If you are coming from the North on Route 2, and if you have a 5 pm or 6 pm session scheduled with me, I highly recommend that you exit Route 2 in Arlington Heights and take back roads to my office. During rush hour, the Alewife area in general, and the Lake Street exit in particular, can back up to the base of the hill on Route 2. It's stressful driving. (The traffic usually settles down by the time my 7 pm clients are arriving.)

I highly recommend that you try these low-stress, rush-hour directions for those traveling south on Route 2 to my office:

1. Take Exit 57, Dow Avenue, Arlmont (Arlington and Belmont).
2. Turn left at the blinking, single yellow light, and go under Route 2.

   You are now on Dow Avenue.

3. Continue straight at the stop sign.

   You'll see a ball field on the left and a church on the right.

4. Turn right at the next stop sign (which is a T intersection).
5. Turn left at the next stop sign onto Florence Avenue.

   You'll pass a school on the left.

6. Continue straight at the next stop sign, continuing on Florence Avenue.
7. Continue straight through the traffic light, continuing on Florence Avenue.

   The intersecting street is a major road.

8. At the next major intersection, take a sharp right onto Appleton Street.

   This intersection is a bit odd. It is almost a T intersection, but it's possible to cut across the street and "go straight" down a narrow passage way. Turn right instead.

9. Bear slightly right at the first set of lights onto Massachusetts Avenue (it's almost like going straight).

   If you choose, you can take Massachusetts Avenue all the way to my office. If you would like to bypass Arlington Center, continue with the rest of the directions.

10. Take your first left (laundromat on the left corner) onto Forest.

    The road curves to the right and goes under the bike path. Use caution and go slowly under this bridge.

11. Take a right at the traffic light (you'll be on this road for a few miles).

    There's a ball park on the right at this intersection.

12. Pass Napa Auto and the Sutra restaurant on the right, and continue straight.
13. Pass a ballfield on your right, and continue straight.
14. Pass a Dunkin Donuts on your left, and continue straight through the light.

    This is a windy road.

15. Pass a lake on the left, and continue straight.
16. Go straight through the rotary.
17. Pass a river and trees on the left, and continue straight.
18. At the next light, take a right (in between two gas stations) onto River Street.

    If you reach another rotary, you've gone too far.

19. Take your second right at the traffic light onto Broadway.

    This appears as a "double traffic light," each light being very, very close together. Be sure to turn right at the second light.

20. Take your second left (there's a sign on the pole for the "Gibbs School").
21. Take a left at the traffic light onto Massachusetts Avenue.
22. My office is just past the first traffic light (at Lake Street), on the right.