Street signs, shopfronts and graffiti seen around Beacon, Dutchess County, New York

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Now being described as ‘Williamsburg on the Hudson,’ the small town of Beacon in the post-industrial Hudson Valley has seen big changes in recently years.

Many of those changes are in stark contrast to when I first visited back in November 2005. Back then, there was no fashionable coffee shops to be found, and certainly no cupcakery and artisan bakers.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

With an influx of artists and ‘creatives’ moving into Beacon, street art has started to spring up on the otherwise untouched walls of the town, while fashionable restaurants and boutiques have opened up for business.

In 2011, the Gothamist rather harshly described this phenomenon as ‘Brooklyn Hipster Virus Spreads To Hudson Valley.’

Here’s a selection of photos from my travels walking around the town.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Bank Square coffee shop near the rail station.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

In the A-Z Guide to Gentrification, cupcakes have been described as “the footsoldiers of gentrification.” Be warned, Beacon.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Rail crossing.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Old restaurant sign.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

John’s shoe repairs. He’s an expert in leather, don’t you know.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Artwork by Bank Sq coffee shop.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Old warehouse which is set to be luxury apartments.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Closed shoe shop.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Fovea art gallery.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Beacon Institute bookstore and gallery.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

Hudson Beach Glass.

Street signs and graffiti seen around  Beacon, Dutchess County, New York, Summer 2014

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