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TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF LA - SIGHTSEEING GUIDE
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by Mike Kimball
Version 1.30, February 11, 2005
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CONTENTS
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Copyright Notice
Contact The Author
About This Guide
Notes on This Revision
Introduction
Brief Street Guide
The Landmarks
Section 1: Downtown
Section 2: Hancock Park and Central Hollywood
Section 3: Hollywood
Section 4: West Hollywood
Section 5: Beverly Hills
Section 6: Bel Air and Westwood
Section 7: Century City and Culver City
Section 8: Beach Areas
Locations Not Found
Acknowledgements
Copyright 2004-2005 Mike Kimball
Intended for private, personal, and educational usage only.
Originally written to be displayed on www.gamefaqs.com.
May not be placed on any other web site or otherwise distributed publicly
without advance written permission.
All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.
==================
Contact The Author
==================
I don't plan to revise this guide further since it's a bit out of date, however
if a future game version has similar map accuracy of LA then maybe I'll revisit
and make a current release of this material.
I've decided to remove my email since all it gets anymore is junk. For those
who are actually still reading this, please accept my humble thanks and warm
wishes.
================
About This Guide
================
After playing True Crime for a day or two, I came to view it as a wonderful
simulation of LA in which you can drive around looking at the astoundingly vast
240 square miles of scenery, steal from an impressive array of cars, and wreck
stuff. You have to hand it to Activision in this aspect because let's face it:
True Crime's story and playability are not its most spellbinding attributes.
I visit www.gamefaqs.com for game FAQs and maps, and I particularly enjoy the
ones by Scott MacDowall and Dark52 on GTA III & Vice City. The one True Crime
FAQ I hoped for above all was a sightseeing guide (preferably written by
someone who lived there), but no such guide was available at the time.
So here is my little project after a few dozen hours of driving around,
examining maps, searching the internet, and destroying countless stolen cars.
I visit the LA area at least once a year and I had a great time creating this.
I hope you will find it enjoyable and useful.
======================
Notes on This Revision
======================
Many people have sent me kind messages with suggestions and tips to include
(for which I am very grateful). I wish I had the time to add them all to this
version - alas, I do not, but hope to in the next revision.
Since writing the first version I have been back to Hollywood and Beverly
Hills, which was a tremendous experience unlike any previous visits (stayed at
Le Meridien, met Vince Neil, got endorsed by ESP guitars, played a sold-out
show with GWAR and All That Remains at Key Club - altogether a pretty good
day). I'm sure it helped inspire and motivate me to revise this guide.
This revision primarily addresses the Hollywood Sign, LAX, and the two
"unidentified" churches, plus a few new locations and tweaks I've been adding
here and there. Also, I have reordered the first section of landmarks to have
a more logical path and starting point.
============
Introduction
============
Two things generally occupy my time playing this game. One is playing in Bad
Cop mode: Deliberately running over pedestrians and driving the civil unrest
thermometer to critical, causing the excitement of fleeing and eluding (or even
attacking and defeating) angry pimps 'n' hoes, vengeful mobsters, or the
S.W.A.T. ("you're screwed!"), until numerous collisions and gunshots send me to
the hospital. When I'm not doing that, I'm busy driving around at high speed,
looking at landmarks throughout True Crime's gigantic map area (come to think
of it, this also usually results in a Bad Cop rating).
This is not an exhaustive listing of every landmark in the game (I definitely
skipped a few out of boredom, the game's generic treatment, or the limitations
of the camera). This is more like a journal of places with which I have some
familiarity. I encourage you to search the internet for more information on
places that interest you, or visit in person if you are able.
True Crime's approximate map corners are PCH at Sunset Blvd in Pacific
Palisades, Ocean Front at Via Marina in Marina del Rey, Alameda at 41st St
Downtown, and Lambeth at Griffith Park in Los Feliz. Naturally some addresses
are outside the limits of the map (including the LA Coliseum and Mulholland
Drive), while some are right on the edge (e.g. the Hollywood Bowl) - you can
get there briefly before being ejected, but instead of the landmark you
expected you find a lot of flickering empty grass (The Thirteenth Floor,
anyone?).
