Brighton Beach
Encyclopedia
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City
borough
of Brooklyn
. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.
at Ocean Parkway
to the west, Manhattan Beach
at Corbin Place to the east, Gravesend
at the Belt Parkway
to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean
to the south (at the Riegelmann Boardwalk/beachfront). It is patrolled by the NYPD's 60th Precinct.
The centerpiece of the resort was the large Hotel Brighton (or Brighton Beach Hotel), placed on the beach at what is now the foot of Coney Island Avenue
and accessed by the Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Coney Island Railway, which opened on July 2, 1878. After a series of winter storms threatened to swamp the hotel, an audacious plan was developed to move it in one piece 520 feet further inland by placing railroad track and 112 railroad flat cars under the raised 460 ft. by 130 ft. building and using six steam locomotive
s to pull it away from the sea. Engineered by B.C. Miller, the move was begun on April 2, 1888 and continued for the next nine days, being the largest building move of the 19th century.
Adjacent to the hotel, Engeman built the Brighton Beach Race Course
for Thoroughbred
horse racing
. The village was annexed into the 31st Ward of the City of Brooklyn in 1894.
Brighton Beach was re-developed as a fairly dense residential community with the final rebuilding of the Brighton Beach railway into a modern rapid transit
line, known as the BMT Brighton Line
of the New York City Subway
c. 1920. The subway system in the neighborhood is above ground on an elevated structure.
The years just before and following The Great Depression brought with them a neighborhood consisting mostly of first and second generation Jewish-Americans and, later, a number of concentration camp survivors. Notable establishments included Diamond's (a small clothing store owned by the parents of Neil Diamond
), Irving's Deli, Mrs. Stahl's Knishes and The Famous, a kosher restaurant. The summer would bring the crowds, and many world renowned celebrities, to the Brighton Beach Baths (Private Beach Club) and surrounding public beaches.
Today, the area has a large community of Jewish immigrants who left the Former Soviet Union since 1970. Some non-Jewish immigrants, such as Armenians
and Georgians, have also settled in Brighton Beach and the surrounding neighborhoods, taking advantage of the already established Russian-speaking community.
Among the charitable organizations serving the Russian-speaking community is the Russian Community Life Center, which provides a variety of classes and programs.
, a city of Ukraine
. In 2006, Alec Brook-Krasny
was elected for the 46th District of the New York State Assembly
, the first elected Soviet-born Jewish politician
from Brighton Beach.
Brighton Beach is home to many other ethnic group
s. On Brighton 7th Street and Neptune Avenue, there is a mosque
where Muslims (mostly from Pakistan
and Bangladesh
) pray, and another between Brighton 8th Street and Banner Avenue known as Al-Arqam. Nearby areas are sometimes called "Pakistani Brighton". There are numerous Jewish
, Polish
, Ukrainian
, Armenian
, Turkish
, Azeri and Georgian
residents, but relatively few Italian-Americans or African-Americans. There are also some Korea
n markets, but for the most part their owners do not reside in the neighborhood. In addition to the many Russians and other communities from the former Soviet Union, there is a small but significant community of Koryo-saram or ethnic Koreans from Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, who have settled in the neighborhood. Notable past residents include former talk-show host Larry King
.
Brighton Beach is replete with restaurants, food stores, cafes, boutiques, banks, etc., located primarily along Brighton Beach Avenue and its cross streets. The neighborhood has a distinctively ethnic feel. The proximity of Brighton Beach to the city's beaches (Brighton Beach Avenue runs parallel to the Coney Island
beach and boardwalk) and the fact the neighborhood is directly served by a subway station
makes it a popular summer weekend destination for New York City residents.
and Ocean Parkway
, serving the neighborhood. Both are located on an elevated structure over Brighton Beach Avenue. The Q
train provides local service north to Manhattan at all times while the B
train provides express service weekdays only.
. Manhattan Beach is zoned to PS 225 The Eileen E. Zaglin School for grades K-8, as well as PS 100 The Coney Island School located on Brighton Beach and West 3rd Street for grades K-5 and P.S. 253 The Magnet School of Multicultural Humanities.
