Review of Bethel Woods Performing Art Center [Woodstock] - Bob Dylan on Summer 2007 Schedule

Bob Dylan will be playing at Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center June 30th, 2007. Bethel Woods is located on the "real" and original Woodstock/Yasgur's Farm Site, which was in Bethel, not in the actual town [and artsy "nouveau hippy" and NYC tourist haven] of Woodstock, NY, a common mistake made by people not from this area or of the era.

I saw Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young there last August on their Freedom of Speech tour, which was fabulous and having Neil Young there really was a major treat, as he doesn't join them very often. I didn't wear my tie dye or my Birki's that evening  (I like to do the unexpected) and I think I was in the only group that wasn't so attired!

It was the first summer the venue opened and I think it was the third or fourth performance of their maiden season. I have to say that Bethel Woods is one of the most scenic, well thought out, naturalized, architecturally and acoustically beautiful venues, period. That's saying a lot, as  I've seen scores of shows all over the U.S. and abroad. The architects who worked on the project were Westlake Reed Leskosky who built the Blossom Music Center in Cleveland, the Denver Arts Center and Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Landscaping the lush and expansive site were the Olin Partnership who designed the grounds at the Getty Center in LA, Bryant Park in NYC and the Los Angeles County Museum.  The acoustics were done by Mark Holden of Jaffe Holden Acoustics, which has also produced the acoustics for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the new concert space in Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, and the renovation of the New York Philharmonic's home, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Not too shabby, yet a far cry from the venue's roots. This year the BW site is advertising they are upgrading the food service, but I have to say the food, snacks and beer were pretty outstanding last year. The majority of my experience there was organized, easy to navigate and pleasurable. Even the bathroom lines, although typically long, were not overly obnoxious. The kettle corn was amazing and the smell of patchouli (not weed, unbelievably) and kettle corn permeated the venue.

 I opted for lawn seats with my party and got there a half hour before the gates opened, about two hours before the show, since I only live about an hour and 20 minutes away if traffic is reasonable. Since the concert was on a Sunday evening, I knew I'd be heading up at a low traffic time. That's an iffy proposition for a a show on a Friday or even Saturday night, as the corridor up to Sullivan County, which marks the departure line from extended metro NYC region, is called the "Jewish Alps", a dangerous and rather narrow highway that winds through rural territory that becomes congested with traffic (complete with overloaded, beat up vehicles with people who drive worse than lunatics) due to the abundance of Hasidic camps and resorts that swell to beyond capacity in the summer. Sullivan County can be summed up in 3 words: Hippies, hillbillies and Hasidim. That's some mix, eh? Despite that,  I didn't take any back routes, just the standard advertised driving directions and didn't experience any extraordinary traffic issues even though the show was sold out. Bethel Woods can reportedly handle nearly 20,000 guests between the Pavillion seating and lawn.

Arrival parking went like butter and having snagged lawn seats that were just above where assigned seating ended let us enjoy the spectacular night and allowed more freedom of movement, so we didn't regret the decision from a visual, musical or financial standpoint. The only complaint I had was the three hour wait we had getting OUT of the parking lot. We were some of the first  people parked and we bolted out, but to no avail, we may as well have hung out. We literally couldn't and didn't move further than out of our spot and into the actual parking row in that whole time. It was one of the worst traffic jams I have ever been in. Despite that rather daunting issue, I wouldn't hesitate to see a show there again, but I'd have to really be dying to see the performance  rather than just going for something fun to do, until I hear they have worked out that rather major "kink".

To wrap, I hope they end up attracting some current talent there. It's definitely a 60s and 70s lineup so far. Arlo Guthrie, Ritchie Havens and Country Joe Mc Donald as well as [yuck] Chicago with Peter Cetera are rumored to be lined up for July.  Last year, opening well into the summer, The Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows and Ashlee Simpson were the only performers of this generation. Frankly, although to some it might seem counter intuitive, I'd love to see a real alt.rock or head banging line up there myself. Something like the Lollapalooza's of old (even current) or the  K-ROCK Dysfunctional Family Picnic line ups of more recent years would suite me fine. LOL I happen to love classical music, but until they get the exit traffic issue handled, I think I'll pass. For those in it for the long haul or wanting to make a weekend of it, here are some suggestions for places to eat and stay and for navigating beautiful Sullivan county [insert dueling banjos] for the uninitiated.

DRIVING TIPS and FROM LOCAL POLICEMAN "RADAR RAY" (or how to avoid traffic along the main route to Bethel Woods and get there with less stress and hassle, especially on a Friday or Saturday coming from the NYC metro area):

• Stay away from 17B as much as possible to avoid traffic.  If you're in Orange County try 97 to 55, then a left on Duggan Dr.  If you're in the Liberty area, take 52 to Fosterdale and come in from the west; where there's less traffic.  From Pennsylvania, get on 97 to 52 or to County Route 114 to 17B.
• If you're in Monticello or at Exit 104, you can bypass 17B by going toward 17B west, but instead of taking it, you get on old Route 17 and go to the stop sign for Catskill Regional Medical Center.  Turn left on Lieutenant Brender Highway (Route 73), go to Fraser Road, turn right.  Go to the end of the road, turn left.  Follow that to Route 55 to Kauneonga Lake.  Bear right on 141 to Layman Rd.  Go to Perry.  Turn left to Jaketown.  Go to Burr, make a right to 17B.  Hurd is just two roads away to the east.
• You can stop and eat at the Fat Lady, Buster's, the Front Porch and the Lighthouse.  Blanche's will be closed (after 3 p.m.).  You could try Friends in Smallwood (just off 17B, 583-1050).  It's a little out of the way and good.  You get a filet mignon and lobster tail for about $25.
• Don't speed through the zones, you'll get nailed - the limit drops from 55 to 40 in White Lake.