Woodstock, New York is the little town with the big reputation! The legendary 1969 Woodstock Music Festival will be celebrating its 42nd Anniversary from Monday August, 15th through Thursday August 18th. People often think of mass crowds of muddy hippies when they hear the name Woodstock, unaware that the legendary concert sharing its namesake actually took place in Bethel a few towns over. There, over 400,000 people descended on a dairy farm, abandoning their cars and shutting down the NYS Thruway. Things would never be the same, both for the nation as a whole and the Hudson Valley region where the festival originated. Woodstock, NY has long been a haven for artists & musicians. Woodstock's main drag (which runs up Mill Hill Road and down Tinker Street with the Village Square acting as a hub) encapsulates the area’s vibe, with original cuisine and one-of-a-kind shops.
Gifts & Cuisine Unique To Woodstock
Travel up Mill Hill Road and you can stop and grab a fresh roll or bagel at Bread Alone the flagship store of this popular upstate gourmet bakery. After that you can get into the Woodstock vibe at Not Fade Away a large souvenir shop with novelty gifts that run from beautiful to comical. For a keepsake that’s truly unique to Woodstock, try Candlestock which has been selling hand-made candles in Woodstock for over 40 years.
At that point you may want lunch. You can enjoy unique Mediterranean food in a classy setting at Joshua’s Cafe on Tinker Street. If the weather is nice you can partake in some great people watching on the terrace of the Landau Grill right on Mill Hill Road. If you’d like to keep lunch quick, simple, and relatively cheap, go to Taco Juan’s on Tinker Street, which offers not only Mexican fare but tasty ice cream as well.
Walking around Woodstock can make one’s feet tired. Check out Pegasus Footwear on Mill Hill Road, which features trendy and comfortable shoes from Uggs to sandals. Another unique shopping experience can be found at Loominus on Tinker Street. Loominus offers hand-woven scarves, jackets, and other clothes for both men and women. Exploring the mysterious nature of rayon chenille, mixing it with imported cashmere, and an occasional touch of fur has kept Loominus at the forefront of the luxury accessory market.
Plenty of Culture & Entertainment
Woodstock offers plenty of culture and entertainment. For starters there’s the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, which has an Artist in Residence program and regularly holds classes and performances. The Woodstock Playhouse holds year-round plays and shows, and encourages residents to get involved in auditions and productions. Private art galleries, such as the VARGA Gallery on Tinker Street or the Sweetheart Gallery which offers amazing contemporary home designs, are in abundance and very easy to get to. Though not technically on Main Street, the Bearsville Theatre in nearby Bearsville hosts regional acts on weekdays and national acts on weekends. The theatre has a bar and an adjacent lounge and is a great venue to take in a show.
42 years later and Woodstock is still groovin’! The recent anniversary of the legendary festival attests to the longevity of the Peace & Love movement. One of the pleasures of Main St, Woodstock is that nearly everything is within walking distance. If you’re looking for a destination that you can stroll around take in the sights and local culture, then give Main Street Woodstock a try. You won’t be disappointed! Here are the links to the aformentioned Ulster County vendors and businesses in this blog. Check out more of our constantly updated articles and blogs!
Posted by Dylan Taft on
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