Trying to Get The Feeling Again

You don't have to travel to Woodstock to experience the shrewdmarketing of a pop culture happening. Like losing your virginity,Woodstock happens only once. Its feeling cannot be re-created. Yetthese are a few of the folks who are trying: Lettuce Entertain You's flagship restaurant, R.J. Grunt's, 2056 N.Lincoln Park West, is hosting a "psychedelic special event" with itsSalute to the 25th Anniversary of Woodstock Friday through Aug. 14.According to a press release, waitresses will be dressed "hippiestyle" with "flowers in their hair." Grunt's is encouragingcustomers to dress the same, and they should plan to "enjoyWoodstock-related contests and sing-alongs" while 1969 music is pipedthrough the restaurant.

Lettuce Entertain You missed the boat. It should have turnedEd Debevic's into Ed Sanders', in tribute to the Fugs founder andlongtime Woodstock resident. Tower Records, 2301 N. Clark, is handling a line of officalWoodstock T-shirts, golf shirts, baseball caps and jean jackets. Inmid-July, Tower administrative assistant Cherie Breaux ordered justone blue-denim jean jacket that retails for $115. No one has boughtit yet.

"Right now, there's no interest," Breaux said last week. "Butthe actual event hasn't taken place. Once there's televisionfootage, people might get more interested."

Breaux said Tower plans to cross market its Woodstockmerchandise, incorporating clothing, books, music and the CD-ROM andCD-video combination that's being peddled through late-nightinfomercials. Woodstock promoter Michael Lang dreams of bring out an entire lineof Woodstock clothing and even starting a bunch of Woodstock Cafes,not unlike the Hard Rock Cafe chain.

Next weekend's festival will have its own electronicnewsletter, published on-site by Apple, and automatic tellermachines. Pepsi-Cola, one of several corporate sponsors, will sellsoft drinks in commemorative Woodstock cans.