"Quiet Spaces in Loud Places"

The Urbanist column in the May 30 - June 12 issue of New York Magazine, titled "Quiet Spaces in Loud Places," writes in its opening paragraph: "Even in the world's most turbulent turfs, a relaxing getaway isn't too far off, be it a quiet cafe tucked between tourist hot spots, a Shinto shrine right off the Times Square of Tokyo, or a basement museum in Shanghai. The article goes on to describe paddleboarding in Dubai, a secret museum in Madrid, rock climbing in Mumbai, a hidden park in Yangon, Myanmar, and several other quiet sites.

Amazingly, included in this handful of exotic locales is one located in Staten Island: The Chinese Scholar's Garden at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens!! The contributing writer, N.D. Austin, wrote (in part), "The New York Chinese Scholar's Garden is totally one of the magical, secret spots of New York City....You feel completely transported to another time, another place."

Perhaps New York Magazine's mention will help address New Yorkers' almost total lack of awareness of this cultural gem. It would be even nicer if some well-off readers stepped up and provided the kind of financial support needed to maintain the garden properly, increase its cultural and program offerings, and generate more traffic to experience the first-ever Chinese classical garden built in the United States by Suzhou craftsmen.    

Book Talk and Signing at Chinese Scholar's Garden, May 14

 

The Chinese Scholar's Garden at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, built by Suzhou craftsmen in 1999, is one of NYC's hidden gems. I'll be doing a book talk and signing there, in the garden, on Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 - 4:00. I will be speaking about how Suzhou-style gardens evolved historically, their underlying design philosophy and principles as illustrated at Snug Harbor, how specific elements of this garden borrow intentionally from various Suzhou World Cultural Heritage gardens, and how aspects of this garden culture still appear in the everyday walk of life in Suzhou today. Hope to see you there.

If you have never visited New York's only traditional Chinese garden, the first ever built in the United States, here is an opportunity not only to see this unique site and learn at the same time about their evolution and even how to "read" and appreciate them. Here below are a few photos I just took yesterday (4/30/16) at the Snug Harbor Chinese Scholar's Garden to whet your appetite.