Learn which avenues/streets run North and which South. This was suggested to me by an astute young man, when I initially told him the story of coming out of the subway and having no idea where I was or how to get to where I wanted to go. Learn which streets run one way north, and which one way south, and then when you exit, and you see 6th Avenue and you remember it is one-way north, then you know where East and West are. Brilliant and so simple and totally necessary. So one Sunday I walked West to East with a piece of paper, crossing over all the North South streets and noting which one went which way. Now I never am in a quandary as to where I am and where I want to go. [well at least physically exiting the subway!]