CULTURE BRIEFS – July 14 to July 30

SHOWBOATS IN NEW YORK HARBOR

Anyone interested in New York City’s maritime history will be infor a sailor’s delight on Thursday, July 21 when the short filmShowboats in New York Harbor is shown alongside the 1914 vesselthe Lehigh Valley Barge and the 1907 Tugboat, Pegasus at Pier 6 inBrooklyn Bridge Park.

Tours of the ships — which will be docked at the pier from July 14to 26 to celebrate Tug and Barge Week — will be offered from 3 to5 p.m. The film, which depicts showboat performer Betty Bryant,will be shown at 7 p.m. Special guests Norman Brouwer, a maritimehistorian, and Captain Tom McGuire will also be on hand to sharetheir knowledge of sea vessels with the crowd. Visitwww.waterfrontmuseum.org for more information.

BROOKLYN BREWERY BEER GARDEN AT BHS

For anyone who likes to enjoy their Brooklyn history with a coldone, the Brooklyn Historical Society turns its 128 PierrepontStreet location into a beer garden on the last Thursday of everymonth, with pours provided by the Brooklyn Brewery.

This month’s event, held on July 28, will feature music from theBobbed-Haired Bandit, a musical on the life of Brooklyn laundressturned criminal, Celia Cooney. Songs from the show, which willdebut at the New York International Fringe Festival this August,feature a sound from the era Cooney lived in — the 1920s. Theperformance starts at 7:30 p.m. and the event runs from 7 to 9p.m., during which time the Historical Society’s first floorgalleries will remain open. For more information, go towww.brooklynhistory.org.

CHESS LESSONS IN THE PARK

Is your child the next Bobby Fischer? How would you know if heor she never get a chance to try? Fischer, a lifelong Brooklynite,won his first chess championship at age 13, but it doesn’t have tojust be about winning. Chess can teach children valuable patternrecognition and reasoning skills.

Every Wednesday through August 10, free chess classes will beoffered at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.And it’s not just for the kids. Brooklyn instructor Zebedee Collinswill be on hand to offer instruction for all beginning players.Limited chess boards will be provided as well as a free play areafor players to practice their skills. Pier 1 at Brooklyn BridgePark is located at 2 Old Fulton Street. Check them out online at:www.brooklynbridgepark.org.

FREE MONKEES SHOW AT CONEY ISLAND

At this point there are probably few out there who would accusethe sixties band of monkeying around. On Thursday, July 21 at 7:30p.m. you can see your favorite daydream believers, as the Monkeescelebrate 45 years of making music and cracking one-liners at the2011 Seaside Summer Concert Series.

Original members Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davey Jones are backon stage, with only guitarist Mike Nesmith declining theopportunity. The concert is being held at West 21st Street and SurfAvenue in Coney Island. Free shows will be taking place there atthe same time every Thursday through August 18. Other featured actsinclude soul band The Spinners on July 28 and stadium rockers CheapTrick on August 18. For additional details, go to:www.brooklynconcerts.com and click on Seaside Summer ConcertSeries.