You may notice a selectiveness about the coverage of some other landmarks.
I'll venture a guess that legal issues are the reason for generic tenement in
place of many famous landmarks (the Coca Cola building, Tower Records, the Riot
House, the Playboy Mansion, etc). Some places even appear to have been
initially programmed into the game but later barracaded off, as they still show
traces (like planes flying in and out of LAX).
==================
Brief Street Guide
==================
These are some main roads that are helpful for determining position on the city
map. Most of these are represented by the thickest bright white lines. Keep
in mind that while most of these remain in the order they are shown, some do
not (consider the change in latitude between Santa Monica Blvd and Wilshire
Blvd as they move west, crossing each other in Beverly Hills, then remaining
almost parallel in Santa Monica; or the pair of arcs of San Vicente - one in
Santa Monica and one in West Hollywood).
Major East-West streets (sorted from north to south):
Hollywood Blvd - above Sunset in Hollywood
Sunset Blvd - Chinatown to Los Feliz to Pacific Palisades
San Vicente - west of 405, arc off Wilshire to Ocean
Santa Monica Blvd - line above "Hollywood", Los Feliz to Santa Monica
Melrose Ave - mainly in Hollywood (not visible on city map)
Beverly Blvd - rough equal of 1st, I-110 to Beverly Hills
Wilshire Blvd - rough equal of 7th, I-110 to Santa Monica
Olympic Blvd - rough equal of 10th, Downtown to Santa Monica
Pico Blvd - rough equal of 13th, Downtown to Santa Monica
Ocean Park - above the "V" in "Venice", I-10 to Ocean Front
Palms - Culver City to Venice (runs south of the airport)
Venice Blvd - rough equal to 16th, Downtown to Ocean Front
Washington Blvd - north of I-10 Downtown, to Ocean Front
Adams Blvd - rough equal to 26th, Downtown to Culver City
Jefferson Blvd - rough equal to 31st, Downtown to Culver City
Exposition Blvd - Downtown to Jefferson Park
Culver - from Culver City to Marina del Rey
Major North-South streets (sorted from east to west):
Los Angeles - Downtown
Broadway - Downtown
Figueroa - Downtown inside I-10/110/US-101
Glendale - at Chinatown heading north
Rampart - useful from Sunset to Beverly (Chinatown to Korea Town)
New Hampshire - below the "US-101" sign on the map
Hobart - Los Feliz to Jefferson Park
Western - west of Hobart, useful alternative route
Crenshaw - west of Korea Town, Wilshire to Exposition
Cahuenga - west of Vine in Hollywood, goes south and becomes Rimpau
Highland - at the "y" in "Hollywood", Hollywood to Wilshire
La Brea - western edge of "I-10" sign on map, Hollywood to Jefferson
Fairfax - at the "H" in "Hancock Park", Hollywood to Jefferson Park
La Cienega - western edge of Hollywood, Sunset to Jefferson
San Vicente - arc from Sunset (west of La Cienega) to Venice (west of Crenshaw)
Robertson - where San Vicente meets Santa Monica, goes south to I-10
Beverly Glen - between Bel Air and Beverly Hills, Sunset to Pico
Westwood - east of I-405, Westwood to I-10
Sepulveda - parallel to I-405 (obscured on city map), Bel Air to 90
Bundy - at last "a" in "Santa Monica", becomes Centinella at Ocean Park
Lincoln - from the "S" in Santa Monica (at San Vicente) down to 90
Ocean - parallel to PCH (thus not visible on city map), ends at Bicknell
Pacific - equivalent to Ocean, from Ocean Park to Via Marina
=============
The Landmarks
=============
Follow the list in order if you like; I tried to design a path that seemed
logical. My routing advice follows the correct flow of traffic (though I
disregard that when I play...) I will give city map locations occasionally for
clarification.
