Russia in Los Angeles

I am fortunate to have spent a lot of time in Russia on my travels and for some strange reason, keep going back for more.

The only problem is that it's a long flight, an arduous visa process and Moscow itself is very expensive. But now, I've found a shortcut; visit Russia in Los Angeles.

I've known for a long time that West Hollywood has one of the largest Russian populations in America, second only to Brighton Beach in New York. I've also known that there are a couple of Russian restaurants as well catering to this crowd. What I didn't know was just how many Russian restaurants and Russian nightclubs that Los Angeles boasts. And guess what; they are full of Russians.

Moscow on the Pacific, an LA Times article by Charles Amter, explores the Russian subculture in LA and how it has now exploded into the mainstream with a potpourri of rocking clubs and authentic restaurants that makes one feels as though they are indeed in Russia (except for the heavy clouds of cigarette smoke; smoking is illegal in LA clubs).

So, if you have a hankering to see what Moscow is like and don't want to deal with the hassles of actually visiting, check out Amter's article and pop into one of the 18 clubs or restaurants recommended for that authentic Russian experience.

Filed under: Russian Federation