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Olga Lozovska
Professor H. Batty
English 101
30 March 2017

Urban Dacha is a small piece of motherland for

the members of the Russian community

Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to -

John Ed Pearce. I agree with the author, many people including myself wanted to leave

hometown and move to a better place but over the time started missing their home and being

nostalgic. Out of more than 600 000 Russian-speaking people in Greater Los Angeles area, I am

sure that every single individual misses their motherland. Thats why people gather together and

organize events and parties, they visit Russian cafes and bars to feel a nostalgia there. Although

some people dont believe in importance of such gatherings, these restaurants are not just places

to eat, they have deeper meaning to people who visit them regularly and to Russian community

in general.

According to the 2010 Census, Russian language is the 12th most spoken language in the

country with the number of Russian speakers 854,955. California is in the top 5 states with

Russian population among New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Massachusetts. There were

around 600 000 Russian-speaking people in Southern California in 2010 and this number is

growing every year. The most Russian concentrated territory of the greater Los Angeles area is

West Hollywood. It consists immigrants from different republics of the former USSR: Russia,

Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, etc. There is a
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big variety of Russian grocery stores, restaurants, bars, social and discussion clubs, medical

offices, attorney offices, small businesses, schools, Orthodox churches and many other services

and amenities for Russian-speaking population. There are many events held in Los Angeles for

Russian community. Every year West Hollywood city hosts Russian Arts and Culture week

which is made to celebrate and explore many aspects of Russian culture. There is an annual

beauty pageant called Miss Russian LA held for Slavic beautiful and talented girls. Every other

week there are Russian Karaoke nights to gather people who like to sing, dance or just to mingle.

Besides West Hollywood, another popular territory for Russian-speaking population is

San Fernando Valley, especially Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Valley Village,

Encino, Tarzana, Reseda, etc. There are some grocery stores, restaurants and businesses, but not

as many as in West Hollywood. Among the small selection of the restaurants with Russian food

one of the most famous cafeterias is Urban Dacha.

When you walk into this ethnic Ukrainian-Russian restaurant you will feel an atmosphere

of the Soviet Union time. A dacha in USSR was a very popular place, a seasonal small house

located in a countryside, where people were spending their summertime growing fruits and

vegetables. Urban Dacha caf was made in that unique authentic style, with wood false windows,

stone walls and light oak details and decorations. Before entering the restaurant, you will notice a

big, heavy looking wooden door, stone stairs and low stone walls on the sides with vintage lamps

on top. Above the door there is a piece of red terra color tile roof. When you enter the cafe you

will see tables covered with a white cloth and hand made looking chairs built from the faux

wood, and most of the times you can see a lot of traditional food on the tables. Part of the

restaurant is fenced off and looks like a bungalow or gazebo made from the wood, it has a long

table and is intended for bigger parties. There is a small patio right by the entrance, its hard to
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say either it is indoor or outdoor, but has a tree growing near the wall and you can breathe a fresh

air. The patio has a fence instead of the wall and it is constructed from oak logs. It really feels

like a grandmothers summerhouse and brings back some warm summertime memories.

Despite some people believe that the restaurants purpose is to introduce Los Angeles

residents to the Russian-Ukrainian cuisine, the most of the audience is Russian-speaking.

Russian immigrants come there to feel a nostalgia when they taste a food of their motherland and

a childhood, to meet with their friends or family and discuss their problems, gossip about their

common acquaintances, while drinking vodka and enjoying delicious variety of national food.

Most of the times you will see older ladies in the restaurant. Even if they have been in the US for

many years, they still dont feel very comfortable going to American places, one of the reasons is

their poor understanding of the English language. They feel more cozy and relaxed being in

familiar environment, where they can talk to Russian-speaking fellows. Sometimes restaurant

arrange banquets, parties and even speed dating events where members of the Russian

community can mingle and meet new friends.

That evening was pretty quiet in the caf despite few small parties having dinner. There

was a low light in the dining area and you could hear music of the 70th. The waitress was coming

every few minutes to take orders or to bring dishes to the tables. Big party was sitting in a private

gazebo room. There were about 10 people with few kids, they were pretty quiet, just having

some food and quietly talking. Another table of four older ladies, they were drinking vodka,

talking about life and complaining that want food to arrive faster. It was hard to hear what they

talk about exactly because of a bigger party sitting next to their table and talking loudly. There

was a girl in her 20s, two ladies and two guys in their 50s. They were discussing some problems

and complaining about life, talking about their common friends, telling stories, and drinking
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whiskey meanwhile. The waitress was keep on bringing them food: lamb ribs, baked potatoes,

Russian-style salads, and a plate of fancy looking breaded chicken, and they kept on ordering

more dishes. Young girl sounded mean and her voice was pretty obnoxious. One of the ladies

was talking more then others and having shots every few minutes. She was gossiping abut people

they know. She told a story of someone trying to trick her, and said But I am not that stupid

proudly holding another whiskey shot in her hand. Last table was further near the window. Three

young girls were celebrating something, perhaps International Womans day. Another girl joined

them, they met her loudly and she hugged each of them. After her arrival they decided to open a

bottle of champagne and one of them opened it with a loud sound. Everyone paid attention at

them because of the sound, and one of the girls, trying to overcome shyness because of

everybodys attention on them, shouted Happy womens day everyone.

Urban Dacha is an important place for Russian Community. People who miss their home

can come and feel the nostalgia of talking to Russian-speaking fellows, having traditional food

and being in the environment that reminds them home. They have to come to such atmosphere

places so they dont feel lonely and desperate away from home.
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Work Cited

"Ameredia: Russian American Demographics." Ameredia: Russian American

Demographics. Ameredia, 2000. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

"Russian-Speaking Community." City of West Hollywood. City of West Hollywood, n.d.

Web. 21 Mar. 2017.

Directo-Meston, Danielle. "Dacha Restaurant: Russian Comfort Food." North

Hollywood-Toluca Lake, CA Patch. Patch, 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

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