If you begin sightseeing with "Driving for Chow" (Episode I - Mission 3), which
puts you at EOD headquarters on the corner of Broadway and 7th facing south,
turn right (west) on 7th, then turn left (south) on Flower, then right on 11th
to Figueroa.
I wrote this guide using "Driving to Jimmy's" (Episode II - Mission 6), which
puts you on Figueroa near Venice Blvd, heading north toward the first location
below (continue for several blocks until you pass Pico).
Staples Center
==============
1111 S Figueroa St
Look for the huge sports arena between Venice Blvd and 11th. I was shocked to
see this illustrated by name, as few landmarks are in True Crime. Home of the
Lakers.
Theaters on Broadway
====================
Go north on Figueroa from the Staples Center. Turn right on Olympic and head
six blocks east. Turn left on Broadway and keep your eyes open for several
theaters between 8th and Olympic:
United Artists Theater, 933 S Broadway. Broadway between 9th and Olympic, west
side. Look for an aqua-blue marquee and three black doors underneath.
Orpheum Theater, 842 S Broadway. It's the building with the yellow and black
striped pillars at street level, with a green, white, and red marquee.
Tower Theater, 802 S Broadway. Look for the building on the southeast corner
of 8th and Broadway.
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
=========================
5th and Olive
From 8th and Broadway, go west on 8th for two blocks and turn right. Three
blocks up on the left is this hotel (across the street from Pershing Square,
see below). LA's answer to the Waldorf Astoria. Look for the big archway
entrance with pillars on either side.
Pershing Square
===============
5th - 6th, Olive - Hill
Across the street from the Biltmore. Look for the Purple tower and a lot of
other artsy structures.
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
========================
404 S Figueroa St
Travel west on 5th from Olive, back to Figueroa, then turn right. The large
building on your right (with the flagpoles you can barely see high on the
walls) is it, a tall building with glass cylindrical towers. I first saw this
in the movie Gotcha!, probably Midnight Madness too.
City Hall
=========
200 N Spring St
From Bonaventure continue north on Figueroa then turn right on 4th. Go east to
Broadway, then turn left (north) and go to the corner of 1st. From here you
should see it diagonally to the right. The city map will show you just south
of 101, centered and half-way between "Chinatown" and "Downtown" (and not far
left of the big green dot for the mission objective). City Hall is in plenty
of Los Angeles-based movies, but L.A. Confidential has some of the best second
unit shots. Due to the limited camera features of True Crime, you may need to
find a different location to get a good view of this tall, phallic structure.
Two blocks west, on Hill St, works for me.
Union Station
=============
800 N Alameda St
From City Hall, go north and turn right on Temple, go east a few blocks, turn
left on Los Angeles (you should see the flashing green glow for the mission
here), go north a couple blocks. Just after you cross US-101, make a right on
Arcadia. Look just north of where Arcadia runs into Alameda. Spanish-styled
building with a clock tower to one side of the entrance.
Chinatown
=========
From Union Station, go north on Alameda until it runs into College, go left two
blocks, go right on Broadway. Most noticeable are the red arches along the
west side of Broadway between College and Bernard, and continuing west along
Bernard.
Pagoda Restaurant
=================
Chinatown
Look at the NW corner of Broadway and Bernard, north of the previous location.
I just thought it looked cool. Couldn't verify if it really exists.
=============================================
Section 2: Hancock Park and Central Hollywood
=============================================
Next we go to Wilshire and Western, so head south from the Pagoda on Broadway,
just past Cesar E Chavez there is a US-101 N ramp on your left. Take 101 north
to the Vermont St exit, turn left, go south to Wilshire, turn right.
If you'd rather skip ahead to Section 3: Hollywood, simply continue on US-101 N
and take the Franklin exit, turn left (west) at Franklin. Vine is about four
blocks down, turn left.
Wiltern Theater
===============
3790 Wilshire Blvd
Look for a theater marquee on the SE corner of Wilshire and Western. The city
map will show you just above and to the right of the first "o" in "Korea Town".
