Tavel Tip #001: Dog Sense

Here's a quick travel tip for when you are wandering around lost in a strange city (or just a strange part of the city you live in) and can't tell the locals from the other lost tourists: Look for a person walking a dog. In New York, at least, they are a dime a dozen, and, chances are, they live in the neighborhood and will be able to give you good directions. Skipper and I get stopped all the time, and consider ourselves regular Manhattan tour guides.
If you don't see someone with a dog, look for a jogger, who also will be likely to know the streets. However, (especially in New York), be prepared for a curt response - a jogger is far more likely to be annoyed by the interruption than that nice dog person.