playing around 4 a.m. The next day, after I complained to a manager, the problem was corrected.

A few nights later, in the hours between my children’s bedtime and mine, I again heard loud holiday music from outside. I rushed downstairs to find a Chabad Lubavitch mitzvah tank encouraging the celebration of Hanukkah.

Pointing up at the menorah visible in my window, I wished everyone a happy Hanukkah, and added: “My children are sleeping. We sang with them earlier. I think it’s a little late for this.” They agreed and left.

As the equal opportunity complainer and grump that I become at night, I pray this coming holiday season is filled only with silent ones.

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New York Today: Team de Blasio

Richard Perry/The New York Times The mayor-elect with two of his first appointments.

Good morning on this balmy December Thursday. Leave your gloves at home, but bring an umbrella.

Here’s what else you need to know:

How far will Bill de Blasio shift the city away from Michael R. Bloomberg’s policies?

Mr. de Blasio doesn’t take office until next month, so for now, you can probably best tell by looking at his major appointments.

Mr. de Blasio named a government veteran, Anthony E. Shorris, as his top deputy on Wednesday, and is widely expected to name William J. Bratton, another old hand, as his police commissioner.

Next up, schools chancellor.

Those are the big ones, but there are dozens of city agencies where Mr. de Blasio can make his mark.

We asked the new City Hall bureau chief of The Times, Michael M. Grynbaum, for a cheat sheet.

Transportation: “Bike lanes, pedestrian plazas, these were relatively exotic creations of the Bloomberg era. Transportation will be interesting in terms of that,” Mr. Grynbaum said.

Health: “De Blasio has said he wants to continue Bloomberg’s focus on health.”

Film. “For those who love or loathe film crews taking over their streets, de Blasio’s pick for TV and Film will shed light on whether he wants the city to remain a magnet for film production.”

And there’s one sensitive spot.

“He’ll want to name a sanitation commissioner before the snow falls,” Mr. Grynbaum said.

WEATHER

Sixty-three degrees shall by the high, approximately, a good 15 degrees above normal.

But there’s a decent chance of drizzle or a shower. Rain more likely overnight.

COMMUTE

Subways: Check latest status.

Rails: Metro-North’s Hudson line is back to 100 percent, with the restoration of a second track. Check L.I.R.R., Metro-North or New Jersey Transit status.

Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s.

Alternate-side parking is in effect all week.

COMING UP TODAY

- Mr. de Blasio makes an announcement in Red Hook, Brooklyn, at 10 a.m.

- Fast-food workers protest outside restaurants around the city as part of a nationwide call for a $15 minimum wage, with a rally in Foley Square at 4 p.m.

- Experts discuss the future of crime-curbing practices at “Stop and Frisk in N.Y.C.: What’s Next” at Roosevelt House on East 65th Street. 6 p.m. [Free, R.S.V.P.]

- Sotheby’s auctions an early draft written in the Boss’s hand of the lyrics to “Born to Run” at 10 a.m. (Take a look: the words are very different â€" “some soldiers who were up from Ft. Dix”?)

- Short plays reflecting on the Trayvon Martin shooting are performed at the CUNY Graduate Center, followed by a Q. and A. with the playwrights. 6:30 p.m. [Free]

- Malcolm Gladwell talks about his new book, “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants,” at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope. 7:30. [$10 suggested, R.S.V.P.]

- Last day to see the Empire State Building in its Hanukkah colors, blue and white. [Free, look up]

- The Knicks (3-13) play the Nets (5-13) in Brooklyn for bragging rights to the worst-pro-team-in-the-city title. 7 p.m.

- For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

IN THE NEWS

- The Metro-North train that derailed Sunday had a warning system, but not in the operator’s cab. [New York Times]

- Fans of e-cigarettes puffed away in the City Chambers during a heated (but smoke-free) debate on a bill to ban e-cigarettes in public places. [New York Times]

- Prospect Park Zoo has a new pair of miniature zebus, the world’s smallest breed of cattle. [Daily News]

Joseph Burgess contributed reporting.

New York Today is a morning roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till about noon.

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