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Story by
Vanessa
Published on August 13, 2009 in Spotlight |
Photo by Bill Eppridge, with permission. See more photos on his blog. |
As a child of the '70s, I have fallen prey to the American nostalgia for the late 1960s, when political action was passionate, fashion was off the wall and popular music got its groove.
While developing my own taste in music as a youngster (we didn't have the neologism "tween" way back then), I even dressed up as a hippie for Halloween — and suddenly felt at peace with myself. I remember asking my parents about the Woodstock Festival, which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this Saturday, August 15, 2009. I distinctly recall being appalled that my parents had "discovered classical music" exactly at the time that Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix started shredding it up.
Photo by John's1 on Flickr. Also see his blog post for more Woodstock photos on the New York Times.
What to do but relive what should have been? Here's my romp through a rock music festival picnic party, colored by nostalgia-tinted glasses. Welcome to the Summer of Love, 2009 edition, where things are a lot cleaner and a little less hangover-inducing.
Vintage Sunglasses from luluvoodoo, $15. Find more vintage sunglasses here.
Before you hit the road, hit the kitchen. Summer festivals can be stretched for maximum fun — anywhere from a long, lazy Sunday to an entire lost weekend. Preparation of the food stuffs is key.
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Above left, Groovy Vintage Cookware from mortonsaltgirl, $43. 
At right, a picnic spread, photo © Quentin Bacon.
Vegans and vegetarians, throw your hands up — er — post in the comments! Part of my affinity for the time period has to do with the emergence of American vegetarian cuisine into the mainstream (though the history of vegetarian cooking goes way back of course). At about the same time I found rock 'n' roll, I was feeding the family cows...which we later ate. Subsequently, I haven't eaten meat for 15 years.
If you're in need of a good Quinoa Salad with Sugar Snap Peas recipe, our friends at Food & Wine Magazine have you covered.
You can find more "vegetable-focused dishes" in their folk festival picnic post. By the way, click here to see which three folk fests are their favorites.
Photo © Quentin Bacon
Quinoa Salad with Sugar Snap Peas Recipe, by Marcia Kiesel
- ACTIVE: 15 MIN
- TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN
- SERVINGS: 6
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound sugar snap peas
- 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup salted roasted pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup minced chives
Directions
- In a small saucepan of boiling salted water, simmer the peas until bright green and crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Drain and spread out on a large plate to cool, then pat dry. Cut the peas on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces.
- In a small saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until all of the water has evaporated and the quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Uncover and fluff the quinoa, then transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature.
- In a bowl, combine the oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Add the peas to the quinoa with the pumpkin seeds, chives and dressing; stir. Season with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Make Ahead
- The salad can be refrigerated for up to 6 hours.
Once your cooking has cooled, pack your picnic basket to the brim with snacks. A vintage picnic basket will do the trick. Stash smaller goodies in reusable snack bags (so great if you're bringing the whole family). With these eco-friendly items, you can avoid the whole disposable plastic mess. That's another reason to love the late '60s: the start of the modern environmental movement.
| 60s Flower Child Picnic Basket
From ahemvintage, $56. |
Garden Party Reusable Cloth Snack Bag By TheGuestroomCloset, $7. |
Bamboo or even handmade or vintage flatware can be recycled or reused. Cloth napkins are better for the environment and, in my opinion, make the dining experience more pleasant. If you want to find some fun, colorful prints for napkins or other food-related items, I recommend searching for "flower power kitchen."
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Picnic Placemat rolls up & washable By namolio, $21. |
NAPKINS Eco alternative to paper Set of 12 By LoveForEarth, $11.75. |
Throw down a picnic blanket and make sure to really spread out. A large picnic blanket actually helps you get a wee bit more elbow room at crowded venues. It doubles as a dance floor after the meal and a blanket for snuggling later. Remember those hippies embracing each other under a quilt on the cover of the original Woodstock album? Did you know they're still together! Check out the photo — see all the blankets strewn about? This is a totally crucial element to your music festival experience.
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I suggest this Linen Blanquilt, which you can By washmycloth, $90. |
Blend the quaint and the psychedelic
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What else is crucial for the mood at the concert? Wine! Having a lot of wine could actually help you make friends, or it could make cramped seating arrangements even more awkward — depends on your neighbors.
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Portable Wine Rack and Bottle Holder
By cenotemoss, $15. |
By TheBentTreeGallery, $36. |
I'd love to have cornflake!, in the photo above by Manucolla, and her friends as picnic neighbors. They have a portable record player!
I am an advocate of singing along to the live performances. What's one of the best things about going to all these reunion shows and bands that are still around since forever? You already know all the words!
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Some truly talented luthiers sell their handmade guitars The Classic Box --- 3 string guitar --- |
I was so excited to find harmonica necklaces on Etsy!