Wilshire Country Club
=====================
5900 block of Beverly Blvd
From the Wiltern, continue west on Wilshire about 14 blocks to Rossmore, turn
right, go north to Beverly, turn left. You'll see a very large grassy and
tree-filled area on both sides of the street. There are entrances all around
this thing but that doesn't matter, you can always crash your car through the
wrought iron anywhere you like.
La Brea Tarpits
===============
5801 Wilshire Blvd
Take Highland south from Beverly back to Wilshire, turn right, go past La Brea.
Basically it's a big "park" (read: iron fence surrounding grass and trees) on
Wilshire between Curson and Ogden (east of Fairfax). "You know, tar actually
sticks to *some* people."
Pan Pacific Park
================
7600 Beverly Blvd
From the tarpits, head west a block to Fairfax, then north to 3rd, then east.
Another trees-and-grass block surrounded by iron fencing, but this one has a
single house sitting in the middle of the grass, kind of curious. Bordered by
Beverly, 3rd, Stanley, and Gardner.
Melrose Avenue
==============
From Pan Pacific, head back to Fairfax and go north to Melrose (the city map
will show you just below the "H" in "Hollywood"). The "shopping strip" is
roughly between Highland and La Cienega, but don't expect anything accurate
here - same generic buildings for hand models and t-shirts as elsewhere in the
game. Apparently the businesses here are somewhat high-turnover.
Paramount Pictures
==================
5555 Melrose Ave
This is actually a ways east from the shopping strip. On the city map the
entry at Bronson is about where the bottom of the "d" is in "Hollywood". This
old yet current picture studio is between Van Ness and Gower. Look for iron
gates, spanish-styled buildings, and plenty of spacious lot area.
Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery
================================
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Back-to-back with Paramount Pictures. Huge area of grass and trees with a
marble-styled entrance at Bronson. Along Gower you can actually see headstones
through the iron fence; the ones along Van Ness are hedged off from the street.
====================
Section 3: Hollywood
====================
Head north from the cemetery on Gower, past Sunset, and turn left on Hollywood,
go about three blocks west to Vine, turn right. As you go north, the next
location should pop out from behind the trees.
Capitol Records
===============
1750 N Vine St
The city map will show you just south of 101, centered on the "oo" in
"Hollywood". Possibly the most recognizable landmark in Hollywood apart from
the sign on the hill. They grabbed the Hollywood and Vine dot-com but it's
actually nearer the corner of Vine and Yucca. Ford Fairlane has a hilarious
sequence that happens here.
Walk of Fame
============
From Capitol Records, go south on Vine and turn right at Hollywood. This
twelve-block sidewalk of stars stretches along both sides of Hollywood Blvd
from Vine to Sycamore. Not up-to-date, so I have read (currently it also
occupies a stretch along Vine, and more stars are added each year).
Warner Theater
==============
6423 Hollywood Blvd
From Hollywood and Vine, go west a couple of blocks and look right at the NW
corner of Hollywood and Cahuenga. Said to be haunted by the spirit of Sam
Warner who died just before it was officially opened.
Hollywood & Highland
====================
From the Warner, head west on Hollywood about seven blocks. As the name
suggests, this massive complex is located at the (NW) corner of Hollywood Blvd
and Highland Blvd. Location of the Kodak Theater, home of the Academy Awards.
Highland First National Building
================================
This is the curious-looking building with the tower on the NE corner of
Hollywood and Highland. Formerly the Southwest Trust & Savings Bank.
Mann's Chinese Theatre
======================
6925 Hollywood Blvd
Look between Highland and La Brea. This classic landmark is surrounded by the
Hollywood & Highland project. "Look, I'm in Hedey Lamar's shoes!" "That's
Hedley!"
El Capitan Theatre
==================
6838 Hollywood Blvd
Look across the street from the Hollywood & Highland project.
