Ira Glass

There's zoning maps of the city that show streets and complete neighborhoods, a whole grid of them, that nobody ever got around to building.

Instead, now, on top of all the trash, stands a golf course.

Charlie says that from the clubhouse, he gets exactly the same view that he used to get back when he and his dad took out the rowboat.

It's the same spot.

That's where the lake once was.

You can see clear to downtown.

So far away, might as well be another city.

Well, today on our program, we have stories from several places like this, from the shadow of the city, that weird no-man's land.

where it always feels like secret stuff is happening, you know?

Just out of sight.

WBEC Chicago, it's This American Life.

I'm Ira Glass.

Our program today was first broadcast a few years ago.

It's in three acts.

Act one, Brooklyn Archipelago.

In that act, some passenger sets sail one day on a three-hour tour.

A three-hour tour.

And end up getting lost in the wilderness.

One fears for his life on a string of islands that is just outside a very, very big city.

Act two, troubled bridge over water.