Questions About Brighton Beach Area...

[RickM]

I understand Brighton Beach area is a higly Russian populated area.The wife and I are thinking about traveling down the coastline 4 hours or so from Boston for a weekend get-away.
Anyone know anything about Brighton Beach Area and where to stay,what to expect, and what to do while there

[RickM]

... in response to Questions About Brighton Beach Area..., posted by RickM on Apr 16, 2003

sort of resort beach area like Asbury Park with Boardwalk and shops but after reading everyone's opinions on the area I'll be certain to take all into consideration.Thanks everybody...See how this site can help with just about anything

[tim360z]

... in response to Wow! Thanks All...I Was Expecting Some....., posted by RickM on Apr 18, 2003

better trip to walk the boards,  or better yet, Point Pleasant Beach.

[ChrisNJ]

... in response to Asbury Park would be a, posted by tim360z on Apr 18, 2003

Unless you have a Time Machine. lol

Their are plenty of better destinations in NJ.

http://www.state.nj.us/travel/

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Questions About Brighton Beach Area..., posted by RickM on Apr 16, 2003

Russians primarily live in Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach and Sheepshed Bay in Brooklyn, New York.  Manhattan Beach is one of the most elegant and upscale portions of all of New York City - rivaling the fanciest parts of Manhattan but with water and without tall skyscrapers.  Brighton Beach is as described by other posters - for the most part seedy, some parts acceptable- very Russian but can give you the creeps.  Sheepshed Bay is a very good part of Brooklyn - stores in Russian / English etc. as well.
I suggest you stay in Manhattan (look for hotels with discounts / coupon discounts on the internet) and take the Q train to the last stop (Brighton Beach).  From there you can take a long walk to Manhattan Beach (or a short taxi ride) - where it is very Russian and very up-scale (where you might see / feel an omnipresent Russian mafia presence).

[tim360z]

... in response to I live in Sheepshed Bay, posted by Bobby Orr on Apr 17, 2003

Yes.  I didn't want to say its a dump...like JerseyMike said,  but that was my impression.  Russian mafia...didn't want to say that either...one feels the presence.  Not such a nice place. But,  originally, some emigres did do time in Brighton Beach.  Most successful Russian emigres I have met are now living in Westchester or LI...they made the jump outta Brighton.  They assimilated and don't return to Brighton for...anything.

[Charles]

... in response to Questions About Brighton Beach Area..., posted by RickM on Apr 16, 2003

I concur with the other comments that Brighton Beach is no Shangri-La.  My wife has some good friends there and, in addition to the lack of ambience, it's about a 1.25 hour subway ride into Manhattan, so make sure you have car!

[tim360z]

... in response to Questions About Brighton Beach Area..., posted by RickM on Apr 16, 2003

Don't get any "beach" ideas.  Vaghn is accurate.  Its Brooklyn,  but with a little Russian twist.  It is not a pretty area.  If you are looking for a particuliar person...that is one thing.  But if you want to "soak up the atmosphere"...forget it.  Its a dump.  Brighton beach is an area most Russians there want to leave for a better neighborhood.  Do a driveby.

[Jersey Mike]

... in response to Re: Questions About Brighton Beach Area...., posted by tim360z on Apr 16, 2003

You guys are absolutely right about Brighton Beach - it is a dump.  Many recent immigrants can't wait to get out.  My ex, on the other hand, prefers living there because she does not have to assimilate into an "American" lifestyle (if there is such a thing!)  There are better parts of Brooklyn, but they are not in any way tourist attractions.

Better to hang out in Manhattan as suggested below.

[vagn]

... in response to Questions About Brighton Beach Area..., posted by RickM on Apr 16, 2003

Brighton Beach is part of Brooklyn.
It looks a lot like any other part of Brooklyn:
small seedy multi-family houses, lots of old
apartment buildings, expensive to park, small
crowded stores, nothing to do, except walk on the beach.
You have better beaches near Boston.

What you will find is video stores with Russian titles,
same for bookstores, and some grocery stores with
E. European canned goods, candies, and other stuff.

It may be worth your time, but don't think you will be
the least bit charmed by the place.

On the other hand, if you go there as part of a trip
to New York City you may really enjoy yourself.

Consider this:
train to penn
bronx zoo one day
broadway show at night
overnight at a hotel
next morning met. museum of art
trip to Brighton Beach on Q train, dinner,  shopping
overnight hotel
next morning museum nat. history
walk trough central park
train to south station

remember, this place is big. BIG BIG BIG.
You can't do more than a couple of things a day
without rushing and killing yourself.
You can always come back.

Talk to your travel agent about a package deal:
train, hotel, broadway.

Alternatively: one of the dumbest things you can do
is bring a car to NYC.  If amtrak is too expensive
(and they are) then you can drive to New Haven,
park at the train station for cheap, and take
metro-north to the city for about $11 ea.  Maybe you
want a B&B in CT. and just make day trips to NYC.
Metro north terminates at grand Central :-)

When you get here, buy two day-passes, good on all
city busses and subways.

Have fun!

[SteveM]

... in response to Re: Questions About Brighton Beach Area...., posted by vagn on Apr 16, 2003

Agree with much of the itinerary, although I think you left out the shopping part--stores like Lord & Taylor and Macy's are a block wide and several stories high.  Also, the shoe stores may attract interest (try 42nd Street, if I remember correctly).  Macy's is on the edge of the Fashion District (used to be the Garment District), and my wife found the window displays of the wholesalers there fairly interesting as well.

I guess I am the only one who actually likes driving in NYC.  If you are interested in going places slightly off the beaten path (i.e., not midtown Manhatten, no bridges/tunnels during rush hour), I don't think driving is nearly as bad as some people say.

One thing about Brighton Beach--the main avenue is under the el-train tracks, so it will be more attractive, and probably safer, to think about going during the daylight hours.

[vagn]

... in response to NYC trips, posted by SteveM on Apr 17, 2003

He's traveling with his wife.
I didn't think I needed to mention shopping ;-)

[Mark A]

... in response to NYC trips, posted by SteveM on Apr 17, 2003

Be sure to hit lower Manhattan, it's perfect to walk around on a Sat. or Sun. because there's very little foot traffic on weekends. Check out the NYSE, the Federal Building, and the Federal Reserve. Not much to see at Ground Zero except for an empty pit, but stroll on by and check out the Winter Garden atrium on the far side of the pit. The architecture downtown is beautiful, many of the buildings date back to the founding of the republic and the detail is extraordinary. I'm not much for touristy things like seeing Broadway or Times Square, but if the weather is nice you can't go wrong with a cruise around the island.

[Dan]

... in response to Questions About Brighton Beach Area..., posted by RickM on Apr 16, 2003

Posted about a few of his observations of Brighton Beach recently (look lower on the board).

Maybe he will jump in or you can send him an e-mail.

- Dan