The British are coming for Bay Ridge!
Brit-pop, Shakespeare, historical re-enactors, and Irish musicians are all invading the Ridge on the 239th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. On that day in 1776, British soldiers and their German mercenaries landed at Denyse Wharf in what is now Bay Ridge before they swept up the borough and pushed Gen. George Washington across the East River. The clash may have been a wash for Washington, who barely escaped with his wooden teeth, but this weekend’s remembrances are definitely a win for you.
On Friday, quarter yourself at Greenhouse Cafe (7717 Third Ave. between 77th and 78th streets), where Staten Island’s Airtite will play ’60s songs from English bands like The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac starting at 9:30 pm. Of course, they are not total Tories, so expect some tunes from the Empire’s most kick-ass former colony.
Make land at the Veteran’s Memorial Pier (69th Street and Shore Road) on Saturday, where costumed performers will re-enact historical events, musicians will sing sea chanteys, and storytellers will regale residents with tales of the Revolution. History buffs will be stationed at the pier from 11 am to 5 pm.
Then, get thee to a fun-nery! BrooklynOne Productions is putting its spin on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from the overlook at Owl’s Head Park (68th Street and Colonial Road). The troupe will take the stage for two productions on Saturday, at 2 pm and 6:30 pm.
And after the weekend is over, you can get one more dose of Britannia in Bay Ridge with Irish-inflected rockers the Canny Brothers, during Irish Night (Tuesday, Aug. 25) in Shore Road Park (79th Street and Shore Road) at 7 pm.
