This essay describes the changes that occurred in the visual landscape of the predominantly Russian neighborhood of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, from the first-hand perspective of an immigrant. The article merges two central themes of an immigrant's path to assimilation: food and language. The essay begins by analyzing how local culinary demand impacted the food stores of Brighton Beach. The article continues by discussing themes of worldliness regarding the nuanced monikers of some of its establishments. The essay frames how a specific Brighton identity evolved in response to the immigrant's newly discovered comforts. Furthermore, it emphasizes the sense of stasis recursive to the evolution of the immigrant identity. Finally, the essay discusses a hybrid vernacular of the Brighton vocabulary, both verbal and visual. The essay is accompanied by a series of photographs, illustrating the visual elements mentioned.

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