Welcome to the "insular to the bone", tightly packed seaside enclave of Gerritsen Beach, where we'll be spending our day today. (Mural by Joe Indart.)

Here's what the AIA Guide to New York City has to say about this 1925 structure: "Gothic Revival by the sea. A handsome wooden house of worship that would barely dent the skyline of most neighborhoods, but in Lilliput [Gerritsen Beach] it's a towering landmark."

Close-up here

Adopted by the Radio Control Society of Marine Park. If you're curious, you can check out an aerial view of the field and watch some great video footage of the area shot by a model plane in flight.

of Plumb Beach Channel

I think today set the record for most dead ends — 30 of them!

Gerritsen Beach was slammed by Hurricane Sandy (although the neighborhood did acquire a new bar that floated in on the storm surge); perhaps this temporary flying buttress is a result of said slamming.

This is Sheepshead Bay Bicycles, a basement-and-garage used-bike shop that did maybe $300,000 in business over the past year, according to its owner.

I think it probably is. Check it out (from a different angle) in Street View.

Then I realized it's a Sandy-inspired illustration of a big flood. Here's a closer look.

Each plaque represents one veteran. Here's a look at the whole building.

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of the Ben-Hur chariot race

One of many ditched vehicles "back weeds" in Marine Park

like the birds and the bees.

There are also a bunch of other creatures living in this ramshackle enclosure. I'll get a better shot next time I pass by.