Nearby high schools include:
, which served as a robbery gang for larger Russian crime syndicates in New York City. Marat Balagula
was a crime boss from Brighton Beach who denies having any connection to the American Mafia
or the Russian-speaking Mafia.
Brighton Beach is mentioned:
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.
Location
Brighton Beach is bounded by Coney IslandConey Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
at Ocean Parkway
Ocean Parkway (Brooklyn)
Ocean Parkway is a broad boulevard in the west central portion of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City.-Route description:Ocean Parkway extends over a distance of about five miles , running almost north to south from the vicinity of Prospect Park to Brighton Beach...
to the west, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn
Manhattan Beach is a residential neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, by Sheepshead Bay on the north, and Brighton Beach to the west. Traditionally known as an Italian and Ashkenazi Jewish neighborhood, it is also home to...
at Corbin Place to the east, Gravesend
Gravesend, Brooklyn
Gravesend is a neighborhood in the south-central section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA.The derivation of the name is unclear. Some speculate that it was named after the English seaport of Gravesend, Kent. An alternative explanation suggests that it was named by Willem Kieft for the...
at the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the south (at the Riegelmann Boardwalk/beachfront). It is patrolled by the NYPD's 60th Precinct.
History
Brighton Beach was developed by William A. Engeman as a beach resort in 1868, and was named by Henry C. Murphy and a group of businessmen in an 1878 contest; the winning name evoked the resort of Brighton, England.The centerpiece of the resort was the large Hotel Brighton (or Brighton Beach Hotel), placed on the beach at what is now the foot of Coney Island Avenue
Coney Island Avenue
Coney Island Avenue is a roadway in the New York City borough of Brooklyn that runs north-south for a distance of roughly five miles, almost parallel to Ocean Parkway. It begins at Brighton Beach Avenue in Coney Island and goes north to Park Circle at the southwest corner of Prospect Park, where...
and accessed by the Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Coney Island Railway, which opened on July 2, 1878. After a series of winter storms threatened to swamp the hotel, an audacious plan was developed to move it in one piece 520 feet further inland by placing railroad track and 112 railroad flat cars under the raised 460 ft. by 130 ft. building and using six steam locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s to pull it away from the sea. Engineered by B.C. Miller, the move was begun on April 2, 1888 and continued for the next nine days, being the largest building move of the 19th century.
Adjacent to the hotel, Engeman built the Brighton Beach Race Course
Brighton Beach Race Course
The Brighton Beach Race Course was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility opened at Brighton Beach, Coney Island, New York on June 28, 1879 by the Brighton Beach Racing Association. Headed by real estate developer William A. Engeman, who owned the Brighton Beach Hotel, the one-mile race...
for Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. The village was annexed into the 31st Ward of the City of Brooklyn in 1894.
Brighton Beach was re-developed as a fairly dense residential community with the final rebuilding of the Brighton Beach railway into a modern rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line, known as the BMT Brighton Line
BMT Brighton Line
The BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays...
of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
c. 1920. The subway system in the neighborhood is above ground on an elevated structure.
The years just before and following The Great Depression brought with them a neighborhood consisting mostly of first and second generation Jewish-Americans and, later, a number of concentration camp survivors. Notable establishments included Diamond's (a small clothing store owned by the parents of Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
), Irving's Deli, Mrs. Stahl's Knishes and The Famous, a kosher restaurant. The summer would bring the crowds, and many world renowned celebrities, to the Brighton Beach Baths (Private Beach Club) and surrounding public beaches.
Today, the area has a large community of Jewish immigrants who left the Former Soviet Union since 1970. Some non-Jewish immigrants, such as Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
and Georgians, have also settled in Brighton Beach and the surrounding neighborhoods, taking advantage of the already established Russian-speaking community.
Among the charitable organizations serving the Russian-speaking community is the Russian Community Life Center, which provides a variety of classes and programs.
Culture
Brighton Beach was dubbed "Little Odessa" by the local populace due to many of its residents having come from OdessaOdessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, a city of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. In 2006, Alec Brook-Krasny
Alec Brook-Krasny
Alec Brook-Krasny is an American Jewish politician and the first Soviet-born Russian language speaker to become a New York State Assembly member elected for the 46th District on November 7, 2006. He is affiliated with the Democratic Party...
was elected for the 46th District of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, the first elected Soviet-born Jewish politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Brighton Beach.
