Woodstock Reader

The Woodstock Reader has been part of the soul of this legendary Catskills town since 1972, just three years after the festival that put its name on the cultural map. Originally opened as a collective by a group of musicians and artists, the store has passed through several owners while maintaining its essential character as a place where the creative and the spiritual intersect. The music section is extraordinary, covering everything from ethnomusicology to rock memoirs, while the spirituality shelves range from Buddhism to herbalism. Used books overflow from crates on the front porch in warm weather, and the hand-painted signs throughout the store give it the feel of a folk art installation. The Woodstock Reader hosts open readings on the village green in summer and intimate fireside events during the long Catskill winters, keeping the flame of the town's literary and artistic traditions alive for both longtime residents and the steady stream of visitors who come seeking the Woodstock spirit.