Woodstock Early Bird was bemused, confused at the sight Saturday of what appeared to be dozens of fit, cheerful women buzzing around, walking the Village in high spirits, dodging into and out of local stores. They were emerging from said stores with purchases in shopping bags thrown into vehicles with Connecticut and Massachusetts license plates.
Was Foliage still underway and someone hadn’t informed Early Bird that the annual November emptying of the streets for “Twig Season” had been postponed? Was there a special “special” at the Woodstock Inn? Who would think that local restaurants might get reservations on a November weekend for large parties of five or twelve?
The answer soon became clear as a couple of ladies over the 50-plus variety delighted in the jewelry at Arjuna saying they had to go play hockey against some youngsters before coming back to buy bling.
So, the story is this: women hockey players from Cape Cod and Connecticut come to town to compete in a tournament at Woodstock’s Union Arena. The Village Business Alliance had arranged a deal for these female hockey players to receive 10 percent off in local shops! Bing0. We think it might have been a great idea! The “Slap Shot and Shop” weekend obviously brought in visitors who don’t mind things a little brisk and who obviously know how to move in on the puck — or a good deal. It certainly woke up the Village to have these women (and their families) in town during the start of the “dark months”.
Who won the competition? Play was still underway Sunday afternoon…We have no idea. But we’re pretty sure the whole weekend was a winner.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 