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  Russian-speaking community of the Greater Los Angeles is one of the most diverse such communities in the USA and is also one of the largest, by some counts numbering at 600 thousand just in the LA metro area and San Diego. This makes it one of the five largest Russian-speaking communities in the United States, and the largest one on the US West Coast.

Community members are engaged in a wide variety of professions, including small business ownership, engineering, performing arts and almost any other profession that comes to mind. Perhaps not surprisingly, aspiring Russian-American actors are drawn to Hollywood as much as other Americans looking for stardom. And find it, they do! Among the thousands of starving want-to-bes originally from the countries of the Former Soviet Union - living in LA, there now are at least seven who have appeared in major Hollywood productions.

"Russians" have gotten into other artsy occupations, as well. Who in LA has not heard of the Red Elvises, a Russian pop band that for years played on the promenade by the ocean; or enjoyed the sweet and sour sounds of Hollywood Klezmer, a Jewish band that includes a former Red Elvis? Add to these achievements, those by the group of local Russian animators, engineers, doctors, lawyers and, of course, businessmen and you get a good picture of this thriving community in full bloom. Keeping this community blooming, by creating opportunities for its members to meet, as well as by sustaining and teaching Russian language and culture are institutions such as the Chekhov Theater, the two Russian game show clubs, the many Russian language daycare centers, schools, newspapers and this web site. Some of the local groups have recently opened up their own websites on the Internet.

To get a better idea of the local "Russian" achievements, check out the upscale Russian Roulette Restaurant, with live music and singing, located in the plush neighborhood bordering Beverly Hills - this restaurant's presence (not to mention its clientele) speaks loudly for the successes of the former "Russians" in Los Angeles. Of course, no ethnic community can thrive without a healthy overabundance of its food. The Russian Los Angeles multi-ethnic communities have this angle fully covered, with a variety of Russian grocery stores in West Hollywood Jewish Delis and many more Russian Restaurants along Fairfax. In addition, areas east of the LA metro, Glendale and the San Fernando Valley, just north of the Hollywood Hills, are well peppered with a variety of food establishments serving an over 1 Million member (largest outside of Armenia) Armenian community.

For more information on the Greater Los Angeles Area points of interest, look at Russian Yellow Pages from the Los Angeles, San Diego or Arizona. To learn more about the local Russian-speaking community, please visit our forums and please come back here to Russian Los Angeles on http://echoru.com