Build it: Development Pipeline

By now, I am sure that every New Yorker has heard something about the Coney Island re-development plans and its never ending turmoil. Although it may be frightening for some and exciting for others, we have a news flash for those of us living in the surrounding areas: the Brighton neighborhood is a few steps ahead of these Coney Island guys. The Little Rus' team decided to run a little investigation of our own and chalk up the number of developments happening right in the backyard of the amusement park, and our results are astonishing! We found over 17, thats right 17, new condo/apartment projects that have either recently been finished or are in the process of going vertical (aka under construction). And you thought the west side of Manhattan was booming! Keep in mind, this is all within about a four block radius (See Map).



Our guess is that in anticipation of the major re-zoning of Coney Island, some developers have jumped the gun and already started projects. That being said, we shall see how these projects perform and their affect on the Brighton Beach community. Overall, we expect to see some major price drops in the next 6-12 months as these projects come to market which is partially due to the recent tightening up of the mortgage lending industry. However, the Oceana complex was a major hit among the Russian community and has gone through two to three series of price increases (starting range was $400k-1.5M, is now $600k-2.8M). The Oceana's success may be misleading though, as it is an enormous complex that has gyms, pools, clubhouses, and is enclosed by gates. Also, it was probably one of the first new condo projects to come to market in this area to replace the extremely old stock of housing.

Anyhow, we are committed to monitoring the housing situation as these new projects finish one by one and we will make our best effort to report on each development.

See it: Brat

I am not calling anyone names here, seriously. Brat = brother in Russian and this movie is one of the best films I have ever seen (think the Russian equivalent of Scarface, only more personable). Danila (Sergei Bodrov Jr.) is a young Russian man, who has just been discharged from the Russian army. He travels to St. Petersburg to live with his brother who is caught up in some dicey business, and finds himself in the middle of a complicated organized crime battle.

I do not want to give away too much of the plot, but the movie is set in post-Soviet Russia and Alexei Balabanov does an excellent job portraying the despair and vulnerability of Russian society during that period. You can see a clip of one of our favorite scenes below, in which Danila is taking the law into his own hands.

This film definitely gets 5-stars from us here at Little Rus', and you can read more about it and some reviews on IMDB. Brat is available on Netflix, so no excuses!

Sorry, there are no subtitles on the YouTube version (but don't worry there are on the DVD).

Try it: Borjomi water

This sparkling sensation from the Republic of Georgia is the best (in our opinion) of the Russian-style mineral water. Borjomi is heavily carbonated and slightly salty, but the don't let that turn you off. I found it surprisingly refreshing after a day at the beach, or a few hours at the banya (Russian bath) as it restores the salt that was lost from the body. And, check out how good it is for you:

"Regular consumption of Borjomi improves immunity, strengthens blood vessels and the nervous system, cleanses the organism. Possessing unique therapeutic properties, this water assists in curing bronchitis, cough and even reduces probability of caries.

Borjomi also helps fighting catarrhal diseases, mitigating febrile states at high temperature. In this case it is better to drink mineral water 20–30 minutes before meals at room temperature or slightly warmed (up to 30–40оС). The water should be warmed very carefully, on boiling-water bath only and by no means to let it boil, because when boiling it loses its healing properties. It is useful to inhale warm Borjomi. For this, pour a bottle of mineral water into boiling water, cover the head with a towel and breathe the resulting “steaming” alkaline water."

Wow! Who knew water could be that good for you?! Anyhow, see the "health" link on the website for more tips.

As for finding the stuff, you can get it at nearly any grocery store, deli, or bodega around Brighton. Feel free to try the other waters as well and let us know what your think!

Check it Out: Brighton Beach

I know, I know, every year some anxious blogger or journalists calls on New Yorkers to head to Brighton for the experience and 97% of us just ignore it. Well, given the new economic climate, we should all be in "tighten our belt" mode, and thus rather than spending your paycheck on a weekend in the Hamptons, pack your iPod and a few cold ones and jump on the B or Q train (www.hopstop.com) to Brighton Beach for the day. Although it may not be the ideal getaway for posh New Yorkers, those of you on the more adventurous side will enjoy the experience and you might just learn a thing or two. There is plenty to do on the beach including the usual people watching, swimming, and tanning, but there will also always be a game of beach volleyball in play (be careful, its pretty serious out here...just don't touch the net).

To avoid the hectic beach traffic walk down the boardwalk to to Brighton 15, that is, away from Coney Island. Usually this part of the beach is less busy and cleaner than the spots located just off the subway stops. Or, you can get off the Q train at Ocean Parkway and head straight to the beach from there. Just in case you find yourself wondering the famous grids of Brooklyn with no beach in sight, don't be afraid to ask "gdye pliazh?" (where is the beach in Russian).

Before heading back home, we suggest replenishing yourself with one of the homemade tandoori samsas for $2.50 at Adolat Cafe on Brighton 4th Street between Brighton Beach Ave and the boardwalk. Samsa is a traditional Uzbek appetizer, and is essentially a homemade hotpocket with lamb, onions, and some secret spices. Nevertheless, for the price you cannot find a better deal.



See you out there!

Restaurant Review: Nargis Cafe

Recently I visited Nargis Cafe for the first time and think it is one of Brooklyn's hidden gems. It is a small Uzbek restaurant (chaihana) with a Bring Your Own Liquor (BYOL) policy and plasma TVs playing Russian music videos. The cafe serves some of the freshest food in New York City. The service is prompt, the food is tasty, and the prices will leave you room to take that car service back to Manhattan. There are no reservations and the place is tiny, but the experience more than makes up for any lack of space. Next time you're in Brighton, or shall we say your first time, come by and check it out...don't forget to brush up on your Russian.

Recommended Dishes:

• Achichuk Salad - traditional Uzbek fresh salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, jalapeños, fresh herbs, dressed in olive oil
• Manti - gigantic steamed dumplings filled with lamb and onions
• Lagman Soup - homemade Central Asian soup (think minestrone but a little more nomadic and less Progresso)
• Lamb Kebab - Uzbek style shashlik aka some tasty meat grilled to perfection.
• Dessert: Chak-Chak - just try it!!
  

Contact Info:
Nargis Cafe (open 7 days a week)
2818 Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 872-7888