A celebration of rock and roll in Asbury Park, and more things to do at the Shore

Editor's note: Asbury Park has canceled the Aug. 1 showing of "Monsters University" due to "poor air quality."

The ShowRoom in Asbury Park has announced a celebration of rock 'n' roll on film in August.

Rock Cinema screenings take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays starting this week with 1998's "Velvet Goldmine." Directed by Todd Haynes and based loosely on David Bowie's constant reinvention, the film delves into the glam rock era of the 1970s. Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale star.

Here's a look at the rest of the schedule:

Aug. 8: "Rock 'N' Roll High School," the 1979 musical comedy, follows a rebellious student who teams up with the Ramones to overthrow her high school's tyrannical new principal. Directed by Allan Arkush.

Aug. 15: "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," adapted from the stage production of the same name, tells the story of a transgender punk rock singer from East Berlin on a quest for stardom and love. The 2001 cult classic is directed by John Cameron Mitchell.

Aug. 22: "Cry-Baby," the 1990 musical comedy, stars Johnny Depp as a 1950s teen rebel who falls for a girl from the right side of the tracks. Full of fun cameos such as Iggy Pop, Troy Donahue, Mink Stole and Patty Hearst, this rockabilly romp by John Waters is a wild ride.

Aug. 29: "The Phantom of The Paradise," the 1974 musical horror film, offers a rock adaptation of "The Phantom of the Opera" infused with campiness and biting commentary on the music industry. Directed by Brian De Palma.

Tickets for each film are $15 and can be purchased at showroomcinemas.com or at the box office.

Go: "Velvet Goldmine," 7:30 p.m. Thursday, ShowRoom Cinema, 707 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, $15; 732-502-0472, showroomcinemas.com.

Here are more things to do this weekend, including the Crossing Borders Festival in Red Bank, the Manahopkin Craft Beer and Music Festival in Stafford Township, and the Monster Jam in Newark.

Latin Festival: Tacos & Tequila at Monmouth Park Racetrack

Empanadas, taquitos, tortas, tacos and more are on the menu at Sunday's festival at Monmouth Park Racetrack, featuring food trucks like Latin Bites, Ma & Pa's Tex-Mex BBQ, Sweetpepper Empanadas, Tortas Lokas, The Mexiboys, Twelve Truck and more.

There also will be live music from Xol Azul, plus family activities and horse racing.

Go: Latin Festival: Tacos & Tequila, 11a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Monmouth Park Racetrack, 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport; racetrack admission costs $6; food prices vary by vendor; seatgeek.com/monmouth-park-tickets.

Beer and music at Manahopkin

The Manahopkin Craft Beer and Music Festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Manahawkin Lake Park, Route 9 and North Lakeshore Drive in Stafford Township.

There will be live music all day, breweries, food trucks, craft vendors and kids activities. The event supports the Stafford Police Benevolent Association Holiday Toy Drive.

The two tasting sessions take place rain or shine. Attendance is limited to one session per person. Must be 21 to purchase beer tickets. IDs will be checked upon arrival. Not drinking beer? Attendance is free.

Pre-sale tickets are $43.

Go: Manahopkin Craft Beer and Music Festival, noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Manahawkin Lake Park, Route 9 and North Lakeshore Drive, Stafford Township, $43 presale; [email protected], manahopkin.com.

Springsteen pop-up in Asbury Park

Attention Bruce Springsteen fans, there's a new must-see stop inside Convention Hall in Asbury Park: the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University Outpost in Asbury Park.

The Outpost opened earlier this summer and features items like alternate albums covers for “Nebraska” and “Born in U.S.A.,” the original stage back-drop for the Stone Pony, and a copy of a letter Springsteen wrote to his landlady in Long Branch explaining why the rent for the bungalow where he wrote “Born to Run” wasn't paid.

“If you don't have it now it's in the mail and should arrive tomorrow or the next day. Your ever gracious tenant, Bruce Springsteen,” reads the letter to Marilyn Rocky.