Brighton Beach is home to many other ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s. On Brighton 7th Street and Neptune Avenue, there is a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
where Muslims (mostly from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) pray, and another between Brighton 8th Street and Banner Avenue known as Al-Arqam. Nearby areas are sometimes called "Pakistani Brighton". There are numerous Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
, Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
, Azeri and Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
residents, but relatively few Italian-Americans or African-Americans. There are also some Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n markets, but for the most part their owners do not reside in the neighborhood. In addition to the many Russians and other communities from the former Soviet Union, there is a small but significant community of Koryo-saram or ethnic Koreans from Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, who have settled in the neighborhood. Notable past residents include former talk-show host Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
.
Brighton Beach is replete with restaurants, food stores, cafes, boutiques, banks, etc., located primarily along Brighton Beach Avenue and its cross streets. The neighborhood has a distinctively ethnic feel. The proximity of Brighton Beach to the city's beaches (Brighton Beach Avenue runs parallel to the Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
beach and boardwalk) and the fact the neighborhood is directly served by a subway station
Brighton Beach (BMT Brighton Line)
Brighton Beach is an express/terminal station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway. It is located over Brighton Beach Avenue at Brighton Sixth Street in the community of Brighton Beach on Coney Island in Brooklyn.- Description:...
makes it a popular summer weekend destination for New York City residents.
Roadways
Major roadways in Brighton Beach are the Belt Parkway, Coney Island Avenue and Ocean Parkway.New York City Subway
The BMT Brighton Line has two stations, Brighton BeachBrighton Beach (BMT Brighton Line)
Brighton Beach is an express/terminal station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway. It is located over Brighton Beach Avenue at Brighton Sixth Street in the community of Brighton Beach on Coney Island in Brooklyn.- Description:...
and Ocean Parkway
Ocean Parkway (BMT Brighton Line)
Ocean Parkway is an express station on the New York City Subway's BMT Brighton Line. Located at Brighton Beach Avenue and Ocean Parkway in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, it is served by the Q train at all times.-Layout:...
, serving the neighborhood. Both are located on an elevated structure over Brighton Beach Avenue. The Q
Q (New York City Subway service)
The Q Broadway Express is a service of the New York City Subway. It is colored yellow on the route sign, on station signs and the official subway map, as it represents a service provided on the BMT Broadway Line through Manhattan....
train provides local service north to Manhattan at all times while the B
B (New York City Subway service)
The B Sixth Avenue Express is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored orange on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map, since it runs over the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan....
train provides express service weekdays only.
Education
Brighton Beach is served by the New York City Department of EducationNew York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
. Manhattan Beach is zoned to PS 225 The Eileen E. Zaglin School for grades K-8, as well as PS 100 The Coney Island School located on Brighton Beach and West 3rd Street for grades K-5 and P.S. 253 The Magnet School of Multicultural Humanities.
Nearby high schools include:
- Rachel Carson High School of Coastal Studies
- The Leon M. Goldstein High School for the SciencesThe Leon M. Goldstein High School for the SciencesThe Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences at Kingsborough Community College, CUNY, formerly Kingsborough High School for the Sciences is a four year high school , located in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York. Leon M...
- William E. Grady Vocational High SchoolWilliam E. Grady Vocational High SchoolWilliam E. Grady Career and Technical Education High School is a public, Career and Technical Education high school located at 25 Brighton 4th Road, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, and is a part of region 7 in the New York City Department of Education.Built in 1941, Grady has a four year...
- Abraham Lincoln High School
Crime
In the 1970s Brighton Beach was a hot spot for the Russian-speaking Mafia. While the Russian-speaking mob still holds a small influence over Brighton Beach, notorious gangs roamed the city and owned businesses in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The most notorious was the Potato Bag GangPotato Bag gang
The Potato Bag Gang, a manifestation of the Odessa Mafia, was a gang of con artists from Odessa that operated in New York City's Soviet emigre community in the Brighton Beach area of New York City in the mid-1970s.-Criminal activity:...
