Woodstock, pinnacle of the hippie dream, turns 50
(Artdaily.org)

A freewheeling weekend of indulgence. A New York farm transformed by idealistic youths into a mid-size city. A celebration of rock music and utopian ideals. Woodstock was many things but one thing is clear -- it is revered by many as the cultural touchstone of a generation. The 1969 festival of peace, love and music marks its 50th anniversary this weekend, triggering a wave of nostalgia for an era when rock was for the young, tie-dye was cool, long hair was a statement, and kids said `groovy` without a trace of irony. It`s estimated that anywhere from 400,000 to half a million people descended on Max Yasgur`s alfalfa fields in upstate New York that August 15-18, embarking on a trip of a party that saw icons like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Santana jam as increasingly filthy festival-goers danced, stripped and dropped acid in torrential rain. At the outset,