By chrysdesignsjewelry, $25. |
Oh, and how could I forget dessert! Food & Wine has some great recipes for desserts to bring on picnics. Look at these apple pie bars. These porcupine cookies also look intriguing. (The recipe is from an 11-year-old!) Find out how to make them here.
Photo © Quentin Bacon
Even if you can't make it to one of the big music festivals this summer, many towns have outdoor concerts. Let us know in the comments if you've attended any this season.
Special Subscription Deal for Etsy Friends:
Get 2 Years of Food & Wine for the Price of 1!
Food & Wine magazine brings readers delicious recipes, the hottest new chefs and restaurants, accessible wine guides, and much more in each issue. Click here.
For more fun summer entertaining ideas, go to foodandwine.com/entertaining. Check back here on the Etsy blog for more party planning posts — the editors at Food & Wine and The Storque will be sharing more ideas, recipes, and Etsy picks this summer.
82 comments Login to add your own!
Boldacious
Fantastic Storque!!
Vanessa you look Brilliant in your hippie photo:) - i felt exactly the same when i dressed up as a hippie for the first time too!
The first photograph is so great, +that portable player is F U N K Y!!!
Thankyou for link to video too, i hadn't seen it before.
Also a harmonica necklace!!!!? Have to purchase it's 2 of my loves in one:)
Rock On- D X
VintageinBohemia
colorful and fun! Love the vintage mixed with the eco friendly handmade!
SimpleTraditions
There is a lot of yummy looking food in here. Off to get a snack!
JeannineRobertsRoyce
Well, here I go betraying my # of years on the planet... but I was there at Woodstock. And I will say that it was everything you would imagine in your wildest dreams - especially the music. OMG, the music!! So, when you relive the event with parties and food, also remember to hug and grin and be joyful and dance, dance, dance. It is still the point of reference for me for all that is joyful and all that is possible. I am still a flower girl.
louloudo
Hurray! Hurray for this post, which has reminded me that in between the rain it is in fact still summer. And hurray for vegetarians, and picnics, and fun in general. Thanks!
BlackStar
I was a few years too young to go to Woodstock, but I remember the lines of cars on the highway.....
I can't believe that it's been 40 years!
GimCarry
Woodstock Festival so amazing
I want to born in this era.
Thank you Vanessa (* v *)
Toa
fernfiddlehead
sidquilts
What a neat essay. However, my dear, that is not a flower child picnic basket. It is a purse, yes a purse. Lovely ladies handpainted boxy baskets and wooden boxes in various shapes to all the best places in the late 60s and early 70s. And a hippie wouldn't be anywhere near it - it was de riguer for the upper middle-class housewife c. 1968.
Vanessa
JeannineRobertsRoyce, thanks for your comment! Who else among us was at Woodstock? I'm so jealous. As someone who likes to take photos, that's the main draw for me, in addition to the music and dancing -- an amazing time/place to take pictures.
janellelile
ChloesRuffleButt
BabbidgePatch
Flower Power ~ and Ain't it the Gas... LOL not allowed to go to Woodstock as I was too young according to my parents :)
gumbygirl
I love the 70's kitchen towel - it would look great with my Flower Power tray...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
workingforpeanuts
nightowlcraftworks
belovedbaglady
EJPcreations
yaelfran
WingsDove
As a child of the sixties, I appreciate this walk down memory lane -- I had a portable record player (from Sears), similar bright orange cookware, and painted flowers on the kitchen walls.
Guitars, dulcimers and harmonicas were very popular and played by many.
The late 1960's were turbulent and exciting times.
ViciousVintageFinds
Love the pic of you when you were a little girl !!! Awesome Portable record player!
aprilmist
uh, who is the hottie guy playing drums in the photo above? Sorry I missed woodstock too!
steinschmuckdesign
mtraub
My father says he headed out on the road to Woodstock, hit traffic, turned around and came back to the city. Ah, if only I had been around!
littletank
maijutzeler
rosybird
Love the recipe, love the vintage quilt top.... super fun! Been looking for good quinoa recipes... I just found out it is a complete protein!
baconsquarefarm
Cute pic of you vanessa, enjoyed my peruse down memory lane of woodstock, it was to far for anyone if my family to travel at the time. The quilt is unique and so typical of that era in time.
RockPaperSilver
Wow...I just took a peak at all the pictures via the link provided...looks like it was a FUN time!
JesseMosher
pattihaskins
If you'd like a commemorative plushstock guitar, look no farther than here:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results_sh...
GimCarry
This Saturday in history channel will offer hippy story Don't miss !!!
nectorgirl
Fairyfolk
Cool picnic picks. Wonderful 60's photo, Vanessa.
