Posted by Outside Observer, a resident of another community, on May 23, 2009 at 9:07 pm

Restaurant Customer,

None that I know of in PA.

Public behavior and humility were victims of the liberal manipulation of American culture long ago.

Posted by Headache, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on May 24, 2009 at 7:00 am

I am convinced that folks are going deaf from constant loud music everywhere. It is getting to the point where I will tell the manager of a store or restaurant that I won't be able to stay if the music isn't lowered because I can't hear what people are telling me, I can't think, and background music is supposed to be BACKGROUND.

I am not talking about places like bars and dance clubs, even happy hours in restaurants, where the goal is more of a "party" time.

I have told Safeway managers, Target managers, restaurant managers, ..just the other day I told the Verizon Service Rep, after 3 times of asking him to turn down the music so I could understand him better, that I was leaving and going to Wal-Mart pay service phones if he didn't turn down the blaring music so I could do business with him. He turned it down, finally.

I used to wonder if I was simply going deaf myself, or losing a pitch of my hearing, but then I have spoken to so many people who are even in their 30s and 40s who say that that they are bothered by the same thing, ..and I can still wake up at the slightest sound...that I realized that no, it isn't me, it is indeed our culture.

The only way to fight this is for everyone to ask that the music be turned down. Not off, just down, to a BACKGROUND level. This will lower the overall level of noise in any store or restaurant we are in, since we are fighting to be heard over the too loud music.

Be kind, though. So many of the folks trying to help you are used to lip reading now and don't hear the problem you are talking about..they grew up with earphones in their ears and loud music everywhere.

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on May 24, 2009 at 8:24 pm

Flea Street Cafe. Calm, quiet, delicious.

Posted by Kate, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on May 24, 2009 at 9:20 pm

Here are some places to avoid:

1) Macy's first floor. Every cosmetic counter has its own boom box on full blast colliding with the teenage department music also on the first floor. Audio-chaos.

2) "On hold" for Walgreen's Rx. Enough to give you a migraine headache. Come to think of it, almost anyplace 'on hold'.

3) Safeway. Be firm. Use its 800 # to complain in person.

4) HOME DEPOT!!!

5) Trader Joe's - Menlo Park. don't know about the others. Really awful in MP.

As for restaurants, my fun-food money now goes to pay utility bill increases so I rarely dine out. Rarely go to Macy's either. Once this past 14 months.

.

Posted by Pat Markevitch, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on May 25, 2009 at 9:36 am

Headache: I don't know what Target you shop at but the one in Mountain View on Showers Drive doesn't play any music at all. It's the whole reason I shop there. Sometimes it's so quiet it's like being in a library.

Posted by bru, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on May 25, 2009 at 12:09 pm
bru is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

I rarely go to bars, maybe once in a year or two. I cannot believe the situation when I went out for a beer to a bar with some old friends recently. There is loud music playing, and everyone is shouting loudly at each other. You cannot hear anything, and it bewilders the heck out of me as to why people put up with this. I had to yell so loud to talk to be heard I woke up the next day with a sore throat and could barely talk. There is no place to escape this either.

I had the idea to open up a bar with no music, but it is probably just me that is out of touch with the reality that everyone loves noise and it would probsbly go out of business immediately. ;-)

Posted by Curious Observer, a resident of Mountain View, on May 25, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Curious Observer is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

You're right. Who can hear each other over all that noise. That's why my friends and I text each other when we go out!!!

Posted by bru, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on May 25, 2009 at 5:10 pm
bru is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

>That's why my friends and I text each other when we go out!!!

Hey, that's a great idea, then you do not even need to wait to get a table together, you can sit anywhere you want.

Posted by Mommy, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on May 25, 2009 at 5:38 pm

Well .. since my kids are younger than 6yrs, I really appreciate the "noise" in restaurants .. we get a chance to enjoy good food without having to shhhhhh-sh the kids frequently..

I do not know if/when my attitude will change towards the noise level in a good restaurant (perhaps when the kids are in college?)

Posted by Restaraunt customer, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on May 25, 2009 at 6:39 pm

Don't you ever eat out without the children?

It's fine to have child-friendly places, but what provision is there for adults who want to have adult conversations?

Posted by Mommy, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on May 26, 2009 at 1:36 pm

Yes, we do eat out without the kids .. but I guess our noise tolerance threshold is high :)

Posted by Restaurant customer, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on May 27, 2009 at 2:20 pm

So far only one suggestion. Sad.

The Trattoria on Bryant downtown was a fine restaurant with a civilized sound level but alas, it is gone.

Posted by Nora Charles, a resident of Stanford, on Jun 2, 2009 at 3:27 am

Try the new Loui Loui (in old Niebaum-Coppola site). It's gorgeous and quiet inside (at least the few times I was there, and the food and service are great. The banana cream pie is out of this world!