Not so much what time of year you go, but the later at night it gets, the rowdier the Russian Nightclubs get. So I've been told, I'm a daytime man myself. Been there a few times, and liked this place the best:
http://www.gambrinusny.com/ Yes, it's a nautical themed Russian Restaurant and Beer Hall, supposedly modeled after an original in Odessa.
After eating you must take a walk along the boardwalk, it's really like being in another country.
I never found much of a language problem, money talks in the restaurants. The M&I Internation Food Store a few blocks away at 249 Brighton Beach Avenue is quite an international trip, but there I've found it almost impossible to communicate. Just point and hope for the best if you want to take home any food souvenirs.
While you're in the area, if you have a car, just a couple miles away is Sheepshead Bay, which is an mix of Russian and old Seafood places (Randazzo's is the best, we think). And the Lundy's Market in the old Lundy's Building (1901 Emmons Ave.) is better than M&I, a great array of International food. Sheepshead Bay is also an interesting area for a walk, with the Day Fishing boats coming and going along the inlet.
Enjoy.
