Peace, Love and Misunderstanding

In the week of July 19, 2010, Woodstock became the location for the upcoming movie, Peace, Love and Misunderstanding, featuring Jane Fonda, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Catherine Keener, and Chase Crawford. According to IMDB, the Internet Movie Database, the plot of this movie centers on an upstanding lawyer, Keener, who takes her two children to Woodstock to meet their hippie grandmother, who is played by Fonda. It is directed by Bruce Beresford, who directed the well known Driving Miss Daisy back in 1989.

For the two days that the movie was filmed here, the whole town was abuzz. Locations such as Town Hall, the Village Green, and a house on Neher Street were used, and quite a few residents came out to watch the production. There was a casting call a few weeks ago, and many locals were used as extras. The production has moved elsewhere in the state for now, but it will be interesting to see how our little town is portrayed when the movie comes out in 2011.

~ Danielle Barthel

yum yum noodle bar

Last night a lucky few got a first taste of yum yum noodle bar—Woodstock's newest restaurant, at 4 Rock City Road. We began with the strawberry mint lemonade. So refreshing. Then we treated ourselves to big, beautiful bowls of ginger noodles. Sensational! And the prices can't be beat. Yum yum's official opening is Thursday, July 22, at 6 pm, but the word on the street is that they'll be secretly open tonight (Tuesday), from 6 until 10 pm. Try it out for yourselves!

According to Erica, Luc and Nina, the restauranteurs, "Yum yum is a contemporary noodle bar dedicated to serving healthy and low-cost dishes, ranging from $3 to $10 per course. We'll supply noodles for every diet, including many gluten-free and vegan options. Yum yum will also provide an array of Asian street food made from locally sourced products." For a sneak peak at the menu, click here. The restaurant's usual hours will be Thursday through Monday, 4:30 to 10 pm. Call 845-679-7992 for more info.

~Julia Blelock

Experience Woodstock Through Art

With its many galleries, Woodstock offers an incredible array of artists and their endeavors—presented for locals and visitors alike. For example, if you stop into SweetHeart Gallery right now, you will see that they are featuring beautiful jewelry created by Margaret Ellis. If you go into Fletcher Gallery, you might be interested in the fact that they are advertising for the Equestrian Art Exhibition and Auction for September. VARGA Gallery just celebrated its seven year anniversary in June, while showcasing the Visionary Art Collective, which supports Woodstock's artistic community.

There is a myriad of local artists featured at these galleries, and even in regular shops in Woodstock; photographer Elliott Landy's pictures of Bob Dylan hang proudly in more than one store. Woodstock is a leading community for the appreciation of art, and with so many places to encounter it, who wouldn't want to take an afternoon to discover what our town has to offer?

~Danielle Barthel

Experience Woodstock Through Food

Oriole 9 is a delicious, wholesome restaurant run by Pierre-Luc Moeys and Nina Paturel in the heart of Woodstock. It is open every day, from 8:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon, and has a charming array of chairs and sofa seating available for customers. The menu boasts a wonderful compilation of organic breakfasts and lunches, which the owners also extend to a business in catering, a restaurant in Saugerties called Cafe with Love, and another soon-to-be-opened restaurant called Yum Yum Noodle Bar, which will also be in Woodstock. If you are interested in good food and nice atmosphere, please visit this wonderful addition to the Woodstock food scene.

To enjoy a pleasant lunch, dinner, or even brunch on Sunday, Violette is a fabulous place to stop. Opened in 2003 by Culinary Institute graduate Chef Daniel Rabiner, Violette is both a restaurant and a wine bar, and is a place run with the human palate in mind. Daniel and his mother Gladys, a French Culinary Institute graduate, work together to create interesting, flavorful food for their customers. The family run establishment is open every day except Wednesday, and is one of the first restaurants you will encounter on your way into Woodstock from the thruway. So if you've had a long day traveling to our town, treat yourself to a great dinner at a superb restaurant.

~Danielle Barthel