Hollywood sign
==============
From Hollywood and Highland, head west until the boulevard ends (past Fairfax,
bear right at Laurel), turning right onto Laurel Canyon. Turn right on Mount
Olympus, then take your first left to continue on Mount Olympus. This famous
landmark will pop up a few blocks north, behind some trees on your right. The
city map will show you near the northern edge of the map, in the light grey
loop above Crescent Heights and Fairfax (the two thick streets on the western
edge of Hollywood). It's easier to see at night because of searchlights.
=========================
Section 4: West Hollywood
=========================
From the sign, come back down to Hollywood Blvd, turn left (east), then turn
right (south) on Fairfax, then turn left on Sunset Blvd and head east a few
blocks.
Nightmare on Elm Street
=======================
The actual house is off Sunset on Genesee. I thought this would have been
extremely clever to show or at least hint at, but alas, the whole area between
Gardner and Fairfax is pretty generic. Very cool to see in person, but please
be respectful and considerate and do not disturb this real private residence.
Sunset Strip
============
This stretch of Sunset Blvd lies between Crescent Heights and Doheny. The spot
you head to depends on whether you want dancing, comedy, or live music. In the
game you won't see any of these venues, unfortunately.
Sunset Plaza
============
This section of the Sunset Strip is between La Cienega and San Vicente. Great
people-watching place if you enjoy spotting actors, or wannabe supermodels. In
the game the main recognizable section is from Alta Loma to Palm.
Pacific Design Center
=====================
8687 Melrose Ave
From Sunset Plaza, head south on Palm to Santa Monica, turn right and go one
block west, turn left on San Vicente. Aka "The Blue Whale", look for a large,
blue, glass building on the corner of Melrose and San Vicente.
Flynt Publications
==================
A bit of a drive out of the way but interesting; head south along San Vicente
from the Blue Whale. Watch out for the tricky interchange crossing onto La
Cienega where you want to continue south to the southeast corner of La Cienega
and Wilshire. Look for the little cylindrical aquablue glass towers surrounded
in palm trees. Formerly Great Western Savings building, the actual location
has a statue of John Wayne on a horse in front.
Wilshire Theater
================
8440 Wilshire Blvd
This theater is on the corner of Wilshire and Hamilton, just one block east of
Flynt Publications.
Head back up San Vicente to Santa Monica and turn left. Go west past Doheny to
see the next location.
Beverly Gardens Park
====================
This area extends quite a ways along the north side of Santa Monica Blvd
roughly between Doheny and Wilshire. In the game you will first notice
something at Foothill Rd, which is just on top of the "H" in "Beverly Hills" on
the city map.
Beverly Hills City Hall
=======================
455 N. Rexford Dr
Find the southern corner of Santa Monica and Rexford, just inside Beverly
Hills, between Palm and Beverly. City Hall is actually nicer to look at from
Crescent (one block west, below the "y" in "Beverly Hills" on the city map).
Seen in Beverly Hills Cop. "This is NICE."
Will Rogers Park
================
From BH City Hall, head two blocks west on Santa Monica, turn right on Beverly
Dr, go north to Sunset (the game will actually list Crescent as the cross
street here). The park stretches a short ways west to Benedict Canyon, by
Rodeo. It's not much more than trees and grass, with a few planters in front
(missing the fountain). Home of the bathroom where George Michael got busted.
Beverly Hills Hotel
===================
9641 Sunset Blvd
It's on the corner of Sunset & Rodeo, across the street from Will Rogers Park.
Look for big spanish building with an iron gateway (trying not to be
disappointed that the same kind of building repeats itself a few times further
west along Sunset).
Rodeo Drive
===========
From BH Hotel, head south on Rodeo. The section you're looking for is between
Santa Monica and Wilshire. Again, you won't see any of the real restaurants or
shops in this area (and Via Rodeo was omitted) but the street itself is
recognizable at least in the median. "You work on commission, right? Big
mistake. HUGE."