, which served as a robbery gang for larger Russian crime syndicates in New York City. Marat Balagula
Marat Balagula
Marat Balagula is a Russian - Ukrainian Jewish immigrant, former mob boss, and associate of the Lucchese crime family. He has often been referred to as "the Russian Tony Soprano."-Early life:...
was a crime boss from Brighton Beach who denies having any connection to the American Mafia
American Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
or the Russian-speaking Mafia.
In popular culture
- The Neil SimonNeil SimonNeil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
play, Brighton Beach MemoirsBrighton Beach MemoirsBrighton Beach Memoirs is a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon, the first chapter in what is known as his Eugene trilogy. It precedes Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound.-Characters:*Eugene Morris Jerome, almost 15...
, which won two Tony awardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
s in 1983, and its subsequent film adaptation, are both set against the backdrop of Brighton Beach in 1937. - The 1994 film Little OdessaLittle OdessaLittle Odessa is an American crime film released in 1994 by James Gray, featuring Tim Roth, Edward Furlong, Moira Kelly and Vanessa Redgrave.The film earned a Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Critic Prize at the Deauville Film Festival...
is set in Brighton Beach. - In Darren AronofskyDarren AronofskyDarren Aronofsky is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. He attended Harvard University to study film theory and the American Film Institute to study both live-action and animation filmmaking...
's 2000 film, Requiem for a Dream, the character Sara Goldfarb (played by Ellen BurstynEllen BurstynEllen Burstyn is a leading American actress of film, stage, and television. Burstyn's career began in theatre during the late 1950s, and over the next ten years she appeared in several films and television series before joining the Actors Studio in 1967...
) lives in an apartment on Brighton 6th Street. - In the film Lord of WarLord of WarLord of War is a 2005 French-German-American action drama film written and directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. It was released in the United States on September 16, 2005, with the DVD following on January 17, 2006 and the Blu-ray Disc on July 27, 2006.Cage plays an illegal arms...
, the main character, Yuri Orlov, played by Nicolas CageNicolas CageNicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
, lives in Brighton Beach. - In the 2007 crime drama, We Own the NightWe Own the NightWe Own the Night is a 2007 American crime drama film written and directed by James Gray and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. It is the third film directed by Gray, and the second film to feature Phoenix and Wahlberg together, the first being The Yards...
, the character Bobby Green, played by Joaquin PhoenixJoaquin PhoenixJoaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
, is the manager of a nightclub in Brighton Beach. - In the 2009 film Two LoversTwo Lovers (film)Two Lovers is a 2008 American romantic drama film, taking its inspiration from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story "White Nights". which was already turned into a film by Luchino Visconti: Le Notti Bianche. The movie is directed by James Gray and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Vinessa...
, featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth PaltrowGwyneth PaltrowGwyneth Kate Paltrow is an American actress and singer. She made her acting debut on stage in 1990 and started appearing in films in 1991. After appearing in several films throughout the decade, Paltrow gained early notice for her work in films such as Se7en and Emma...
, the action takes place in Brighton Beach. - Brighton Beach is also featured in the 1990s Russian spy-comedy Weather Is Good on Deribasovskaya, It Rains Again on Brighton Beach.
- In the Russian crime film Brother 2, Danila, the protagonist, comes to Brighton Beach from Russia.
- In the 1998 novel In Every Laugh a Tear by Lesléa NewmanLesléa NewmanLesléa Newman, born in 1955 in Brooklyn, New York, is an American author and editor. She is Jewish, a feminist and openly lesbian.She has written and edited 57 books and anthologies. She has written about such topics as being a Jew, body image and eating disorders, lesbianism, gay parenting, and...
