We've seen busty sphinxes before, but these ones also have braided, ribboned pigtails. As it turns out, both breasts and braids have long been characteristic features of sphinxes.

A Red Jacket water pump. This is the second water pump turned mailbox support we've seen. (Here's a wider shot of the house.)

My beach lounge!

TAKING CLAMS OR OTHER SHELLFISH FROM THIS UNCERTIFIED AREA IS PROHIBITED.

The sign on top helpfully depicts the forbidden fruits: oyster, surf clam, soft clam, hard clam, razor clam, mussel, scallop.

Say hello to Midnight Shadow.

Kicking back and watching some TV at my swanky beach lounge. 500 channels and there's nothing on!

Assembled from sustainably sourced local materials. Here's a closer look.

Crooke's Point, the tip of the long peninsula in Great Kills Park, is visible across the water. With all the snow and ice melted (close-up) after some relatively warm weather, it's unrecognizable as the frozen wasteland I slogged through just two and a half weeks ago.

on Staten Island's Raritan Bay waterfront

Built in 1920-21 (old photo), this chapel belongs to the Church of Saint Clare and was formerly the parish's main church. It was moved a few hundred feet down the road to this spot to make way for the current church, whose construction began in 1958.

Heading through SoHo on the way to the Staten Island Ferry, I passed by another pointy pair of posterior pokers.

(Note the little glass circles — vault lights — set into the sidewalk.)