Woodstock Still Notable

Good Food, Groovy Music

Woodstock has come a long way since its history of utopian art communes in the foothills of the mountains. Now, one could easily spend an afternoon just popping into all the boutiques, art galleries and restaurants that line Tinker Street, the town's main drag. Some favorite shops of ours are Woodstock General, Pacama Handmade and Anatolia ... but we could go on and on.

Aside from all of the great shopping, there's also great food. Thanks to the neighboring Hudson Valley, fresh local food is easy to come by. Shindig, our favorite restaurant in town, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner using ingredients from more than 10 local farms. Cucina, specializing in Italian goodness, is our go-to spot for celebratory dinners. For something a little more casual at dinnertime, try out newly-opened Tinker Taco Lab. Last, weather permitting, the Garden Cafe has great vegetarian fare, with a beautiful little backyard to boot!

Plan on making a weekend of it? Great, though you're not the only one! Hotels here fill up fast during high season (May through October), but luckily there are new hotels and rental homes popping up every day. For a traditional but unique hotel experience, begin your search at the Hotel Dylan, where bonfire-side chats with other guests are half the fun. If you'd prefer more privacy, Woodstock Way has lovely rustic-chic cabin rentals where we recently spent three days of bliss. Our cozy cottage had large windows, a wood-fired stove and a patio overlooking a creek where we enjoyed our morning coffees.

We all know the saying, "When in Rome," and Woodstock is no different. It would be a shame to go to Woodstock and not partake in the art and music culture. If you're planning a visit, make sure to check a local calendar for music and art listings! Aside from great music venues Levon Helm Studios and Bearsville Theater, there's almost always a music show happening somewhere in town. On a recent Thursday night, we caught musicians Matt Heckler and Norm Wennet performing together at Catskill Mountain Pizza. Despite their 40-year age difference, they played the fiddle, acoustic guitar, violin and banjo together in perfect harmony. Super groovy.