It’s Easier Done Than Said When in Need of Directions

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For out-of-towners, asking for directions in these parts can be a hazardous exercise not so much because the locals are unfriendly but because many of them are geographically challenged. At least that was our experience in asking passers-by in downt own L.A., Mid-Wilshire and Santa Monica for directions.Many of the folks we stopped provided anything close to accurate directions, although just a few really led us astray.



“How do I get to Dodger Stadium?”



(Asked at Mid-Wilshire between La Brea and Highland.)




Man in his 40s, wearing a gray business suit, sitting outside a Starbucks with a newspaper and a cup of coffee. “No, I don’t like baseball.”




Short man with wispy hair, in a business suit just outside Starbucks. “You want to walk from here? Let me see… Oh boy. You got me there. Go down Wilshire for about two-and-a-half miles till you reach Alvarado and uh then it gets hazy after that. I should start watching more baseball!” (Man did not know the way to the stadium, although he tried for several minutes to point in the general direction.)




Two men standing at a hot dog cart outside an office building. One was in a T-shirt and jeans and the other in a suit. “Oh, the Dodger Stadium,” said the first one. “I don’t really know. It is somewhere down Wilshire Boulevard I’m sure. If you go straight down Wilshire till you see the really tall buildings,

it should be there somewhere. You won’t miss the buildings. It’s really close, about two miles from here.” Added the second man: “Or you could take the 110 Freeway. That should take you there.”




Man in 40s wearing a business suit and walking down Wilshire. “I would just drive down Western or Vermont until I hit Sunset and keep going down Sunset till I find Elysian Park.” (The only one to provide correct instructions.)



“How would I get to the Disney Hall from here? And is there a restaurant called the Water Grill nearby?”



(Asked at Seventh and Flower streets, at the entrance to Macys.)




Young man in business suit, walking towards Macy’s. “Oh, just walk to Figueroa and hop on Dash A. It will take you all the way until First and Grand Avenue, I think, and that’s where it is The Water Grill? I’ve never heard of it.” (Correct directions to Disney Hall.)




Man walking down Flower Street towards Seventh. “You cannot walk to the Disney Hall. But if you want, go to Figueroa and take the Dash A to where First Street becomes like a ramp. The Disney Hall is right there, you won’t miss it What is the Water Grill?”




Woman walking towards the Metro Station. “The Disney Hall is way off, you know. You might have to take the Dash B and it may take you there, or maybe not. I’m not sure. It’s definitely down that way though” (she pointed in the right direction). “I have no idea where that restaurant is.”



“Is there a Metro Station nearby? I’m looking for the Red Line that will take me to Hollywood.”



(Asked at Seventh and Flower, across the street from a station entrance.)




Woman pedestrian. “The station is where I’m walking towards. Yes, it has the Red Line going through it. You have to go down the escalator, though. It is underground.” (The woman walked to the station, pointed to the ticket area and explained how to get to the trains.)




Woman in her 20s. “The Metro Station? You mean the train? I have no idea. The Red Line? I wish I knew. The green building there (one block away, at Figueroa and Seventh) with the gold pattern had some sign that said something about metro services on it. You might want to go there and take a look.” (The station was directly underneath the building, though there was a closer entrance.)



“Can you tell me how I would get to Malibu?”



(Asked at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.)




Casually dressed man. “Go toward the water (pointing in the direction of Ocean Ave.), drive a block or two. There will be cliffs so you can’t go anymore. Turn right and there will be a ramp by a road called Arizona, which will take you onto PCH. Go down PCH toward Malibu. You’ll get there eventually.” (Vague on specifics but pointing in the right direction.)




Well-tanned man in his 50s. “Are you walking?” he asked. “Just go this way (pointing toward the ocean). There’s a ramp you get on over there. It will take you to PCH, which is Pacific Coast Highway. Follow that road until you get to Malibu.” (He began laughing again as he walked off.)




Red-headed woman wearing a Starbucks hat. She advised walking to Ocean Avenue and asking one of the bus drivers how to get there. “I took the bus once but it was a long time ago.”




Middle aged woman with long red bright tropic floral skirt. “I’m not from here!” she said in an Eastern European accent as she made her exit.




50ish woman carrying an Express bag in front of Johnny Rockets. “Take a left on Wilshire. Then take a right when you get close to the ocean. Stay in the left lane on that street. There will be a ramp really close to there that will take you down to PCH. Drive on PCH.” (The most accurate directions given.)



“How do I get to the Century Plaza Hotel?”



(Asked at Rodeo Drive.)




Young man in his 20s on the corner of Rodeo and Brighton. “I don’t know,” he said in passing. Then he turned around. “Wait! Drive down Wilshire and you’ll find it.” (He probably should have kept walking. His directions were way off.)




Woman in her early 30s on Beverly near Dayton. “Give me a second so I can think of a street to directly connect you there.” She thought out loud for the next several minutes. “Then get on Avenue of the Stars at what looks like a hook thing, like a freeway on ramp. The place is huge. It will be on your left. Good luck!” (In the end, she provided precise directions.)




Middle aged woman at Wilshire and Rodeo. “I have no idea!”




Man in a business suit standing outside of an art gallery on Rodeo. “You are aware that it’s in Century City, right? Go west on Santa Monica toward Century City and take a left on Avenue of the Stars. Keep going on that road and it will be there. You have to come in the gallery and buy something now. That’s how it works just kidding.” (Perfect directions.)




Middle-aged woman walking at Beverly and Dayton. “It’s a long walk from here! You have to walk on Wilshire past the Hilton and keep going! I’m not sure if it’s on Constellation or what street it’s on but it’s a curved building.” (Wrong street name, but the correct shape of the building.)



“How do I get to the 405?”



(Asked in Beverly Hills.)




Woman in her 60s waiting at a bus stop outside of a gas station on the corner of Beverly and Olympic. In broken English she said she didn’t know. But after a moment, she walked up to the car window and advised going down Olympic toward Century City. “If you go down that way, you’ll find it. Don’t turn left here, go over to that exit,” she said pointing toward the exit on Beverly. “It’s safer.”



“Where is the closest gas station?”



(Asked at LAX.)




Man in his mid to late 30s. “Not in here!” he said, laughing. “Exit out of the airport and stay on your right side on Century. There will be one on each side: a 76 and a Texaco.” (Correct.)




Security guard standing outside of Terminal 4 in arrivals. “Go to the end of the terminals and about a mile away on Century there is a 76 station.” (Also correct.)




Man standing in arrivals in Terminal 6. “Yeah, no problem! There’s a station on La Cienega and Century. Actually there should be two there.” (Three for three.)

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