, developments take place partly in Brighton Beach. - In the 1998 trading autobiography The Education of a Speculator, speculator and hedge fund manager Victor NiederhofferVictor NiederhofferVictor Niederhoffer is a hedge fund manager, champion squash player, bestselling author and statistician.Victor Niderhoffer was born in Brooklyn to a Jewish family. His father, Arthur, graduated from Brooklyn Law School but went to work in the police. Victor’s mother, Elaine was a teacher....
takes us back to his childhood in Brighton Beach during the 1950s. - In the 2000 novel VectorVector (novel)Vector is the 1999 suspense thriller book written by Robin Cook.-Plot summary:New York City cab driver Yuri Davydov is a disgruntled Russian émigré poised to lash out at the adoptive nation he believes has denied him the American Dream...
by Robin CookRobin Cook (novelist)Dr. Robin Cook is an American physician and novelist who writes about medicine and topics affecting public health....
, disillusioned former Russian biochemical worker Yuri Davydov develops weapons-grade Anthrax in the basement of his Brighton Beach home. - Brighton Beach is where Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character Neil McCormick was taken to be beaten and raped in the 2004 film, Mysterious SkinMysterious SkinMysterious Skin is a 2004 drama film directed by American filmmaker Gregg Araki, who also wrote the screenplay based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Scott Heim...
. - In the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
, Brighton Beach is represented by the neighborhood of "Hove Beach". This is in reference to Brighton, EnglandBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
's proximity to, and relationship with, neighboring HoveHoveHove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
. The two, having city statusCity status in the United KingdomCity status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
, are officially known as Brighton and Hove. - In the songs "Xero Tolerance" and "Hey Pete" by Type O NegativeType O NegativeType O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, Brighton Beach is mentioned as the place where Pete is going to kill his cheating girlfriend. The D-trainD (New York City Subway service)The D Sixth Avenue Express is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored orange on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map, since it uses the IND Sixth Avenue Line through Manhattan....
is his means of transportation in these songs. The full title of the band's faux-live album on which these songs appear is "The Origin Of The Feces - Not Live At Brighton Beach". - In the video game, XIIIXIII (video game)XIII is a first-person shooter video game, developed by Ubisoft. It was released for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube consoles and the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. The game is based upon the 1984 Belgian XIII comic book series.XIII was developed and published by...
, Brighton Beach is one of the first settings of the game's complex plotline. - The French electronic music group TelepopmusikTélépopmusikTélépopmusik is a French electronic music trio, composed of Fabrice Dumont , Stephan Haeri , and Christophe Hetier....
has a song on their album Angel MilkAngel MilkAngel Milk is the second album from French electronic group Télépopmusik, released on June 21, 2005.Before track 1 is a spoken intro which can only be found in the pregap.-Track listing:# "Don't Look Back" – 3:50...
entitled "Brighton Beach". - In the space flight simulator Orbiter, there is a fictional base on the moonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
named Brighton Beach. - On the TV series The West Wing, Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) hails from Brighton Beach.
- On the TV series Bored to DeathBored to DeathBored to Death is an American comedy series, which premiered on HBO on September 20, 2009. , three seasons have aired, each consisting of eight episodes. The show was created by author Jonathan Ames, and stars Jason Schwartzman as a fictional Jonathan Ames – a writer based in Brooklyn, New York...
, unlicensed private detective Jonathan Ames investigates a case based at a Russian nightclub in Brighton Beach. - A Lifetime reality TV show called Russian DollsRussian Dolls (TV series)Russian Dolls is an American reality television series that premiered on Lifetime on August 11, 2011, in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight Russian women living at Brighton Beach. Lifetime has committed to 12 episodes.-Airings:...
, documenting the lives of young Russian-Americans and a group of Brighton Beach housewives spending time in a popular Russian nightclub, Rasputin Restaurant, premiered August 11, 2011. - In an episode of the CBS's Blue BloodsBlue BloodsThe Blue Bloods was the name of the professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling that consisted of "Lord" Steven Regal, "Earl" Robert Eaton, and "Squire" David Taylor, along with their butler Jeeves, that operated in the middle to late 1990s....
