[jtdaugh]

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of good"

An arrow <-- uptown downtown --> could work in most spots. Or an accurate compass that is tilted 20 degrees from the actual streets, still helpful. Or:

       36th
        ^
        |

9th<-- 35&8 -->7th

        |
        v
       34th

[stephenroller]

Streets would be much more useful than a true north compass.