Written By: Colton Williams
Connect with me on Instagram!
@potheadato
Pizza- An Italian cuisine that America has made into a profitable past-time.
Benny’s- An east coast pizzeria originating in Virginia
$6 per slice, for a super pizza pie has got sorta a nice ring to it,
Almost like a five-dollar foot-long…
Originating from a roughneck Brooklyn native’s backyard brick-stone oven;
One hell of an elusive to find “story”
A story about a New York City kid moving to Virginia, who eventually creates a pizza famous enough to represent the state that is for lovers…
Featuring a large selection of local beers displayed on a schoolyard whiteboard and monthly specials written in black Sharpie on hanged paper plates…
Benny’s is a spot known simply for limited specials at a limited price!
BENNY VITALI'S
Vitali’s- The Fredericksburg (FXBG) branch of Benny’s
Philly- A style of cheesesteak native to the homeland of the Philadelphia Eagles
Bruschetta- A style of bread decorated using a tossed tomato & onion salad native to Italy
In the month of November they featured options such as a Philly Cheesesteak Pie and Bruschetta slice…
For December they are offering Bacon Jalapeno and Buffalo Chicken!
Wonderful options paired with the standard and ever present Pepperoni, Cheese, and Sausage.
The house of employment for local teens, the head honcho is Danny.
A business run w/ an overflowing tip jar and hand-decorated pizza paddles.
As for a running pizza pie parlor it seems pretty straightforward.
A large amount of the running around is done in house, the business is incredibly independent. The owners are difficult to contact!
Vitali’s supports local businesses with their beer selection: but is that dealer’s choice?
Is Benny's Pizza a franchise or local business at this point?
With the amount of individual action and employee selection it leans towards the latter… Is it possible that this is significantly better?
DOWNTOWN FXBG
Fredericksburg- ancient Civil War battlefield turned into a commuter parking lot and shopping mall
A city of thieves, home to struggling young adults working at local businesses while attempting to find themselves among a depressed self, within a depressed economy, of a depressed world...
A rugged social culture constructed of homeless, dropout teens, creative standouts, struggling food employees, drug addicts, and underground American culture.
Populating the art medium of historically urban American street culture such as rap, skateboarding, graffiti, open mic performances, and street art.
Complimented by the subtle effects of colonial Virginia’s past bleeding in through poetry, teahouses, architecture, and local nature reservations.
With such a rich and old-school history clashing with the modern central aesthetic, does that not mean a franchise like Benny’s fits right in?
The spirit of the hard-working Italian immigrant versus the spirit of the rebellious American teenager...
It’s a love story between a runaway Italian kid and his pizza-chef uncle
Benny’s is the definitive Virginia pizza and I would argue the best one the state offers.
Vitali’s presents itself as a natural piece of the Downtown FXBG cultural puzzle
AESTHETIC
Colonial- A remnant of Victorian England that characterized a romantic art-form
Imperialism- The judicious overthrow of a previous owner due to power display
A clash between the lifelines dual identities caused by geography
The uncharted territory of economic northern Virginia, urbanized Washington D.C., together with colonial eastern Virginia
Surviving as a middle point for the capitals of Richmond along with Washington D.C.
Imperialistic cultures are failing to take over the surrounding FXBG as three different identities clash
Housing a mixture of three separate symbolic systems…
Carrying forward and solidifying as a fashionable colonial themed, techno-fueled, suburban America!
A new wave of truly underground American techno-punks!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colton Williams is a poet and creative artist who currently lives in Fredericksburg Virginia.
He enjoys spending his free time day dreaming about pizza and skateboarding.
