Riding to Newburgh: History, Roads, and Coffee
The Ride
Newburgh & Beacon are often thought of as twin cities. They sit directly across the Hudson River from each other and are much larger than other towns near them. As Newburgh is on the other side of the Hudson from our start in Cross River, I knew we’d have to cross the Newburgh Beacon Bridge, which carries Interstate 84, to get there. With only 26.4 miles indicated on the Beeline in compass mode, there wouldn’t be many opportunities for many backroads since we would have to hit the highway to cross the river. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
We sometimes use affiliate links in our content. This won’t cost you anything extra, but if you purchase something from one of the links, we may earn some money for coffee. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leaving Cross River aboard the BMW R1200GSA, I headed north on Route 121 to grab the excellent reservoir road by the Titicus Reservoir and start heading west. After reaching Route 22, I turned north and quickly turned off onto Stoneleigh Avenue to catch the reservoir roads by the Croton Falls Reservoir.
Passing through Carmel, NY, I turned onto one of the most popular motorcycle roads in the area, Route 301. This road passes by several other reservoirs that feed the New York City water supply.
Shortly after Meads Corner, I turned onto Hortontown Road. This narrow, winding road climbs over several hills to the side of Route 301. It runs roughly north and eventually terminates with the only option to get on the Taconic Parkway headed north.
I took the Taconic to the next exit and continued to head northwest, passing under the Taconic, following the Beeline compass indication. I passed under Interstate 84 as the compass pointed more to my left. With a few side roads on the north side of Interstate 84, I eventually got on the Interstate to cross the river, passing Beacon on my left before the bridge leading to Newburgh, NY.
With much of Newburgh’s downtown in a grid pattern, I had a few turns to get to Broadway, where 2 Alices Coffee Lounge is located. On my visit, scaffolding was over the entrance, so finding the sign for 2 Alices was difficult. I eventually spotted it and found the angled parking right in front. It is a bit of a downward slope, though, so I turned the bike around before backing in to make exiting easier. Our trip’s total distance recorded by Rever was just 45.8 miles. See the route below.
REVER is a mobile app designed to help you track, plan, or navigate your ride. With the app, you can easily plan your route, view maps and directions, and track your distance using GPS technology. The app is an excellent tool for anyone who loves to ride and wants to keep track of their progress and distance.
The Coffee Shop
Newburgh is one of the larger cities in Orange County. Interstate 84 passes through, making it easy to reach. Stewart International Airport is nearby, offering an alternative to a long drive to the major airports in NYC or NJ.
The city is home to several historical sites, including Washington’s headquarters, located in Hasbrouck House. He and his staff were headquartered here for the last year and a half of the Revolutionary War, making it the longest-tenured headquarters of the future President during the war. NY State purchased Hasbrouck House in 1850, making it the first property acquired to be preserved by a state. The house is the oldest in Newburgh, built in 1750.
The city’s location midway between NYC and Albany helped make it an essential hub for trade. A manufacturing base also began covering a wide range of goods. Rail service started in 1883 via the West Shore Railroad. It was the second city to have an Edison Power Plant and a street lit by electric lighting.
While manufacturers had set up shop in the 19th century, they began to leave Newburgh by the late 20th century, looking for cheaper labor and taxes. The exodus had a substantial impact on the town; many of the buildings in the city were vacant, and the residential areas had significant deterioration. An effort in the 1960s and 70s to renew the area resulted in several historic buildings being demolished along the waterfront. While initially intended for new buildings to be built, the 1973 oil crisis caused state & federal funding to dry up. Today, the blocks near the waterfront are primarily open, with grassy slopes offering spectacular views, but the town has no tax base. Though sentiment today makes it unlikely they will ever be built upon, some waterfront saw renewal efforts in the 1990s, and the ferry to Beacon was re-opened in 2005.
The city is still considered one of the most stressed in the state, with a large percentage of residents below the poverty line, several abandoned buildings, and high unemployment. Broadway, where 2 Alices is located, is 132 feet wide, making it one of the widest streets in NY State. The width does hint at the previous grandeur that Newburgh experienced, and perhaps one that will return with the revitalization efforts. Yet, even Broadway has this urban decay, with a few buildings still visible with obvious decay. The efforts to revitalize Newburgh are ongoing, but supporting local businesses like 2 Alices is critical to reinforcing that mission.
Entering 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, I noticed poured concrete floors and exposed brick on one side. Several tables were dispersed on either side as you entered. The counter is located about midway into the space. On the right is a large chalkboard with the menu. Several pastries were on display near the cashier. Behind the counter, there is more seating and restrooms. A lot of the floor space is left open to foot traffic. Seeing several people come in to grab a coffee to go makes sense.
It did leave a very open feeling, which was comfortable. Several others were in the now-cliche mode of working with their laptops at a table. The open atmosphere does lend itself to becoming a working space for those who can work remotely, with plenty of good coffee to energize them.
Artists are also supported with several artwork pieces on the walls via consignment with price tags listed. The art was from various styles, and given the consignment nature, it is sure to rotate out so that you may see different pieces during your visit.
While I’ve spent quite a bit describing the space, the staff was just as impressive. Reviewing the menu on the chalkboard, I made my selections and shared them with the staff. They offered to bring them to my table once they finished preparing them.
After I’d ordered, I grabbed a table. I had my iPad open and found the WiFi access point, but I went looking for the password on one of the signs. The helpful staff asked if I was looking for the WiFi password, noting, “I had that looking for the password look.” It is nice to see a staff member watching body language so closely, as it is a testimony to their service-oriented style.
Within a few minutes, the staff brought a red eye served in a paper cup with the 2 Alices logo emblazoned on it and the cinnamon bun they had heated up for me.
The coffee had an incredible smell and a smooth texture with no bitterness evident. The cinnamon bun was sweet, with a delicious white frosting on top. The pairing was an excellent complement to the inviting space of 2 Alices.
With Newburgh’s history, incredible space, welcoming and astute staff, and fantastic coffee, you owe it to yourself to make the trip to 2 Alices Coffee Lounge in Newburgh, NY!