Blessings and magic.
MinceCo
:) product of the 70's here..
***I'm having a cracker of a sale starting this weekend***details to be on site soon***
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=...
MinceCo
product of the 70's here,
***I'm having a cracker of a sale starting this weekend***details to be on site soon***
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=...
TheCottageCheese
Such a fun post in tribute to Woodstock. Beautiful food, makes me hungry. Vanessa, you are too cute, you little hippie girl!
ClaudiaLord
My parents wouldn't let me go to Woodstock, but I did go to the site the next weekend and saw acres and acres of trash!
topsyturvydesign
Sadly my father moved from the east coast to san francisco, right before Woodstock :(
I would have loved to her the tales!!
Fab Storque!
1AEON
breadandroses
Too young to go but the Woodstock double/triple record album set was the next best thing.
In the spirit of 1969 back to the land:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
brownbelly
paramountvintage
wow! love the bill epridge photo. looks like nights we had playing
with my band mountain home. LOVE IT!
pengpengs
Cool! I was born in 1969, so all these things bring back fond memories :O) Peace + Love + crazy trousers!
mazedasastoat
It's so sweet that the "Woodstock" couple are still together. Happy Anniversary Woodstock, you started a revolution! :-)
ConservationClothing
ikabags
SavageRoseFlorals
Hi Vanessa! Yup i was there, fourth- 7th rows, front and center..on the cover of LIFE..The Woodstock article 1969. It was amazing, the energy of everyone there an experience that has lasted my lifetime. And the creative spirit still driving me on!
Thanks for posting this!
evihan
tortillagirl
Oh my goodness, looking at these items makes me feel like I'm a tiny child in California, early 70s. My parents, in their early 20s at the time, were not hippies but this feature captures the entire ambiance of that time. The vintage cookware...my mother had some like that in avocado green!
spacejam
Iammie
songsparrow
I love quinoa! People should use it in more recipes. Excited to try this one!
And yes, I'm pretty sure my parents had that cookwear, too... Funny.
ovgilliesdesigns
SpiritMama
I love it Vanessa, and I am sooo with you on the hippie nostalgia!
VixVintage
As a child of the 60's, thanks from the bottom of my bell bottoms!
norakaren
designlab443
riorita
I still love to listen to the music of Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, but I love to listen to classic music too!
LisaFerinDesigns
A bit too young for Woodstock, but grew up late 60's/early 70's Greenwich Village--a groovy place. I knew those clothes and still love the music!
TipsyTimeMachine
Arlo Guthrie (son of Woody) performed at our local Folk Festival just a few weeks ago.
EarthenTreasures
Also too young for Woodstock, but call me crazy, I like the look...as for quinoa salad, haven't been able to master the grain, yet!
ItsBella
ah! That cookware set is too cool! I have a pot, like the largest one, and I love it! That old enamel wears so nicely!
RetroLane
beachhouseblues
And of course, picnics need some flowers!
ALL FLOWER AND SHELL PRINTS 20% OFF!!!!!
MeadowbelleMarket
I WILL commentary being vegetarian, thanks! Lovely recipe for the quinoa salad (pronounced keen-wa). One aspect of not eating meat that I love is that it really forces you (in a nice way) to think outside the box and discover yummy foods you may never have noticed as you're being blindsided by steaks and burgers! Oh, the creativity!
cellophaneFlower
This entire article was wonderful. Oh how I wish that I would have been able to go to Woodstock! Anyone have a time machine?
TenThings
poppetandpinch
babook
Music is good way and almost person love it !! and the ECO it must we should to do in the world .... i think ; ) support world to keep the recycl way ........ NICE selection all items .
http://www.babook.etsy.com/ Also for must to view .
Perceptions
patspottery
treasuresupplies
PawPawsWorkshop
teenyhousebunny
WeeWoodNaturalToys
I try to make a show at least once a year. Although my experience now at shows is not quite the same as it used to be, say 8 or 9 years ago, (times they are a changin) I still get that lovely feeling of quiet inner peace.
Live jam bands in an open field and drum circles, ahhh.
GreenTease
I've always known I was born to late. I should have been at Woodstock!
poppyandclover
We went to the big, outdoor "Green Concert" concert with Paul McCartney on Saturday (the 15th) in Atlanta! Less people than Woodstock, but it did rain really hard and we got soaked and danced around on our blanket. It was a blast!
washmycloth
Great article! I had a 60's birthday party - all peace and love!
elisasherejewelry
my parents also discovered classical music during the height of the late 60's musical scene. Lame! fantastic veggie recipe, thanks for posting (newly vegetarian here).
buddhanature
aw darn, the bots beat me to it . . .
Just had to add, that salad recipe looks amazing I definitely going to have to try that.
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