The Summer of ‘69

Even if we weren’t alive to know if those really were the best days of our lives, you know you love that song. This weekend marks the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock, which took place from August 15th through 18th, 1969.

On August 28th, Taking Woodstock will debut for the next gen to experience the free-spirited, make-you-wanna-hippie-dance vibe. Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, played by hilarious stand up comic Demetri Martin, the movie relays the story of the first ever Woodstock with a stellar cast and songs from all your ‘60s faves, including The Grateful Dead and The Doors.

Meet Elliot, an interior designer from Greenwich Village. He’s tied to his family’s business, El Monaco, a rundown motel in the Catskills that’s on its way to bankruptcy (unlike Kellerman’s mountainous resort from Dirty Dancing).

During the summer of 1969, Elliot moves home to help his parents save the El Monaco from going out of business. Upon his arrival, he hears that a music and arts festival has lost its permit from the next town over. (No way, dude!) He then calls Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff), producer at Woodstock Ventures.

That call changed the fate of Woodstock as we know it today. Elliot offers his family’s motel to Woodstock promoters, knowing his proposal will yield funds for El Monaco. The Woodstock staff sets up shop at the El Monaco, and about 400,000 people begin their trek to the first Woodstock.

Elliot and his diverse group of friends overcome opposition from the locals and become an integral part of a pop culture movement still talked about today. Just like the free-spirited hippies who rocked out in the name of peace and music, the next gen stands for overcoming adversity and positively impacting our own generation.

HIPPIE CONTEST
gendance wants you to Break on Through to the Other Side: Taking Woodstock is “a joyous voyage to a moment in time when everything seemed possible.” Tell us what you’ve defined for the next gen. Email trendme@gendance.com and in 100 words or less, tell your story about how you inspire change in your community or how you make the impossible possible. The most inspiring story will be honored and published in a future issue.