There's some interesting merch on sale, including E Street Kings and E Street Queens muscle T-shirts, copied from the ones band members used to wear to area softball games in the '70s. There are also “The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Band” tour T-shirts.

The Outpost is a preview of what will be as the Springsteen Archives announced an expansion in late 2023. A new archives and center and museum is currently under construction on the university's campus. The building will house archives and include exhibition galleries and a 230-seat theater. Target opening is 2026.

Go: Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University Outpost, Convention Hall, 1300, Asbury Park. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays to Sundays; springsteenarchives.org.

Taylor Shines - The Laser Spectacular at the Basie

Taylor Shines – The Laser Spectacular is two hours of Taylor Swift songs seamlessly blended with a touring Laser Spectacular and light show. Taylor Shines takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Vogel, the intimate space at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

DJ Tiff and DJ JC will have Swifties singing along with their favorite hits. The show features large-screen video projection and 3-D glasses.

Tickets are $27.50.

Go: Taylor Shines - The Laser Spectacular, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, The Vogel, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $27.50; 732-842-9000, thebasie.org.

'Crossing Borders' in Red Bank

Two River Theater’s Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival of new plays by Latine playwrights runs Thursday through Sunday.

Now in its 13th year, there will be four readings by contemporary artists. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Flaco Navaja and the Razor Blades, back after their 2019 Crossing Borders performance, will blend salsa with heartfelt spoken word.

All events are free. The festival kicks off from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday on Two River’s Plaza, with live music from local musicians, information tables helmed by Two River’s community partners, and eats from neighborhood restaurants.

"This year's festival is another sensational lineup showcasing the wide range of stories celebrating the enormous talent and breadth of storytellers in the Latine community,” said festival curator José Zayas in a news release. “Moving, stirring, raucous, passionate, magical and absolutely unexpected, these playwrights take great risks and take on the hilarities and complexities of our election process, themes of grief and loss, dementia and its effects on a family, sports and masculinity, and the breathtaking intricacies of a mother's first love filtered through the lens of her son.”

A complete schedule is available at tworivertheater.org.

Go: Crossing Borders Festival, Thursday to Sunday, Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank, free; 732-345-1400, tworivertheater.org.

'Monsters University' in Asbury Park

Asbury Park is hosting a free outdoor movie series in August.

It kicks off on Thursday with "Monsters University" in Springwood Park. The 2013 animated comedy is the prequel to "Monsters, Inc." It features the voices of, among others, John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, John Ratzenberger, Helen Mirren and Alfred Molina.

The series continues with "Encanto" on Aug. 15 in Sunset Park, followed by "Zookeeper" Aug. 29 in Springwood Park.

Movies start at 8 p.m., or dusk, weather permitting. Kids and adults are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. There will be free popcorn and drinks.

Go: "Monsters University," 8 p.m. (or dusk) Thursday, Springwood Park, Asbury Park, free; 732-502-5753.

Monster Jam in Newark

Monster Jam, the action-packed motorsports experience, charges into Prudential Center in Newark at 7 p.m. Friday, and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday.

See these 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill.

Among the drivers is Adam Anderson, who gets behind the wheel of the legendary Grave Digger. There's also El Toro Loco driven by Fernando Martinez; Megalodon by Angelina Nock; ThunderROARus by Colt Stephens; Krazy Train by Triton Robbins; Over Bored by Jamey Garner; Plane Krazy by Montana Robbins; and Wild Side by Zack Garner.

Tickets are $22 to $92. Before the 1 p.m. Saturday show is the Pit Party. Starting at 10:30 a.m., it's a good way to see the trucks up close, meet the drivers, get autographs and take photos. Tickets are an additional $20, which can be purchased when you buy your 1 p.m. Saturday ticket online, or when you are at the venue.

Go: Monster Jam, 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, $22 to $92; 973-757?6000, Ticketmaster.com.

Sarah Griesemer and Chris Jordan contributed to this story.

Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore things to do include rock movies in Asbury Park