For those of you that don’t live in Benson, you may not be aware of the Pizza Shoppe or PS Collective, but you’re missing out. The Pizza Shoppe is a Benson legacy and nearly all of us that live, or have lived, in Benson make frequent stops. Their pizza is pretty good but the good vibes Amy, the owner, spreads are irreplaceable. They’ll celebrate their 14-year anniversary March 6th with another favorite of Food & Spirits Magazine – musician Matt Cox. Below is a press release that FSM received about the event.

  For $12.00, the Omaha community can participate in the 14th birthday party of the Pizza Shoppe from 9:00 pm till 1:00 am on March 6.  The show will feature Omaha’s own folk talent Matt Cox and Jalan Crossland who is said to be the best guitar and banjo picker in all of Wyoming. 

  All proceeds from the door go to support Crossland’s cross-country venture from Tensleep, Wyoming.

  Amy Ryan, owner and operator of the Pizza Shoppe and Pizza Shoppe Collective said, “I couldn’t be more honored to have two of my favorite folk artists play together here at the Pizza Shoppe Collective.” 

  Both Cox and Crossland are well acquainted with the stage as folk artists.  Cox was said by The Reader to be ‘an original Folk-Blues-Americana songwriter with excellent playing and soulful vocals’ and Crossland, who is said to be ‘so dexterous that when he stops at the end of a song, you realize you forgot to breathe’ by The Weekly News in Rapid City, South Dakota.

  The Pizza Shoppe Collective’s mission is to provide a unique vehicle of expression to artists and a positive atmosphere of performance within the community. It is an effort to support the restoration of spirit within all art forms and encourage all to support each individual perspective of the human condition. 

  March 6, 2009 will also feature a live art installation by Justin Queal of Omaha.  Queal is a sculptor and painter who owns Queal Art and also works as a green consultant for Energy Smart Company in Rockbrook. Queal’s artwork has been featured in and around Omaha, most recently with the installation of a carved cedar eagle sculpture that is 7 feet tall and about 11 feet wide.  Queal’s eagle and other art can be viewed at www.myspace.com/quealart.

  “Folk Yeah” is sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Company who will offer $2.50 pints of New Belgium products all night.  The Pizza Shoppe will be offering their full menu plus NEW pizza-by-the-slice starting at $3.00.