Los Angeles Country Club
========================
10101 Wilshire Blvd
Head west on Wilshire from Rodeo (notice that Wilshire and Santa Monica cross
each other - west of BH they continue reversed in latitude). As you pass
Whittier you'll see the hedge on both sides of the street. Look for an opening
to your right (on the city map this is just below and to the right of the "B"
in "Beverly Hills"). Turn in here and head north - you'll see some
cool-looking buildings to accent a lot of grass, trees, and a huge parking lot.
===============================
Section 6: Bel Air and Westwood
===============================
From the country club, head west on Wilshire past Beverly Glen.
Westwood Memorial Park
======================
1218 Glendon Ave
Glendon is three blocks west of Overland, one block east of Westwood, but isn't
a continuous street. Go west on Wilshire, turn left (south) on Westwood, then
left at Wellworth. Go a block east, and look where Glendon runs into
Wellworth. The big (you guessed it) lawn and trees surrounded by an iron
fence, this is it. Resting place of Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Stratten, and
Frank Zappa to name a few.
Westwood Dome building
======================
Corner of Westwood and Kincross
Go back up to Wilshire, turn left (west) and go one block to Westwood, turn
right, go north a few blocks and as you approach Kincross, you should see this
building in front of you. Another street that meets here is Broxton. Cool
little building on a triangle corner.
UCLA
====
405 Hilgard Ave
From the Dome, continue north on Westwood until you run into the barracade (you
should be covering the "W" in "Westwood" on the city map). Hilgard is about
two blocks east of there, if you want to explore. The campus is roughly
bounded by Sunset, Gayley, Wilshire, and Hilgard. This gigantic location is
barracaded off. I didn't try the trick of using a car as a step ladder - the
area is too large for my patience with foot travel. The view along Veteran off
Sunset is pretty cool.
Holiday Inn Brentwood
=====================
170 N Church Ln
If you find yourself driving around UCLA, try looking for a big building (the
size of capital records, similar shape) north of Sunset just west of 405. This
hotel is located near the Santa Monica mountains - considered the gateway to
Brentwood and Bel Air.
Geffen Playhouse
================
10886 Le Conte Ave
From the barracaded dead end on Westwood at UCLA, go back south to Le Conte and
head east half a block. They snuck this in between a supermarket and a nudie
bar.
Westwood Hills Christian Church
===============================
10808 Le Conte Ave
Continue east on Le Conte and look for the church at Leconte and Tiverton (also
Hilgard).
Fox Village Theatre
===================
945 Broxton Ave
Go west again on Le Conte, left on Westwood, then right on Weyburn. Look for
the tall spire at Weyburn and Broxton (NW), with the theater marquee (reads
"True Crime"). Many films are still premiered here.
Mann's Bruin
============
948 Broxton Ave
Clever pun. Look for another cool-looking marquee (reads "The Panda Crisis")
at Weyburn and Broxton (NE) across from Fox Theatre.
Los Angeles National Cemetery
=============================
950 S Sepulveda Blvd
Go west on Weyburn from Mann's Bruin and you'll run into this huge cemetery.
You can see row after row of headstones in this one. Bordered by Veteran,
Levering, Sepulveda, and Wilshire.
=======================================
Section 7: Century City and Culver City
=======================================
Head back east to Wilshire and Westwood, then turn south.
Los Angeles Mormon Temple
=========================
10777 Santa Monica Blvd
Technically this place is in Westwood but it's easier to include here. Going
south on Westwood from Wilshire, turn left on Santa Monica. You should see the
temple about four blocks down on your left. This large landmark is just north
of where Overland dead-ends into Santa Monica. Look for the greyish-white
symmetrical building with two domes and two pointy towers.
Westside Pavilion
=================
Go west on Santa Monica to Westwood again and turn left. Drive south along
Westwood to Pico and you'll see this huge thing. Stretches several blocks east
(to Overland). I know nothing about it but it caught my attention while
driving past; looks really interesting.
Hillcrest Country Club
======================
Continue east along Pico into Cheviot Hills. Look south as you pass Patricia,
you should see spanish buildings and your typical grass, trees, and iron fence
kind of area. There is a big fountain in front at Avenue of the Stars and
Pico.
