Brighton Beach for a non-Russian Speaker (Ridge: apartment, high crime, neighborhood)

[yogajew]

I found a ridiculously cheap, huge apartment in Brighton Beach that I'm strongly considering (with two apartment mates, I'll be paying $500 per month.) I used to live in Midwood, and spent a bit of time in Sheepshead Bay as well, but I'm tempted to move further south because of lower rents and I'm cheap.

I used to hang out in Brighton Beach occasionally, but I've never considered living there before, as I know only about 50 words in Russian, most of them I wouldn't want to repeat (I do plan to take some Russian courses though.) I searched the archives here, but was wondering if anyone else had any input.

Here is what I know or have learned so far by searching the city data archives:
very loud
long commute to anywhere
some people think the locals are friendly, while others do not.
may be mafia there
lots of crime there due to the proximity to Coney Island projects (I'm embarrassed to say that I've never actually been to CI so I have no idea what it's like.)
Not a lot of food (I keep kosher.)

My main neighborhood reqs are:
coffee shop with wifi that is open late so I can work on my laptop. (I know there is a Starbucks on BB ave, but I prefer to avoid Starbucks.)
women's gym. (I can take the train to Sheepshead Bay or Midwood to work out if need be though.)
Synagogue that is not ONLY Russian speaking (I'm an Orthodox Jew.)

As an aside, can anyone recommend any interesting books or online articles about Brighton Beach that they've enjoyed? I'm obsessed with the place.

[iztel]

With a Russian population you really think there won't be Kosher food? That commute will be brutal though. I commute from Bay Ridge and that's bad enough. I really like the area though and produce seems to be cheaper there than most places.

[yogajew]

Originally Posted by iztel

With a Russian population you really think there won't be Kosher food? That commute will be brutal though. I commute from Bay Ridge and that's bad enough. I really like the area though and produce seems to be cheaper there than most places.

Yeah, I thought that most of the Russian Jews there were secular and many of the Russian residents are not Jewish. Am I mistaken?

Last time I was in Brighton Beach I didn't see any kosher restaurants. I'm used to living in the Midwood avenue J/M area where almost every restaurant is kosher. I'm O.K with taking the subway to Midwood or Kings Highway to eat though.

[iztel]

I haven't spent a lot of time there but I definitely saw a few Kosher delis. Most of the shops were written in Russion as well though so you could probably ask the owners if you're unsure. You're a brave person to take on that commute but in the Summer being by the beach will make it all worth while I'm sure. If you like the apartment I'd go through with it there are plenty of more dangerous places you could be living.

[yogajew]

Yes it is pretty far out there, but I'm used to commuting from Sheepshead Bay so I think I have some idea of what I'm getting myself into.

I'll just have to make it my motto to take a book with me everywhere to alleviate those long subway rides.

Thanks for the input, btw

[SeventhFloor]

the commute is long? i used to take the Q diamond from brighton beach station to canal street and be at work in 20 minutes....you people consider that a long commute? or is there something i'm missing? and brighton beach does not have high crime because of its proximity to coney island. because the neighborhood has a high russian population, that really makes it insular, so people from the projects are not going to wander over there to start anything, cause they'll stick out like a sore thumb. i spent a lot of time in the area (ex-girlfriend) so i know this part of brooklyn pretty well.

and since you say you've never been to coney island, coney island is ok, as long as you're going to the aquarium or the amusements. after west 17th street, it automatically takes a turn for the worse along surf avenue and mermaid avenue. neptune avenue is safer because there's not much on it, but neptune gets bad after about west 28th street.

[yogajew]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

the commute is long? i used to take the Q diamond from brighton beach station to canal street and be at work in 20 minutes....you people consider that a long commute? or is there something i'm missing? and brighton beach does not have high crime because of its proximity to coney island. because the neighborhood has a high russian population, that really makes it insular, so people from the projects are not going to wander over there to start anything, cause they'll stick out like a sore thumb. i spent a lot of time in the area (ex-girlfriend) so i know this part of brooklyn pretty well.

and since you say you've never been to coney island, coney island is ok, as long as you're going to the aquarium or the amusements. after west 17th street, it automatically takes a turn for the worse along surf avenue and mermaid avenue. neptune avenue is safer because there's not much on it, but neptune gets bad after about west 28th street.

Wow 20 minutes! I was thinking it would take me about an hour to get to from BB to union square, maybe 45 minutes on the express train (B).
Good to know.

[Fred314X]

Not only is the B the fastest commute from Brighton Beach into Manhattan, but it's also currently running on an expanded service schedule. It used to stop running after 9:30PM. But these days, you can catch it until almost 11:00.

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I had written down 38 minutes for B from Brighton Beach Station to 34th St.. Not sure what time of day of the train schedule that is though. But at least 30 minutes to Manhattan. Where did you say you were commuting to?