the storyline revolves around the murder of a Russian Mob associate who lived in Brighton Beach. Several scenes are shot on and around the boardwalk. - In Haley Tanner's debut novel "Vaclav and Lena" (2011) action takes place in Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is mentioned:
- In a Rilo KileyRilo KileyRilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
song "Close Call", in which the lyrics "She was born on a Brighton pier to a gypsy mother and a bucket of tears..." are sung. - In a Little BrazilLittle BrazilLittle Brazil is a four-piece rock band that formed in 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska. It was first created by Landon Hedges, formerly of The Good Life and Desaparecidos. Originally he intended to use the name Little Brazil for his solo work, he recruited his friends Dan Maxwell on bass and Corey Broman...
song "Brighton Beach", in which the lyrics, "I first met her Brighton Beach back in 1973..." are sung. - In two songs on gypsy punkGypsy punkGypsy punk is the term used to describe a hybrid musical genre that crosses traditional Romani music with punk rock. The origin of the term is unknown, but bands playing Gypsy punk have existed at least since the 1990s. One of the first rock groups to incorporate elements of punk and Eastern...
band Gogol BordelloGogol BordelloGogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring.Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music...
's album Multi Kontra Culti vs. IronyMulti Kontra Culti vs. IronyMulti Kontra Culti vs. Irony is the second album from Gogol Bordello, released in 2002 by Rubric Records. The songs "Occurrence on the Border " and "Through the Roof 'n Underground" were featured in the soundtrack of the 2006 film, Wristcutters: A Love Story.-Track listing:...
: "Smarkatch" and "Let's Get Radical". - In the 2002 film 25th Hour25th Hour25th Hour is a 2002 American drama film directed by Spike Lee and is based on the novel The 25th Hour written by David Benioff, who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox...
during Edward NortonEdward NortonEdward Harrison Norton is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...
's rant about New York City. - In the German soap opera Verbotene LiebeVerbotene LiebeVerbotene Liebe , often abbreviated to VL, is a Rose d'Or Award-winning German television soap opera. The show was created by Reg Watson and first broadcast on Das Erste on 2 January 1995...
(Forbidden Love), when Christian MannChristian MannChristian Mann is a popular fictional character on German soap opera Verbotene Liebe portrayed by actor Thore Schölermann since November 27, 2006.-Storylines:...
and Oliver SabelOliver SabelOliver Sabel is a popular fictional character in the German soap opera Verbotene Liebe . The character is portrayed by actor Jo Weil from December 31, 1999 to September 3, 2002 and again since November 2, 2007....
return to DüsseldorfDüsseldorfDüsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
from New York. Christian claims to have learned a new recipe while in "Little Odessa".
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Brighton Beach include:- Marat BalagulaMarat BalagulaMarat Balagula is a Russian - Ukrainian Jewish immigrant, former mob boss, and associate of the Lucchese crime family. He has often been referred to as "the Russian Tony Soprano."-Early life:...
(b. 1943) neighborhood mob boss during the 1980s - Eddie DanielsEddie DanielsEddie Daniels is an American musician. Though he is best known as a jazz clarinet player, he has also played alto and tenor saxophones, as well as classical music on the clarinet....
, clarinettist and saxophonist - Howard GreenfieldHoward GreenfieldHoward Greenfield was an American lyricist and songwriter, who for several years in the 1960s worked out of the famous Brill Building...
(1936–86), songwriter - Vyacheslav IvankovVyacheslav IvankovVyacheslav Kirillovich Ivankov was a notorious member of the Russian Mafia who was believed to have connections with Russian state intelligence organizations and their organized crime partners. He has operated in both the Soviet Union and the United States...
(1940-2009), alleged crime boss - Jack KirbyJack KirbyJack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
(1917-94), comic book artist, co-creator of Captain AmericaCaptain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
during the early 1940s - Lea Bayers RappLea Bayers RappLea Bayers Rapp is an American non-fiction and children's fiction writer. Among her books are "Put Your Kid in Show Biz" and "Mazel Tov! The Complete Book of Jewish Weddings." She also writes for periodicals and is a member of the Authors Guild.Lea Bayers was born into a Jewish family from Brooklyn...
(born 1946), author, journalist, playwright - Lynn Ross (stage name), dancer in original 1957 Broadway production of West Side Story
- Neil SedakaNeil SedakaNeil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
(born 1939), songwriter - The TokensThe TokensThe Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
, vocal group formed in 1955 at Abraham Lincoln High School