20th Century Fox Studios
========================
10201 W Pico Blvd
Look across the street from Hillcrest CC, west of Avenue of the Stars on Pico.
Could be the big empty parking lot behind the trees...
MGM Studios
===========
10202 Washington Blvd
From 20th Century Fox, head west on Pico, past Beverly Glen about four blocks,
turn left on Overland, go south to Washington. Look from Overland east to
Madison. You should be able to see some studio hangar-shaped buildings. My
accuracy meter isn't going woo-woo-woo but there is something recognizable at
the address.
St. Augustine Catholic Church
=============================
3850 Jasmine Ave
Look for this across the street from MGM, on the northeast corner of Washington
and Jasmine (one block west of Madison). The city map will show you just above
the "v" in "Culver City".
Los Angeles River
=================
From MGM head east on Washington, turn right (south) on Duquesne, and you will
cross the river just after you pass Farragut (the street on the south side is
Jefferson). The game map will show you nearly covering the "r" in "Culver
City". This actually starts near Venice Blvd at Cochrane, continues along
Venice Blvd until turning south near La Cienega, goes along Jefferson, then
eventually goes along 90, finally dumping into the water at Marina del Rey.
======================
Section 8: Beach Areas
======================
Go back north on Duquesne a few blocks, turn left at Culver, go southwest past
Sepulveda and turn left on Sawtelle. Just past Barman is a small street called
Braddock, turn right and go under 405 to the stop sign. The ramp is to your
left. Take 405 south to 90 (Marina Fwy) west, take 90 until it ends at
Lincoln. Turn left, go south to Fiji, turn right.
Fisherman's Village
===================
At the end of Fiji Way
Fiji will head west for a ways, passing two sections of colorful sails before
bending south. Continue to the end (circle) of Fiji and look for the
collection of glass buildings. Good restaurants here.
Marina del Rey
==============
The largest man-made marina is a must-see. Head back up Fiji from Fisherman's
Village, check out the sails if you haven't already. Continue east on Fiji to
Admiralty and turn left. Admiralty kind of bends west as it goes north and the
dead-end streets along the way (Mindanao, Bali, Promenade) are interesting to
explore. There are tons of sailboats along Palowan. Continue to Via Marina,
and turn left again. Go south on Via Marina and keep looking left for the
marina and sailboats (Panay, Marquesas, Tahiti, Bora Bora). Via Marina takes a
sharp right at Channel (if you keep going you'll land in the water and be
recovered to the street) and ends a block west at Via Dolce.
Ocean Front Walk
================
This is the one spot where I'm going to tell you to do something naughty
(traffic-wise) in the game, because otherwise it would be a real PITA to get to
the beach from here (since Pacific is basically separated from where you are
now and Washington is ten lifeguard stations away). Continue west along Via
Marina straight toward the beach, going against traffic, until you reach Ocean
Front. Turn right and head north. This is the path that runs along the beach,
it is the most western pavement running north-south. It goes all the way up to
Pacific Palisades.
Canals in Marina del Rey
========================
Take your route of choice (Ocean Front or Pacific) north to Washington and turn
right (east). Just east of Pacific, you can see the bottom of the canal. Go
back to Pacific and continue north to Venice and make a right. Here you should
see the top of the canal and have access to the series of canals in place of
many east-west streets between Washington and Venice. Try going really fast
down Dell (the humps in the road over the canal tracks give you some good air
time). The end of the channel can be seen from the diagonal sidewalk off Via
Dolce just north of Roma Ct.
Venice Beach
============
Take Venice Blvd west back to the beach and head north. This is one of my
favorite starting places to go rollerblading (although Newport is nice as
well). I was kind of disappointed that Muscle Beach wasn't there. The
pavement is pretty accurate but there were a lot of missing landmarks, with
rows of generic buildings in their place.
