Maude parks on a sidewalk after spotting a tree that needs saving
"It's the smog. People can live with it, but it gives trees asthma."
This is the scene where Maude drives in a circle around an intersection, then heads down a street, suddenly pulls halfway on to the sidewalk, jumps out and approaches a small potted tree that has to be rescued. When they find police surrounding the improperly parked car, she merely steals another car parked nearby.
This was an easy one. I knew it was in front of the San Mateo courthouse in downtown Redwood City, on Marshall Street (between Winslow and Hamilton). We had a company meeting at the Century movie theater a couple of blocks away, so after the meeting (and screening of "Oz the Great and Powerful"), I forced a few co-workers to walk over there. Thanks to Stephanie for taking this photo.
Although the buildings in the block beyond have changed, the courthouse itself is pretty untouched by the intervening 42 years. I love the fact that the mailbox is still in the exact same spot, except that the 1970s style has been replace with the current style.
Fun fact: Ruth Gordon, who played Maude, never learned to drive. In all the scenes where she is shown driving, the car is actually being towed.