Santa Monica Airport
====================
This municipal airfield lies west of Centinella and National (roughly bounded
by Centinella, Airport, 23rd, and Ocean Park). From Venice beach, take Ocean
Park east (make a right at 28th and go to the dead end to see the tower). The
airport is all barracaded off. The "Airport" sign is visible on a building
along Airport just west of Centinella (first right to the south from Centinella
and National).
Santa Monica Pier
=================
Colorado & Ocean
From the airport, head west on Ocean Park to Main, turn right and head north to
Pico, turn left, go a block west and make a right on Ocean, the pier is a few
blocks north on your left. Very cool that this is actually there and named.
However, it's double road-blocked, so you can't really interact with anything
on the pier itself. There is a nice view of the pier from the beach at Ocean
Front Walk and Seaside Terrace (one block south of the pier sign), or north of
the sign at Ocean and Broadway. You can also reach the beach from the parking
lots off PCH (Route 1).
3rd Street Promenade
====================
From Santa Monica Pier, go north on Ocean, make a right on Broadway, go past
2nd and look to your left. Runs between Wilshire and Broadway, with "The Mall"
across the street (Broadway to Colorado, 2nd to 4th). Cool place to go
shopping but once again the game doesn't name names here.
Pacific Coast Highway (CA Route 1)
==================================
Head back to Ocean and go north - at the corner of California, turn left onto
California Incline, this goes straight down to PCH. In True Crime this scenic
byway stretches along the coast from the end of Sunset Blvd in Pacific
Palisades down to where it joins I-10 in Santa Monica near the pier.
===================
Locations Not Found
===================
Unless otherwise noted, these are all reachable by address but the landmark
isn't there. "Edge of map" means that you can bust in but you will find a big
empty green field, which will recover your car to the nearest street if you
don't keep moving (and sometimes even if you do).
Griffith Park and Observatory (off the map)
Universal Studios (off the map)
Stimson House, 2421 S. Figueroa St, Downtown
Any of the churches on Adams St, Downtown
Olvera Street, Downtown (or anything else in the Plaza area)
First Presbyterian Church, 1760 N Gower, Hollywood
Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood
Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd (it's Low Pan Lasik)
El Rey Theater - 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Formosa Cafe / Warner Studio, 7156/7160 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Melrose Place (North off Melrose and La Cienega)
Ebell Theater, 4401 W 8th Street, Los Angeles
Getty House, 605 S Irving Blvd, Los Angeles
Greystone Park, 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills (edge of map)
Beverly Hills Sign (Santa Monica Blvd at Moreno Dr, Beverly Hills)
Coldwater Canyon Park / Franklin Canyon Reservoir, Beverly Hills (edge of map)
Bel Air Country Club, 10768 Bellagio Rd, Bel Air (edge of map)
Villa Aurora, 520 Paseo Miramar, Pacific Palisades
Manhattan Beach State Pier (off the map)
Additional acknowledgements with version 1.3: Simon, who was the first person
to email me with the location of the Hollywood Sign, and Paul Rudoff
(spookcentral.tk) who made many helpful suggestions (some of which I was able
to work into this update).
Tremendous thanks to these web sites for helpful info about locations,
interesting stories, or pretty pictures: seeing-stars.com, laokay.com,
beachcalifornia.com, experiencela.com, historicla.com, worldfromtheweb.com,
uncanny.net/~wetzel/hbline.htm, laorpheum.com, manntheatres.com,
hauntedhouses.com, marinadelrey.com, beaches.co.la.ca.us,
watchthewater.co.la.ca.us, cnghotels.com, laobserved.com,
www.gmrnet.com/theaters.html, bluffton.edu/~sullivanm, beverlyhills.org,
grimsociety.com.
Monumental thanks to google.com, for giving me useful results even to my
queries about places whose names I didn't know; and mapquest.com, for
continually helping me to notice and pinpoint even locations I've never seen in
person.
Thanks also to my pal Carlos Moreno Jr., who originally showed me around many
parts of LA and continues to do so whenever I visit.
